Gun.io Review: How It Works, Pricing & Top Competitors in 2024
TL;DR
- Gun.io is a talent-matching platform that connects companies with vetted, high-quality software developers for remote freelance or full-time work.
- Gun.io doesn’t disclose their pricing info, so you’ll need to contact them for a quote.
- Gun.io makes hiring reliable talent easy, but the process can take up to 13 days and there could be unexpected hiring costs.
- Top alternatives to Gun.io include ReactSquad, Arc.dev, and Lemon.io, which offer faster hiring, more transparent pricing, and specialized talent pools.
- ReactSquad is a great option if you need skilled React developers at startup-friendly rates from $75 per hour. They have a quick 48-hour matching process and 7-day free trial.
Brief Intro
Doug Conant, former President and CEO of Campbell’s Soup, said, “To win in the marketplace, you must first win in the workplace.”
The truth is that the people you hire can either make or break your business. That’s why startup founders must be extra careful when hiring team members, especially developers.
Platforms like Gun.io try to reduce the hiring risk by thoroughly vetting developers. That way, more startups can work with vetted talent to build and improve their products. This article looks at how Gun.io works, what it costs, the pros and cons, and how it stacks up against other top options in 2024.
What is Gun.io?
Gun.io is a global talent-matching platform founded by developers to simplify hiring, especially for technical roles. Instead of wasting time going through tons of resumes, companies can connect with vetted developers through Gun.io.
Whether you need to increase your engineering capacity for one project or want to add a full-time developer to your team, the Gun.io team promises to deliver quality talent.
How to hire software developers on Gun.io
Gun.io’s hiring process is straightforward and takes about 13 days on average to complete.
First, start a chat with Gun.io’s talent team to tell them what you need. The team will get back to you in 3-5 business days with a shortlist of top-matching developers who are ready to work.
After you’ve selected the candidates you’d like to interview from the list, Gun.io will set up the calls. One of their team members will also join to answer any questions. After you’ve made your choice and signed the contract, Gun.io will connect you with your preferred developer.
Gun.io’s vetting process
Gun.io has a rigorous vetting process to provide clients with top-tier talent
Developers who apply to work with Gun.io must pass 3 main stages:
- An algorithmic screening – A work history review and background check
- A technical interview with a senior engineer
Only about 100 out of the 1,000 monthly applicants are approved to work on Gun.io.
Gun.io’s pricing
Gun.io doesn’t have set prices listed on their website. Instead, the cost depends on your specific hiring needs and the rates of the developers you want to work with. To get a quote, you’ll need to contact Gun.io’s team.
If you’re looking to hire a full-time developer through Gun.io, they charge a fee equal to 20% of the developer’s first-year salary at your company.
Pros and cons of Gun.io
Pros:
- Gun.io connects you with a pool of experienced, vetted developers
- Gun.io’s developers are easy to work with and have great communication skills
- You can hire reliable developers with minimal effort on your part
Cons:
- It can take almost 2 weeks to be matched with a developer
- Clients have reported unexpected increases in hiring costs
- They don’t have a transparent pricing model
Gun.io’s reviews & ratings
Here’s some positive things clients had to say about their experience with Gun.io.
The reviews were generally good, but one client had a complaint that’s good to be aware of.
Gun.io competitors
ReactSquad
ReactSquad is a platform that helps startups find and hire skilled React developers to work on their projects. It’s a great option if you need React developers with a strong track record.
Pros:
- Transparent and affordable rates at $75 per hour
- Pre-vetted developers with 5+ years of experience
- Developers in US and EU time zones
- You get matched with a developer in 48 hours
- 7-day free trial
Cons:
- It’s React-focused, so it’s not ideal if your project needs a different technology
Lemon.io
Lemon.io is a platform that helps businesses hire skilled freelance developers from Eastern Europe. What makes them stand out is their speed of matching clients with quality talent, and also their strict screening process.
Pros:
- Their strict screening process guarantees top-tier developers
- Matching usually happens in less than 24 hours
Cons:
- The talent pool is smaller than other alternatives
- You must make a security deposit before your project starts
Arc.dev
Arc.dev is a platform that connects companies with the top 2% of software developers for remote freelance or full-time work. Their developers are known for delivering high-quality work and consistently meeting clients’ needs.
Pros:
- A strict vetting process ensures top-quality developers
- Offers a risk-free trial period for both freelance (2 weeks) and full-time (3 months) hires
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
Cons:
- Clients must pay a $300 deposit to start hiring freelance developers
- Freelance developer rates can be on the higher end ($60-$100/hr) compared to other Arc.dev alternatives
Top 2 Gun.io alternatives for hiring remote developers in 2024
Here’s how Gun.io compares to ReactSquad and Lemon.io.
| Criteria | Gun.io | ReactSquad | Lemon.io |
| Price | Not transparent. You need to get a quote | $75 per hour | Hourly rates between $55 – $95 |
| Any upfront fees? | Unclear | No | A security deposit that’s equal to a week’s fee for the project |
| Time-to-hire | Up to 13 days | 48 hours | 24 hours |
| Free trial? | No | 7 days | No |
| Tech stack | Kubernetes, React, Node.js, Django, Next.js, AWS, Golang, Ruby on Rails, etc. | React, Node.js, Next.js, Remix, TailwindCSS, Redux, JavaScript, TypeScript. | Angular, JavaScript, AWS, Ruby, Flutter, MongoDB, React, Docker, etc. |
| Star feature | Flexible hiring for startups | Focus on React developers and projects | Fast developer matching |
Review summary
Here’s a quick summary of the key points from this article:
| Criteria | Details |
| About Gun.io | Gun.io is a platform founded by developers to easily connect companies with vetted, high-quality software engineers for remote freelance or full-time work. |
| Hiring Process | Hiring can take up to 13 days. |
| Developer Vetting | Developers have to pass an initial algorithmic screening, a background check, and a technical interview. |
| Pricing | No transparent pricing info. |
| Pros | Strict vetting processGreat communicationHigh-quality work |
| Cons | Slow developer matchingThere may be unexpected hiring costs |
If you have a pretty decent budget, Gun.io is a good option for hiring additional developers for your team. But if you need highly skilled developers at more startup-friendly rates ($75 per hour), ReactSquad is your best bet.
ReactSquad only works with senior developers who have 5+ years of experience. They can quickly integrate with your team and start shipping code within a week.
Book a consultation now and get a free ReactSquad trial.
