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A company’s website will be as crucial as ever in the year 2024. It’s important to hire web developers that will be on the same page as you. They also need to have the technical and creative skills to provide a good user experience.
If you value your website and other web applications, you shouldn’t just hire any web developer. Given that their responsibilities and duties play a significant role in your digital presence, you must choose a developer that not only comprehends the requirements of your product but must also be familiar with clients' needs and wants.
However, finding and hiring a brilliant web developer with all the required skills and technical expertise is challenging. To help you with this endeavor, we have compiled a list of 16 of the best platforms to hire professional web developers.
We’ll also discuss the types of developers that you may require and look into essential skills. By the end of this article, you’ll not only identify the best platform for your hiring needs but will also be well-versed in the complete process of onboarding the right web developer.
16 Best Sites To Find And Hire Web Developers
Here are the 16 sources to find and hire web developers:
1. Aloa - Top Pick
Aloa Web Development: On Time, On Budget, High Quality
Aloa is a global leader in helping businesses scale their web development teams. Whether you are looking to staff multiple developers or build out a specific product, Aloa ensures that you are working with the best web development talent from around the world.
Aloa has vetted 10,000+ software agencies around the globe to identify and hire the best web developers. Our strict vetting process sets you up for success, giving you a clear path to interviewing top-tier candidates. The developers in our network are well-versed in various programming languages like Python, Java, or PHP.
Aloa will deliver Performance Reports to ensure you receive consistent updates on your project's progress so you stay informed and confident with every step. At Aloa, we make sure that you get your software built on time, on budget, and high quality.
2. Stack Overflow - Transparency At Its Best
Stack Overflow is the most popular question-and-answer website for expert, intermediate, and beginner programmers. This website is used as a resource by programmers, web developers, and coders.
Stack Overflow’s job board is a great place to hire freelance, full-time or part-time developers that can work on your project. You’ll find a pool of qualified developers that are well-equipped with knowledge of HTML, CSS, Javascript, and other languages.
You can also use Stack Overflow’s advanced candidate search feature to access users’ profiles if you are a paid member. If not, you can simply use the tags search to find some of the best web developers. You may learn more about the technologies and previous projects they worked on by seeing their codes and past work.
3. Hired - Hiring Web Developers Made Efficient
Hired is considered by many as a great platform to find excellent web developers with the right experience. This platform has a wide range of developers that are knowledgeable on every possible technology stack and have experience in mobile app development, creation of web apps, and working with web services.
The selection process is quite easy compared to other platforms since the Hired profile displays the candidate’s:
- Skillset
- Resume
- Job history
- Job interest
- Background
Hired uses an algorithm to match candidates’ skills and experience with your job listing. Additionally, the platform provides you with resources and tools to manage the entire hiring process. When these tools and the clever algorithm are combined, they not only guarantee that you are paired with the best web developer for your project but also help you save up to 45 hours of sourcing time for each job.
4. Toptal - Exclusive Access To The Top Talent
Toptal is a prominent marketplace where you can find and hire brilliant web developers. One of the distinctive features of this hiring platform is its screening process. While joining Toptal as a web developer is a dream of many technology professionals, the company only hires 3% of the candidates, giving you access to the very best web developers.
Toptal only assigns talent to you that matches your requirements and has extensive relevant experience to fulfill the job role. Additionally, Toptal gives you a 2-week trial period anytime you hire a web developer from the company which means that if the assigned developer doesn’t meet your needs, you can always look for another without paying anything extra.
5. Upwork - Largest Pool Of Freelance Talent
Upwork is a renowned freelance marketplace with global talent in various fields. It is also a leading platform that helps companies and individuals to hire freelance web developers for their development needs. Since there is no trial period after hiring a developer, we recommend that you check samples and interview potential candidates before hiring and assigning them tasks.
It also gives you the option to hire a web developer either at a fixed rate or on an hourly basis. Upwork allows you to post a free job description, propose and negotiate rates, and release funds from escrow for the work you approve. Because of the convenience it provides to recruiters, it has become one of the most popular choices.
6. We Work Remotely - Most Flexible And Effective
We Work Remotely allows employers to select the perfect match for their company. It is one of the most effective ways to hire web developers since it has a 90% fill rate for positions posted on its platform.
Due to its effectiveness, 80% of the customers return to We Work Remotely for their hiring needs. And with its large partner network, you get access to a large number of applicants from all over the world. Once your listing is live, a real human analyzes your job description, scrutinizes applicants, and prioritizes the most eligible ones based on your needs.
The website also saves the time that you usually spend on filtering candidates. And its bundle packages and flexible pricing provides great savings for companies that are on a tight budget.
7. SimplyHired - Pay Less For Great Web Developers
SimplyHired is an online recruiting and employment platform with a distinctive pay-to-contact model. Trusted by 3 million employers, this website is great for hiring talented and experienced web developers. You can create unlimited free job listings and choose web developers by reviewing anonymized resumes. SimplyHired posts your job on its network of over 100 recruitment sites for greater reach.
