What is Toptal?
Toptal is an exclusive freelance marketplace that connects the top 3% of Freelancers (aka Toptalers) specializing in fields like development, design, finance, project management, and product management, with Business Owners and Clients from around the world.
Platform Details 🌐
| Status: | Active, Legit |
|---|---|
| Platform Type: | Freelance Marketplace Marketplace |
| Opportunities: | Animation Brand Management Business Writing Cloud Computing Computer Science |
Contact Info ☎️
| Socials: | Linkedin • Facebook • Instagram • Twitter • Youtube |
|---|---|
| Emails: | support@toptal.com (for customer support) • press@toptal.com (for press inquiries) • partners@toptal.com (for partnership inquiries) • investors@toptal.com (for investors) • privacy@toptal.com (for privacy-related inquiries) |
| Phone: | +1.888.867.7001 (for sales inquiries) |
| Support Pages: | Contact Us Page • FAQ Page |
Company Details 🏢
| Founded: | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Legal Name: | Toptal, LLC |
| Also Known As: | Skillbridge |
| Founders: | Taso Du Val • Breanden Beneschott |
| Headquarters: | San Francisco, California, United States |
Who Is Toptal For?
If you're a Developer, Designer, Finance Expert, Management Consultant, Project Manager, or Product Manager (or have related marketable skills), Toptal can potentially be a solid platform for finding clients.
If you're a Business Owner, Toptal can connect you to high-level freelancer(s) to help with your projects.
Requirements 🔎
| Minimum Age: | 13 years old |
|---|---|
| Supported Locations: | Worldwide |
| Supported Devices: | Computer, Smartphone, Tablet, Android Phone, iPad Note: Toptal has an app for both freelancers and clients. For freelancers, the name of the app is “Toptal Talent” and it is available on both Google Play and App Store. For clients, the name of the app is “Toptal Client” and it is only available on the App Store. |
How Does Toptal Work?
There are 2 types of users on Toptal: Freelancers and Clients. Here's how Toptal works for each of those user types:For Freelancers
Freelancers (aka Toptalers) must first pass the Toptal screening process before being able to join the platform. This involves testing your work experience (2-3 years or more of prior experience is expected) and soft skills like communication and professionalism.
Once approved, freelancers can set their own rates and start receiving personalized job invites. Payments and invoicing are handled directly on Toptal.
Details for Freelancers 💰
| Work Type: | Freelance |
|---|---|
| Income Type: | Active |
| Work Schedule: | Flexible Some clients on Toptal hire for full-time positions but freelancers will always be able to choose their own hours. |
| Workplace: | Remote Note: Some companies may ask freelancers to work on-site. As of today, Toptal has relocated Toptalers (freelancers) to companies in Japan, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, Canada, United States, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. |
| Commissions / Fees: | None |
| Minimum Payout: | $0.01 |
| Payout Options: | Direct Deposit, Prepaid Credit Card, Wire Transfer |
| Payout Speed: | 1-14 days Toptal typically invoices clients twice a month, though this setup is flexible. |
For Clients
Clients (i.e. business owners, companies, etc.) can sign up, submit a job, wait until Toptal recommends a freelancer, work with the freelancer on a trial basis, and pay the freelancer if satisfied. If the work done by the freelancer is not satisfactory, Toptal can recommend a different freelancer at no cost.
Business owners can also bring the freelancer(s) to work on-site by coordinating with Toptal, should the need arise.
Details for Clients 💼
| Commissions / Fees: | Fees are automatically built into freelancer rates. |
|---|---|
| Payment Options: | Credit Card, Direct Deposit, PayPal |
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Editorial Toptal Review
Is Toptal Legit?
We believe that Toptal is legit due to its strong reputation in the freelancing space and its list of well-known clients. The platform has been around since 2010 and, since then, has served over fifteen thousand clients. They've also vetted and paid thousands of freelancers -- and it's easy to find proof of this online.
Hustle Rating:
Summary: If you can make it past Toptal's challenging freelancer application process, you can expect to find high-quality clients, fair pay, and a helpful support team on the other side. However, don't expect perfection. Toptal still suffers from some common freelance marketplace downfalls, such as occasional dry spells in work availability.
Safety Rating: 4/5
Toptal is safe for freelancers. The main safety concern is that you'll have to provide some personal information in order to apply. This includes basic information like your name, contact info, address, and work experience, but can also include more sensitive information like a photo of your government-issued ID.
While Toptal's privacy policy outlines that this information is only used for identity verification and other reasonable cases, there's always the chance it falls into the wrong hands.
Other than that though, since Toptal enables you to work online from the comfort of anywhere, you don't have to worry about coming into any physical harm by working on the platform.
Support Quality: 5/5
Toptal support has a good reputation online, with reviewers claiming quick and helpful responses.
Earning Potential: 3.5/5
Toptal offers a good earning potential for freelancers, however, it can vary quite a lot. Freelancers on Toptal have some control over their rates, but the typical rate seems to land somewhere between $30-$250/hour. Another factor that affects earnings is the availability of work, which can be heavily influenced by your skill set.
Payout Minimum Rating: 5/5
Toptal has a minimum payout of $0.01.
Payout Speed Rating: 3.5/5
Toptal typically invoices clients twice a month, though this setup is flexible.
Ease Of Entry: 1/5
Toptal is known for hiring only the top 3% of freelancing talent worldwide. For that reason, you can probably guess that it isn't easy to get in. The application process is quite extensive, requiring freelancers to have at least 2-3 years of experience and to go through a five-step screening process. These steps include a language and personality interview, hands-on skill reviews, and test projects. This entire process can take 2-5 weeks.
Commissions / Fees Rating: 5/5
Toptal has no commissions or fees, which is quite rare for a freelancing platform!
User Experience Rating: 4/5
Once you get past the grueling application process, Toptal offers access to high-end clients and a great deal of flexibility. You can set your own rates and then sit back as Toptal finds the best jobs to match your skills. Some gigs can even result in full-time job offerings (if that's what you're into).
Toptal Statistics
General Platform Statistics
#13,418
Global Site Rank
5M
Avg. Monthly Visitors
16k
Total Clients Served
40k
Total Engaged Toptalers
1.2M
Total Toptaler Applications
Data as of June 01, 2022 • Sources: SimilarWeb, Toptal
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