Best Arc.dev Alternatives For Hiring Freelance Developers

Arc.dev is a freelancing platform that connects businesses with developers for full-time roles. Whether you need extra support for your team or want to build a brand new software development crew, Arc.dev has you covered. 

The platform simplifies hiring through strict vetting processes, giving you access to top freelance engineers. By the end of this article, you should have a fair idea of other alternatives to Arc.dev and their offerings.

Why You Should Hire Freelance Developers

There are several benefits to hiring freelance developers. Here are three of them.

Cost-effective: You don’t have to pay salaries, benefits, or office space for freelancers. You only pay for the work they do on your project. This is great when you’re on a tight budget.

Faster hiring: Finding and hiring a full-time developer can take weeks or months. With freelancers, you can find someone with the specific skills you need much quicker, usually through recommendations from your network.

Specialized skills: Freelancers often specialize in particular areas of development. So, you can find someone who’s an expert in exactly what you need, like building a mobile app or working on a specific programming language like Javascript.

Scalability: Need more developers for a big push? Hire more freelancers. Project winding down? No problem, you can simply end your contract with the freelancer. This gives you more flexibility than having a full-time team.

Building a Solid Freelance Team 

If you’re a SaaS business owner, having a kickass freelance team can make a difference in your success and growth. SaaS companies like Slack and Klout built their products with freelancers at various times.

Talent expert, Adam Jackson, co-founder of BrainTrust, says hiring freelance developers “allow you to build effective teams and fill any skill gaps without having to worry about lowering your hiring standards or paying an arm and a leg to relocate new hires.“

When assembling your freelance team, figure out what specific skills and expertise your team lacks or is limited in. Consider your team’s size, project complexity, and timeline to determine how many freelancers you’ll need and for how long. Set expectations, have regular check-ins, and collaborate with tools like Asana to keep everyone on the same page.

Why You Should Consider Arc.dev Alternatives

Different companies or individuals have unique hiring needs and priorities, influencing their platform choice. For instance, you may value having more pricing options, such as setting rates directly with your chosen freelancer. Or perhaps you find that Arc.dev’s pool of freelancers doesn’t meet your needs and budget, making it necessary to seek an alternative.

Choosing a suitable alternative can save you a ton of money and connect you with the right developers for your project. This could be the difference between a successful launch and a failed attempt. 

These other platforms also have their areas of expertise, such as mobile apps or web development. Others offer more competitive pricing or better customer support. With several options available, you must conduct thorough research before making a hiring decision that best fits your needs. This will ensure the most bang for your buck and boost your chances of a successful partnership with developers.

Key Questions to Ask When Evaluating Arc.dev Alternatives

• What is the scope of your project, and what specific skills are required?
• Are you looking for developers from a particular geographical location?
• Do you have any preferred personality traits for your developer?
• What is your timeline and budget for the project?
• Would you like a developer with a particular specialty?

When you’re deciding which alternative site to choose, it helps to ask yourself a few questions. You’ll want to find a platform that accurately answers your specific project needs and any other relevant information.

Top Arc.dev Alternatives for SaaS Business Owners

ReactSquad

ReactSquad is a platform that offers developers specialized in React.JS for your SaaS project, regardless of size. ReactSquad delivers exceptional value to its clients by providing transparent pricing options, risk-free trial, and timezone overlap, guaranteeing you at least 4 hours for collaboration.

Pricing

ReactSquad adopts a transparent pricing model, with freelancers available at an hourly rate of $75 upwards. This approach allows businesses to manage their budgets effectively. By prioritizing affordability and flexibility, ReactSquad helps clients to maximize their return on investment.

Long term partnerships and flexibility

ReactSquad stands out with its flexibility. They support customers for both short-term and long-term projects. 50% of all engagements are over 12 months. Knowing how SaaS can be a roller-coaster sometimes, they offer the opportunity to work with flexible month-to-month contracts.

Expertise for any project size

ReactSquad’s freelancers have the expertise and experience to tackle projects of all sizes. Whether a small task or a large-scale project, clients can rely on the agency’s engineers to deliver high-quality results. ReactSquad stresses the importance of matching clients with developers with the specific skills needed for their projects.

Employer Of Record

ReactSquad acts as the employer of record for all their developers. That means you don’t have to worry about any administrative overhead, compliance, or extra costs with employing directly.

Toptal

With a very picky screening process, Toptal only accepts the top 3% of applicants in their respective fields. You can trust that the freelancers you hire from Toptal have the skills and experience to tackle any project. You can read more about Toptal here, where we compared Toptal and Turing.com.

Pros

• They have a diverse tech talent pool from various industries.
• Strict screening process
• Enjoy a 2-week free trial with your preferred developer.

Cons

• The hiring process can sometimes take weeks.
• Expensive
• The talent pool is only based in Europe and the Americas.

Pricing

Hourly rates range from $60 to $250 per hour.

Lemon.io

Lemon.io is a platform for hiring vetted and qualified developers, designers, and QA specialists. They use an intelligent matching algorithm to connect you with the right freelancers for your needs. Plus, they offer flexible payment options and a dedicated project manager to ensure your project succeeds.

Pros

• Matches you with the freelancers who align best with your culture.
• Strict screening process
• Secure payment system

Cons

• You must make a ‘security’ deposit before the project starts.
• Relatively small talent pool 
• Matching can be slow for projects with less common tech stacks.

Pricing

Hourly rates typically start from $65/hour.