At SimplyHired, you can create customized screening questions to narrow down your candidate pool. This feature saves time and increases your chances of getting to the most qualified developers. And all this is for free. You only have to pay to get the chosen candidates’ contact information.
8. PeoplePerHour - Greater Control And Better Access
PeoplePerHour is an authentic freelancing marketplace for hiring web developers. This online platform gives you access to a large pool of talented experts in the development field. You can find experienced and highly-skilled professionals from all over the world. Moreover, if you are looking for specific qualities or expertise in a tech stack, you can use the search option to find the right person.
At the same time, you can check the portfolios and profiles of numerous candidates, allowing you to analyze the quality of their work and assess if they are the right pick for your project. PeoplePerHour also gives you robust control over recruiting freelancers within your budget. The money-back guarantee and fraud protection mechanism give you extra peace of mind.
9. Guru - Cost-Effective Place To Hire A Freelance Web Developer
Guru is another popular choice for hiring web developers that is trusted by 800,000 global employers. This marketplace ensures that you get only the most reliable freelance programmers to work for you. To make this possible, Guru verifies each freelancer and shares their previous work history and ratings with you so you can gauge the caliber and hire the top talent.
Their charges are one of the lowest in the industry, making them a cost-effective solution for hiring experienced web developers. They provide a host of tools and features that make the whole hiring process highly efficient. And their dedicated 24/7 support team is always there to help you with any issue that you may come across.
10. Freelancer - Get Experts For Web Development Projects Of All Scales
Freelancer is the world’s first truly global freelancing platform that connects employers with talented freelance web engineers. With a pool of 50 million registered freelancers, you can get matched with and hire a brilliant web developer in minutes. These developers are ready to commence work on a few hours' notice.
The hiring process begins with posting your job and receiving competitive bids. You also get to review their portfolios and how the previous employer rated them. It also provides productivity tracking tools that help you in assessing the overall progress of the project and monitor your finances.
11. FlexJobs - Most Sophisticated Workflows
FlexJobs is a famous job board that allows you to hire part-time, freelance, and remote web developers from around the world. It's been in the business longer than anyone else so they know how things are done. This experience has enabled them to evolve into a top-tier platform to hire web programmers.
FlexJobs has a strict screening process which means that only the most talented programmers can make it to their job board. The powerful tools allow you to search for applicants with particular web development skills. The satisfaction assurance and 30-day money-back guarantee give you additional assurance that only qualified web developers will work on your project.
12. Gigster - Best Option For AI & ML Projects
If you think your project is too advanced to be handled by any ordinary web developer, let Gigster do it. Gigster handpicks highly-talented web developers from all major parts of the world and assembles a team to complete your next web project. Not only developers, but this company also assigns project managers to ensure the team is following the right direction.
Gigster has its own delivery solution that allows virtual teams to communicate and work effectively to deliver high-quality websites. To ensure timely deliveries, your Gigster team begins every project with a planning stage followed by sprints to create and test a Minimum Viable Product.
13. Dice - Providing Endless Possibilities
Dice is one of the leading talent marketplaces and job boards for tech firms. The platform helps employers connect with skillful and proficient tech talent in a few steps. Dice provides state-of-the-art tools to employers and recruiters to find the most suitable candidates for web development projects.
Dice scans applicants’ databases through its proprietary AI-based screening and compliance algorithm to match you with candidates having relevant experience and expertise. They also have a fraud detection mechanism in place that saves time and connects you to real talent. This has made Dice a favorite among some of the leading tech names.
14. RemoteOK - Greater Reach
Whether for small business owners or a large enterprise, RemoteOK can help find the perfect developer for your team. It offers a wide range of talented professionals, convenient search and filtering tools, and the ability to fill open positions quickly.
One of the main benefits of using RemoteOK is the convenience it offers. It makes it easy to filter and sort through potential candidates, so you can find the most qualified individuals for your web project development needs.
Another advantage of using RemoteOK is the hiring speed. With the platform's large pool of talented professionals, you can fill open positions much faster than you could with traditional hiring methods.
15. Topcoder - One-Stop-Shop For All Your Development Needs
Topcoder is a community of talented web developers and digital professionals. The skills and expertise are verified before a developer can become a part of this community. Performance ratings can help you analyze a candidate’s performance against other talents.
The company offers two models for hiring programmers. The Talent-as-a-Service allows companies on a tight budget to add on-demand freelancers to fill the gaps in their existing teams.
If you have the budget but lack the human resource to execute the recruitment process, you can go for Topcoder’s professional services. Regardless of your choice, the company ensures to provide verified personnel.
