Toptal claims they are the platform where you can find the top 3% of freelance talent. They have a rigorous and challenging screening process composed of a first application, followed by interviews and tests to ensure the freelancers working on the platform are highly skilled. For many freelancers, this screening process can be tedious, especially when you consider that many don’t succeed in passing the tests. The best alternatives to Toptal article will help you find the best freelance platform.
In terms of commissions, Toptal does not charge freelancers any commission. Instead, they charge a high transaction fee to clients. This fee can be a bit murky for freelancers who may not know how much their services are actually being sold for.
Businesses may get better quality services on Toptal, but these come at an elevated cost. When you consider services cost twice the freelancer’s hourly rate on Toptal, it’s easy to understand it’s an expensive platform.
We have compiled information on different freelance marketplaces over the years and have decided to write the best alternatives to Toptal article to provide helpful information so people can make the most informed decision when choosing a freelance marketplace to buy or sell services on. Below, you will find our recommended platforms if you’re looking for an alternative to Toptal.
The 6 best alternatives to Toptal
1. ComeUp
For Freelancers
On ComeUp, freelancers post their services online, and buyers can order them. Freelancers have more control as they can choose their rates and what their service entails. You no longer need to bid for jobs in the hopes that the job poster will prefer your work above someone else’s. In terms of commission, the two companies have very different models. One of ComeUp’s best advantages is its $1-only commission option. With such a low commission, freelancers can maximize their earnings. With ComeUp, freelancers get paid on time for the work they complete, and they can withdraw their earnings whenever they want. Furthermore, the pricing is transparent for both clients and sellers. Everything is upfront because it’s important for the freelancer and client to understand what they are getting from a transaction and for how much.
In 2023, ComeUp was voted the freelancing platform with the best working conditions by the Fairwork Cloudwork study conducted by the Oxford University Internet Institute. More information.
ComeUp continues to work on this, as they want to provide the best working conditions for their users. Whether you’re a freelancer or a business, using a platform that provides rights for its users feels better than using a platform that denies those rights. Toptal has yet to be rated or included in the study.
For Businesses
There are many advantages to using ComeUp. First of all, buyers can contact sellers before placing an order. So, if you’re ever in doubt, you can contact sellers and ask them questions. You can also use the reviews left by previous buyers to decide if a service is the right one for you. Another benefit for buyers is that ComeUp is safe to use and has a well-thought-out ordering system optimized to protect buyers. Sellers all have to verify their identity by submitting an identity document before they can sell services.
Other platforms are not as rigorous when it comes to verifying the identity of their users. As for the ordering system, once the order is delivered by the seller, the buyer has to approve it before the seller is paid. The risks of being unsatisfied with what the seller delivers are much lower. As long as buyers carefully read what a seller’s services entail, they will get what they order.
If there’s a dispute, there’s a litigation process in place to protect both the seller and the buyer. The case is handled by someone from ComeUp’s moderation team who reviews the order and the delivered services before making an impartial decision. All disputes are handled by humans. So, both parties can express themselves to the moderation team.
Pros
- Clients and freelancers have many opportunities to leverage the platform.
- Many categories to choose from.
- A safe and secure website for clients and freelancers to make payments and withdraw money.
- Some of the greatest working conditions for platform workers (based on the Fairwork Cloudwork study conducted by the Oxford University Internet Institute in 2023).
- A caring customer service team that’s always ready to help.
- A $1-only commission option for freelancers.
Cons
- There are transaction fees for buyers.
- Freelancers need to subscribe to a monthly plan to leverage the $1-only option and gain more visibility on the platform.
2. Fiverr
Similarly to ComeUp, freelancers can also post their services on Fiverr, which gives them more control. Fiverr is one of the largest freelancing platforms, so they receive many orders. Nonetheless, there’s also a lot of competition.
For Freelancers
One of the main differences with Toptal is that the jobs offered on Fiverr are more low-cost and less professional. If you’re a skilled freelancer, you may want to avoid Fiverr for a platform that focuses on quality more than cost. If you’re looking to get started quickly, Fiverr may be a solid platform, as they have one of the simplest platforms to get started. Even the ID verification process is not required from the beginning.
