Toptal is a talent marketplace that connects businesses with freelance software engineers, designers, finance experts, product managers, and project managers. It was founded in 2010 by Taso Du Val and Breanden Beneschott and operates as a fully distributed, remote-first company with no central physical headquarters, though it is legally organized in the United States.
Rather than an open marketplace where anyone can apply for jobs, Toptal screens applicants through a multi-stage process covering language and communication skills, a personality and cognitive assessment, live technical and skill interviews, and a real-world test project, accepting only a small percentage of applicants into its network. Clients describe their project needs to a Toptal matcher, who proposes pre-vetted freelancers within days, and can start a trial period before committing further.
Toptal targets businesses that need experienced, thoroughly vetted freelance talent for high-stakes or specialized projects and are willing to pay a premium over open marketplaces in exchange for reduced hiring risk and faster matching. Freelancers on the network work remotely on an hourly, part-time, or full-time contract basis.
Toptal operates primarily as a web-based matching service rather than a consumer mobile app. Pricing is not published; engagement costs are quoted per project based on the freelancer's rate and Toptal's margin, and clients typically pay a deposit to begin the matching process.