| Criteria | TopDevCrewSenior LATAM, managed | In-house US hireFull-time employee | Freelance marketplaceHourly contractors | LATAM staffing agencyTypical agency | Premium talent networkCurated platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First profiles | 48 hours | ~49 days to an accepted offer, then ~2 weeks' notice | Days, but you do the screening | 3 days to 3 weeks | 48 to 72 hours |
| Senior cost per month | $6,900 per developer, flat | $16,600 to $22,000 loaded | Hourly rate plus platform fees | ~$6,000 – $11,200 | ~$5,600 – $24,000 |
| Who screens | We do: code, soft skills, English | You and a recruiter | You | The agency | The platform |
| Seniority | Senior only, 6+ years | You choose | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed |
| Commitment | Month to month, 30 days' notice | Full-time employment | Per contract | Month to month or project minimums | Varies |
| Risk cover | 2 weeks risk-free, free replacement for 90 days | Probation; recruiter fee of 15–25% of salary | None | Trial common; replacement 30–180 days | Trial common |
| Time-zone overlap with ET | Full working day | Same office | Anywhere, often none | Usually good | Varies by country |
| Payroll and compliance | Included | Yours | Usually yours | Included | Included |
Typical ranges from public pricing pages and rate guides, checked October 2026. In-house cost: BLS wage data for software developers (May 2025, 75th percentile) in 12 East Coast metros, times 1.28 for employer costs (BLS, June 2026). Time to hire: recruiter-reported average for senior engineers in 2026. The TopDevCrew price is a flat rate per developer, the same whatever the stack; only the size of the team moves your quote.
When each option makes sense
Choose in-house when…
- The role is core to your product for years
- You can wait two months or more
- You need someone on site
Choose a freelancer when…
- The task is small and well defined
- You can screen and manage them yourself
- Continuity doesn't matter
Choose an agency when…
- You want to hand off a whole project
- You're fine with their delivery manager in the middle
- You accept project minimums
Choose TopDevCrew when…
- You need senior people on your team, fast
- You want to interview and pick yourself
- You want month-to-month flexibility
Six questions to ask any provider, including us
- How many profiles will I see per seat, and when?
- What exactly is tested, and can I see the scores?
- What happens if the developer leaves in month two?
- What's the notice period to end a seat?
- Who owns the code and the IP?
- Can I hire the developer directly later, and for how much?
Your next chapter starts here
Skip the sales rep. Talk to the CEO.
Tell us what you're building, your stack and when you need people. Three matched profiles within 48 hours, and a straight answer on whether we're the right fit.