Their commission is 20% on all jobs, so be prepared to pay a high commission.
For Businesses
Businesses have the luxury of choice on Fiverr. There are countless services and freelancers on the platform. However, this wide range of options can cause businesses to fall on the wrong freelancers. It’s simple to create a seller profile on Fiverr. When creating a seller profile, they don’t ask for any identity document. The ID verification takes place later when Fiverr contacts a seller for them to verify their profile. That’s one of the many reasons why so many scams are happening on Fiverr. So make sure to choose a seller who has been verified and has delighted past customers.
Fiverr charges 5.5% of the purchase amount as a service fee. This fee is high considering the quality of services on Fiverr and the high commission they take from sellers.
Pros
- An easy-to-navigate and modern website.
- Significant freelancer database with varied talents.
- A simple order process to complete a project.
Cons
- Many transaction fees.
- A very high commission for freelancers.
- A lot of competition for work creates a race to the bottom and lower prices.
- Because of how easy it is to register, there are many scams on the platform.
3. Upwork
Another huge freelancing platform, Upwork, has a different system. Businesses post the services they need while freelancers bid for them. This can lead businesses to find cheaper prices for their projects, but less expensive does not always mean better.
For freelancers
Upwork’s commission system is easy to understand. They charge a 10% commission on all orders a freelancer completes. On Upwork, freelancers get paid as soon as clients approve their work. However, the funds earned can’t be withdrawn for the first five days after release.
This commission is much more advantageous than Fiverr and some other platforms. That is why you will find many freelancers competing on Upwork. But, the steady flow of orders ensures that many freelancers find work on the platform.
For Businesses
You’ll find professional services on Upwork. But that does come at a cost, as Upwork charges a 5% Client Marketplace Fee plus a one-time contract initiation fee that costs an additional $4.95. This means profits from your purchase as well as the freelancer’s earnings.
If you’re posting a job on Upwork, you have to consider that freelancers will bid for a chance to get the opportunity to get the job. In most cases, that won’t be a problem, as you’ll get to choose from multiple profiles. But it also means that you’re limiting yourself to a few choices instead of having more choices if you use a platform where you can order services directly.
Pros
- Another easy-to-use website with a great design.
- Instead of having to find services that match their projects, clients can post projects.
Cons
- There are many fees for buyers.
- The platform is known to have scams.
- The freelancers using Upwork have to pay a high commission fee.
4. Freelancer
One of the biggest freelancing platforms worldwide, with more than 41 million freelancers worldwide, Freelancer is another possible alternative to Toptal. They have a different model than recent freelancing platforms as they try to build a connection between freelancers and clients instead of having just one job or gig.
For Freelancers
They have a lot of flexibility regarding payments. Freelancers can be paid hourly or when they reach different objectives. This flexibility comes at a price, as you have to carefully monitor your hours on the platform using their management tools. On Freelancer, the pricing plan is hugely different as freelancers pay to get the possibility to have more bids they can use to apply for jobs in addition to a 10% commission, which can be lower depending on the plan freelancers subscribe under. This can lead to frustration as you may compete with people with fewer skills willing to charge much less to do the job.
For Businesses
In terms of pricing, you’ll have to pay 3% of the winning bid to the platform in addition to the freelancer’s rates. Be careful. If any additional tasks require more payments, you pay an additional 3% fee.
One of the advantages for businesses is that Freelancer is a safe platform with fewer scams. Since businesses decide who they hire to work with, they can choose after inspecting the freelancer’s profile. It’s a great way to make sure you hire the person you’re the most comfortable working with. The only downside is that you can only hire people bidding on your project, so if you don’t like the options presented, it may lead to a difficult decision.
Pros
- One of the largest freelance platforms
- There is some payment flexibility (you can choose project-based or hourly)
Cons
- A lot of fees. Especially for freelancers.
- A platform with lots of competition.
- Since the platform uses a bidding system, freelancers and clients can have a negative experience. For example, the best freelancers may not have any bids to use for your project.
