How to hire remote developers
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There are three ways to find remote developers: hire them yourself, use a freelance marketplace, or use a vetted talent platform that screens candidates for you. The right one depends on how much time you have to recruit.
Vetted talent platforms
These platforms test developers before accepting them and usually introduce candidates within days. You pay more per hour, but save the recruiting time:
| Product | Price today | Free plan | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc | USD 15 per hour (from; up to USD 110+) | No | Pricing |
| Toptal | Price on request | No | Ranking |
| Lemon.io | Price on request | No | Ranking |
| Andela | Price on request | No | Ranking |
Prices from vendor websites, checked 2026-10-12; they update automatically.
Compare Arc vs Toptal and Toptal vs Andela.
Vet before you commit
- Give a short paid test task that looks like the real work.
- Check overlap in working hours with the time zone meeting planner.
- Start with a trial period of a few weeks.
Set the rate and pay
Convert between hourly rates and yearly salaries with the hourly to salary calculator. For long-term full-time developers, hire through an employer of record; for project work, pay them as contractors: see how to pay international contractors.