Arc.dev alternatives

Toptal

$79/mo

Why it comes up: Toptal is a screened freelance network aimed at contract work, while Arc also places full-time employees for a 20% of salary fee.

Stands out: Every engagement starts with a trial of up to two weeks, and you pay nothing if you are not satisfied; clients can trial up to three people per position. Toptal reports a 98% trial-to-hire rate and says 90% of clients hire the first candidate introduced.

Watch out: Talent rates are not published, so you only learn the real cost after a call with a matcher. Toptal does not offer screening or testing for candidates outside its own network.

Best for

• Startups needing senior contractors quickly
• Teams that want a trial before paying
• Short projects or crunch-time capacity

Read the Toptal write-up · Arc.dev vs Toptal

Andela

Sales-quoted

Why it comes up: Andela supplies vetted engineers and managed teams for enterprises, a heavier option than Arc's self-serve hiring.

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.

Best for

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

Read the Andela write-up · Arc.dev vs Andela

Remote OK

$299/post API

Why it comes up: Remote OK charges a flat fee from $299 per 30-day post with no placement fee, if you are willing to screen applicants yourself.

Stands out: Each post is crossposted to 257 job boards that use the Remote OK API and listed on Google for Jobs. Remote OK guarantees 200+ apply clicks or bumps the post again for free. Worldwide posts rank above location-restricted ones, which rewards employers who can hire anywhere.

Watch out: Posts auto-renew at full price after 30 days unless you turn it off, and posts are not refundable. Prices are dynamic, so the final cost with add-ons can land well above $299; the checkout showed $447 with default options. There is no applicant tracking, so applicants go to your own apply URL or email.

Best for

• Remote-first companies hiring worldwide
• Startups hiring remote developers
• Employers posting several remote roles a year

Read the Remote OK write-up · Arc.dev vs Remote OK