5. Guru
This Toptal alternative is known to be professional and more focused on business services and needs, like Freelancer. They only offer professional services. One of their main strengths is some of the lowest transaction fees on the market. The websites also look similar. So if you liked Freelancer, but want to change because you had a bad experience with them. This might be the best alternative for you.
For Freelancers
The pricing on Guru depends on a monthly membership that allows freelancers to bid on more jobs like Freelancer. This bidding system and pricing approach can be frustrating for freelancers because they can be disadvantageous. Imagine being a professional but being outbid for jobs by someone with less experience who has more money to spend to rank higher.
For businesses
You’ll get many freelancers who bid on your job posting, so you’re sure to find at least one freelancer who can get the job done. However, this system can also be restrictive as you have a limited number of freelancers to choose from.
In terms of pricing, Guru’s 2.9% handling fee per invoice is reasonable and most likely one of the cheapest fees for freelance marketplaces.
Pros
- The transaction fees are low.
- The process enables companies to post their projects and have freelancers apply to work on offers some flexibility.
Cons
- The monthly subscription is costly for freelancers.
- There’s no fair chance, as chances and opportunities depend are based on bids.
- Clients can hire less skilled workers because of the system in place.
6. PeoplePerHour
Based in London and founded in 2007, PeoplePerHour has over 3 million freelancers. Companies that need help to complete a project can hire a freelance expert by the hour.
For Freelancers
Many freelancers propose their services on PeoplePerHour, making the competition fierce. But, compared to other platforms, the commission fees appear more reasonable on the site if you’re working with clients long-term. It’s based on the lifetime spending of buyers to a particular freelancer. So, to pay less commission, freelancers need to try to work closely with the same client for a longer time and command higher rates. You can find the commission breakdown below:
– More than £5000-lifetime billing per buyer: 3.5% (excl. VAT) service fee.
– Between £250 and £5000-lifetime per buyer: 7.5% (excl. VAT) service fee.
– Under £250-lifetime billing per buyer: 20% (excl. VAT) service fee.
For businesses
PeoplePerHour is a platform that offers flexibility and opportunities for companies to find freelance experts. There’s a large pool of talents, and you can find different types of experts depending on your project. The possibility of hiring workers by the hour enables them to get them to work on multiple projects easily if needed. But, it’s a double-edged sword as a project can take longer than expected, and you might spend over the budget you had planned.
The fees for clients are 10% + £0.60 of the total amount paid. That’s a lot compared to other sites.
Pros
- One of the biggest freelance databases.
- A useful mobile app.
- Companies can post jobs and projects for free.
- They have an AI search system that is supposed to help companies find the freelancers they need.
Cons
- Freelancers and clients have a lot of expensive fees to handle on the platform.
- The talent level is uneven.
- The customer support has been described as “unhelpful”.
Conclusion: Find the best alternatives to Toptal that works for you
There are many platforms out there, and they’re not one-size-fits-all, so at the end of the day, we’d recommend you consider what you value and what you’re looking for in a freelancing platform. Do some research and browse around. Make an educated decision that puts you in a position to succeed. Try a few different ones until you find the best alternatives to Toptal.
If you’re hiring, take the time to browse different platforms to see the different talents and services offered on each platform.
Consider working conditions and Cloudwork worker’s rights
Whether you are a freelancer or a business looking to buy services. We can all agree that basic working conditions should be accessible to all workers. With the advancement of technology, we’ve seen business models emerge that disregard these rights. The Fairwork Cloudwork study conducted by the Oxford Internet Institute gives scores to companies regarding the fairness in working conditions they offer.
Better working conditions for freelancers
At ComeUp, we’re always looking to improve the working conditions for our community’s sellers. That means fair pay, conditions, terms of service, and management.
In 2023, ComeUp was voted the freelancing platform with the best working conditions by the Fairwork Cloudwork study conducted by the Oxford University Internet Institute. More information.
But we don’t want to stop there. We still have work to do to achieve the ideal working conditions for our community, and we’ll continue doing everything we can to ensure the best working conditions possible for ComeUp sellers.
