The growing demand for freelance talent has driven the popularity of online sourcing platforms like Upwork and Toptal. They allow businesses to connect with a wide range of marketing professionals for various projects and contract arrangements.
Although similar in purpose and level of popularity, Upwork and Toptal are distinct hiring solutions. Upwork is an online freelancing marketplace that lets you post jobs and receive bids from interested marketers. Meanwhile, Toptal functions as a recruiting agency that matches you with pre-vetted marketers based on your requirements.
In this detailed Toptal vs. Upwork breakdown, we’ll help you learn more about these platforms and how they compare. With information on the quality of their respective talent pools, recruiting processes, and pricing, you’ll be able to decide on the optimal solution for your business and project. We’ll also introduce an ideal Toptal and Upwork alternative dedicated exclusively to hiring high-caliber marketers.
Toptal vs. Upwork—Comparison Criteria
To help you understand the differences between Toptal and Upwork and pick the most suitable option for your hiring needs, we’ll analyze these platforms using the following criteria:
- Recruiting process
- Talent quality
- User experience
- Pricing and payments
In the table below, you can see a brief overview of the Upwork vs. Toptal comparison and how users have ranked these platforms:
Toptal vs. Upwork—Recruiting Process
Upwork lets you post a job listing for free and receive proposals from freelancers or agencies. Sometimes, you’ll get them in as little as minutes. You can then screen and interview candidates, evaluating whether they’re a good fit.
Alternatively, you can browse or search for freelancers and invite them to apply for your job. Each freelancer has a profile that displays their:
- Experience
- Portfolio
- Client reviews
Upwork also offers the Enterprise Suite, a custom hiring solution that unlocks a full-service customizable platform and many other benefits. If you’re an Enterprise client, you can seek talent-sourcing services from Upwork and its team will help you define the project scope, shortlist candidates, and screen them.
Toptal works much like Upwork Enterprise. After meeting with the director of marketing to explain the type of engagement you need, you’ll be hand-matched with an expert or a team from the platform’s pre-vetted talent pool. You can then interview your match to assess if they’re a right fit for your business and project. According to Toptal, selection usually takes under 24 hours and has a 98% trial-to-hire success rate.
If you’re looking to hire a marketer quickly, Upwork may be a better option since you can get proposals within minutes. You still have to screen and interview them yourself, though, which can be time-consuming and may not always result in a quality hire.
If you’d prefer to streamline this process and don’t mind waiting longer (and paying more), go with Toptal or consider subscribing to Upwork Enterprise. Toptal also offers guidance from marketing experts specifically, who are familiar with the industry and can contribute to higher-quality hires.
Pros and Cons
Toptal vs. Upwork—Talent Quality
Upwork approves profiles before allowing them to offer services on the platform, but it admits most applicants. To identify high-caliber marketers, you need to review their profiles, Upwork Skill Certifications, and client ratings. You can narrow down your selection and spot quality talent fast by looking for the following profile badges that Upwork awards to top performers:
- Rising Talent
- Top Rated
- Top Rated Plus
- Expert-Vetted
Expert-Vetted freelancers represent the top 1% of Upwork talent, but you can connect with them only if you subscribe to the Enterprise plan.
Toptal’s network is also diverse but consists only of pre-vetted experts. The vetting process is comprehensive and includes:
- English language and personality tests
- Skill assessment from industry experts
- Live screenings to assess problem-solving and communication skills
- Real-world scenario test projects
- Evaluation of track record on Toptal
According to Toptal, only 3% of individuals pass the screening. Some online reviewers pointed out that, like any other screening process, Toptal’s isn't 100% perfect either. Unsuitable individuals may slip through occasionally, but you can usually spot them at the interview. You’ll also receive a replacement match if you’re not satisfied.
While Upwork’s talent pool is vast, it may lack consistency and reliability. Upwork is a self-serve platform, so it requires a lot of involvement on your end—you must research freelancer profiles, look for profile badges, and evaluate candidates to zero in on the best ones.
Toptal’s network is smaller but consists entirely of pre-screened talent, so you can hire an exceptional marketer with less effort. It may not be the right place to look for entry-level marketers, though, as the platform accepts only candidates with deep subject matter expertise.
