Best Toptal choices to hire Programmers in 2025

Published on
Dec 2, 2024
Written by
Lisa Dahlgren
EDITED by
Maria del Mar Agudelo
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Finding the right programming talent can make or break a project. With numerous options available for hiring remote programmers, it’s crucial to choose a platform that not only provides skilled professionals but also offers transparent pricing and reliable service. This guide will walk you through the best Toptal choices to hire programmers this year, focusing on five top companies. We will explore their costs, services, and standout features to help you make an informed decision.

Best Toptal choices to hire Programmers / Software Engineers

1. Teilur Talent

Best Toptal choice to hire programmers

Pricing Structure

Teilur Talent charges a flat fee of $5,000 per month for a full-time programmer or software engineer, totaling $60,000 annually. This pricing model is designed to be transparent and fair, ensuring that both clients and developers understand the exact cost and compensation involved.

cost of hire programmers

Transparency and Fair Compensation

One of the key differentiators of Teilur Talent is its commitment to transparency. Unlike many traditional remote recruiting companies that hide fees and markups, Teilur Talent's 20% fee is fully disclosed. Clients know precisely how much they are paying, and developers receive fair compensation for their work, typically 80% of the client’s payment.

Benefits Challenges
  • Transparent pricing model
  • Fair compensation for programmers
  • Reduced turnover rates (less than 15%)
  • Strong alignment with client goals and values
  • Limited to talent from Latin America
  • Relatively new company with three years of experience

2. Upwork

Pricing Structure

Upwork operates on an hourly rate model, with programmer rates ranging from $12 to $150 per hour, averaging around $81 per hour. This means a full-time programmer can cost approximately $12,960 per month, or $155,520 annually.

Comparison with Teilur Talent

While Upwork provides access to a broad network of freelancers, it lacks the same level of transparency in pricing. Upwork charges a 10% fee on freelancer revenues, which can make it difficult to assess the true cost of hiring a programmer.

Benefits Challenges
  • Extensive network of freelancers
  • Flexible hiring models (hourly, project-based)
  • Access to global talent pool
  • Lack of pricing transparency
  • Potential for higher costs due to fees
  • Generic work without company alignment

3. Flexiple

Pricing Structure

Flexiple’s pricing ranges from $30 to $100 per hour. This means a full-time programmer could cost around $10,400 per month, or $124,800 annually. However, Flexiple does not publicly disclose detailed pricing information on its website.

Flexibility and Transparency Issues

Flexiple connects businesses with freelance tech professionals, emphasizing flexibility. However, the lack of detailed pricing information can make it challenging for clients to understand the full cost of hiring.

Pros and Cons Table
Benefits Challenges
  • Access to vetted freelance professionals
  • Flexible hiring models
  • AI-driven recruitment techniques
  • Lack of detailed pricing transparency
  • Mixed reviews regarding compensation fairness

4. CloudDevs

Pricing Structure

CloudDevs charges between $45 and $70 per hour for their programmers. This translates to approximately $9,200 per month or $110,400 annually for full-time work.

Unique Features and Customer Experiences

CloudDevs offers quick access to a vast talent pool from Latin America and emphasizes flexibility in hiring. However, some users have reported issues such as meeting cancellations and delays in payments.

Pros and Cons Table
Benefits Challenges
  • Clear hourly rate model
  • Flexible engagement options
  • Handles payroll and compliance
  • Customer support issues reported
  • $500 security deposit required before activating a free trial

5. EPAM

Pricing Confidentiality and Estimates

EPAM does not publicly disclose its pricing and requires a non-disclosure agreement to provide detailed budget information. Estimates suggest costs range from $12,000 to $14,000 per month for a full-stack or QA engineer.

Comparison with Teilur Talent

EPAM's lack of transparency contrasts sharply with Teilur Talent's open pricing model. Clients may find it challenging to understand the true cost of hiring with EPAM without signing an NDA.

Pros and Cons Table
Benefits Challenges
  • Extensive experience and global presence
  • Broad range of IT services
  • Lack of pricing transparency
  • Higher estimated costs

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Conclusion

Choosing the right platform to hire programmers is crucial for the success of your projects. Teilur Talent stands out for its transparent pricing and fair compensation model, which fosters trust and reduces turnover rates. Upwork offers a vast network of freelancers but lacks transparency in pricing. Flexiple provides flexibility but has issues with pricing clarity. CloudDevs offers a clear hourly rate but has customer support concerns. EPAM, while experienced, suffers from a lack of pricing transparency.

Teilur Talent’s commitment to transparency and fair compensation makes it a strong choice for companies looking to hire top programming talent.

Our thoughts on the pricing structure of Toptal 

While it's not possible for us to find details about how much of what a client pays ultimately goes to a candidate, we believe clients looking for transparent and straightforward pricing may want to look at other alternatives.

