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 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 and Nacho both help you add experienced talent without committing to a full-time salary, but they work very differently. Toptal is a global, fully remote network of freelancers it describes as the 'top 3%' in business, design, and technology, including developers, designers, finance experts, fractional CFOs, and product and project managers. A client advisor matches you (Toptal cites average matches in under 24 hours) and you hand-pick a freelancer through a no-risk trial, then direct that person yourself. Nacho gives you a managed relationship that flexes from a single executive to a full team of US-based EAs, Specialists, and Executives under one monthly budget, with a dedicated account manager and weekly reporting built in. Below is a side-by-side comparison to help you decide which model fits your needs.

Global freelancers · Self-managed · Rates set per freelancer

Nacho Flexible team · US-based · Scalable monthly budget

Some of our US-based talent

Jennifer S. Michigan

Jenn M. Texas

Nitin K. California

Debra E. Kentucky

Run the numbers

Nacho vs. Toptal, head to head.

Criteria	Nacho	Toptal
What you get	One person or a full team, your choice	Individual freelancers you select per role
Who manages the work	We do, account management & oversight included	You do, you direct the freelancer yourself
Talent location	US-based, in your time zone	Global, fully remote network
Talent scope	Admin to strategic (EAs, Specialists, Executives)	Specialized freelancers: dev, design, finance, PM
Pricing model	$1,000/mo minimum budget, scale as needed	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	Source and contract each freelancer separately
Commitment	3 months, then month-to-month	Per-engagement; hourly, part-time, or full-time
Getting started	Discovery call + custom Delegation Strategy Plan	Client advisor match + no-risk trial
Ongoing oversight	Weekly reporting + dedicated account manager	None, you manage the freelancer directly

Nacho leads in 5 of 10 categories. Want to see how it works for your business?

Book a discovery call

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 like the no-risk trial model and want to evaluate a freelancer before committing
You're fine setting engagements at freelancer-set rates and working across time zones

Nacho is the better fit if…

You want the option of a single executive AND the ability to scale into a full team, without sourcing each role separately
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. With Toptal you contract each freelancer separately; with Nacho you flex one relationship across as much or as little talent as you need.

We manage it, not just match it

Toptal matches you with a freelancer you then direct yourself. With Nacho, a dedicated account manager and weekly reporting keep the work on track, 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.

Nacho has been a game-changer for our business. The flexibility to access different levels of talent through one budget has saved us time and money compared to hiring in-house.