Pros and Cons
Toptal vs. Upwork—User Experience
To join Upwork, you need to create and verify your company profile. After that, you can start posting jobs and sourcing freelancers. The platform has many features to make your hiring experience smoother, allowing you to:
- Set milestones for jobs
- Add advanced search filters
- Communicate with freelancers via chat, video, or voice calls
- Make secure payments
Some users have had complaints about Upwork’s platform and service, though. For example, one freelancer claimed they came across errors on the website when attempting to chat with a client. Another user reported that their account was stuck on hold for days during the ID verification process. Both of these users, and many others, shared that they couldn't get in touch with human customer support.
To request Toptal’s services, you have to answer a list of questions about your company and the type of marketing role you’re looking to fill. You’ll then connect with a marketing expert and a project manager who’ll provide support and guide you through the hiring process. Another great aspect of Toptal is that the contract is flexible—you can scale up or down if you need to.
Some customers reported that the onboarding process involves too many people. Others have claimed that they didn’t get support from Toptal despite not receiving the service they paid for.
While both platforms are generally user-friendly, mishaps can happen. According to user reviews, customer support seems to be the bane of both Upwork and Toptal.
Pros and Cons
Toptal vs. Upwork—Pricing and Refunds
Upwork’s basic features, such as creating a profile and posting a job, are free. It does charge a one-time contract initiation fee of up to $9.95 and a 5% Client Marketplace Fee for most freelancer payments. To subscribe to the Enterprise plan and get access to premium features, you need to contact Upwork for a custom quote.
Since its talent network is so vast, you can find an array of freelance rates on Upwork. As far as refunds are concerned, you have to request them from freelancers or agencies directly. Upwork can only get involved if you file a dispute within a specific time frame.
Toptal requires a $500 deposit up-front, which will be applied as credit to your invoice if you make the hire. You can get the deposit back if you realize that the suggested expert is not the right fit during the trial period.
Besides the deposit sum, the price of Toptal’s services and average freelancer fees are not disclosed, but some customers found the overall cost too steep. Toptal’s refund policy is also not publicly available at this time.
Upwork is the more cost-effective option of the two, but its refund policy leaves something to be desired. With Toptal, the initial cost is high, but you do get a risk-free trial period.
Why MarketerHire Is the Optimal Solution for Hiring Marketers
MarketerHire is a matchmaking platform that connects businesses with elite marketers in all niches and industries. Since its launch in 2018, it has made over 25,000 successful matches and is trusted by household brands like Netflix, Skillshare, and Allbirds.
What sets MarketerHire apart from Upwork and Toptal is its marketing verticalization. While these two platforms can help you hire marketers, MarketerHire was designed by marketers and for marketers, so it offers unparalleled industry expertise and insight.
MarketerHire can help you make urgent hires for any role without compromising quality. Whether you need an Amazon expert, SEO specialist, or fractional CMO, you can trust MarketerHire to find a professional who will fit right into your company and project.
All of the marketers in the platform’s network are carefully vetted by other marketers using a five-step system that includes:
- In-depth skill assessments
- Video interviews
- Test projects
Only the top 3% of applicants make it into the network, so you can rest assured you’re connecting with the best of the best.
How MarketerHire Works
MarketerHire’s recruiting process is fast and straightforward and consists of the following three steps:
- You jump on a 30-minute call with your marketing manager to describe your project and company
- You get matched with a marketing expert within 48 hours
- They can start work in three days
The platform’s proprietary MarketerMatch system uses a combination of AI and human expertise to match you with the most suitable marketing expert, resulting in a 75% first-candidate acceptance rate.
MarketerHire takes a white-glove approach to customer service, providing guidance and support throughout the hiring process to ensure it’s effortless and convenient for you. After the platform finds your match, your dedicated marketing manager will check in with you regularly to make sure you’re satisfied with the arrangement. If not, you’ll receive a free rematch.
MarketerHire’s pricing is transparent and based on the type of engagement you need—10 hours per week, part-time, or full-time—so you only pay for what you need. With its risk-free, no-obligation monthly contract, you can scale up, scale down, or cancel whenever you want.
Besides connecting you with top marketing talent, MarketerHire lets you recruit Expert Assistants who can take over the repetitive and tedious manual work, allowing your marketing team to focus on critical tasks.
Reach out to MarketerHire and build your marketing dream team in no time!
Other Reviews To Check Out
If you want to know more about other platforms and marketplaces for hiring talented marketers, check out the rest of our reviews and comparisons in the table below:
