Your questions about Toptal, answered
How much does Toptal cost a client?
Toptal's FAQ lists a flat $79 a month for clients, with no currency printed. Hourly rates are not published; third-party estimates put general roles at $60 to $150 an hour or more, and specialists at $200 or more. [1] [12] [13] [14]
Do I pay during the trial?
The FAQ says you are not billed if you are not completely satisfied with a trial of up to two weeks. Cadence says trial hours are billable and convert unless you end the trial inside the window, so get the rule in writing before you start. [1] [11]
Is there a $500 deposit?
Four third-party guides say clients pay a $500 refundable deposit before matching, but neither Toptal's FAQ nor its platform terms mention one. Ask Toptal in writing before you budget for it. [13] [14] [11] [12] [1] [6]
How do I cancel, and do I get money back?
Give written notice at least three business days before the next billing date, as the platform terms require, even though the FAQ says you can cancel at any time. A refund applies only if Toptal cannot present any talent, and then only up to one month's fee. [6] [1]
How fast will I get a first candidate, and what if the first one fails?
Toptal's FAQ says it typically introduces candidates within 24 hours, while its homepage says within days. You can trial up to three people per position, and if a trial fails, Toptal provides another expert, which its FAQ says takes one to three weeks. [1] [2]
How hard is it to get accepted as a freelancer?
Toptal says fewer than 3 percent of applicants are accepted, and that full screening takes three to eight weeks. Its 'Why 3%' page lists five stages as shares of all applicants, from 26.4 percent at the first stage down to 3 percent at the last. [3] [4]
Can I reapply after rejection?
Toptal does not publish a waiting period. Reports range from 30 days to six months, and accounts conflict, so plan on at least a month. [5]
Does Toptal take a cut from freelancers?
Toptal says it takes no cut of talent earnings, and that freelancers set their own rate. The margin sits in the client price, which third-party guides estimate at 30 to 50 percent; Toptal does not publish it. [5] [14] [13]
When do freelancers get paid?
Toptal's FAQ says talent are paid 'on time', with no payment schedule. Three 2026 talent reviews call payment timely, and one 2023 account says it takes four to six weeks. [5] [9] [10]
What does TopAccess cost, and what are the terms?
TopAccess is an annual subscription paid in 12 monthly installments, and its terms do not print the price. It does not guarantee acceptance, Toptal can reject a request without a reason, and a late payment fee of up to $30 applies. [7]
What happens to my data?
Toptal's privacy policy, last revised in February 2024, covers biometric identity checks run by two outside vendors, recorded calls and credit checks on clients. It shares data with service providers, including Stripe for payments, and keeps data as long as it is reasonably needed. [8]