Hiring remote developers is easier than ever, but choosing the right platform can be overwhelming. Lemon.io and Revelo are two popular options that connect startups with vetted engineers from abroad. Both offer remote talent, but they differ in pricing, vetting standards, time-to-hire, and overall flexibility. In this guide, we break down how each platform works so you can decide which one fits your needs best—and what to consider if neither is quite right.

‍

About Lemon

Lemon.io is a platform that matches startups with freelance software engineers from Eastern Europe and Latin America—all fully remote. Developers are tested for their technical skills and English fluency so startups can onboard them quickly.

‍

About Revelo

Revelo is a talent platform that helps U.S. companies hire remote software engineers from Latin America for full-time roles. Unlike traditional freelancing marketplaces, Revelo focuses on long-term staff augmentation, providing pre-vetted engineers in similar time zones as the U.S.A. (like Brazil, Mexico, or Argentina). 

‍

How to Hire a Developer at Lemon.io

1. Fill out a form on their website with your project details and skill requirements. 
2. Lemon.io matches you with developers from their database who fit your requirements. 
3. You can interview the developers to assess their cultural fit with your team. 
4. Once you’re ready, you must make a security deposit and commit to at least 160 work hours to get your project started. 

‍

How to Hire a Developer at Revelo

1. Fill out a form on Revelo’s website and share your developer requirements.
2. Revelo will send you a list of candidates that fit within your budget.
3. Interview and vet the shortlisted candidates to find your best fit.
4. Choose your dev and start working with them in a 2-week free trial.

‍

Lemon.io’s Vetting Process

Lemon.io has a relatively fast vetting process that allows them to screen many candidates that apply. But, this might raise concerns about the quality of their talent pool. Here’s the process:

1. Lemon’s recruiting team reviews the resumes and LinkedIn profiles of every applicant. Those with at least five years of experience in the required tech stack are accepted. 
2. The recruiters screen candidates for English proficiency and communication skills.
3. Senior developers from Lemon’s community interview candidates with a live coding session to test their technical expertise.
4. The best-performing candidates are added to Lemon.io’s talent pool.

‍

Revelo’s Vetting Process

Revelo doesn’t have such a strong vetting process. A Revelo recruiter only does a 45-minute interview with each applicant. He assesses the applicant’s English language level, technical experience, and long-term career goals. The candidate is added to Revelo’s talent pool if the recruiter is satisfied. 

‍

Lemon.io’s Pricing

Lemon.io developers’ hourly rates range between $55 to $100 per hour, depending on experience and the project’s complexity. However, you must agree to commit to at least 160 work hours to start any project. 

‍

Revelo’s Pricing

Revelo issues you a monthly bill that covers the developer’s rates and Revelo’s fees. You pay directly to Revelo, and they handle payments to the engineers. We tried to find the specific numbers for their rates, but they don’t disclose their pricing online. 

They have an online calculator that shows how much it will cost to hire a team. But to get this result, you must provide your name and email address, which raises questions about their transparency with pricing. We also know there’s an additional fee of $2,500 on top of the monthly developer salaries.

And, if you decide to hire the developer full-time, you’ll have to pay the service fees for the next 12 months upfront.

‍

Lemon.io Pros & Cons

Pros

• Generally affordable hourly rates.
• The hiring process can take just about a week. 
• You get access to pre-vetted developers.

Cons

• Requires a minimum commitment of 160 work hours before a project can start.
• A security deposit is required for any project to start. This deposit is equal to a week’s or a month’s fee of the project, depending on your billing cycle. 
• Their free trial duration is unclear. 

‍

Revelo Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2-week free trial available
• Revelo handles compliance and payroll

Cons

• Hiring can take up to 3 weeks
• Their vetting process is not strong
• Lack of transparent pricing
• Talent is limited to the Latin American region.

‍

Lemon vs Revelo Compared: Key Differences

Here’s how Lemon and Revelo compare with each other:

‍

‍

Which should you choose?

‍

‍

What is the Best Alternative to Lemon and Revelo?

Lemon and Revelo both provide access to affordable IT talent, but they have their flaws. Lemon expects a minimum commitment with advance pay. Revelo takes weeks to complete the hiring process, and they’re not even transparent about pricing.

If these two don’t cut it for you, consider ReactSquad. We’re a marketplace of vetted React developers. Here’s what you benefit from us:

• Free trial: Try us for 7 days at no cost to you.
• Startup-friendly pricing of $75 per hour. No hidden charges. No upfront fees.
• Our developers have 5+ years of experience and are 100% focused on React.js.

‍Schedule a call today and get a dev within 48 hours.