Gun.io Alternatives 2020 — These Are Your Top 6 Options
Tired of sitting in traffic while commuting to the office every workday? If you’re a developer, you may not have to. Gun.io is one of several new services that connect software engineers to tech companies. Read on to learn more about Gun.io and its major competitors in the space.
What is Gun.io?
Founded in 2011, Gun.io is a US-based curated telecommuting jobs service that caters specifically to developers. The company claims to the “most comprehensive vetting process in the entire industry.” Its clients include brands as well-known as CISCO and NBCUniversal.
Advantages
One of the most unique things about Gun.io is that the majority of the 20,000 developers that make up its marketplace are based in the United States. This US-centric focus can work to your advantage if you live stateside, since it means you’ll probably be working with clients that are willing to pay competitive rates and speak English as a first language.
Another good thing about Gun.io is its 91% placement rate. If you get through the application process, you’ll probably find work. Applying is a quick and painless process. Rather than force you to fill out lengthy forms, the website gives you the option to hop on a call with a Gun.io recruiter instead. If you’re not a good fit, you can find out right away.
Like most of Gun.io’s competitors, Gun.io promises to care of all your administrative work for you is part of its pitch. Billing, promotion, collection and other similar tasks are all either automated or handled by Gun.io’s staff.
Another perk: all Gun.io developers retain the intellectual property rights to the code that they provide to their customers. Further details on this are provided by the company’s Consultant Agreement, which includes confidentiality and IP assignment clauses.
Disadvantages
Like all curated remote hiring services that cater to developers, getting in can be a challenge. Your chances of getting accepted will be slim unless you’re a professional developer with many years of experience under your belt. If you do get in, getting started can take some time. You’ll have to complete a series of tests before you can post your profile.
In addition, Gun.io’s search interface is clunky compared to what other similar services offer. There’s no way to filter jobs postings by pay rate, for example. You have to click each job and scroll all the way down to the page if you want to know how much the client is willing to pay.
Gun.io alternatives for experienced developers
Toptal
Out of all the remote work marketplaces mentioned in this article, Toptal bears the most similarity to Gun.io. Though Toptal came out one year before Gun.io, both platforms have been around for about the same amount of time. Another similarity is that they are both curated platforms that cater to experienced information workers. In other words: it’s hard to break in unless you’re both talented and experienced. Toptal claims that it accepts only 3% of the 100,000 applicants that apply each year.
Some of the brands that use Toptal include Motorola, Hewlett Packard, Bridgestone and Priceline. The company has grown at a rate of 30% for several years and pulled in $200 million in revenue last year.
Toptal’s focus is broader than Gun.io’s. Rather than specialize in recruiting US-based developers, Toptal works with information technology professionals from all over the world — and not just developers. Designers, finance experts and project managers participate in its marketplace, as well. Developers make $60 to $150, while designers, finance experts and project managers tend to make a bit more.
Codable
If you are familiar with WordPress, you may want to try your luck with Codable. Even more niche-oriented than Gun.io, Codable is a curated jobs service that connects WordPress webmasters with coders that know their way around PHP, jQuery, HTML and all the most popular WordPress plugins. Expect to make about $70 to $120 per hour once you make it past the application process.
Arc.dev
Back when this jobs service was known as Codementor, it initially specialized in short-term gigs and consultant jobs. However, full-time offers can now be found in its marketplace. [Arc] developers typically make between $60 and $100 per hour, but the company only accepts 1.1% of all applicants.
Gun.io alternatives for journeymen developers
If you don’t have the qualifications needed to make it into Gun.io, Toptal, Codable or [Arc], you may still be able to find steady work on any of these sites.
Github
Github provides an interactive way for developers to beef up their coding chops. Even though its jobs board feature is not its main attraction, you can use it to show off your skills, network and make connections by participating in various open source projects. The most talented Github devs are routinely contacted by companies in search of talent. There’s a built-in jobs board that you can peruse, as well.
Upwork
One of the best things about Upwork is its massive size and scope. All kinds of opportunities are available, from coding to writing to social media management gigs and more. In fact, Upwork is “the leader in online access to remote and freelance independent professionals,” according to Motley Fool.
On the other hand, Upwork’s hugeness is also a disadvantage. Its market is totally open and anyone can participate in it. As a result, wages are low compared to other platforms — and the fees are notoriously high. The fee schedule shaves 20% off of the first $500 you make with a new client. Even though that fee drops to 5% after you pass the $10,000, it’s still quite high.
Fiverr
Fiverr is the second most popular open online jobs marketplace behind Upwork, but that may chance if Fiverr continues its impressive expansion trend. The company is predicting a 30%-32% growth rate for 2020.
The main difference between Fiverr and Upwork is that Fiverr is a bit more casual and niche-oriented. You shouldn’t expect to land a full-time job through it. On the other hand, if your skill set includes some niche competencies— like if you know how to build a cryptocurrency exchange or create 3D product animations, for example — it might be worth a look.
