Don't work here - Senior Software Engineer Toptal Employee Review

2.0
May 24, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great people and teammates, ability to grow as a professional for some time

Cons

Working in fear, not knowing if you'll be laid off or not, creates a stressful and demotivating environment. Management continuously demands new initiatives from you, despite your salary being frozen for a year and a half. This makes it hard to find the motivation to work. Management seems intent on extracting every ounce of effort from you. At the same time, numerous all-hands meetings highlight the success stories of people like Taso and others from various islands. You find yourself thinking, "What the hell?" You're buried under a ton of work, missing initiatives, self-reviews, countless meetings, and a scope that constantly changes. Where is the happiness? There is no happiness at all at Toptal. It might be good for some, but I would never work there again.

Explore other reviews about Toptal

5.0
Jul 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Professional and interested in quality work.

Cons

Not really a con, but more work waiting than hours allow.

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Toptal Response
20h
Thank you for your valuable feedback! Your insights are important to us.
1.0
Jul 3, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Met some good dedicated employees and freelance workers.

Cons

Lack of any real industry solutions or capabilities since 100% of delivery services are freelance contractors. Model has been successful as providing staff augmentation to clients, but all intellectual capital and outcomes are owned by the clients or the freelancer. Toptal is simply a staffing platform broker who marks up the freelance talent. Great if you need a plumber, but not if you're planning to build a bathroom.

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