Best Toptal Alternatives to Hire Pre-Vetted Product Designers in 2025

Toptal is often the go-to for hiring high-quality freelancers. But when it comes to hiring pre-vetted product designers—especially for startups or product-led teams—it can feel rigid, expensive, and slower than modern teams need.

This blog explores the best Toptal alternatives for hiring talented, pre-vetted product designers in 2025. Whether you’re a startup founder or a hiring manager, these platforms offer more flexibility, speed, and product-first vetting that aligns with real-world team needs.

What to Look For in a Toptal Alternative for Product Designers

Hiring a great product designer goes beyond just scanning a portfolio. You need someone who can think like a product owner, work well with engineering, and iterate quickly based on user feedback.

When looking for a Toptal alternative, consider platforms that screen for:

• Design thinking over visuals: Can the designer identify user problems and propose product improvements?
  
  
• Strong communication skills: Do they explain their decisions clearly to stakeholders and engineers?
  
  
• Tool versatility: Can they adapt to your Figma setup, design system, or product workflows?
  
  
• Scalability and flexibility: Can you hire part-time, full-time, or on a project basis?
  
  
• Transparent vetting and support: Do they walk you through the hiring and matching process?
  
  

Top Platforms to Hire Pre-Vetted Product Designers in 2025

Here’s a breakdown of the top alternatives to Toptal for hiring product designers, including their unique strengths and how they stack up in a modern product environment.

JoinArena.ai

JoinArena is built for startups and product-led teams that need full-time design hires fast. It uses AI-powered matching combined with hands-on vetting to surface designers who understand real product challenges—not just visual flair. Candidates are screened for problem-solving, user empathy, and cross-functional collaboration. Ideal if you want high-quality talent without waiting weeks to hire.

Key Features:

• AI-powered talent matching
  
  
• Multi-step vetting that screens for product thinking, communication, and technical collaboration
  
  
• Fast hiring process—candidates ready in days
  
  

Pros:

• Focused on full-time design hires with real product experience
  
  
• Transparent, hands-on matching process
  
  
• No rigid contracts or hidden fees
  
  

Cons:

• Primarily optimized for full-time roles
  
  

Lemon.io

Originally focused on developers, Lemon.io has grown a surprisingly strong bench of product designers who thrive in fast-moving environments. Their 24–48 hour matching makes it a go-to for urgent hires, especially if you’re iterating fast or working on tight timelines. The designers often come with early-stage startup experience and flexibility around scope. It’s one of the few platforms where you get quality and speed.

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Key Features:

• Manual screening of portfolios and technical design tests
  
  
• Fast matching (within 48 hours)
  
  
• Global talent with startup experience
  
  

Pros:

• No deposit or upfront fees
  
  
• Flexible hiring (part-time or project-based)
  
  
• Great for MVP design, quick turnarounds
  
  

Cons:

• Smaller design talent pool compared to developers
  
  

Growth Collective

Growth Collective connects you with top-tier freelancers across marketing, design, and growth roles. The platform takes care of vetting and match curation, saving you time in the hiring process. Their design talent includes brand, UX, and product designers who work on an hourly, project, or fractional basis. It's ideal if you're seeking strategic input or short-term design help without long commitments.

Key Features:

• Human-led vetting process
  
  
• Quick matching with design freelancers across product, brand, and UX/UI
  
  
• Match flexibility (part-time, hourly, or per project)
  
  

Pros:

• Carefully matched based on role requirements
  
  
• Strong pool of startup-savvy freelancers
  
  
• Great for short-term or specialized work
  
  

Cons:

• Less suitable for full-time, long-term hires
  
  

Gun.io

Gun.io is known for connecting companies with technical freelancers, including designers with strong UX and development handoff experience. Their network is small but curated, with an emphasis on reliability and technical alignment. If your product design process involves heavy dev collaboration or you need someone fluent in agile environments, Gun.io offers solid candidates.

