Logo of Toptal

Toptal

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Company health

Employee growth
5% decrease in the last year
Web traffic
11% decrease in the last quarter
Financing
December 2017 - $12M

Ratings

G2
4.7/5
(259)
TrustPilot
4.7/5
(109)
Glassdoor
3.8/5
(1080)

Toptal description

Toptal is a platform for hiring highly skilled freelancers in fields like software development, design, finance, and project management. They boast a rigorous vetting process, accepting only the top 3% of applicants. Toptal offers flexible engagements, from hourly projects to full-time positions. This allows companies to quickly find specialized talent for short-term needs or scale their teams with experienced professionals.


Who is Toptal best for

Toptal is a premier freelance platform connecting businesses with vetted, top-tier talent in software development, design, finance, and more. They offer flexible engagements, from hourly to full-time, and a rigorous screening process ensures high-quality professionals. Users praise Toptal's personalized service and global talent pool but note occasional difficulties with timelines and billing.

  • Best for small to medium-sized businesses seeking top-tier freelance talent.

  • Suitable for businesses across various industries needing specialized skills.


Toptal features

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need
Supported

Toptal offers flexible engagements, including hourly and full-time contracts.

Supported

Toptal matches freelancers with projects based on client-specified requirements.

Supported

Toptal has a rigorous vetting process, accepting only the top 3% of applicants.

Qualities

We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software

Value and Pricing Transparency

Neutral
+0

Customer Service

Strongly positive
+0.85

Ease of Use

Strongly positive
+0.92

Reliability and Performance

Strongly positive
+0.95

Ease of Implementation

Rather positive
+0.67

Toptal reviews

We've summarised 368 Toptal reviews (Toptal TrustPilot reviews and Toptal G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.

Pros of Toptal
  • Personalized attention and quick matching with appropriate talent.
  • Smooth and easy process for finding and hiring freelancers.
  • Global talent pool with highly skilled individuals.
  • Proactive customer service and support from account managers.
Cons of Toptal
  • Difficult to get clear timelines and timezone information.
  • Requires submitting project details repeatedly to different team members.
  • Billing time of 14 days with credit card backup creates problems for other software licenses.

Toptal pricing

The commentary is based on 69 reviews from Toptal G2 reviews and Toptal TrustPilot reviews.

Toptal's pricing is generally considered high, but many reviewers find it a worthwhile investment for accessing top-tier talent and efficient project completion. Some find the cost justified by the quality of service and seamless client matching, while others express concern over the premium rates, especially for smaller projects or startups.

Users sentiment

Neutral
+0

Toptal alternatives

  • Logo of Wethos
    Wethos
    Better for freelancers and agencies needing streamlined business operations. A Toptal alternative focused on proposal creation, invoicing, and payments. More suitable for small businesses.
    Read more
  • Logo of Index.dev
    Index.dev
    Less suitable for enterprise companies. Higher recruitment fees with less transparent pricing. Primarily focuses on tech roles like developers, designers, and marketers. Has more momentum currently.
    Read more
  • Logo of Fiverr
    Fiverr
    Wider range of services and freelancers. More affordable pricing. Has more momentum currently. Broader industry fit.
    Read more
  • Logo of Upwork
    toptal vs Upwork
    Wider range of talent pool and more affordable. Caters to broader industry needs and has simpler pricing. Not as strictly vetted.
    Read more
  • Logo of UPPER
    UPPER
    Better fit for small businesses. Easier to use and implement. More focused on European freelancers specializing in software development, AI, data science, design, and product management. Growing faster.
    Read more
  • Logo of hackajob
    hackajob
    Better for enterprise companies. Focuses on tech roles in the US, UK, and India, with companies directly contacting candidates. Provides employer branding and diversity and inclusion solutions. Has more reliable performance.
    Read more

Toptal FAQ

  • What is Toptal and what does Toptal do?

    Toptal is a freelance platform connecting businesses with top-tier software developers, designers, finance experts, and project managers. They have a rigorous vetting process, accepting only the top 3% of applicants, ensuring high-quality talent for projects of any size. Toptal offers flexible engagement models from hourly to full-time.

  • How does Toptal integrate with other tools?

    Toptal doesn't directly integrate with other tools. Its focus is on providing a seamless platform for connecting businesses with top-tier freelance talent. They streamline the hiring and project management process within their own ecosystem.

  • What the main competitors of Toptal?

    Toptal's main competitors include Upwork, Fiverr, and Guru for diverse freelance talent. For specialized tech talent, consider alternatives like Gun.io and Scalable Path. Wethos and Index.dev offer similar vetting and project management features.

  • Is Toptal legit?

    Yes, Toptal is a legitimate platform for hiring freelancers. They are known for their rigorous vetting process, accepting only the top 3% of applicants, which ensures high-quality talent. While the cost may be higher than other platforms, many users appreciate Toptal's streamlined process and access to skilled professionals.

  • How much does Toptal cost?

    Toptal doesn't publicly list pricing information. Connecting with them directly is recommended to discuss project needs and receive a tailored cost estimate. This allows for personalized pricing based on project scope and talent requirements.

  • Is Toptal customer service good?

    Toptal's customer service receives positive feedback. Users appreciate the personalized attention, quick responses, and proactive support from account managers. However, some mention needing to repeat project details to different team members and occasional difficulties getting clear timelines.


Reviewed by

MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.