Toptal is better suited for clients seeking high-quality, vetted freelancers and guaranteed payment security, despite the higher cost. LinkedIn Marketplace is a more affordable option for those willing to take on the risk of unvetted freelancers and manage payment independently.
| Attribute | Toptal | LinkedIn Marketplace |
|---|---|---|
| Vetting process for freelancers | Rigorous screening process to ensure highly capable professionals are accepted. Measures subject matter expertise, professionalism, and communication skills. Includes language and personality assessment, in-depth skill review, live screening, and test projects. Takes 3-8 weeks. Claims to accept only the top 3% of freelancer applicants. | LinkedIn includes a disclaimer that it "does not endorse any particular Member's offered services". There is very little barrier to entry. |
| Freelancer skill levels and expertise | Aims to provide access to top-tier freelancers. Focuses on hiring quality talent, resulting in proficient developers. Freelancers have experience working for reputable companies. Looks for experienced experts in their fields. | Freelancers can showcase their expertise through ratings and client reviews. Freelancers can highlight their skills on their service page linked to their profile. |
| Pricing structure and fees | Charges clients a $79 monthly subscription fee. Freelancers set their own rates. Hourly rates range from $60 to $200+ per hour. Applies an undisclosed markup to freelancer rates, potentially reaching up to 50%. | Free to use for both freelancers and employers (LinkedIn Services Marketplace). Fees apply for LinkedIn ProFinder proposals and LinkedIn Premium subscriptions. |
| Project management tools and features | Does not seem to have its own project management tools, but highlights the use of tools like Asana, Trello, Wrike, and Paymo. | The site does not offer project management tools. Compared to dedicated freelance platforms, LinkedIn Marketplace lacks advanced project management tools. |
| Communication channels and support | Fosters clear communication between freelancers and clients through its platform interface. Offers good communication to solve any issue in mere minutes. Assigns an industry expert as a touch point who is knowledgeable, proactive, and extremely helpful. | Clients can reach out to freelancers directly without needing to connect or follow them first. Easy-to-use interface with direct communication options. Customer support is reportedly bad. |
| Payment security and dispute resolution | Guarantees payment and offers payment solutions via Hyperwallet. Invoices clients directly, receives payment, retains commission, and pays freelancers a pre-determined rate. Offers a risk-free trial period. | The platform does not feature payment facilitation. There is no way of negotiating a fee for work, nor for invoicing. |
| Range of available talent (specializations) | Offers freelance talent in software development, design, finance, product management, and project management. Experts in digital marketing, growth marketing, content creation, and social media marketing. Also experts in AI and data science. | LinkedIn Services Marketplace allows freelancers to create service pages across 16 categories. LinkedIn launched with 250 job categories, with plans to expand to 500. Some popular services include accounting, marketing strategy, and resume writing. |
| Time to hire/find suitable freelancers | Can match clients with talent in under 48 hours. Finding the right fit may take up to three weeks. Prides itself on making the correct match 98 percent of the time within 24 hours. | Proposals from freelancers take only 24 hours. |
| Quality of freelancers (project success rate) | Selective process leads to a high trial-to-hire success rate. Reputation for helping clients find success on important projects. | There are no customer reviews for individual freelancers, making it impossible to know who is good and who is not. |
| Client satisfaction ratings | Has a rating of 4.2 stars from 224 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied. Customers are most satisfied with value and support. | Service providers can collect ratings and reviews from clients, helping build credibility and trust. |
| Contract flexibility and terms | Requires clients to hire freelancers on a weekly basis for either 20 or 40 hours, with no flexibility for shorter engagements. Freelancers can set their availability between zero and 50 hours per week. Freelancers may move between hourly, part-time, and full-time contracts. | Not available |
| Guarantees or refund policies | Offers a risk-free trial period. The initial deposit is refundable, offering clients peace of mind with a two-week trial to ensure satisfaction. If clients are not satisfied with the work and communication, they won't be charged for the trial period. | No satisfaction or interview guarantees are offered by LinkedIn Marketplace. |