Comparison Guide

Nacho vs. Toptal

Two ways to add talent without a full-time hire: one is a global freelance network you hire from and mostly manage yourself, the other is a US-based managed team we run for you. Here's an honest look at how they compare so you can pick the right fit.

A quick overview

The short version

Toptal is the better fit if you need one deeply specialized expert fast. It's a global, fully remote network of freelancers it describes as the 'top 3%' in business, design, and technology, including developers, designers, marketing experts, management consultants (Fractional CFOs among them), product and project managers, and sales experts. One of Toptal's industry experts hand-selects candidates (Toptal cites average matches in under 24 hours) and a trial period of up to two weeks lets you evaluate before committing, paying only if you're satisfied. Toptal will also curate a whole team for you: Toptal Teams if you want to lead it, Toptal Teams Advanced if you want a dedicated team manager from Toptal. Nacho is the better fit if you want ongoing support rather than a specialist placement. Nacho takes about a week to match after your Delegation Strategy Plan is approved, but the relationship then flexes from a single executive to a full team of 100% US-based Executive Assistants, Specialists, and Fractional Executives under one budget starting at $1,000/mo, with a dedicated account manager and weekly reporting built in. Below is a side-by-side comparison. Both services also appear in our roundup of the best virtual assistant companies.

Global freelancers · Solo or curated team · Rates quoted per engagement

Flexible team · US-based · Scalable monthly budget

Run the numbers

Nacho vs. Toptal, head to head

Criteria
What you get	One person or a full team, your choice	Individual freelancers, or a team Toptal curates for you
Who manages the work	We do, account management & oversight included	You do, unless you buy Teams Advanced for a team manager
Talent location	US-based, in your time zone	Global, fully remote network
Talent scope	Admin to strategic (EAs, Specialists, Executives)	Specialists: dev, design, marketing, consulting, PM, sales
Pricing model	$1,000/mo minimum budget + $300 onboarding plan	Freelancers set their own rates per engagement
Pricing transparency	Minimums published on website	Quote-based, no flat rates published
Scaling	Flex one budget across multiple talent	Add roles, or have Toptal assemble a team, each contracted
Commitment	3 months, then month-to-month	Per-engagement; hourly, part-time, or full-time
Getting started	Discovery call + $300 Delegation Strategy Plan	Call with an industry expert + hand-selected candidates
Ongoing oversight	Weekly reporting + dedicated account manager	None by default; a team manager on Teams Advanced
If the fit is wrong	The Nacho Guarantee: re-matched free	Up to a 2-week trial, pay only if satisfied

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The honest take

Which service fits you better?

Both are legitimate options. The right choice depends on what your business needs.

may be better if…

You need an elite, deeply specialized freelancer (like a senior software engineer or a Fractional CFO) and you're comfortable directing them yourself
You want to hand-pick a specific individual from a large global network and start fast
You value Toptal's rigorous screening and want top-tier technical or specialized talent for a defined project
You want Toptal to assemble a whole project team, with or without a Toptal team manager running it
You like the trial model and want to evaluate someone for up to two weeks before paying
You're fine with rates quoted per engagement and working across time zones

is the better fit if…

You want the option of a single executive AND the ability to scale into a full team, all under one budget rather than one engagement per role
You'd rather we manage the work (account management, oversight, weekly reporting) than direct a freelancer yourself
You need a mix of administrative, specialist, and strategic support, not just one specialized freelancer
You want US-based professionals in your time zone, with no timezone gaps or language barriers
You prefer transparent pricing you can see before any sales call, starting at a smaller monthly budget you can scale
You value an ongoing relationship with people who know your business, not a per-project placement

The difference

Why businesses choose Nacho

A single exec or a whole team

Need just one strategic operator? Start there. Need admin and specialist support around them? Add it from the same budget. Toptal will curate a team for you, but it's assembled from specialists on their own engagements; with Nacho you flex one relationship and one budget across as much or as little talent as you need.

We manage it, not just match it.

Toptal matches you with talent you then direct yourself, unless you upgrade to Toptal Teams Advanced for a dedicated team manager. With Nacho, a dedicated account manager and weekly reporting are included from the start, so you get outcomes without the management overhead.

Three levels of talent, one budget

Access EAs, Specialists, and Executives from a single monthly budget. No need to source, vet, and contract separately for admin, creative, or strategic work.

Transparent, flexible pricing

Start at $1,000/mo and scale up or down as your needs change. Our minimums are published on our site: no quote-by-quote rate negotiation for each engagement.

US-based professionals in your time zone

Every team member is a vetted, US-based professional working in your time zone. Toptal's network is global and fully remote, which can mean coordinating across time zones. With Nacho there are no timezone gaps or language barriers.

An ongoing relationship, not a placement

You work with the same people who learn your business over time, not a freelancer you onboard and offboard per project. When you need something, you talk to someone who already has context.

Helping owners & execs

10+ yrs of matching fractional professionals

100% US-based fractional talent network

100K+ hours returned to clients

$10M+ saved through delegation

Nacho found me the best EA of my life!

Noah Kagan Chief Sumo & CEO

Our fractional COO from Nacho has been an incredible addition to our team. We're so grateful for her warmth, care, and how seamlessly she's stepped in.

Dorly Roy Creative Director

Nacho took the time to understand my needs and matched me with an exceptional Executive Assistant who's become invaluable. The process was thoughtful, seamless, and supportive from start to finish.

Melissa Dotson President/Owner

I tried hiring a full-time assistant on my own, and it was an epic fail. Using Nacho instead was one of the best investments I've made in my business.

Felicia Reed Owner

Nacho has figured out what the small business owner needs to thrive. The day I hired Nacho was the day when my personal productivity and job satisfaction began to soar.

Kathy Schwartz Founder

Nacho has become a trusted extension of my business, consistently connecting me with skilled professionals for everything from design and marketing to CRM support and AI projects.

Amy Wolfgang Owner + Executive Leadership Coach

When our ambition outpaced our bandwidth, Nacho connected us with someone we work with every week who's just as passionate about our projects as we are and truly feels like part of the team.

Kara Timmins Sr. Marketing Manager

Nacho is a lifesaver, in a real, true, material way. Dana is an extension of me, my brand, and my commitments to my clients.

Julie Couret Business Coach