Our opinion is that if they are charging a client more than $12,000 monthly for a developer, they should at the very least be giving $9,600 to the candidate, but it's likely that it's even less than that.

‍
What Hiring Managers Should Ask Before Choosing a Talent Partner

Before partnering with any talent provider — whether Toptal, Teilur, or others — hiring managers should consider asking the following key questions:

  • What percentage of the fee actually goes to the talent?

  • Are replacement or satisfaction guarantees included in the contract?

  • How are regional salary benchmarks determined?

  • Is there full transparency in how rates are broken down?

  • What is the long-term cost difference between hiring directly and through a platform?
    ‍

These questions can help businesses make informed decisions and ensure that pricing aligns with both market realities and ethical compensation practices.

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Toptal vs Teilur Talent Comparison
Concept Toptal Teilur Talent
Transparency Pricing details are not publicly disclosed. Clients see a blended hourly rate that includes both Toptal’s fee and the freelancer’s pay. Fully transparent rate breakdown. Clients see exactly how much goes to the talent and how much is retained by Teilur as a service fee.
Commission / Markup Estimated at up to ~50% based on third-party reports and client testimonials. The exact markup percentage is not officially stated. Capped at 20%, ensuring that at least 80% of the client’s payment goes directly to the developer.
Monthly Subscription Fee $79/month, non-optional, grants access to Toptal’s vetted talent network. (Source: Toptal website). No subscription fees. Clients only pay when hiring or engaging talent.
Initial Deposit $500 refundable deposit required to begin a talent search. No upfront deposit required to start the matching process.
Trial Policy Two-week no-risk trial. Clients are billed only if satisfied with the match. N/A (direct matching) – Teilur focuses on pre-vetted, long-term placements with transparent trial terms discussed case by case.
Pricing Range (Developers) $60–$200+ per hour depending on experience and project complexity (includes platform markup). $6,000–$7,000/month for senior LATAM developers, equivalent to ~$35–$45/hour — transparent, with no hidden markups.
Payment Structure Bi-monthly invoices; payment terms like Net 10. Includes blended rate. Monthly invoices with clear cost breakdown (talent pay + Teilur fee).
Toptal vs Teilur Talent Comparison
Concept Toptal Teilur Talent
Business Model Global freelance marketplace connecting clients with vetted professionals in software, design, and finance. LATAM-focused recruitment company connecting businesses with full-time remote developers and tech professionals.
Selectivity Claim Claims to accept less than 3% of applicants, based on its internal screening process. Works only with pre-vetted, bilingual professionals in LATAM, selected for technical and communication skills.
Recruitment Process Multi-stage: timed skills test → English interview → real-world project → live screen evaluation. Direct evaluation of experience, portfolio, and communication ability. Matches candidates by vertical (QA, Software, Cybersecurity, Data & BI) and company culture.
Trial or Test Period Offers a two-week trial, refundable if client isn’t satisfied. No fixed trial period — focuses on long-term retention and transparent onboarding.
Contract Type Typically weekly contracts (20 or 40 hours) with limited flexibility for short-term projects. Flexible monthly agreements, allowing scalability per project scope and company needs.
Transparency Pricing details not publicly disclosed. Clients see a blended hourly rate including Toptal’s markup. Fully transparent pricing model. Clients see how much goes to the developer and how much is Teilur’s service fee.
Commission / Markup Estimated around 40–50%, based on user reports and external reviews. Capped at 20%. At least 80% of client payment goes directly to the developer.
Initial Deposit Requires a $500 refundable deposit to start the search process. No upfront deposit required.
Client Support Account managers available during hiring and engagement. Support quality varies by project. Personalized support from start to finish, ensuring alignment for both client and talent.
Developer Pay Transparency Developers are contractually restricted from disclosing their actual pay rates. Developers know their full compensation and see transparent rate breakdowns.
Geographic Focus Global, with talent from Eastern Europe, Asia, and LATAM. Exclusive to Latin America, optimizing time-zone alignment and cultural fit.
Turnover Rate Not publicly disclosed. Reported below 15%, reflecting strong retention and satisfaction.
Best For Large enterprises or teams needing globally distributed freelance specialists. U.S. and international companies seeking transparent, long-term partnerships with vetted LATAM developers.

Introduction

‍Best Toptal choices to hire Programmers / Software Engineers

Conclusion

FAQs

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Client Reviews

Teilur Talent
Teilur Talent Reviews

We are incredibly pleased with Teilur Talent as our talent partner. Their expertise has allowed us to recruit qualified candidates from abroad, making the hiring process smooth and efficient - highly recommended for any company looking to expand their talent pool!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Carolina Penuela

Justo

"Great for recruiting"
What do you like best about Teilur Talent? Recruiting tool for connecting talent in South and Central America to job postings in the USA.
What problems is Teilur solving and how is that benefiting you? Vetted candidates that we are able to use in our agency.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Teilur Talent helped me land a high-paying role, and everything has been great so far. If you ever have the opportunity to work with them, do so. I highly recommend it!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Eddie Santiago

Review collected by and hosted on Trustpilot.

