# ErdiBuilds vs Toptal: fees and how it works (2026) > On ErdiBuilds clients pay no fees and fund fixed price milestones. Toptal matches clients with talent and, according to its FAQ checked on 6 November 2026, charges a monthly subscription fee and bills clients for the time worked. Canonical: https://erdibuilds.app/compare/erdibuilds-vs-toptal Last updated: 2026-11-06 (November 6, 2026) The two work in different ways. Toptal starts with talent matching and a trial period. ErdiBuilds starts with a project description and proposals from independent developers. The table below lists what we could confirm on each side. ## At a glance **ErdiBuilds and Toptal compared** | | ErdiBuilds | Toptal | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Fee for clients | Free for clients. | A flat monthly subscription fee of $79, charged if you decide to proceed with talent matching | [Toptal FAQ](https://www.toptal.com/faq), checked 2026-11-06 | | How you pay | Each milestone is funded before work starts and runs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 weeks. | Clients are billed for the time worked and are typically invoiced twice a month with Net 10 terms | [Toptal FAQ](https://www.toptal.com/faq), checked 2026-11-06 | Toptal also states: toptal offers a trial period of up to two weeks, and clients are not billed if they are not completely satisfied ([source](https://www.toptal.com/faq), checked on 2026-11-06). On ErdiBuilds you see proposals first and approve each milestone before it is released. ## When a milestone plan helps If your project can be split into clear deliverables, paying per milestone keeps cost and progress visible. If you need open ended help over a long time, a time based arrangement may suit you better. Both are valid. The [guide on fixed price versus hourly](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/fixed-price-vs-hourly) explains the trade offs. ## What you get with ErdiBuilds - Free for clients. - Milestones are from 50 to 2,000 each in your project currency. - Each milestone is funded before work starts and runs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 weeks. - Developers come from the 27 EU countries. Clients can join from anywhere in the world. - Unless both sides agree otherwise in writing on the platform, the rights to the result of a milestone pass to the client once that milestone is paid in full. - Developers are independent professionals, not our employees. ## How it works on ErdiBuilds 1. Describe your project: the kind of project, the kind of help and your goals. You can start without an account. 2. Review proposals: independent developers who match your project send proposals with fixed price milestones, sorted by match score with plain reasons. 3. Fund one milestone at a time. Each milestone is funded before work starts and runs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 weeks. You approve the delivery, then the developer is paid. ## Sources and notes > Toptal is a brand of Toptal, LLC, the operator named in its own terms or legal pages. ErdiBuilds is not affiliated with Toptal. Information checked on 2026-11-06, see sources. - [Toptal Website Terms and Conditions](https://www.toptal.com/tos), checked on 2026-11-06 - [Toptal FAQ](https://www.toptal.com/faq), checked on 2026-11-06 ## Frequently asked questions ### Is ErdiBuilds free for clients? Free for clients. There is no subscription and no fee on top of the milestone price. ### How do I pay on ErdiBuilds? Each milestone is funded before work starts and runs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 weeks. Milestones are from 50 to 2,000 each in your project currency. Larger work is split into more milestones. ### Can I describe my project before I sign up? Yes. You can describe your project and see how it matches before you create an account. See [how it works](https://erdibuilds.app/how-it-works). ### Who are the developers on ErdiBuilds? Developers come from the 27 EU countries. Developers are independent professionals, not our employees. Verified means an ErdiBuilds admin has reviewed the developer and approved the profile by hand. ## Related - [Upwork alternatives for app and SaaS builds](https://erdibuilds.app/compare/upwork-alternatives): Upwork alternatives for app, SaaS, website and game projects: ErdiBuilds, Fiverr, Toptal, Malt, Freelancer.com and Contra, with sourced facts. - [ErdiBuilds vs Upwork: fees and how it works](https://erdibuilds.app/compare/erdibuilds-vs-upwork): A factual look at fees, applying and payment on ErdiBuilds and Upwork, with sources and check dates, for people hiring an app or SaaS developer. - [Fixed Price vs Hourly for Software Projects](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/fixed-price-vs-hourly): Fixed price suits clear scopes, hourly suits open ones. See how each model handles risk, change and control, and when milestones give you the best of both. - [Pricing](https://erdibuilds.app/pricing): What ErdiBuilds costs for clients and developers. - [How it works](https://erdibuilds.app/how-it-works): From idea to finished project, step by step.