Hiring.co vs Toptal
Strict vetting either way. The difference is what happens after the match
Toptal runs a large, heavily screened freelance network and is fast at introductions. We run a smaller bench with published rates, a named person on your account, and team management included. From $500/week, month-to-month.
Side by side
Both vet before you meet anyone. Here is where the two models differ.
| Hiring.co | Toptal | |
|---|---|---|
| How talent is vetted | Live technical or portfolio review, references, then a paid trial week on a real task. | A five-step screening process. Toptal says it accepts fewer than 3% of applicants. |
| Published pricing | Yes. From $500/week, with a weekly range for every role on its hire page. | A $79 monthly subscription once you proceed with matching. Talent rates are not published on its site. |
| Placement or recruiting fee | None on top of the weekly rate. | Toptal's pricing page lists a $0 recruiting fee. |
| Trial | A 30-day no-commitment trial, starting with a paid trial week on a scoped task in your repo. | A trial period of up to two weeks. Toptal says you are not billed if you are not satisfied. |
| If the hire does not work out | We replace them at no extra cost under the nonperformance guarantee. | After an unsuccessful trial, Toptal offers another expert and a second no-risk trial. |
| Time to match | Most matches within a week of the intro call, after the role is scoped. | Toptal says its average time to match is under 24 hours. |
| Who stays on the account | Hooman scopes the match. Chloe Reynolds onboards you and checks in on output. Team management and technical support are included. | Not described on Toptal's public pages. Worth asking them directly. |
| Code and IP | Yours. Lives in your repo. Handover within one working day, confirmed by email. | Toptal's FAQ says all work created by a Toptal expert is the property of the client. |
Details about Toptal come from their public website as of September 23, 2026 and may change. Sources: Toptal FAQ , Toptal pricing , Toptal screening process .
When Toptal is the better choice
If you need introductions within a day or two, want to choose from a very large screened network, or prefer hourly engagements, Toptal is a strong option. Come to us when you want published rates, a named person accountable for the outcome, and a team that can also deliver the finished product.
What accountability looks like here
Hooman Hamzeh scopes every engagement and signs off on the match. Chloe Reynolds onboards you and keeps checking whether the hire is shipping. If they are not, you escalate to Hooman directly, not a support form.
See how it works or our vetting process.
Questions from teams comparing us with Toptal
- Is Hiring.co cheaper than Toptal?
- Toptal does not publish talent rates on its site, so we cannot compare line by line. Our rates start at $500/week with a published range for every role and no placement fee. The fairest test is a quote from both for the same role.
- Is your vetting as strict as Toptal's?
- Both are strict, in different ways. Toptal publishes an acceptance rate under 3%. We do not publish an acceptance percentage. Every placement clears a live technical review, a reference check, and a paid trial week on a real task.
- Toptal matches in under 24 hours. Why does yours take about a week?
- Hooman scopes the role with you on an intro call before anyone is matched, and the first week is a paid trial in your repo. If your deadline is urgent, say so on the form. Urgent needs get priority, and we will be direct about what is realistic.
- Can you deliver a whole product, not just a developer?
- Yes. Some clients want developers embedded in their team. Others want us to scope, build, and hand off a shipped product. We pick the model with you on the intro call.
On the quality of the candidates
“Their expertise in the tech industry is evident in the quality of candidates they deliver. Hiring.co has become an indispensable partner in our hiring efforts.”
Get a quote to put next to Toptal's
Tell us the role, stack, and timeline. We will send a weekly rate and a realistic start date, so you can compare like for like.