Compare/Head to head

Braintrust vs Toptal

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

Starting price

Braintrust

15% fee

Braintrust is a freelance talent marketplace plus an AI screening product. Employers pay a published 15% fee on talent payments, and talent pays nothing. It fits companies hiring contract engineers and specialists that want a transparent fee instead of a staffing agency markup.

Where Braintrust fits

  • Companies hiring contract engineers or designers
  • Teams wanting contract-to-hire flexibility
  • Employers that want a published fee
  • High-volume teams screening with AI voice interviews

Toptal

$79/mo

Toptal is a vetted freelance network for companies that want senior contract talent fast. It costs a $79 monthly platform fee plus quoted talent rates. It fits teams that value speed and a trial period over the lowest hourly price.

Where Toptal fits

  • Startups needing senior contractors quickly
  • Teams that want a trial before paying
  • Short projects or crunch-time capacity
  • Hiring beyond engineering, such as finance or design

At a glance

DetailBraintrustToptal
Starting price15% fee$79/mo
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underSourcing, EOR, AI interviewingSourcing

Where they pull apart

Braintrust

Stands out: Braintrust publishes its 15% client fee, which is rare among vetted talent networks. The same company sells AIR, an AI voice interviewer that runs thousands of screens a day and syncs ranked results to Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, iCIMS and SmartRecruiters.

Watch out: The site now spans three products, including Nexus for operations automation, so the marketplace can be hard to find. The 15% fee also applies to direct hires and conversions within six months, and EOR services cost extra.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers wanting a free trial period
  • Teams avoiding AI-led screening
  • Local on-site hourly hiring

Toptal

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.

Not the right fit for

  • Budget-first buyers wanting published rates
  • Companies screening their own applicants
  • Teams needing on-site staff

Pros and cons

Braintrust

  • Published 15% client fee
  • No fees charged to talent
  • AI screening and EOR from one vendor
  • Same 15% fee applies to direct hires
  • AIR pricing only by quote
  • Mix of products can confuse buyers

Toptal

  • No-risk trial before you pay for talent
  • Fast introductions, often within 24 hours
  • Client owns all work product
  • Talent rates not published
  • Monthly platform fee on top of rates
  • No screening service for outside candidates

What each one costs

Braintrust

15% fee

On the Talent Marketplace, employers pay a 15% service fee on payments to talent, and talent pays no platform fee. Direct hires, and contractors converted to employees within six months, cost 15% of first-year base salary. AIR is priced by interview volume and quoted by sales, and EOR or W-2 payrolling costs extra. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Toptal

$79/mo

Toptal charges a flat $79 monthly platform subscription once you move ahead with talent matching, and you can cancel at any time. Talent rates are not published; they depend on skills, seniority, location and whether the engagement is hourly, part-time or full-time. Invoices go out about twice a month on Net 10 terms. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Braintrust cheaper than Toptal?
Braintrust starts lower, at 15% fee against $79/mo for Toptal. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Braintrust or Toptal 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?