World's largest fully remote talent network connecting businesses with top 3% of freelance software developers and designers.
Toptal is a global platform that connects businesses with top freelance talent, offering a fully remote workforce. With a vast network of skilled professionals, they enable companies to hire experts for various projects and teams. Since 2010, Toptal has facilitated over 70,000 contracts and worked with 25,000+ clients, generating $200 million in annual revenue. They provide end-to-end solutions, making them a trusted partner for top companies worldwide.
Our take on Toptal
Toptal has revolutionized the freelance talent marketplace since its founding in 2010, positioning itself as the world's largest fully remote workforce platform. The company's rigorous screening process, which accepts only the top 3% of applicants, has become its hallmark differentiator in the competitive staff augmentation industry. With over $4 billion in global payments and $200 million in annual revenue, Toptal has proven the viability of the premium talent marketplace model.
The platform's strength lies in its comprehensive talent network spanning software developers, designers, project managers, product managers, and finance experts. This diversity enables clients to build complete teams or fill specific skill gaps with highly vetted professionals. Toptal's fully distributed model allows for true 24/7 global coverage while maintaining cultural and professional standards through careful curation and ongoing quality assurance.
Toptal's business model offers significant advantages for companies seeking rapid scaling without long-term commitments. The platform provides flexible engagement options—hourly, part-time, or full-time—allowing businesses to adapt resource allocation as project needs evolve. The company's investment from prestigious backers like Andreessen Horowitz and their profitability without additional funding rounds demonstrates strong unit economics and sustainable growth.
Despite premium pricing, Toptal justifies its cost through speed of hiring and quality of professionals. The company's emphasis on both technical expertise and cultural fit has earned recognition including LinkedIn's Employer Brand Engagement Award. However, prospective clients should note that Toptal's cost structure and engagement terms are typically designed for companies with larger budgets.
Verified credentials and recognition earned by Toptal
Verified
This agency has a verified website presence.
LinkedIn Verified
This agency has a verified LinkedIn company page.
Top Rated
This agency has an exceptional AgencyCluster score of 80+.
Google Partner
Certified Google Partner with proven expertise in Google products.
AWS Partner
Amazon Web Services Partner Network member.
Microsoft Partner
Microsoft Partner Network member.
15+ Years
Established in 2010. Over 15 years of experience.
Enterprise
Enterprise (500+)
Rankings earned on AgencyCluster
Common questions about Toptal.
Toptal has earned rankings on 23 AgencyCluster lists: Top 50 Staff Augmentation / Dedicated Teams, Top 50 Generative AI Development, Top 10 Staff Augmentation / Dedicated Teams in California, and 20 more. Their highest AgencyCluster Score is 100/100. Rankings are merit-based and determined by evidence across six evaluation pillars — agencies cannot pay for higher positions.
In our evaluation for Staff Augmentation / Dedicated Teams, Toptal scores 100/100 overall. Their strongest areas are Credibility, Proof of Work & Outcomes, Reputation, Category Fit, Delivery Maturity, Freshness. A high Outcomes score means they have verifiable case studies with measurable results — the most heavily weighted factor in our methodology.
Toptal was founded in 2010, giving them over a decade of experience in staff augmentation / dedicated teams. In an industry where many agencies are less than 5 years old, 16+ years of sustained operations signals stability, client retention, and the ability to adapt through multiple technology cycles. Today, the team is enterprise.
Toptal holds the following credentials on AgencyCluster: Google Partner, AWS Partner, Microsoft Partner. These badges are verified by our editorial team and contribute to the agency's Credibility pillar score. Certifications like partner badges (e.g., Google Partner, AWS Partner) indicate that the agency has met specific vendor requirements for expertise and client outcomes.
Toptal is listed across 4 categories on AgencyCluster: Staff Augmentation / Dedicated Teams, Product Engineering (SaaS), Generative AI Development, AI Chatbot Development. This indicates a full-service or multi-discipline capability. Multi-service agencies can be advantageous when your project spans several disciplines (e.g., design + development + marketing). However, check their scores per category — an agency may be strong in web development but less specialized in, say, AI/ML. Staff augmentation specialists maintain pre-vetted talent pools, handle HR/admin overhead, and provide project management structure. This means faster onboarding and lower risk than direct freelance hiring.
Toptal has a presence across 3 states: California, Delaware, New York. A multi-state presence can be important for enterprise buyers who need local account management, on-site workshops, or time-zone-aligned teams. It also suggests the agency has scaled beyond a single-office operation.
Individual developer rates range from $40–$120/hour depending on seniority and location. Dedicated teams (3–5 engineers) typically cost $25K–$60K/month. Long-term contracts (6+ months) often come with 10–20% discounts. These are industry benchmarks for staff augmentation / dedicated teams agencies at the level AgencyCluster curates. Actual pricing for Toptal will depend on project scope, timeline, and complexity — contact the agency directly for a custom quote.
Yes. Toptal has been vetted and verified by AgencyCluster's editorial team through a rigorous, multi-factor review process. Unlike self-serve directories, AgencyCluster does not accept automated submissions — every agency is evaluated manually before being published. Our vetting covers identity verification (website, LinkedIn, domain age), business legitimacy (years of operation, team size, registered presence), evidence of work (case studies, portfolio, client outcomes), reputation checks across third-party platforms, activeness and freshness of their online presence, and screening for red flags including misconduct, fraud, or misleading claims. Agencies that fail any critical check are not listed. For Toptal, verified signals include a functioning website, LinkedIn company profile, 16+ years of operating history (founded 2010), 3 verified certifications, 23 earned rankings on curated top lists.
