Toptal review: a screened network that matches you with clients

Toptal is a network of screened freelancers in software, design, finance, marketing, product and project management. You apply to join, pass a screening in several stages and are then matched with clients. There are no public projects to browse.

Who Toptal is for

Toptal suits experienced freelancers with very good English who want long remote engagements, full time or part time. By its own account successful members have at least a few years of experience. Most clients are in the US and Western Europe.

What Toptal offers

• Screening: an English and communication interview, skill tests, a live interview with an expert in your field and a test project.
• Matching: Toptal's matchers propose jobs that fit your profile and availability.
• Job search inside the network, for members only.
• Billing and payment handled by Toptal.
• Events, Slack channels and training for members.

Who pays for what

Freelancers

Nothing. You set your hourly rate, and Toptal takes no cut from it

Clients

Pay a monthly subscription for the platform and Toptal's price for the freelancer's hours

How to apply

Apply on Toptal's site in your field, then go through the screening. It takes a few weeks and ends with a test project. If you fail, you can try again after a waiting period. Once accepted, you set your rate and how many hours you are free. Matchers send you jobs that fit, and you can also search open jobs in the network and apply. Each engagement starts with a trial period for the client.

Where the listings come from

All engagements come from clients that hire through Toptal, from large companies to start-ups. By its own account Toptal reviews every client. Clients tell Toptal what they need, and its matchers pick a few members for each job. The jobs are not posted in public, so you will not find them on other boards. Clients often hire the same freelancer again.