TL;DR 

• Terminal.io helps companies hire the best software engineers at 40% lower than local rates.
• Terminal uses custom pricing, so you’ll need to reach out to them for a quote.
• The Terminal.io hiring process can take up to a month.
• They offer detailed candidate profiles and HR/administrative support.
• Consider Andela, Toptal, and ReactSquad if you're looking for alternatives.

Top-notch engineers are the backbone of any successful product, but hiring them can be time-consuming and expensive.

That’s where Terminal.io claims to make a difference. They connect you with skilled and affordable devs, reducing the time and cost of building your dev team. 

But does Terminal.io live up to the hype?

This article will dig deep into Terminal.io’s pricing, vetting process, pros and cons, and real user reviews. Plus, we’ll explore some popular alternatives. You’ll have a clear idea of whether Terminal.io is the right choice for hiring software developers in 2024.

About Terminal.io

Terminal.io helps companies hire quality software engineers globally. With rates about 40% lower than hiring local talent, they allow startups to build their software teams with affordable, skilled remote devs.

How do you hire software developers on Terminal.io?

There are two ways to hire developers on Terminal.io:

1. Hire + Employ: Terminal handles administrative aspects like legal employment, benefits, and salary. In other words, they become the Employer of Record (EOR).
2. Direct Hiring: You’ll manage employment through your company or preferred Employer of Record.

On Terminal's Talent Hub, you’ll find detailed info about each talent’s profile, like portfolio, experience level, skills, and interview videos.You can browse and hire devs based on specific skills (like Drupal, Python, React, etc.) or roles (backend developers, iOS engineers, data engineers, etc).The Talent Hub lets you review candidates, schedule interviews, and share your feedback with Terminal’s team. The process takes about 30 days for contract hires and around 45 days for full-time hires.How does Terminal.io vet developers?

• Talent experts review the candidate's experience and background. 
• They interview each candidate to assess their technical skills, English proficiency, and cultural fit. 
• Talent experts discuss the candidate's salary expectations and how they compare to the top 10% of their peers. 
• Only the top 7% of candidates make it through. 

What is Terminal.io’s pricing?Terminal.io doesn’t lay out a standard rate card on their site. You need to chat with a Terminal representative for a personalized estimate.But here’s the gist of how their pricing works:

• Hire Direct: Pay a flat fee for each developer you hire.
• Hire + Employ: There’s a flat fee per hire, plus a monthly fee if you want Terminal.io to take care of HR, payroll, and other employment tasks.
• Contract Pricing: Pay a monthly fee based on the developer’s rate.

Is Terminal.io legit? 

Wondering if Terminal is worth it? We’ll cover the pros, cons, and real user reviews so you can judge for yourself.

Pros

• Terminal.io can take care of all administrative work so you can focus on your projects.
• Rigorously vetted candidates to ensure high-quality, skilled talent.
• Detailed candidate profiles make it easier and quicker for clients to choose the right developers.

Cons

• Developers are only from Latin America, Canada, and Europe.
• Hiring a contract dev can take up to a month and up to 45 days for a full-time engineer.

Ratings and client reviews

Terminal has a 4.5 star rating on Capterra and 4.7 on G2, proving that most clients are happy with their services. Most of the positive reviews were about Terminal’s smooth service delivery.

One client wasn’t too pleased with Terminal limiting their geographical range.

Terminal.io alternatives

ReactSquad

ReactSquad helps startups hire skilled remote React developers. Our talented developers always meet deadlines, are highly responsive, and cooperate with your team. Like Terminal, we also act as the Employer of Record so you can focus on growing your business.

Pros

• Startup-friendly rates (starting from $75/hr). No hidden fees or initial deposits. 
• Senior developers have 5+ years of experience.
• One week free trial.
• Developers are available in US and EU time zones.
• Our matching and hiring process is fast. Hire a dev within 48 hours.

Cons

• We’re hyper-focused on React.Js projects and may not be ideal if you need a different technology.

Andela

Andela connects startups with skilled software engineers from Africa and Latin America. They help companies find these exceptional talents while making African economies grow.

Pros

• Dedicated account managers for each client
• AI engine that makes talent matching faster
• You can request a single dev or a whole team based on your needs.

Cons

• The vast difference in time zones can affect communication as most developers are based in Africa.
• They can be expensive, with monthly costs between $6,000 to $15,000

Toptal

Toptal is a website that connects businesses with the top 3% of freelance software engineers globally. Their rigorous vetting allows clients to be matched with only the best developers who can do the job.

‍Pros

• Strong vetting process guarantees only the best developers
• You get a 2-week free trial to allow you to assess the developer before committing.

‍Cons

• More expensive compared to other platforms.
• The hiring process can take weeks.

Terminal.io vs alternatives compared

Review summary

Here’s the summary of our Terminal.io review. 

Terminal.io’s HR / EOR services make them an attractive option. If you’d prefer not to handle the hiring technicalities, Terminal.io could be an excellent choice for your startup.

ReactSquad is another hassle-free option. We also take care of the entire hiring process for you—all you need to do is select the developer you want.

Book a consultation today and get started with a 7-day free trial!