Toptal

Overview

Toptal is a curated talent network for software development, design, finance, product and project management. Its timeline records the toptal.com domain becoming Toptal LLC in November 2010 and the launch of the Toptal platform in 2011, and states that in 2020 it became the world’s largest fully remote company.^[4] As of 2025 it reported more than 3.6 million cumulative talent applications, more than 91,000 talent engagements, a talent network spanning more than 155 countries and more than 35,000 clients served.^[4]

Toptal’s model differs from open marketplaces: it screens applicants and matches clients with candidates rather than letting clients browse bids. Its FAQ states that it accepts fewer than 3% of the more than 200,000 people who apply each year.^[5]

Commercial terms published in its FAQ include a flat monthly subscription fee of US$79 if a client proceeds with talent matching, cancellable at any time; a trial period of up to two weeks at the start of each engagement, during which the client is not billed if unsatisfied; and invoices typically issued twice a month on net-10 terms.^[5] Hourly rates are not published and depend on the talent and role. The curation adds cost compared with open marketplaces, and clients have less visibility of the wider talent pool.

Toptal features

• Screened talent network (under 3% accepted)
• Matching by Toptal staff
• No-risk trial of up to two weeks
• Twice-monthly invoicing
• Developers, designers, finance and project experts

Toptal pricing

US$79 monthly subscription if proceeding with matching; talent rates quoted per engagement; trial of up to two weeks without billing if unsatisfied; invoices twice monthly, net 10.

Toptal strengths and limitations

Appears in

• Best Freelance Platforms in 2026 #3

Toptal alternatives and competitors

Alternatives to Toptal: companies ranked in the same lists.

• UUpwork
• Fiverr
• Freelancer.com
• Contra
• Braintrust
• PPeoplePerHour
• 99designs by Vista
• Arc
• Dribbble
• Catalant
• Gun.io