Key Features:

• Communication and technical vetting
  
  
• Strong emphasis on reliability and dev-design alignment
  
  
• Talent available globally
  
  

Pros:

• Designers understand development workflows
  
  
• Structured vetting process
  
  
• Good for product and technical UX
  
  

Cons:

• Smaller design network compared to developer talent
  
  

GrowthSchool

GrowthSchool is known for its learning cohorts, but it also connects companies with seasoned design educators and product thinkers. This platform is particularly strong for strategy-focused design work—think product audits, storytelling, or UX mentorship. It’s a great fit for teams looking to level up design maturity or run workshops with expert guidance.

Key Features:

• Talent with strong instructional and UX background
  
  
• Match based on product vision and design culture
  
  
• Emphasis on product strategy and storytelling
  
  

Pros:

• Ideal for strategic product design and workshops
  
  
• Focus on solving user problems, not just visuals
  
  

Cons:

• Better for fractional or consulting design roles
  
  

WeLoveNoCode

Built for startups using no-code tools, WeLoveNoCode offers vetted UI/UX designers who specialize in platforms like Webflow and Bubble. Their talent pool is optimized for fast MVP design, especially when you need someone who can build and design at the same time. It's one of the best choices for startups testing new product ideas quickly without engineering support.

Key Features:

• Internal vetting of designers with no-code tools
  
  
• Match with product thinkers who can build fast
  
  
• On-demand help for UI/UX and MVP launches
  
  

Pros:

• Fast turnaround
  
  
• Great for early-stage MVPs and startups without engineers
  
  

Cons:

• Best suited for Webflow or Bubble projects
  
  

DesignJoy

DesignJoy offers an unlimited design subscription handled by one dedicated designer. It’s a unique model for companies that need ongoing design work but don’t want to manage multiple freelancers or agencies. You get consistency, fast turnaround, and a simple workflow—all through one point of contact.

Key Features:

• Subscription-based model for unlimited design tasks
  
  
• One designer works on all your design needs
  
  
• Streamlined request system
  
  

Pros:

• Great for consistent design output
  
  
• One point of contact = faster collaboration
  
  

Cons:

• Limited to bandwidth of a single designer
  
  

MarketerHire

Though best known for marketing talent, MarketerHire also offers design experts focused on campaign, brand, and CRO-driven work. It's great for landing pages, email design, or any creative tied directly to performance metrics. Designers are vetted by marketers, which means strong communication and results-driven thinking.

Key Features:

• Experts vetted by marketers
  
  
• Fast onboarding
  
  
• Focus on marketing-driven design (landing pages, ads)
  
  

Pros:

• Ideal for performance design needs
  
  
• Designers with CRO and brand experience
  
  

Cons:

• Not optimized for product or UX-heavy design
  
  

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Side-by-Side Comparison of the Best Toptal Alternatives for Product Designers

Finding the right platform depends on more than just talent quality — it’s about how fast you can hire, how flexible the process is, and how well the designers fit your actual product goals. The table below breaks down each platform's strengths so you can choose based on your team’s needs and growth stage.

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Each of these platforms serves a slightly different purpose. If you’re focused on full-time hires with deep product experience, JoinArena.ai leads with fast matching and global access. On the other hand, DesignJoy is ideal for ongoing visual needs with a single dedicated designer. Use this table to filter based on whether you prioritize speed, flexibility, or domain expertise.

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FAQs

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What is the best alternative to Toptal for hiring vetted product designers?

If you're looking for full-time, pre-vetted product designers, JoinArena.ai stands out for its speed, curation, and flexibility.

Is it hard to get hired by Toptal?

Yes, Toptal’s acceptance rate is around 3%. Designers must pass multiple stages of technical and soft skills assessments, which can be time-consuming for both parties.

Which is better, Upwork or Toptal?

Toptal is better for pre-vetted talent but comes at a higher cost. Upwork is more flexible but lacks deep vetting. Platforms like JoinArena.ai offer a hybrid: quality screening with faster access.

What is the hourly rate for a Toptal developer or designer?

Rates typically start at $70/hour and can go much higher. Many of the alternatives offer competitive or more affordable rates with similar quality.

Can I hire part-time or hourly designers on these platforms?

Yes, especially on platforms like Lemon.io, Growth Collective, and MarketerHire. They offer flexible contracts based on your needs.

How do these platforms vet product thinking versus just visual skills?

JoinArena and GrowthSchool specifically assess for product thinking, stakeholder collaboration, and problem-solving—not just visual portfolios.