Toptal vs Upwork

June 05, 2023 | Author: Adam Levine
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Toptal
Toptal is an exclusive network of the top freelance software developers and designers in the world. Top companies rely on Toptal freelancers for their most important projects.
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Upwork
Upwork stands out of all other alternatives on freelance market. Great work starts with great talent. Get amazing results working with the best programmers, designers, writers and other top online pros. Hire freelancers with confidence, always knowing their work experience and feedback from other clients.
Toptal and Upwork are both online platforms that connect businesses with freelancers, but they have distinct differences in terms of their approach and target audience. Toptal positions itself as a premium platform for top-tier freelancers, specializing in the fields of software development, design, and finance. It has a rigorous screening process and only accepts the top 3% of freelancers, ensuring high-quality talent. Toptal targets clients looking for elite professionals and offers a personalized matching service. On the other hand, Upwork is a larger and more general freelancing marketplace, offering a wide range of freelance services across various industries and skill sets. It caters to businesses of all sizes and budgets, providing access to a vast pool of freelancers worldwide. Upwork allows clients to post job listings and choose from a variety of freelancers based on their skills, experience, and rates.

See also: Top 10 Freelance marketplaces
Toptal vs Upwork in our news:

2016. JIRA gets Upwork integration



The project management service JIRA is introducing a new functionality that enables users to seamlessly convert JIRA tickets into job postings on the Upwork freelance marketplace. This integration allows JIRA users to simply click a button and access a pre-filled form to submit directly to Upwork's marketplace. This feature is particularly beneficial for small businesses that frequently face a backlog of feature requests and unresolved bug fixes. It is worth noting that this collaboration between Atlassian and Upwork is not the first time they have partnered in relation to JIRA. Upwork clients already have the ability to link their JIRA tickets to their Upwork account, enabling freelancers to track their time. Furthermore, clients can utilize Upwork's messaging feature to receive updates when a freelancer commits code to Bitbucket or updates a JIRA ticket, for instance.


2015. Freelance engineer marketplace Toptal now sells designers



Toptal, the platform dedicated to connecting companies with high-quality engineers, has expanded its services to include designers who have available time to assist companies in need. Toptal facilitates the entire freelance process by gathering job requirements from companies, negotiating budgets, and thoroughly vetting both parties involved to ensure a satisfactory experience for everyone. By ensuring the legitimacy of both the hirer and the freelancer, Toptal facilitates the perfect match. Rather than overwhelming the hirer with numerous resumes, Toptal presents an average of only 1.7 options for coders before the client finalizes a contract. The client pays Toptal, who then compensates the freelancer, while retaining the difference as profit. With an extensive pool of thousands of engineers, Toptal currently collaborates with around 2,000 clients ranging from established companies like J.P. Morgan and Pfizer to popular brands like Airbnb and Zendesk, as well as emerging startups.


2015. Elance-oDesk rebrands as Upwork



More than a year following the merger of Elance and oDesk, the combined freelancer powerhouse is undergoing a rebranding and will now be known as Upwork. The rebranding accompanies the launch of a new platform, which includes a mobile app, enhanced search algorithms, faster processing, and a real-time chat service. This chat service, described by Upwork's new CEO Stephane Kasriel as a "Slack killer," is completely free and open to anyone, not limited to those posting jobs or seeking work on the platform. Upwork plans to introduce additional features, such as integrations with GitHub, Google Drive, Jira, and video functionality, later this year, aiming to expand its collaboration capabilities. While the online job search market is highly competitive, with players like Indeed.com, Monster, CareerBuilder, LinkedIn, and others, Upwork is poised to assert its presence in the space, particularly for freelance opportunities.


2013. Elance and oDesk want to create Amazon for freelance



(From left to right: Gary Swart, oDesk and Fabio Rosati, Elance) ***

Author: Adam Levine
Adam is an expert in project management, collaboration and productivity technologies, team management, and motivation. With an extensive background working at prestigious companies such as Microsoft and Accenture, Adam's in-depth knowledge and experience in the field make him a sought-after professional. Currently, he has ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a thriving consulting and training agency where he imparts invaluable insights and practical strategies to individuals and organizations, empowering them to achieve their goals and maximize their potential. You can contact Adam via email adam@liventerprise.com