▸ Comparison · Freelance marketplace
Haystack vs Toptal
Toptal is built for short-term freelance projects. Haystack is built for permanent hires.
Toptal built its brand on the 'top 3%' freelance claim - and for short-term specialist projects it does the job. But most tech teams don't need a freelancer; they need a permanent engineer.
Haystack is built for permanent tech hiring. Vetted candidates opt in, salary and notice period are verified, and shortlists land in under 24 hours. No hourly rates, no rebilling, no lock-in.
Side-by-side
Haystack vs Toptal - the honest breakdown
| Area | Haystack | Toptal |
|---|---|---|
| Hire type | Permanent, contract, embedded | Freelance / contract only |
| Pricing | Flat subscription or pay-on-success | ~£70+/hr, Toptal takes a margin |
| Candidate vetting | Skills, salary and notice period verified upfront | Rigorous, but you can't see candidates pre-decision |
| Time to first shortlist | < 24 hours from job live | 1-3 days |
| Candidate transparency | Full profile, CV, verified skills, salary and notice | Matched by Toptal, limited pipeline view |
| Geographic focus | UK, EU and US strong | Global freelancer pool |
| Best for | Permanent engineering, product and design hires | Short-term specialist projects (< 6 months) |
Which one is right for you?
Pick Toptal if
One-off short-term specialist projects where flexibility matters more than fit.
Common questions
- Is Haystack cheaper than Toptal?
- For permanent hires, yes - by a wide margin. Toptal charges around £70+/hr and takes a margin on every hour worked. Haystack is a flat subscription or pay-on-success, so total cost is fixed and doesn't scale with hours.
- Can I hire a permanent employee through Toptal?
- Toptal is contract-first. Some engagements convert, but the pricing and contract structure is designed around freelance work. Haystack is built for permanent placement from day one.
- How does vetting compare?
- Both are vetted. The difference is transparency: Haystack shows you the full candidate profile, verified skills, salary expectations and notice period before you decide to interview. Toptal matches you with a candidate and expects you to trust the match.
- Which is better for remote hiring?
- Both support remote. Haystack lets you filter by working pattern (remote / hybrid / on-site), timezone and location radius upfront.
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Compare Haystack with
Other tech hiring platforms
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