I have heard of Teilur Talent, and I think it is a very innovative and socially responsible company. I also think it has a very positive culture and cares about its employees and customers.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Daniel Oviedo

Review collected by and hosted on Trustpilot.

My experience with Teilur Talent has been overwhelmingly positive from the start. Transparency and clear communication were standout features throughout my journey with the company. Highly recommended!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

João Ortiz

Review collected by and hosted on Trustpilot.

I believe in Teilur Talent's mission! It has been a pleasant experience for a Latin American, and everything that is promised is delivered!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mateo Silva

Review collected by and hosted on Trustpilot.

Right arrow
Madhulika Sharma
Dotdash

Teilur Talent featured in...

"Argentina offers highly competitive labor costs compared to other nearshoring destinations. With a strong focus on software and IT services, Argentina's tech talent pool is growing, and the country is already a resource for tech giants like Google."

Teilur Talent featured in...

"Brazil offers an attractive combination of cost-effectiveness and high-quality talent. With reportedly more than 500,000 software developers and an impressive annual growth rate, Brazil boasts the largest tech talent pool in LATAM."

Teilur Talent featured in...

"Teilur Talent recognized as the top IT Recruiting & Staffing firm in Latin America, Teilur Talent has made valuable contributions towards making the IT workspace more efficient and streamlined."

Teilur Talent featured in...

"Teilur Talent is the world’s first talent development network connecting U.S. tech startups and remote developers from Latin America!"

At Teilur, Inc, we are committed to accuracy and fairness in all our content. Our discussions and comparisons, particularly those concerning other businesses in the recruitment industry, are grounded in the best interpretations made by our dedicated staff, based on publicly available information. We hold a deep respect for the unique qualities of each organization within our field and strive to offer valuable insights rooted in our core beliefs about the recruitment industry's workings. If you encounter any factual inaccuracies in our content, we encourage you to reach out to us at content-research@teilurtalent.com with the specific URL in question. Your feedback is invaluable, and we are committed to reviewing and addressing your concerns.

Got questions? We've got answers.

1

How is Teilur Talent different from other tech recruiting companies in LATAM?

At Teilur Talent, we take a mission-focused approach to recruiting, ensuring that our candidates are aligned with your company's vision and goals. Unlike other tech recruiting companies in LATAM, who may focus solely on technical skills, we prioritize the cultural fit and dedication of our team members to your company. For this reason, we do not support project contractor or freelancer roles. Instead, we focus on fully devoted team members who will help you achieve long-term success.

2

How does Teilur Talent attract and retain the best talent compared to other companies?

At Teilur Talent, we offer our candidates competitive salaries that are 2x to 3x higher than what tech companies would pay locally. This allows us to attract top talent and retain highly motivated and loyal team members. Additionally, we focus on finding candidates whose values align with the purpose, vision, and mission of our clients. This approach ensures that our engineers and tech talent are not just coding and completing task rather, they become part of a greater purpose, which gives them meaning and helps us attract and retain the best talent.

3

What are the typical tech roles that Teilur Talent recruits for?

At Teilur Talent, we specialize in recruiting for a wide range of tech roles that are typically in high demand. These include positions such as DevOps engineers, AI Developers, QA analysts and engineers, back-end and front-end developers, data scientists, product managers, business developers, and technical sales positions. Essentially, we recruit for most roles that are needed in B2B and B2C tech-focused businesses.

4

What are Teilur Talent's fees and pricing structure?

At Teilur Talent, we believe in transparency. We charge a flat rate fee of 20% of what the client pays. This way, our clients know exactly what they are paying for and how much the candidate gets. As an example: If a client hires a software engineer for $60,000 per year ($5,000 per month), Teilur's monthly fee would be $1,000 (20% of $5,000). We don't believe in hidden fees or unwanted surprises, so we disclose all costs upfront to both candidates hired and companies. When exploring other alternatives, make sure they are transparent about their pricing. We believe this is paramount for the benefit of all parties involved in this new era of remote work.

5

What is the candidate screening process at Teilur Talent, and how do you ensure a good fit for my company?

At Teilur Talent, we take candidate screening very seriously. We use a multi-layered approach to find the best candidates for our clients, starting with screening thousands of candidates from our internal and proprietary networks. We leverage AI technology to assess whether a candidate matches the technical skills required for a given job opening. We also perform additional personal evaluations to ensure that the candidate has the soft skills, culture fit, and English language skills required to excel in their new role. Our rigorous screening process ensures that only the best candidates make it through to our clients, saving them time and helping them find the best talent for their teams.

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