The short version
Toptal is a screened network. It says it accepts the top 3% of applicants, matches clients with talent it selects, and quotes rates per engagement rather than publishing them. Open Lance is an open marketplace: clients post work, compare proposals and choose who to hire, and every fee is itemised before paying.
| Open Lance | Toptal | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can join | Any freelancer or client | Freelancers who pass Toptal's screening, which it says admits the top 3% |
| How hiring works | Post a job, compare proposals, choose | Toptal matches you with talent it selects |
| Pricing for clients | Freelancer's rate plus itemised escrow and contract fees | Quoted per engagement; rates are not published |
| Cost to start | Free to post | No recruiting fee, according to Toptal |
| Ways to work | Fixed-price, hourly, Dedicated Hire, Drop-Ins | Hourly, part-time and full-time engagements |
Toptal details are from Toptal's own site, checked September 2026. It does not publish rates, so check Toptal's current terms before deciding.
Screened versus open
Toptal's screening does real work for a client who does not want to evaluate candidates. The cost is less choice and less visibility into who else was available. On Open Lance anyone can apply, so you review proposals, profiles and reviews from finished contracts and decide yourself.
How pricing works
On Open Lance you agree the freelancer's rate directly, and the fees you pay on top are itemised at checkout. Toptal quotes a rate for the talent it matches you with.
Four ways to work
Open Lance supports four kinds of engagement, so the contract can match the work:
- Fixed-price projects, split into milestones that are funded one at a time.
- Hourly contracts with a weekly hour limit and a work diary the client approves each week.
- Dedicated Hires, for ongoing monthly work with one freelancer.
- Drop-Ins, packaged services with a set price that clients buy directly.
Bring your track record
Moving platforms usually means starting from zero. On Open Lance you can add your stats from Upwork, Fiverr and other platforms. Our team verifies them, and verified experience counts toward your rank here, not just a line in your bio.
How payment works
On fixed-price work the client funds each milestone before it starts. When they approve the work it is released, either straight away or after a short review window, and if they do not respond it approves automatically after a set time.
On hourly work the client funds each week up front, up to the agreed weekly limit. The freelancer logs hours in a work diary, the client approves them at the end of the week, and approved hours are paid from that funding. Unused funding goes back to the client.
Released money clears for a short period before it can be withdrawn, because card payments can be reversed for a while after they are made.
What clients pay
Posting a job, reviewing proposals and messaging are free. When a client funds work, an escrow handling fee is added, plus a one-time initiation fee on each new contract. Both are shown before paying, and neither is taken from the amount that goes to the freelancer.
When Toptal may suit you better
If you need senior talent quickly and would rather pay for someone else to screen candidates, Toptal is built for that. Open Lance suits clients who are comfortable reviewing proposals themselves and want to see what they pay for.
Frequently asked questions
- Are freelancers on Open Lance screened?
- No. Open Lance is open to any freelancer. You judge fit from proposals, profiles, reviews tied to finished contracts, and verified stats from other platforms.
- Can I choose my own freelancer?
- Yes. Post a job and pick from the proposals, or invite people directly after signing in.
- What does it cost to start?
- Posting a job is free. Fees apply when you fund work: an escrow handling fee, plus a one-time initiation fee per contract.
- Can I test someone before a big project?
- Yes. Make the first milestone small. Only that milestone is funded when the contract starts.