When it comes to hiring remote developers, Toptal and Lemon.io are pretty popular options. But which of them is the better fit for startups? Or should you consider a third option? This guide will share some more alternatives and help you figure that out.
Hiring remotely is a strategic move that many startups—and even large tech companies—are embracing. In fact, over 67% of tech industry employees now work primarily from home.
For example, Microsoft’s careers page lists over 100 jobs for fully remote or hybrid positions. Meta has even appointed a director of remote work to manage and grow their remote workforce.
Recently, Annie Dean, head of Team Anywhere at Atlassian, shared on LinkedIn how remote hiring has expanded at the company:
“We have access to a broader pool of diverse talent. After implementing Team Anywhere, the percentage of our remote hires (2+ hours from an office) jumped from 14% to 54%. We see no evidence of decreased productivity. Preliminary research shows that our most productive teams are actually those distributed across ~4 time zones.”
Developers themselves are increasingly drawn to companies that offer remote work. A Jamstack survey revealed that the top reason developers switch jobs is the opportunity to work remotely.
So the real question isn’t whether you should hire remote developers but how to do it the right way.
For a more detailed look at hiring remote software developers, be sure to check out this guide.
Lemon.io is a staff augmentation agency in Ukraine that connects startups in the USA with vetted freelance developers from Ukraine. They carefully select talented professionals who match your project’s needs, ensuring you get the best value for money.
For a more detailed review of Lemon.io, check out this in-depth article here.
Toptal is a global network of highly skilled tech professionals based in Europe and the Americas. They connect the top 3% of freelance talent with companies around the world.
Curious about alternatives to Toptal? Take a look at these top 10 alternatives.
Let’s take a closer look at how these two platforms stack up against each other.
We turned to G2 to see what clients had to say about the user experience on both platforms. Here’s how they compared:
One client shared how challenging it was navigating Lemon’s platform:
Lemon.io hires developers with a minimum of 5 years of experience across various programming languages. Toptal is well-known for its rigorous vetting process, allowing it to recruit only the top 3% of developers into its talent pool.
Both platforms give you access to highly skilled professionals.
Lemon.io’s rates range from $55 to $95 per hour, but you must commit to at least 160 hours per project. This means you’ll be paying at least $8,800. Additionally, there’s an initial payment covering one month or one week of work, depending on your billing cycle.
Toptal’s developers, known for their expertise, charge premium rates. The average hourly rate is $120, with top-tier developers commanding $200 or more. Toptal also requires a one-time initial deposit of $500, which is refundable if you choose not to proceed.
We looked at reviews to get a sense of how Lemon.io and Toptal handle customer support. Here’s what we found:
At Lemon.io, it takes up to two weeks to start working with a developer. Here’s a breakdown of their process:
Toptal’s hiring process is faster, typically taking about 48 hours to get started:
Lemon.io’s vetting process is quick, allowing them to screen many candidates. However, this might raise concerns about the depth of their talent pool. Here’s how it works:
Toptal’s vetting process is one of the strictest in the industry:
We’ve explored two solid options: Lemon.io and Toptal. Lemon.io offers more affordable hourly rates, but its user experience can be clunky, and the hiring process can be slow. On the other hand, Toptal connects you with top-tier developers, but the costs are steep.
The solution that strikes the perfect balance? ReactSquad. Here’s why:
Ready to get started? Book a consultation with us and enjoy a free 7-day trial today.
