Hiring remote software engineers can feel overwhelming. With dozens of platforms and agencies promising “top talent,” many companies struggle to understand the real differences between them—especially when evaluating alternatives to premium networks like Toptal.

This guide is designed for companies specifically looking for Toptal alternatives focused on South American engineers. We break down what truly matters: pricing transparency, regional expertise, hiring flexibility, and long-term team stability—so you can make a decision based on structure, not hype. This is especially relevant as South America has consolidated its role as a global innovation hub, with countries like Colombia and Brazil showing significant progress in technological output and innovation capabilities according to the latest global indices.

Why Companies Look for Toptal Alternatives

Toptal is widely known for its elite talent network, but many companies eventually start looking for alternatives due to a few recurring challenges:

• High and opaque pricing through blended hourly rates
  
  
• Upfront entry fees before any hire is made
  
  
• A global talent model that lacks regional specialization
  
  
• Limited alignment for companies prioritizing nearshore collaboration the demand for nearshore, cost-efficient, and transparent hiring models continues to grow. Data shows that by 2026, over 80% of software engineers will work in remote or hybrid environments, making regional specialization more critical than ever for team cohesion."

Toptal is widely known for its elite talent network, but many companies start looking for a Toptal alternative for Latin American talent due to challenges like high and opaque pricing through blended hourly rates.

As more startups and scale-ups build distributed teams, the demand for nearshore, cost-efficient, and transparent hiring models—especially in South America—continues to grow.

Teilur Talent as a Toptal Alternative

Teilur Talent positions itself as a clear alternative to Toptal for companies that want senior software engineers from South America without marketplace friction.

Unlike freelance networks, Teilur operates as a nearshore staffing partner, not a talent marketplace. The focus is on long-term collaboration, full-time roles, and developers who integrate directly into internal teams.

There are no upfront commitments, no retainers, and no hidden costs. Companies only pay once they are ready to hire. 

Unlike freelance networks, Teilur operates as a nearshore staffing partner. If you want to understand the full scope of this model, our engineering staff augmentation: the complete guide explains how this differs from traditional outsourcing.

Revelo as a Toptal Alternative

Revelo is another well-known alternative to Toptal for companies looking to hire software engineers in Latin America. Its model focuses on nearshore hiring, offering access to a large network of pre-vetted developers across the region.

Revelo positions itself as a scalable solution for companies that want to hire full-time engineers in LATAM while benefiting from time zone alignment with the U.S. Their platform is especially attractive for organizations that need access to a large talent pool and are comfortable with a more standardized hiring process.

However, compared to boutique nearshore partners, Revelo operates at a larger scale, which can sometimes limit flexibility and transparency around pricing and developer compensation.

Transparent and Fair Pricing (Why It Matters)

One of the main reasons companies move away from Toptal is pricing opacity.

Teilur Talent operates under a transparent 80/20 pricing model:

• 80% or more of what the company pays goes directly to the engineer
  
  
• 20% is retained as a clearly disclosed service fee
  
  

This level of transparency benefits both sides, aligning with the new 2026 pay transparency regulations designed to ensure good faith salary estimates and fair compensation across global workforces. Companies know exactly how their budget is allocated, and engineers receive fair compensation—leading to better retention, stronger engagement, and more stable teams.

By contrast, platforms like Toptal use blended rates, where the platform’s margin is not disclosed, making it difficult for companies to assess true cost efficiency. Platforms like Toptal use blended rates where the margin is not disclosed. This lack of clarity often leads founders to ask about the real Toptal pricing and, more importantly, a Toptal cost breakdown: what is your developer really earning

No Upfront Fees or Long-Term Contracts

Many companies hesitate to work with Toptal alternatives because they’ve already experienced entry fees or long-term commitments elsewhere.

Toptal, for example, requires a $500 upfront deposit to start a search.

Teilur Talent removes that friction entirely:

• No upfront fees
  
  
• No yearly contracts
  
  
• No minimum commitments
  
  

You pay only when you decide to hire, which significantly lowers risk—especially for startups and growing teams.

