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When it comes to hiring freelance engineers, choosing the right platform can make or break your project. Upwork and Toptal are two of the most well known marketplaces but they are very different in their approach to vetting, pricing and developer matching. In this blog post, we'll dive into a detailed comparison of both platforms to help you make the right choice.
Upwork is one of the largest freelance platforms in the world, offering a broad range of services across multiple industries. It’s a so-called “open” marketplace where freelance developers can set up their profiles and bid on projects posted by clients, while clients can promote the jobs or simply browse through freelancer profiles to find the right match.
Toptal, on the other hand, prides itself on being a network of the top 3% of engineers. Unlike Upwork, Toptal is a “closed” marketplace that has a rigorous screening process, accepting only a fraction of applicants to ensure that clients are working with the best talent available.
- Upwork: The talent pool on Upwork is huge. While this means you have access to a wide range of technical skills and experience levels, it also means you’ll have to browse through numerous profiles to find the gem you are looking for.
- Toptal: Toptal’s screening process guarantees that you’re working with highly skilled developers, which can save you time and ensure that your project is in capable hands. But there’s a cost to that. More on this below.
- Upwork: Upwork is budget-friendly since you have access to freelancers with a wide range of rates. You can find developers charging anywhere from $10 to $150+ per hour, depending on their expertise and location.
- Toptal: Toptal’s rates are VERY high. Developers on Toptal typically charge between $80 to $200+ per hour. While the rates are higher, you’re paying for getting to work with an experienced developer right away.
- Upwork: Upwork allows you to post a job, receive proposals, and choose from the applicants. You can also search for freelancers and invite them to apply to your job. The hiring process is flexible but can be time-consuming, especially if you're looking for specific expertise. Prepare for at least several days of constantly reviewing new applications and scheduling interview calls. You’ll eventually find that needle in a haystack but nobody can tell how much time it will take.
- Toptal: Toptal matches you with talent after you provide details about your project. They claim to match you with a freelancer within 24 hours, but in reality it can take a bit longer if you don’t like the very first candidate they share. The process is more curated and hands-on than with UpWork, reducing the time you spend searching for the right person.
- Upwork: Upwork provides built-in project management tools, such as time tracking, milestone management, and messaging. They usually work well but not all developers are happy with UpWork time-tracking tool making screenshots of their desktop every 10 minutes.
- Toptal Toptal doesn’t offer extensive project management tools directly on the platform. Instead, their focus is more on the quality of the freelancers, leaving project management up to the client. However, Toptal engineers are often experienced enough to set up the right tools or use whatever tools suggested by the client. A
- Wide Talent Pool: Access to a vast number of freelancers across various skills and industries. You can find literally any technical skills: from COBOL programmer (language originating from 1950’s) to someone proficient in Solidity development (modern programming language specifically designed for writing smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain).
- Flexible Pricing: Ability to find talent that fits your budget, whether you’re looking for high-end experts or more affordable options.
- Ease of Use: The platform is user-friendly, with built-in tools for managing projects, tracking time, and handling payments.
- Diverse Projects: Suitable for short-term projects, quick tasks, and long-term engagements.
- Inconsistent Quality: The large pool means there's a mix of talent levels, so finding top-tier talent can take time.
- Time-Consuming: The hiring process can be tiring, especially when browsing through dozens (or usually hundreds) of applicants.
- Bidding System: Freelancers often bid on projects, which can sometimes lead to a focus on price over quality. So called “race to the bottom”.
- Top Talent: Access to the “top 3% of freelancers”, ensuring high-quality work.
- Curated Matching: The platform handles the matching process, saving you time and effort.
- Efficiency: Quick turnaround in finding and hiring the right freelancer, often within 24-72 hours.
- Trial Period: Toptal offers a no-risk trial period to ensure the freelancer is the right fit.
- High Costs: The quality of talent comes at a premium, which may be out of reach for some startups (think $100-200 per hour rates)
- Limited Choice: While the talent is top-notch, the pool is smaller, and you might have fewer options compared to Upwork.
- Upwork: If you’re a startup founder looking for a quick prototype or need to complete a small project with a limited budget, Upwork might be a good choice. You might, for example, find someone to build you a landing page with WordPress in a couple of days for only $40-50/hour.
- Toptal: For well-funded startups requiring highly specialized skills on a short notice (like developing a complex AI algorithm or building a robust SaaS platform) Toptal might be a good choice. The platform’s focus on top-tier talent means you can find an expert who can handle complex tasks with minimal oversight.
We’ve also seen lots of founders going to TopTal to hire talent for critical senior roles while they source junior or mid-level engineers on UpWork or other marketplaces. This approach balances quality and budget, allowing for efficient scaling and the development of a capable, well-rounded team.
Customer reviews for Toptal are mostly positive. Startups willing to pay $100+/hour rates generally receive high-quality work.
However, some reviews mention that Toptal can feel “too shady” or “too old-school.” Much of the company’s effort goes into selling the service and onboarding clients, but some customers feel abandoned if issues arise during their work with the matched developer.
We’ll be honest: finding positive reviews about Upwork can be challenging. This isn’t surprising, given that it’s an open marketplace with many unqualified freelancers delivering suboptimal work. Freelancers, on the other hand, often express dissatisfaction with Upwork’s monetization policies.
While Upwork and Toptal are excellent platforms with their own strengths, they’re not the only options out there. Platforms like Match.dev offer a unique approach by focusing on connecting startups with developers who are not only skilled but also aligned with your project’s vision and goals. Unlike the more general marketplaces, Match.dev is a closed developer marketplace designed to simplify the hiring process for startup founders, ensuring you get the right match quickly.
In conclusion, whether you choose Upwork, Toptal, or explore other platforms like Match.dev, the key is to understand your startup’s specific needs, budget, and project scope. By doing so, you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect talent.
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