Toptal vs Turing vs Teilur Talent: Pricing & true costs compared

Published on
Aug 12, 2024
Written by
Juan David Rodríguez
EDITED by
Maria del Mar Agudelo
Read time
5 Minutes
Category
Transparency Research

Choosing the right platform for hiring tech talent involves more than just matching skills with tasks; it's about understanding the value each service offers, especially in terms of cost. This blog casts a spotlight on Teilur Talent, Toptal, and Turing, focusing specifically on how transparent their pricing really is. We’ll take a closer look at the unique benefits and services each one brings to the table, offering insights into how they support diverse hiring needs for remote tech professionals.

Overview of each platform: Insights into Toptal vs Turing vs Teilur Talent

Teilur Talent

Teilur Talent emerges as a distinctive player with its transparent pricing model and deep specialization in Latin American tech talent. Emphasizing fairness, Teilur Talent ensures that a significant portion of the fees goes directly to the talent, promoting both cost-effectiveness for companies and fair compensation for professionals. This approach not only supports the financial well-being of its talent pool but also presents a compelling option for businesses of all sizes.

Key Features and Services Offered:

  • Specialization in Latin American talent: Focuses on connecting businesses with tech talent in Latin America for nearshore advantages.
  • Transparent pricing without minimums: Offers clear, upfront pricing and flexible engagements, ideal for startups.
  • Rigorous pre-vetting process: Ensures only top-quality tech talent through a comprehensive vetting system.
Teilur Talent website

Toptal

Toptal offers a broad marketplace for freelance talent, with rates for developers that reflect the high caliber of professionals within its network. The inclusive rates incorporate Toptal's fees, presenting a unified cost to clients. This model supports a diverse array of projects, from short-term assignments to full-scale development efforts, providing flexibility in both project scope and budgeting.

Key Features and Services Offered:

  • Global freelancer network: Provides access to a wide range of top-tier freelancers across various disciplines worldwide.
  • Flexible engagements: Supports different working arrangements with adaptable pricing to fit project needs.
  • Selective vetting process: Employs a thorough screening to admit only the top 3% of talent into their network.

Learn more about: Toptal pricing

Turing

Turing presents a model where the exact distribution between what the client pays and what the developer receives remains less visible, emphasizing the platform's role in matching global tech talent with projects. Despite this, Turing's approach allows for a wide selection of candidates, albeit with an added layer of pricing ambiguity. This setup caters to businesses looking for a broad talent pool, prioritizing access over detailed cost breakdowns.

Key Features and Services Offered:

  • Global developer talent pool: Offers a broad selection of software developers from around the world for diverse project requirements.
  • AI-Driven matching: Utilizes advanced algorithms for precise talent-to-project matching, though pricing details may vary.
  • Stringent vetting system: Focuses on a rigorous evaluation to ensure developers meet high standards of technical and communication skills.

Learn more about: Turing alternative

Pricing & fees comparison: Toptal vs Turing vs Teilur Talent

When it comes to expanding your team with tech talent, understanding what you're actually paying for is key. Transparent pricing isn't just about avoiding unexpected costs; it's about making informed decisions that fit your budget and project goals. Here, we're diving into how Toptal, Turing, and Teilur Talent stack up in terms of pricing and fees.

Feature Comparison
Feature Toptal Turing Teilur Talent
Pricing and Fees $90 to $170+/hr, includes fees, bi-monthly invoicing with Net 10 terms. Pricing opaque, fees added to client bill. Transparent, no minimums, >80% goes to talent.
Talent Quality and Vetting Process Top 3% of applicants, rigorous screening. AI-driven matching, less visible vetting criteria. Comprehensive vetting, focused on Latin American talent.
Global Reach and Accessibility Global talent pool, diverse project needs. Global developer pool, AI for matching. Latin American focus, strategic nearshore advantages.

Pricing and fees

  • Toptal offers a broad spectrum of talent with rates that range from $90 to $170 or more per hour, reflecting the high caliber of professionals within its network. The rates include Toptal's fees, embodying a comprehensive package of service and talent quality. Clients are invoiced bi-monthly, with flexibility in payment terms (Net 10), allowing a review period before charges are processed. This structure, while providing clarity on hourly rates, places Toptal in a premium pricing tier.
  • Turing, in contrast, operates with a less transparent pricing model. While it facilitates global talent acquisition, the final charge to the client, including Turing's fees, is not disclosed upfront. Developers are advised on their pay range by Turing, which then adds its fees to the client's bill. This model, while effective in matching talent with projects, introduces a layer of opacity regarding the exact cost breakdown and the percentage going to the talent versus Turing.
  • Teilur Talent prides itself on transparent pricing with no minimum commitments, making it an attractive choice for startups and businesses looking for clear and flexible budgeting options. More than 80% of the payment goes directly to the worker, highlighting Teilur Talent's commitment to fair compensation. This approach supports Teilur Talent's mission to provide cost-effective solutions without sacrificing talent quality or service integrity.

Talent quality and vetting process

  • Toptal boasts a selective vetting process, claiming only to admit the top 3% of applicants. This rigorous screening ensures clients have access to a global pool of high-caliber professionals, capable of meeting diverse project needs.
  • Turing utilizes AI algorithms to match developers with projects, prioritizing a seamless fit over detailed disclosures about the vetting process. While Turing ensures talent quality, the specific criteria and depth of their vetting process remain less visible to clients.
  • Teilur Talent implements a comprehensive vetting process, focusing particularly on Latin American tech talent. This meticulous approach ensures a high match in quality and expertise, showcasing Teilur Talent's dedication to upholding high standards in recruitment.

Global reach and accessibility

  • Toptal and Turing both highlight their capability to provide talent on a global scale. Toptal facilitates access to professionals from around the world, catering to clients' diverse geographical and project requirements. Turing, with its AI-driven platform, also offers a vast pool of software developers from various regions, emphasizing the ease of finding suitable talent without geographical limitations.
  • Teilur Talent, while specializing in Latin American talent, provides strategic advantages for companies seeking nearshore options. This focus allows for easier collaboration and time zone alignment for businesses in the Americas, enhancing project management and communication efficiency.

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.

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.

Need help with cost expectations?

Our hiring costs vary depending on the candidate's accepted offer. Use our calculator to estimate costs for different roles.

These are our recommended salaries, but clients are free to set their own rates.

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Client Reviews

Teilur Talent
Teilur Talent Reviews
Madhulika Sharma

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.