Compare/Head to head

Andela vs Arc.dev

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Andela

Sales-quoted

Andela connects enterprises with remote engineers from 135+ countries, now focused on AI-trained talent and managed AI teams. Pricing is quote-only. It fits larger companies building AI or cloud systems that want vetted global engineers under one contract.

Where Andela fits

  • Enterprises building AI or cloud products
  • Teams adding remote engineers across time zones
  • Companies wanting a managed engineering team
  • Firms also upskilling their own engineers

Arc.dev

$15/hr

Arc.dev is a vetted talent marketplace for remote developers and other tech roles. Freelancers cost $15 to $110+ per hour, and full-time placements cost 20% of annual salary, paid only on hire. It fits US startups and tech companies that want pre-screened remote engineers without running the whole search.

Where Arc.dev fits

  • Startups hiring remote software engineers
  • Teams needing freelance developers fast
  • Companies hiring in LATAM or APAC
  • Hiring managers without a recruiting team

At a glance

DetailAndelaArc.dev
Starting priceSales-quoted$15/hr
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underSourcingSourcing, Job boards

Where they pull apart

Andela

Stands out: Andela sorts its AI engineers into Builder, Integrator and Scaler roles, which helps match people to the right stage of an AI project. It also owns Codewars and Qualified, so its assessments draw on data from millions of developers.

Watch out: There is no published pricing or self-serve signup, so even small engagements start with a sales call. The messaging now centers on enterprise AI programs, which may be more than a small team needs.

Not the right fit for

  • Small businesses wanting published rates
  • Non-engineering hires
  • One-off short gigs

Arc.dev

Stands out: Arc publishes its fees, which is rare among vetted developer networks: a clear hourly range for freelancers and a flat 20% of salary for full-time hires. HireAI screens applicants and auto-sources matching candidates, and every plan comes with a dedicated recruiter. Arc says full-time roles fill in about 14 days on average.

Watch out: A 20% of salary fee adds up quickly on senior engineering salaries. The freelance trial is described as risk-free, but the exact terms are not spelled out on the pricing page, so confirm them before you start. ATS integration is listed for full-time hires, but no ATS names are published.

Not the right fit for

  • Budget-conscious teams posting many roles
  • Onsite or local-only hiring
  • Employers who want to run their own job ads

Pros and cons

Andela

  • Large global engineering network
  • Clear AI engineering role types
  • Also offers training for in-house teams
  • No published pricing
  • Sales call required to start
  • Enterprise focus may not suit small teams

Arc.dev

  • Published hourly rates and placement fee
  • HireAI screening and auto sourcing included
  • Free replacement within the first three months
  • 20% of salary is costly for senior hires
  • Freelance trial terms are not detailed
  • No named ATS integrations

What each one costs

Andela

Sales-quoted

Andela does not publish pricing. Rates for individual engineers, managed teams, AI delivery projects and workforce training are set after a discovery call with its sales team. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Arc.dev

$15/hr

Arc.dev publishes two pricing models. Freelance hires are billed hourly at $15 to $110+ per hour depending on the talent, with a risk-free trial period of up to two weeks. Full-time hires cost a fee of 20% of the candidate's annual salary, paid only when you decide to hire, and Arc will match a replacement free of charge within the first three months if you are not satisfied. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try Andela or Arc.dev for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?