The Top 5 Sites for Hiring Software Engineers.

So, you have a great idea and a growing business. How are you going to build it out? Unless you’re lucky enough to have advanced software development skills of your own, hiring a software engineer to help you out is going to be your next best move. Here are the best online resources to help you find the right software engineer to turn your idea into the next big thing:

1) Toptal

Toptal is one of the top hiring sites out there today. Toptal’s rigorous screening process evaluates freelancers’ technical aptitude through live exercises with senior engineers and a test project, as well as their interpersonal and English skills through personality and language tests. This means that you’re going to find a software engineer who is both talented and enjoyable to work with, without having to spend any of your own time evaluating candidates. On top of that, when you first start looking for a developer through Toptal, a member of Toptal’s team will call you personally to get a thorough understanding of your company’s needs and culture. They’ll then handpick one or two developers who they believe will be the best match for you to interview. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another freelancer network or hiring site that offers this level of personalized service. And if for any reason you’re skeptical about your match, Toptal offers a two week risk-free trial. If you’re not 100% satisfied, you don’t pay.

2) Crew

Crew is a convenient and speedy platform for hiring freelancers that may earn you some extra perks along the way. Crew offers support from their team throughout the completion of your project, from guidance on budgeting to a secure in-system messaging platform. The downsides? Crew’s 15% service fee is a little higher than other sites, and although they guarantee talented and well-vetted developers, it’s not completely clear how their hiring process works. That said, Crew has a unique referral program where you can create a shortlist of people to whom you want to refer, and you’ll receive a commission from all projects you refer once they’re completed. Crew boasts over $45,000 in payouts already. So who knows? Maybe you can find a software engineer to fit your needs and earn some extra cash on the side, all in one place.

3) Guru

With Guru’s global network of over 1.5 million freelancers, you’ll never run out of potential candidates for your open software engineer position. What most people don’t realize, though, is that such a plethora of options can sometimes be a double-edged sword. Once you post a job (for free!), you’ll get a ton of applicants from talented freelancers, but you’re also going to have to spend time sorting through those freelancers’ profiles and résumés to find the right developer for your project. If sifting through résumés doesn’t daunt you and you like to be 100% in control of the hiring process, this may be the right site for you.

Guru also offers Work Room, a tracking and collaboration tool that your whole team can use to create agreements, define goals, delegate tasks, communicate, and share documents. If you have the time for it and the expertise to manage the vetting process yourself, Guru is a low risk option–you only pay for your freelancers’ services if you’re 100 percent satisfied with the final product.

4) Workmarket

If you’re looking for a highly customizable hiring site, Workmarket might be the platform for you. Workmarket’s offers a cloud-based freelance management system, a dashboard that allows you to manage huge teams of freelancers, and the freedom to use the payment platform of your choice. You can also create your own custom “talent pool” of freelancers to refer back to for future projects. Workmarket’s two payment tiers give you the option to pay-as-you-go or subscribe to a monthly membership, giving you flexibility depending on your budget. With all its flexibility, however, Workmarket only connects you to freelancers in the United States. While there are plenty of talented software engineers in the States, part of the beauty of hiring remote freelancers is the ability to connect with talented developers all around the world. If you’re looking for a more global option, it’s worth checking out Toptal’s community of developers, who live and work in over 100 countries around the world.

5) Freelancer

When you’re looking for the help of a software engineer, it’s important to have a good idea of the scope of your project. If you’re looking for longterm help on a big, important project, we recommend using a matching service with a solid internal vetting process and great customer support. But if you’re just looking to do a quick bug test or get a job done in a crunch, Freelancer is a really good option. Freelancer promises that you’ll receive competitive bids from their freelancer network within minutes of posting a job. All of the developers competing for your job will bid the cost of the job down, meaning you’ll likely be able to snag a pretty good deal. While this system makes Freelancer one of the most cost-effective options, the quality of work usually won’t be as consistently high as others on this list. But if it’s a low-risk, easy task you’re looking for, Freelancer will have you covered.