LATAM Expertise vs Global Marketplaces

Global talent platforms optimize for scale, not regional depth.

Teilur Talent focuses exclusively on Latin America, allowing the team to deeply understand:

• South American work culture
  
  
• Time zone collaboration with U.S. and Canada
  
  
• Communication styles and expectations
  
  
• Local salary benchmarks 

Teilur Talent focuses exclusively on Latin America, deeply understanding local salary benchmarks. For instance, we can provide specific insights for companies deciding whether to hire software engineers in Colombia vs Argentina based on technical stack and availability.

This regional specialization leads to better matching, faster onboarding, and fewer misalignments compared to global marketplaces sourcing talent across multiple continents.

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Toptal vs Teilur vs Revelo: When Each Makes Sense

There is no universally “better” option—only a better fit.

Choose Toptal if:

• You need talent from multiple global regions
  
  
• Budget is not a primary concern
  
  
• You prefer short-term or freelance engagements

Choose Teilur Talent if:

• You want South American engineers specifically
  
  
• You value transparent pricing
  
  
• You want no upfront fees
  
  
• You are building a long-term nearshore team

Choose Revelo if:

• You want access to a large pool of pre-vetted LATAM engineers
  
  
• You are prioritizing scale and volume over customization
  
  
• You are comfortable with a more standardized, platform-driven hiring process
  
  

Comparing the Best Toptal Alternatives for South American Engineers

When evaluating the best Toptal alternatives for South American engineers, the real difference is not just talent quality—but how each company structures pricing, hiring, and long-term collaboration.

Here’s how the three most common options compare:

Toptal

• Global talent marketplace
  
  
• Blended hourly rates with limited pricing transparency
  
  
• $500 upfront deposit
  
  
• Best for short-term or highly specialized freelance needs
  
  

Revelo

• LATAM-focused nearshore platform
  
  
• Large pool of pre-vetted engineers
  
  
• Standardized hiring workflows
  
  
• Best for companies prioritizing scale over customization
  
  

Teilur Talent

• Nearshore staffing partner (not a marketplace)
  
  
• Transparent 80/20 pricing model
  
  
• No upfront fees or long-term contracts
  
  
• Engineers presented in ~5 days with cultural and technical fit
  
  
• Best for startups and scale-ups building long-term teams
  
  

While all three provide access to high-quality engineers, Teilur Talent stands out for companies that value transparency, speed, and team stability over platform-driven volume.

FAQ

Is Teilur Talent a marketplace like Toptal?
No. Teilur Talent is a nearshore staffing partner, not a freelance marketplace.

Why does transparent pricing matter when hiring engineers?
Transparent pricing reduces churn, improves retention, and ensures long-term alignment between companies and engineers.

Are South American engineers comparable in quality to Toptal talent?
Yes. South America has a strong pool of senior engineers who are increasingly adopting international cybersecurity and technical standards like NIST to meet the demands of U.S.-based startups

Conclusion

Companies looking for the best Toptal alternatives for South American engineers are not just comparing talent—they’re comparing hiring models.

While platforms like Toptal and Revelo offer access to strong talent pools, transparent pricing, regional expertise, and low-friction hiring structures are increasingly more important than brand recognition alone.

For teams that want senior nearshore engineers without hidden fees, upfront costs, or long-term lock-ins, Teilur Talent offers a more aligned and sustainable alternative.

Looking to build your remote team in Latin America without hidden fees or inflated markups?

At Teilur Talent, our Transparent Rate Pricing model ensures you know exactly where every dollar goes — with at least 80% of the rate going directly to the talent. This means fair pay, full visibility, and stronger long-term partnerships that drive real growth. We connect you with vetted, English-proficient professionals in tech, marketing and business ops who are ready to scale your operations seamlessly and cost-effectively.

If you’re ready to experience a smarter way to hire, click here to schedule a free consultation with us.