If you’re looking for Andela alternatives for hiring, you likely already understand what makes Andela popular, and where it falls short.
Andela built its brand by sourcing, vetting, and supplying remote developers from emerging markets, especially Africa and Latin America. Their model centers on:
- Vetted software engineers
- AI-driven matching
- Long-term engagements
- Strong emphasis on communication and technical depth
Andela is excellent for companies that want reliable engineering talent and don’t mind premium pricing. But it’s not your only (or even your best) option anymore.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the strongest Andela competitors today and how to pick which one works for you.
The 12 Best Andela Alternatives for Hiring in 2025
1. Betternship (Africa’s #1 Andela Alternative)
Best For: Companies hiring remote African developers, product teams, or cross-functional talent.
Betternship stands out as a top Andela alternative because it blends sourcing, vetting, payroll, compliance, and dedicated team building across Africa.
Unlike Andela (engineering only), Betternship supports:
Companies choose Betternship because of its speed, affordability, and strong Africa-first footprint.
Standout Features:
- Hiring across 20+ African countries
- Pre-vetted senior developers
- Employer-of-Record support
- Dedicated remote engineering teams
- 3–10 day average matching
Pros:
- Cost-effective compared to global platforms
- Broader talent functions beyond software development
- Strong market expertise in Africa
- Supports long-term and full-time hires
- Also built for short one-off freelance tasks
Cons:
- Not global (Africa-focused talent)
You can learn more about our process on How It Works – Hire Remote Talents
Hire African Talent Now with Betternship→
💼 You can also post a job for free on Betternship
2. Toptal
Best for high-stakes projects where only elite talent is acceptable.
Toptal’s network is extremely selective (top 3 percent), making it ideal for companies needing senior developers, architects, or specialized tech roles.
Pros: Free trial, strong vetting
Cons: Premium pricing
3. Upwork
Good for freelance developers, but vetting depends on the client.
Pros: Massive talent pool
Cons: Quality varies widely
4. Fiverr Pro
Strong for short-term development work requiring speed.
Pros: Vetted Pro freelancers
Cons: Not suited for long-term hiring
5. Turing
Known for AI-powered matching and a large pool of developers worldwide.
Pros: Scalable hiring
Cons: Higher cost, tech-only focus
6. CloudDevs
Great for nearshore LATAM engineers.
Pros: 48-hour matching
Cons: Limited to Latin America
7. Terminal
Builds and manages dedicated remote engineering teams.
Pros: Team-building + HR support
Cons: Engineering-only
8. Gun.io
Small but premium network of senior developers.
Pros: Strong vetting
Cons: Small pool
9. Braintrust
Community-owned marketplace focused on transparency.
Pros: No markups
Cons: Younger platform, still expanding
10. Arc.dev
Good for hiring full-time remote engineers.
Pros: Rigorous vetting
Cons: Engineering-only
11. Crossover
Best for hiring senior global professionals across departments.
Pros: Rigorous testing
Cons: Less flexible for short-term roles
12. Lemon.io
Fast matching for smaller dev projects.
Pros: Quick turnaround
Cons: Smaller supply of senior engineers
Read More: Best Toptal Alternatives for Hiring Pre-Vetted Developers (2025/2026 Guide)
TLDR: Comparing the Best Andela Alternatives for Hiring
| Platform | Best For | Standout Feature | Key Trade-off |
| Toptal | Mission-critical engineering needs | Top 3 percent global vetting + trial period | Premium hourly cost |
| Betternship | Africa-focused hiring, payroll, and dedicated tech teams | Fast matching + hiring across 20+ African countries | Africa-first coverage (not global) |
| Upwork | Flexible freelance hiring | Massive global talent pool | Wide quality variance |
| Fiverr Pro | Fast, short-term dev work | Handpicked vetted Pro freelancers | Not ideal for long-term teams |
| Turing | Scaling engineering teams quickly | 2M+ developers + AI vetting | Higher pricing |
| CloudDevs | LATAM developers in <48 hours | Fastest match times | Latin America–focused |
| Terminal | Nearshore dedicated teams | Fully managed team-building | Engineering-only |
| Gun.io | Senior specialist engineers | Human-led vetting | Smaller network |
| Arc.dev | Full-time remote engineers | Six-step vetting process | Engineering-only |
| Braintrust | Transparent pricing | Community-owned network | Younger platform |
| Crossover | Senior global professionals | Top 1 percent talent model | Less flexible for short gigs |
| Lemon.io | Short-term developers fast | 24-hour matching | Small talent pool |
Read More: How to Hire Freelancers from Africa (Smart, Fast, and Without the Usual Risk)
How to Choose the Right Andela Alternative
Choosing the best Andela alternative depends on what you’re trying to achieve, how fast you need talent, and the region you want to hire from.
Each platform solves a different problem, so understanding your priorities will help you make the right choice.
1. Speed of Hiring
If your main concern is speed, then platforms with rapid matching systems will serve you best. CloudDevs and Lemon.io can connect you with developers within 24–48 hours, making them ideal for urgent projects or fast-moving startups.
If you prefer a region-focused solution, especially across Africa, Betternship offers one of the fastest matching cycles on the continent, typically within 3–10 days, especially where quality works with speed, due to its rigorous vetting.
2. Budget Considerations
Your hiring budget plays a major role in your platform choice.
Upwork and Fiverr Pro are more cost-flexible since they allow you to work with a wide range of freelancers across different price points.
On the other hand, premium networks like Toptal and Turing tend to cost more because they focus on highly vetted, senior-level talent.
If you’re looking for a balance of affordability and quality, Africa-focused platforms such as Betternship deliver excellent value.
3. Preferred Hiring Region
Where your ideal talent is located influences the platform you should choose. If your goal is to hire across Africa, Betternship is the most suitable alternative to Andela due to its broad presence across 20+ African countries.
For Latin American developers, CloudDevs offers nearshore talent with similar time zones for US companies.
If you need a global pool, platforms like Toptal, Turing, and Arc.dev provide wider international coverage.
4. Type of Work or Engagement
The nature of the work you need done also matters. If you’re building a long-term engineering team or scaling internal operations, platforms like Betternship, Terminal, or Arc.dev are better suited because they support full-time hires and stable team structures.
For short-term tasks, Betternship and freelance platforms such as Fiverr Pro or Upwork offer the flexibility to find developers for one-off assignments.
If your company requires end-to-end HR support (contracts, payroll, and compliance) Betternship (Africa), plus global payroll providers like Deel or Remote, are stronger options.
5. Talent Scope and Skill Coverage
Finally, think about the type of talent your organization needs. Some platforms focus exclusively on engineering talent (like Andela, Toptal, and Turing) making them ideal for purely technical hiring.
However, if you want to hire across multiple departments (engineering, product, marketing, data, sales, HR, etc.), you’ll need a platform with broader talent coverage…
Betternship and others support multiple roles beyond software development, making them more versatile alternatives.
Conclusion
The right Andela alternative to hiring depends on what your team needs right now. Some platforms help you hire in hours. Others focus on premium senior talent.
If you want reliable, long-term or short-term hires across Africa, Betternship gives you the strongest combination of speed, quality, and regional expertise.
No matter the choice, the goal stays the same. Build a team that can actually deliver.
Hire African Talent Now with Betternship→
💼 You can also post a job for free on Betternship