Finding the right tech talent can make or break a startup.
Platforms like Toptal have built their reputation on connecting companies with elite developers. But Toptal’s pricing and limited focus can make it less ideal for startups and scaleups that need great engineers without burning through budgets.
Suppose you’ve been wondering what good Toptal alternatives are for hiring freelancers. In that case, this guide breaks down the most reliable options to consider in 2025/2026.
Key Takeaways
- Toptal is a premium developer hiring platform, but its high costs and rigid contracts push startups to seek better options.
- The best Toptal alternatives in 2025/2026 include Betternship, Lemon.io, Arc.dev, Gun.io, CloudDevs, Turing, and Upwork.
- Betternship stands out as the best alternative for hiring pre-vetted African tech talent at global quality and affordable rates.
- Startups in the US, UK, and Europe can now build remote teams 70% cheaper than Toptal, without compromising on skill or reliability.
Why Founders Look for Toptal Alternatives
Toptal is known for its strict vetting process and top 3% developer branding. It’s reliable, but not always practical.
Here’s why many companies are actively searching for Toptal alternatives:
- High Cost: Hiring through Toptal can cost anywhere from $80 to $200 per hour for developers. That’s often out of reach for bootstrapped startups.
- Rigid Contracts: Limited flexibility around short-term or project-based work.
- Limited Geographic Focus: Toptal often prioritizes developers from the US and Europe.
- Slow Matching: For companies needing to hire quickly, the matching process can feel lengthy.
- Lack of Regional Diversity: As more startups look to hire from emerging talent markets, they’re seeking developers from Africa and other fast-growing regions.
If your company values quality and flexibility, there are several platforms that can deliver top-tier developers at better rates and with a broader global reach.
What to Look For in a Toptal Alternative
When you ask “what are good alternatives for toptal” or evaluate platforms offering toptal alternatives for developers, your checklist should include:
- A pre-vetted talent pool – you don’t want to spend weeks just screening candidates.
- Speed of matching – the quicker a developer is in place, the better your momentum.
- Transparent pricing – no surprises, markups, or hidden fees.
- Global coverage & compliance – if you’re hiring globally (UK, US, EU, Asia), you’ll need payroll, tax, and legal compliance handled.
- Flexibility in engagement models – full-time, part-time, contract, project-based.
- Time-zone overlap & communication capability – high-quality work means collaboration that works across boundaries.
Top 7 Toptal Alternatives for Developers in 2025/2026
1. Betternship – Best for Hiring Pre-Vetted African Tech Talent
USP: Pre-vetted developers across Africa.
Average Cost: $15–$60/hour
Best For: Startups hiring developers or teams at a global quality and competitive cost.
Betternship connects startups with pre-vetted tech talent across Africa, offering the perfect blend of quality and affordability. The platform focuses on helping companies in the US, UK, and Europe hire vetted developers, designers, tech, and business teams who are aligned with a global work culture.
Unlike traditional freelancing sites, Betternship ensures every developer goes through a multi-step vetting process that covers technical expertise, English proficiency, and soft skills.
You can hire for:
- Full-time remote developers
- Contract or project-based roles
- Entire development teams
Why it’s a strong Toptal alternative:
- Up to 70% cheaper than Toptal without compromising on quality
- Talent is fully pre-vetted
- Developers work within compatible time zones
- Focus on long-term partnerships, not one-off gigs
If your startup needs elite developers but your budget can’t stretch to Toptal levels, Betternship is the most efficient alternative to consider.
2. Lemon.io – Best for Fast Matching
USP: Quick developer matching for startups
Average Cost: $40–$70/hour
Lemon.io is a marketplace that connects startups with vetted developers from Eastern Europe. Their biggest strength is speed; they can match you with a developer in under 48 hours.
While the pricing is still higher than emerging-market platforms like Betternship, Lemon.io is a solid option if you prioritize fast turnaround and strong English-speaking developers.
3. Arc.dev – Best for Remote Engineering Teams
USP: Curated developers with verified experience
Average Cost: $60–$100/hour
Arc.dev offers remote developers who have passed coding challenges and technical interviews. The platform’s job-matching technology connects you with developers based on your tech stack, project goals, and company size.
If your startup is scaling fast and needs reliable engineers globally, Arc.dev is a good Toptal alternative for developers.
4. Gun.io – Best for Enterprise-Grade Freelancers
USP: Focus on senior engineers and project leads
Average Cost: $80–$120/hour
Gun.io is ideal for companies that need US-based or senior-level engineers for short-term projects. They pre-screen freelancers and manage payments, contracts, and replacements.
While the pricing is close to Toptal, Gun.io’s community model gives clients more transparency over who they hire and how projects are managed.