Gun.io

If you’re looking for a more personalized approach to hiring freelancers, Gun.io may be the right fit for you. Startups can work with developers on freelance engagements, and Gun.io handles all billing, payments, and contracts.

Pros

• Handpicked selection to match you with the most suitable candidate.
• Strict vetting process
• Flexible payment structure

Cons

• Lack of transparent pricing
• Time-to-hire can be delayed sometimes

Pricing

Pricing information is unavailable. You have to contact them directly.

X-Team

X-Team is a platform for hiring remote developers focusing on community and collaboration. They have a vetted pool of talent from all over the world and offer a variety of pricing plans to fit your budget. They offer support and resources to help you build and manage a remote team.

Pros

• Wide range of tech skills available
• Affordable pricing
• Dedicated account manager

Cons

• Not many experienced and senior developers in their pool.
• Not ideal for long term projects

Pricing

Developer rates start from $80 an hour.

Andela

If you’re looking for talented developers from Africa, Andela is worth checking out. They have a rigorous screening process to ensure that only the top 1% of applicants are accepted. Furthermore, their developers receive ongoing training and support, fostering growth and success within the community.

Pros

• Developers are highly skilled because they undergo intensive training.
• Suitable for long-term projects and permanent jobs.
• Transparent pricing

Cons

• Not ideal for contract or short-term jobs. 
• Talent is mainly sourced from South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, so keep your time zone in mind.
• Expensive

Pricing

Andela charges a flat monthly rate for hiring its developers. According to their website, hiring will set you back between USD $6,000 to USD $14,000 a month, depending on the developer’s expertise, location, and technology.  

Gigster

Gigster is a platform for hiring teams of freelancers to work on complex software projects. They have a couple of project managers who will help you scope out your project and put together the right group of freelancers to make it happen. Moreover, they provide a user-friendly interface with various cost-effective pricing plans that fit any budget.

Pros

• Strict hiring process
• Uses an AI matching technology
• You can hire an entire team

Cons

• Most freelancers are available part-time.
• Developers can quit anytime because of the lack of commitment.
• No free trial
• Lack of transparent pricing

Pricing

No pricing information available.

Best Alternative to Arc.Dev

We recommend Reactsquad as the best alternative to Arc.dev for hiring freelance developers, especially if you run a SaaS startup.

Why We Recommend

• Unlike other alternatives, Reactsquad is fully focused on one specific tech stack (React & Node.js). Their developers have high expertise and a niche focus on SaaS products
• Reactsquad has a rigorous vetting process for their developers; with 4 interview rounds and 4 weeks working on a paid test project
• Senior developers with 5+ years experience
• Startup-friendly rates (starting from $75/hr)
• 7-day free trial with your matched developer and a replacement guarantee at any point during your project

Visit Reactsquad’s website to get matched with the best React developers for your SaaS startup.

Factors To Consider In An Alternative Freelance Platform

We’re sure you understand the importance of having a reliable, affordable way to find top talent. Arc.dev has been a go-to platform for many years, but what do you do when you want other options because of pricing, specific stacks, or other reasons known to you?

You should consider several features to ensure you find the best fit for your business needs.

Cost-Effectiveness

When choosing an alternative to Arc.dev, one factor to consider is cost-effectiveness. As a SaaS business owner, you understand the value of working within a tight budget and getting the most bang for your buck. 

Finding a platform that fits your needs and your wallet is crucial. Luckily, several platforms offer flexible pricing plans, allowing you to find a plan that meets your needs without breaking the bank. Some platforms even allow you to negotiate directly with freelancers for the best rates.

Talent Pool Diversity

Diversity promotes inclusivity and brings fresh perspectives and ideas to your projects.

Look for platforms that attract talent from various backgrounds and locations, ensuring you have access to a wide range of skill sets and experiences. 

A diverse talent pool can help your business appeal to a broader audience and improve your reputation. A company that has diverse talents to fit customers’ needs no matter the tech stack they are looking for.

When evaluating the diversity of a platform’s talent pool, consider factors such as location, the various tech stacks available, and language proficiency. Some platforms even have features that allow you to filter search results based on these criteria.

Remember, a diverse talent pool can bring numerous benefits to your business, including increased innovation, creativity, and productivity. By prioritizing diversity in your search for an alternative to Arc.dev, you can ensure that you’re building a team that represents a variety of perspectives and backgrounds.

Specialization and Industry Focus

When finding the perfect alternative to Arc.dev, one key factor you should consider is the platform’s specialization and industry focus. You want to ensure that the platform you choose has a talent pool that specializes in the skills you need for your business and has experienced freelancers in your industry.

Why is specialization necessary? Well, it means that you’re getting top-quality freelancers who know the ins and outs of your industry and can bring their expertise to your project. This can save you time and money in the long run. 

Ease of Use

Honestly, no one wants to spend hours figuring out how to use a complicated platform. When finding an alternative to Arc.dev, ease of use should be high on your list of priorities. You want an intuitive and straightforward platform so you can spend less time navigating menus and more time getting work done.

Look for a platform with a user-friendly interface and clear instructions on how to get started. Bonus points if they offer helpful tutorials and responsive customer support. The last thing you want is to be stuck with a clunky and frustrating platform.

Another factor to consider is the level of customization available. Can you easily tailor the platform to fit your unique business needs? The more flexible the venue, the more likely you’ll be able to use it seamlessly in your workflow.