The Simple Review of Toptal
What is Toptal?
The name of the site says it all — it’s a portmanteau of “Top talent”. Marketing itself as a more elite service, Toptal.com wants to connect prescreened freelance talent in the top tiers of their fields with clients. They have some of the world’s best freelance developers, Toptal designers, project managers, product managers, and finance experts. Toptal helps organizations achieve their goals.
Should You Use Toptal?
If you are looking to hire a specific kind of freelancer and want only the best (and are willing to pay for it) Toptal.com is fantastic. The personality screening, interview, and matching process virtually ensures your job will go smoothly. With its reputation as a top tier platform, being accepted is a feather in the cap for people at the top of their profession.
Toptal reviews:
| Service | Cost | Ease of Use | Ease of Setup | Support | Freelancers | Employers | Trust |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toptal | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8.4 | 9 | 10 | 9.2 |
I Had Toptal Questions Answered
How much does Toptal cost?
Since it’s an elite service, freelance rates are generally set between $60-$210 an hour. To start using the service and connect you with a freelancer, they require a $500 deposit, to be used towards paying your first invoice. Since I’m just a humble Sasquatch, I’m not in the top three percent of anything except the “world’s most elusive creatures” list so I couldn’t sign up to fully review the site.
How much does Toptal Pay?
Lets just say it's a range. According to Launch a Startup, the range for developers is between $800 to $3000 a week. This all depends on your talent and skill level. There are also 3 types of salaries, Part-time, Full-Time and Hourly, so that will also affect your pay. According to Quora those ranges average out to be:
Part-time: $1,000 - $1,600+ Weekly
Full-time: $2,000 - $3,200+ Weekly
Hourly: $60 - $95+ Hourly
How easy is Toptal to use?
As an employer, all you have to do is answer some basic questions about what you are looking for and Toptal matches you with a list of pre-screened candidates fitting your specifications, often within 24 hours. Even a simple Saquatch can tick the boxes and wait for a list. As a freelancer, once you’ve undergone the (seemingly) harrowing interview process (more on that below) and your interviewer has a sense of your talents, all you have to do is wait to be matched to an employer.
How easy is it to setup Toptal?
As a freelancer, their screening process can take 2-5 weeks. The process includes an interview as well as a test project to get a sense of the freelancers abilities and make sure they are truly top talent. All of this is great for those looking to hire only the top talent but as a simple Sasquatch, I can only give it one star, it’s a complicated process after all. As an employer, all you have to do is answer questions about what you’re looking for and Toptal does the rest, five stars for employers.
Does Toptal Offer a Trial Period?
Yes they do, in fact they offer a no risk trial period. This period lasts up to two weeks. Meaning you have time to confirm your hire is successful. Toptal will only bill you if you are completely happy with the talent you have hired. That mean no risk to you!
What is the Quality of support at Toptal?
Of course, since Toptal is all about high-quality, they do not disappoint in this department. They go all out to make sure you hire the right people for your job and they put an equal amount of effort into making sure both freelancers and clients are happy.
Helpful inks:
Is Toptal better for freelancers or people looking to hire freelancers?
Toptal is better for those looking to hire — their no risk trial period means that if it’s not working out with your new freelancer you can cancel the project without payment as well as keep any work done. For freelancers, if the client does cancel, Toptal pays half of their expected income. Their strict vetting process only allows for around 3% of applicants to the site to be allowed to bid for jobs, which is hard if you’re a freelancer that isn’t in the top tier but amazing for those looking to hire the best of the best. Their interview process means that they can claim a 98% job success rate so if you do hire through them, your job has an almost guaranteed chance of being completed well.
Testimonials From Toptal
"Martin so far is a complete Rockstar. His first bit of work produced a tool for us to model and forecast our financials and is far and away worth every penny we paid and more. Just thought I’d share that with you."
Pete Pellizzari, CEO
Budder, Inc.
"The developers I was paired with were incredible -- smart, driven, and responsive. It used to be hard to find quality engineers and consultants. Now it isn't."
Ryan Rockefeller, CEO
Radeeus
"Toptal's developers and architects have been both very professional and easy to work with. The solution they produced was fairly priced and top quality, reducing our time to launch. Thanks again, Toptal."