5. CloudDevs – Best for Hiring Latin American Developers
USP: Vetted Latin American developers in similar time zones
Average Cost: $50–$90/hour
CloudDevs has built a strong reputation in the Latin American market as a go-to for vetted developers at rates significantly below US or EU norms, and it frequently appears in lists of “toptal alternatives for hiring developers.”
Their claims include: 24-48 hour match times, senior developer pools, and cost savings of ~60% vs US rates.
For companies seeking reliable developers in real-time collaboration zones, CloudDevs offers flexibility and good quality at lower rates than Toptal.
6. Turing – Best for Long-Term Engineering Talent
USP: AI-powered developer matching
Average Cost: $70–$120/hour
Turing’s AI system helps companies hire remote software engineers across over 100 countries. It’s best suited for businesses that want to build remote teams rather than hire freelancers for short projects.
While the pricing leans high, Turing provides enterprise-level vetting and compliance, making it a top-tier Toptal alternative for hiring developers.
7. Freelancer.com & Upwork – Best for Budget Flexibility
USP: Wide talent pool with variable pricing
Average Cost: $10–$100/hour
Upwork and Freelancer.com offer massive global freelancer pools, but they lack Toptal-level vetting. However, they’re great for short-term, small-scale projects where budget control matters more than premium screening.
If you’re hiring developers for one-off builds or simple integrations, these platforms can fill the gap.
Betternship vs Toptal: A Practical Comparison
| Feature | Betternship | Toptal |
| Vetting Quality | Pre-vetted African talent, verified experience, product focus | Global top 3% of talent, extremely selective |
| Hiring Speed | Under 5 days average | 2-3 weeks typical |
| Cost | 30-60% lower cost structure (due to African talent model) | Premium pricing, based on top global rates |
| Talent Availability | African developers with strong English, good time overlap with UK/EU/US | Global talent, but it can mean higher rates and scheduling trade-offs |
| Payroll & Compliance | Included for African hires on one platform | Additional layers/fees may apply depending on location |
| Engagement Flexibility | Full-time, part-time, project models | Mostly full-time or long-term freelancers |
If your startup is seeking global developers, wants speed, and values cost efficiency, Betternship is a compelling alternative to Toptal for hiring freelancers.
Why African Tech Talent Is the Smartest Bet for Global Startups
There’s a growing trend: hiring from Africa isn’t just about cost savings, it’s about untapped talent, English fluency, overlapping time zones, and high motivation.
- Tech ecosystems in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana are growing fast.
- Developers trained in global languages and platforms.
- Able to work overlapping hours with UK/US schedules for realtime collaboration.
- Cost structure is significantly better than US/UK rates, but without compromising on skill.
When you evaluate Toptal alternatives for developers, a platform like Betternship gives you access to “startup-friendly elite” rather than “enterprise-only elite”. That gives you the agility you need.
How to Choose the Right Platform for Your Next Hire
Here’s how to pick among the “what are good alternatives for Toptal” list:
- Define your budget: How much are you prepared to pay? If your budget is constrained, a platform focused on emerging regions might be better.
- Define your timeline: Do you need a developer yesterday, or can you wait for the ‘best of the best’?
- Define engagement type: Full-time, part-time, contract, project-based? Some platforms favor one model.
- Check vetting & support: Does the platform handle screening, payroll, compliance, and legal for global hires? If yes, you save time and risk.
- Consider culture, timezone, language fit: Hiring across continents isn’t just about the code, it’s about communication and overlap.
- Look at the total cost of hiring: Rates matter, but so do hidden fees, currency issues, replacement policies, etc.
Final Thoughts
If you’re reading this, you are already aware: toptal alternatives matter.
The hiring world has moved on from the “only one elite platform” mentality. Startups, global teams, and remote-first companies demand more: speed, flexibility, global coverage, and cost-effectiveness.
Toptal remains a strong option for large budgets and enterprise-scale needs. But if you’re a growth stage company looking for vetted tech talent now, Betternship offers one of the most compelling solutions.
By choosing African talent via Betternship, you tap into global skill, English proficiency, good timezone overlap, and pricing that lets you scale faster and smarter.
Ready to act?
Hire pre-vetted African developers through Betternship today.
FAQs on Toptal Alternatives
- What are good alternatives for Toptal?
Some of the best options include Betternship, Lemon.io, Arc.dev, Gun.io, and CloudDevs. Each offers pre-vetted developers at lower costs. - Which is the best Toptal alternative for startups?
Betternship is ideal for startups hiring affordable, vetted African developers with global experience. - Are Toptal alternatives reliable?
Yes, many platforms now use rigorous vetting and offer compliance support for global hiring.