It’s a busy world out there and if your brand wants to keep up with its competitors, then you’ve got to have the right marketing strategies, including high-quality and engaging marketing design and assets.
But finding the right creative talent to complete those necessary assets can be a challenge in itself.
While Toptal’s freelance professionals have been a go-to for many seeking top-tier talent for their marketing collateral, Toptal isn’t the only option out there.
There are many freelance platforms out there for your creative needs, so if you’re curious about the creative service solutions you can be using to meet your marketing needs, then today’s blog is right up your alley.
Today, we’re exploring the top 10 alternatives to Toptal for sourcing the creative talent you need to get your marketing projects done right!
How Do Freelance Platforms Like Toptal Work?
Toptal, and others like it, functions by connecting businesses in need of services with a global network of freelancers skilled in a variety of fields, like finance, web development, and creative skills like design or video editing.
Whether you're looking for top developer talent for hire or graphic designers for product packaging, these platforms vet their freelancers to make sure that they meet high standards, providing companies access to top talent on demand.
Toptal’s model makes an attractive way for companies to quickly scale their marketing efforts, fill skill gaps, or find specialized expertise for short-term marketing projects without the long-term commitment of making a new hire.
A very convenient solution for companies looking to outsource their creative marketing projects.
7 Toptal Alternatives for Sourcing Creative Talent
But not all freelance platforms are created equal!
Here are 7 similar companies that, like Toptal, offer diverse talent pools across a huge variety of creative fields, including design and content creation, to help you meet your creative needs!
1. Fiverr
Fiverr is an online marketplace where marketers can match with freelancers who offer services ranging from graphic design and content creation to digital marketing and web development.
How it works
Freelancers or “sellers” can post “gigs” that outline the specific skills they offer, starting as low as $5 for their services.
If you’re a marketer looking for creative talent for projects like logo creation, brochure design, etc., you’d browse through these gigs and purchase the one that best fits your needs. Freelancers can also offer custom quotes for specific projects if you reach out. Hire on as many freelancers as you need and pay them separately through the platform.
Be aware, however, that Fiverr does not offer project management, so you will be responsible for creative direction, monitoring your freelancer’s progress, and doing quality inspections on your deliverables. Depending on the freelancer you work with, their guidelines may determine how much direction you can give.
2. 99Designs
99Designs is a freelance platform specializing in design work, offering a way for businesses to find and work with graphic designers for projects involving graphic design, packaging design, illustrations, icon creation, and more.
How it works
Marketers create a brief for design needs, like a new logo, web design, landing page design, brochure design, etc., and set a budget for the project.
Designers who are interested in taking on the project will then submit their concepts to you, allowing you the freedom to choose the design you like best. This competitive aspect is especially useful for marketers who aren’t quite sure about a creative direction to take.
You can also get variable pricing by posting briefs and asking for quotes from designers interested in taking on your job posting. Normally, you’ll be in charge of managing your freelancer, but if you’re looking for a project manager to do that for you, 99Designs does offer a dedicated manager for your account if you pay the top-tier pricing.
3. Upwork
Upwork is a freelancing platform where marketers can find freelancers who specialize in a wide range of services, like writing, design, line editing, IT, sales, and marketing.
How it works
Marketers post jobs for individual services like logo design, voice-over work, copywriting, mobile app development, etc., and freelancers can submit proposals outlining their skills, experience, portfolio, and the rates they are willing to be paid for their services.
If you're a client, you'll then review all submitted proposals, interview candidates if you wish, and accept the one you believe to be the best fit. Upwork’s platform has a built-in time tracker for freelancers to use to send invoices at a previously agreed upon time (either weekly, monthly, or per project / per milestone) and provides a messaging feature for convenient communication since you will have to manage your new hire yourself.
4.MarketerHire
MarketerHire is a platform that specializes in matching businesses in need with pre-vetted marketing talent across a wide variety of concentrations, like digital marketing, SEO, content marketing, and social media.
How it works
To use Marketerhire, you would share your project with their admin staff, outlining your goals and the specific talent you need to get it done. According to their website, they would then match you with a marketer in as little as 48 hours.
Though you are responsible for managing your new hire 1:1, MarketerHire periodically checks in with both you and the freelancer to make sure that each party is satisfied with the partnership.
5. People Per Hour
People Per Hour is a freelancing platform that connects clients with freelancers for a wide variety of projects, including marketing, design, coding, copywriting, and more.
How it works
For marketers in need of creative talent, simply post your project brief and the platform’s AI system matches you with freelancers that have the right set of skills to get your project done. From there, the freelancer can respond with a proposal containing their rates and a suggested timeline. Clients can then choose the freelancer whose timeline and rates work best for them.
