When searching for remote tech talent, you may have noticed that many companies do not disclose their pricing information, including Toptal. 

However, at Teilur Talent, we believe in transparency and understanding the cost breakdown between the client and the developer. In this article, we will share our investigative process and reveal our conclusions on Toptal's pricing. While also providing insights on how transparent pricing model can be a great alternative for companies seeking a partner in international tech recruiting.

Toptal pricing for U.S companies

Updated October 2025

When hiring through Toptal, it’s important to understand how the platform’s pricing model actually works. Developers from around the world propose their own rates, which are then adjusted by Toptal based on factors such as experience level, skill set, and project demand. The company adds a service markup on top of the developer’s rate — often a significant percentage — to cover platform operations and client support.

What many clients don’t realize is that, once hired, developers must sign confidentiality agreements preventing them from disclosing their actual pay rates. This structure makes it challenging for companies to know how much of what they pay goes directly to the talent versus the platform itself.

So what's their fee? 

According to information available on Toptal’s official website, clients who decide to proceed with a talent search are charged a flat monthly subscription fee of $79, which grants access to the platform and its vetted network of professionals. The subscription can be canceled at any time, and if Toptal cannot match the client with suitable talent, a refund may be requested.

Each engagement starts with a two-week trial period, designed to ensure a successful fit between the client and the developer. If the client is fully satisfied with the results, billing continues; if not, no payment is required for the trial period, and Toptal can either provide a replacement expert or terminate the engagement.

Despite some reports of variations in trial durations, it's important to recognize Toptal's commitment to flexibility and client satisfaction. This policy underscores their confidence in matching clients with highly skilled professionals efficiently. Moreover, Toptal's vast network of talent allows for rapid alignment of expert engineers with projects, reflecting their dedication to meeting diverse project timelines and requirements. That is why Toptal has good reviews as shown below.

However, there are opinions from clients regarding relevant issues in the contracting process, trial and transparency in the process, as shown below.

We will further analyze a verified client review published on Clutch.co, titled “Development & DevOps Resources for Accounting Company.” Since Toptal does not publicly disclose client billing details and engineers are contractually restricted from revealing their rates, we rely on verified third-party reviews to understand cost structures and project outcomes.

According to the information available, the client — a cloud-based accounting company in Canada with 501–1,000 employees — hired Toptal to provide IT staff augmentation services. The engagement included one DevOps specialist and one software developer, working to improve app performance and infrastructure reliability.

According to the review:

Toptal charged the client approximately $25,000 per month for two specialists — a DevOps engineer and a software developer — working on infrastructure and performance improvements for a cloud-based accounting company.

At Teilur, we estimate that hiring similar senior professionals in LATAM would cost around $6,000–$7,000 per month per engineer, bringing the total monthly cost to about $12,000–$14,000, while maintaining comparable expertise and performance outcomes.

We also found another review on Quora from a former employer. We couldn't verify this information, but it stays in line with what other companies usually charge.

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.

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What Hiring Managers Should Ask Before Choosing a Talent Partner

Before partnering with any talent platform — 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?
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These questions can help businesses make informed decisions and ensure that pricing aligns with both market realities and ethical compensation practices.

Teilur Talent Transparency

To help companies better understand market standards, Teilur offers a transparent pricing calculator that estimates costs based on three main variables: the type of talent required, their experience level, and their location within Latin America.

At Teilur, pricing models are designed to ensure that at least 80% of the total client payment goes directly to the developer, promoting fair pay and long-term retention.
Based on current benchmarks, a mid- to senior-level developer (around 5 years of experience) typically earns between $42,000 and $78,000 per year, depending on specialization and country.

Conclusion

Toptal has built a strong reputation for providing access to top-tier talent and maintaining client satisfaction through its trial system and global network of engineers. However, pricing transparency remains a major concern.

For companies aiming to optimize budgets without compromising quality, understanding where each dollar goes is essential. Platforms like Teilur Talent — which operate with clear rate breakdowns and no hidden markups — offer a transparent alternative that helps organizations maintain both financial control and trust.

Ultimately, the best partner is one that not only delivers great talent but also allows clients to see exactly how their investment is distributed.

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 Marketing, tech 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.