Jeremy Wessels, CEO
Kognosi
"I'm incredibly impressed with Toptal. Our developer communicates with me every day, and is a very powerful coder. He's a true professional and his work is just excellent. 5 stars for Toptal."
Pietro Casoar, CEO
Ronin Play Pty Ltd
Should You Hire From Toptal?
What Services Does Toptal Offer?
Some Types of Developers Toptal Offers:
Types of Designers at Toptal Offer:
- Brand Designers
- Illustrators
- UX Designers
- WordPress Designers
- Shopify Web Designers
- Android Designers
- MORE
Some of the Types of Finance Experts Toptal Offers:
Need a Manager? Toptal has them:
Common TOPTAL Questions
See some common TOPTAL questions and answers below, Have Another Question?
What is Toptal?
Toptal is a unique and exclusive network of the top freelance software developers, designers, finance experts, product managers, and project managers in the world. Top companies demand the best talent, so they turn to Toptal to find the best freelancers for their most important projects. The business model is based on a very simple idea - businesses have a need, and Toptal has a supply of talented professionals who can fulfill that need. This makes Toptal an essential part of the market for businesses looking for top-tier talent.
Is Toptal worth it?
There is no doubt that Toptal is a great company with an impressive network of businesses and professionals. However, with a price tag that is a little higher than some other freelance services, it can be difficult to determine if it is worth the investment.
Demand for Toptal's services is high, so the company definitely knows what it's doing. And, with a business model that is focused on quality rather than quantity, Toptal is likely to maintain its position as a leading authority in the freelance market.
It's no secret that Toptal is a highly selective platform. In order to pass their interview, you'll need to be prepared and showcase your skills. But don't worry, with a little preparation and practice, you can ace their interview and land your dream job.
One of the most important things to remember is to communicate clearly and effectively. Make sure to talk about yourself and your experience, and take your time answering questions. If English is your second language, be sure to practice your English skills regularly before the interview.
The benefits of working with Toptal are many. They are a highly researched and respected company, with a team of dedicated professionals. They offer a variety of services and support, and are always looking for top talent. So if you're looking for a new challenge or want to take your career to the next level, Toptal is the perfect place for you.
How to join Toptal
If you're interested in joining the Toptal team of freelancers, you'll first need to submit your profile. Your profile will be reviewed by the team, and if you're a good fit, you'll be invited to join.
The best way to improve your chances of being accepted is to make sure your profile is complete and showcases your skills and experience. Make sure to highlight your best work and explain what makes you unique as a freelancer. Do your research of the jod description.
Be sure to showcase your personality in your profile, as the Toptal team is looking for talented freelancers with great communication skills. Showcase your unique voice and wit, and make sure your profile stands out from the rest. Learn more here!
What percent does Toptal take?
Toptal only accepts the top 3% of freelancers. But doesn't charge the freelancers, they charge the companies using the service. These are ballpark fees for companies (shouldn't change much in the future):
- For a developer, expect to pay $60-$150/hour or more
- For a designer, expect to pay $70-$150/hour
- For a financier, expect to pay $90-$250/hour
- For a project manager, expect to pay $90-$180/hour
- For a product manager, expect to pay $90-$200/hour
Does Toptal charge freelancer?
Toptal does not charge freelancers directly for their services, but the clients who hire them do pay more than the freelancers themselves receive. This system allows freelancers to maintain a good relationship with Toptal while also working with other clients, providing them with a steady income. Overall, Toptal is a great platform that helps connect talented individuals with businesses in need of their services.
How does Toptal work?
Toptal is a unique way to get high-quality talent. You don't have to go through the hassle of finding the best talent, throwing project requirements over a wall, dealing with multiple middlemen managing your team, or paying a flat project fee. Instead, you connect with a superb freelancer who will interface with your team as an internal team member working from home would. This gives you more options and allows you to improve the quality of your content. Here!
Is Toptal legit?
TopTal network is absolutely legit! It's one of the top freelance platforms and has a 4.5 rating on Trustpilot, which is the highest rating of all freelance services. It's been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post, and other top publications. Plus, it's been used by some of the world's top companies like Airbnb, Salesforce, and Uber.Freelance services.