You’ll have to manage your new hire on your own, but People Per Hour does provide a protected pay system and a messaging feature to facilitate easy communication.
6. Worksome
Worksome is a platform that connects companies with freelancers and contractors who specialize in a wide range of fields, like marketing, IT, finance, design, and engineering. It puts particular focus on the level of skill the freelancers in its network possess.
How it works
If you're looking for creative marketing help, you can post project details or job requirements on the platform, which outline the specific skills and experience you require.
Worksome’s algorithm will then match those requirements with the profiles of freelancers with the relevant skills and experience to those skills outlined in your project brief. Freelancers are also able to manually search for and apply to projects that fit their area of expertise.
Once you find a match, either through the algorithm or by being contacted by a freelancer, you may select the freelancer and begin engaging with them directly through the Worksome platform, where you can discuss project details, negotiate rates, and manage the work process.
Though Worksome handles secure payment and provides a means of communication, managing your project and new hire is up to you.
7. Designity
Unlike the previous entries, Designity is not a freelance platform, instead using a Creative as a Service (CaaS) approach to connect brands with freelancers who have the right skills to meet their creative marketing needs.
How it works
Sign up with Designity or book a demo call to explain your brand, your goals, and the type of collateral you’ll need to realize them, and then get matched with a Creative Director, a project manager who will take charge of your account.
Once you’ve met with your Creative Director (CD) and ironed out the details of your project, your CD will build out a timeline for your projects and assemble your creative team, sourcing talent made up of a pre-vetted, US-based pool of only the top 3% of the thousands that apply. The number of Creatives on your account will vary depending on the plan you choose, but your CD will switch out talent as needed to make sure that you always have the expert you need for every one of your projects.
Your Creative Director will also be your only point of contact throughout your partnership with Designity, sourcing and managing Creatives for you, doing quality control on your deliverables, and making sure that your projects are completed on time and to your expectations.
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What Makes Designity Different?
You may have noticed that Designity was the only option above that provides marketers with creative direction.
Why is that?
It’s because, though Designity is made up of pre-vetted, US-based freelancers, it is a Creative as a Service platform, not a freelance platform. This means that not only will you have a project manager for your account, but you’ll also have a subscription-based creative service plan, with flat, predictable pricing.
Choose from three monthly, quarterly, or annual plans:
- Essentials — starting at $3,495/mo for a monthly subscription. Creative team includes your Creative Director plus 1 Creative that can be switched out depending on skill required.
- Plus — starting at $5,495/mo for a monthly subscription. Creative team includes your Creative Director plus 2 Creative that can be switched out depending on skill required.
- Premium — starting at $8,495/mo for a monthly subscription. Creative team includes your Creative Director plus 3 Creative that can be switched out depending on skill required.
Whatever plan you choose, your flat subscription fee will get you weekly video check-ins with your Creative Director, unlimited revisions, and as many project requests as you wish without worrying about fees or unexpected charges.
Curious how Designity compares to other sources for your creative service providers? Check out our comparison chart here.
Benefits of a CaaS Platform for Marketers
So, what makes CaaS platforms like Designity a better alternative to freelance platforms?
Here are some key benefits:
- Access to a Wide Range of Skills — Marketers can tap into a diverse pool of creative professionals without the need for multiple hires or contracts.
- Cost-Effectiveness — CaaS platforms often come with flexible pricing models, making them more budget-friendly compared to hiring full-time staff, traditional agencies, or hourly freelancers.
- Speed and Agility — Quick turnaround times allow marketers to respond to market changes or campaign needs swiftly.
- Quality and Consistency — With vetted professionals and standardized processes, CaaS ensures high-quality outputs that align with brand guidelines.
- Scalability — Marketers can easily scale their creative output up or down based on campaign requirements without the logistical challenges of resizing an in-house team.
All of these benefits help marketers like you to efficiently manage your creative needs, without the need to source and manage freelancers or constantly post individual marketing jobs, allowing you to focus more on strategy and less on constant hiring.
Is Designity Your Best Bet?
If all of those perks sound like a dream come true, then perhaps a Creative as a Service model is exactly what your brand needs.
And, if so, Designity is more than ready to be your ultimate CaaS solution. Why not have a look at our portfolio and see if our style vibes with yours?
If it does (and we have a feeling it does), then book your demo call today and we’ll get you started with a two-week, no-obligation trial so you can see for yourself what Designity is all about.
Are you ready to start getting the marketing collateral your brand deserves?
