Top 10 Freelance Websites to Hire Developers in 2023

Searching for reliable sites to find developers is no easy endeavor. Unless you’re a tech-savvy recruiter, you likely will not know how to navigate the difficulties of hiring the right pro. That’s perfectly OK—there are plenty of sites and services ready to help you every step of the way.

To encourage you in your search and selection process, our team researched the top developer hiring solutions from around the globe and condensed that research into this list of 10 reliable sources to help you hire developers.

As you embark on your search, the first question to ask is: How long will you need someone? Whether you are interested in hiring a freelance developer for the short or long term, these sites will help you find talent with the right skill set and experience for the software development your product deserves.

Top 10 Freelance Websites to Hire Developers

Toptal

Visit Website

Toptal is an exclusive network of the top freelancers in the world, affording businesses large and small the flexibility to hire experts for a range of projects. Toptal is one of the leading talent matching services, initially created as a place for tech talent to collaborate. Although it has expanded its pool to include designers and finance professionals, the company’s primary focus remains its software developer community. It can ensure that you find front-end, back-end, and app developers of only the highest quality, as all applicants undergo an extensive vetting process to prove that their technical and project management skills are high caliber. Their trademark system for vetting talent permits only the best to become part of their community and enables companies to hire in less than 48 hours. According to Toptal, only 3% of applicants make it through their series of technical assessments and further screening.

Known for:

High-profile clients
Thoroughly vetted candidates
High success rate for hires

Gun.io

Visit Website

Gun.io has an expanding market of developers. Like Toptal, Gun.io screens their talent by administering technical assessments. They also collect reviews from previous colleagues, and verify skills and expertise to ensure that their freelancers fit every project to which they’re assigned. Gun.io even manages and replaces talent—with no risk to you—and supports every single hour worked with a 100% money-back guarantee.

Known for:

Easy-to-use platform
Vetted candidates
Notable clients

Hired

Visit Website

One of the most efficient freelance talent websites, Hired helps employers find tech developers almost instantly through their custom matching software. The site allows you to create a company profile, search their community of candidates using their algorithm (which can eliminate gender and racial identifiers for fairer hiring), and request interviews with talent. It is an excellent platform for finding specialized developers who are actively searching for new opportunities, have relevant backgrounds (most candidates on Hired have at least two years of experience), and are in your area.

Known for:

Quick and accurate matching services
Vetted candidates
Easy-to-use portal

Upwork

Visit Website

Upwork is a large freelance marketplace with millions of users. With the help of sorting algorithms, this popular platform connects clients with remote talent who have different expertise, from JavaScript to Python. Employers often enjoy Upwork’s ease of use but cite candidates’ variable quality as a significant drawback. Whereas finding programmers to interview should be relatively easy with Upwork, interviewing dozens of candidates will be an involved process. Upwork does minimal screening itself; most of the vetting will be up to you.

Known for:

Large freelancer marketplace
Professionals of many skill levels
Unified workspace for easy collaboration

Epic Jobs

Visit Website

With an eye-catching interface that’s a cross between LinkedIn and Twitter, Epic Jobs is a platform for developers trying to find opportunities and employers trying to learn about the people behind the profile. They use a system of tweets and interactive video interviews that help you get a clear picture of your candidate. Easily filter by contract type, specialty field, level, and location via their user-friendly portal.

Known for:

Unique user-friendly platform
Niche freelancers
Constant stream of clients

Dice

Visit Website

Dice is a well-established tech job board with more than 60 million registered tech professionals. Dice boasts high traffic to its site, with millions of unique visitors a month. Posting a job listing is a little expensive—$395 each—but Dice can also boost visibility to your company’s open jobs on their website, social channels, and extended network, enabling you to reach the right talent. Their recruitment package includes sourcing and screening.

Known for:

Well-established tech recruiters
High exposure to industry experts
Custom multichannel campaigns

Stack Overflow

Visit Website

Stack Overflow is one of the largest and most trusted developer communities on the web. The site originated as a discussion forum for developers of all levels, novice to expert, often sharing knowledge about coding. The site soon evolved to include a job board. It allows an incredible amount of exposure to dedicated software developers around the world.

Known for:

Trusted by developers
Sensible pricing
Freelancers with in-demand skills

Guru

Visit Website

Guru has an extensive global network of freelancers—albeit smaller than Upwork’s and Stack Overflow’s massive pools. You can explore experts’ profiles, propose projects, and pay your hires with their secure SafePay system. Guru does not focus on developers, as the freelance network is composed of professionals from different industries. Similar to Upwork, you’ll have to narrow your search yourself. Also, as with many freelance networks, vetting and interviewing will be up to you.

Known for:

SafePay for easy payments
Recognizable clients
Top-level freelancer pool

Gigster

Visit Website

Gigster is a recruiting platform that connects you with a qualified team of developers for a variety of tech projects. Product managers act as liaisons between clients and potential developers. This practice creates a smoother process, especially for less experienced managers. Gigster should be able to match you with a development team in far less time than a typical recruitment agency.

Known for:

Quick project turnaround
Product manager partnerships
Smooth operating process

Freelancer

Visit Website

Freelancer is a massive market with more than 50 million registered users, millions of posted jobs, and thousands of completed projects. With that size, though, comes a challenge: Similar to Upwork, finding a great developer could be like finding a needle in a haystack. Although website development is one of the most popular job categories on Freelancer, you still have to search through thousands of Freelancer profiles, vet and interview candidates, and manage payments yourself. If you’re looking for an affordable, short-term option, however, Freelancer is a fantastic hiring solution. For longer-term commitments, you’ll want to consider matching services like Toptal or Gun.io.

Known for:

Employer control throughout
Used by well-known brands
Flexible payment terms

Which Freelance Site Should You Use to Hire Developers?

Freelance software developers are an important factor in building your product. They are the heroes you hire to construct your vision. Once you find the perfect developer, you’ll be that much closer to seeing your project come to life.

Efficient matching services like Toptal, Gun.io, and Hired are prime options for employers exploring top tech talent and placing their trust in qualified tech specialists, especially if you’re short on time with high-quality developers as a priority.

On the other side of the spectrum, freelance marketplaces like Upwork, Gigster, and Freelancer allow you to cast a much wider net for developers. Meanwhile, employers on the hunt for full-time developers may benefit from using Stack Overflow. Their services can generate excellent exposure to the developer community.

Freelance marketplaces like Upwork, Freelancer, and Guru enable you to connect with developers instantly, but you’ll have to vet candidates yourself. If you have sufficient background and time to devote to screening developers and are confident in your ability to interview them, these sites are a great choice. Otherwise, steer clear from marketplaces and job boards alike.

In addition to how long you need the freelance developer, the following considerations will determine which platform will best serve you: