Toptal vs Upwork
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Freelance Platforms for Hiring Talent. Last verified June 17, 2026.
The short answer
Toptal ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #2) for Startups and SMBs hiring freelancers for design, dev, and marketing. The best for pre-vetted, high-caliber developers, designers, and finance experts.
At a glance
| Toptal | Upwork | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #1 / The 11 Best Freelance Platforms for Hiring Talent | #2 / The 11 Best Freelance Platforms for Hiring Talent |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9.3 | 9 |
| Best for | Hiring elite, vetted talent | Largest talent marketplace |
| Pricing | $$$$ (from $80/hr) | $$ (5% fee on payments) |
| HQ | San Francisco, USA | San Francisco, USA |
| Founded | 2010 | 2015 |
Toptal
The best for pre-vetted, high-caliber developers, designers, and finance experts.
www.toptal.comSee full entry in The 11 Best Freelance Platforms for Hiring Talent
Upwork
The biggest marketplace with the widest talent variety and budget flexibility.
www.upwork.comSee full entry in The 11 Best Freelance Platforms for Hiring Talent
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.