16. Workana - Remote On-Demand Talent
Workana is a freelancing website providing you access to various experts in different technologies. It has been the first choice of over 15,000 companies worldwide for hiring qualified developers. All freelance web developers are subject to a strict screening process before signing up.
It offers a large pool of skilled professionals, convenient search and collaboration tools, and a secure environment for both clients and freelancers. You can easily communicate with potential candidates, share project details, and collaborate on work. This makes it much easier to get your project off the ground and moving forward.
Workana has a strong focus on security and protection for both clients and freelancers. The platform uses secure payment methods and has a dispute-resolution process in place to ensure that everyone is treated fairly.
Now that we know the best places to find skilled web developers, let's explore the prerequisites and various steps in the hiring process
Define The Scope Of Your Project
Before finding the right web developer for your business, you need to define the needs of your project. This entails answering the question: Does the web developer need to work on functionality? Design? Or both?
Answering this question will make this whole process easier. This will allow you to speed up the selection process since you’re set on what characteristics you are looking for.
For example, you need a web developer for functionality reasons. If you’re browsing different profiles and are narrowing down to several prospects, you already have an idea of what you’re looking for. You’re searching for a web developer with a skillset that leans more toward having a specialty in website functionality.
What Kind Of Web Developer Do You Need?
Generally, there are three types of web developers that can fulfill the unique needs of website creation. These are
- Front-end developers
- Back-end developers
- Full-stack developers
To help you know which one is best suited for your website needs, let’s define each type.
I. Front-End Developer
The front-end web developer is mainly responsible for establishing the look and feel of the website. They also manage the website’s interactive features to make it engaging for website visitors.
It’s the job of the front-end developer to make the user experience as seamless and pleasing as possible. It’s an essential factor in keeping a website visitor engaged and focused.
The responsibilities and duties of a front-end developer are important since what they create is the visitors’ first encounter with your business. If the developer has done a terrible job on the website, visitors bounce off quickly.
However, if you want to grab the attention of your visitors through your overall website design, hiring a great front-end developer is needed. An excellent front-end developer knows:
- Which graphic design to use
- How to make a website interactive
- Is knowledgeable on blending colors
- Should have a creative mind to make the overall layout design appealing
II. Back-End Developer
There is a lot of difference between a back-end and a front-end developer; however, their roles work hand-in-hand in creating a functional website. The back-end developer is focused on the server side of things.
These developers are responsible for the code, server state, and databases that work hand in hand with what the front-end developers do on their end.
Website visitors may not see the results of what a backend developer does. Still, they are responsible for keeping the website running and ensuring that every feature delivers its functionality.
These developers use PHP, Python, Java, Ruby, and many more. They also use tools like Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL. And to execute the responsibilities, it needs someone who has extensive knowledge of these languages and libraries and has experience applying those learnings to various scenarios.
A great back-end developer is someone who:
- Is capable of scaling applications to manage the load changes
- Has deep knowledge of at least one back-end programming language
- Has an excellent understanding of processes, structures, and algorithms
- Is knowledgeable on the accessibility and security features involved in web development
III. Full-Stack Developer
A full-stack developer is a developer who works on both the front-end and back-end of web development. They have a versatile skill set and they use them to finish exceptional web projects. The skills mentioned here are useful for coding activities, databases, graphic creation, and overall UI design.
Since full-stack developers carry the role of front-end and back-end developers, so they need to be knowledgeable about:
- Server-side duties
- Building the layout
- Fixing the structure
- Database management
- Having a keen eye for website design
Important Skills To Look For In A Brilliant Web Developer
There is no reason for you to settle for an average web developer. The excellent and dedicated ones are just waiting to be discovered on various websites. But for you to quickly recognize what makes a brilliant developer, take note of these things below. It will help you weed out the weak candidates in your selection process.
A. Knowledge Of HTML/CSS
Understanding HTML and CSS is one of the basics of web development. Knowing these languages allows any person to create and design the front end of the website. It enables you to make your own website stand out from the pool of competition in your niche.
The standard markup language for developing websites is the HyperText Markup Language (HTML). This language is widely used in the industry to create websites. It is also the same language used by web developers to develop advanced and unique features of web pages.
CSS is used to create the website’s overall design. These designs could be a page layout, color, fonts, and style. CSS is used to make a website look unique and pleasing to visitors. It is also used to make websites responsive for mobile users.
If web developers know these languages, they have a good sense of the fundamental blocks of web development. This makes them proficient in solving basic problems and issues of a website. Knowing these languages allows a person to transition to more complex languages and functions.
B. Understands Javascript
Any top web developer knows how to use Javascript. It’s a high-level programming language that web developers widely use to integrate complex features onto a website. These complex features could include
- Search bars
- Video integration
- Moving maps and elements
- Interactive buttons and graphics
This coding language helps developers finish object-oriented tasks, functional objectives, and other programming styles. Experienced developers in the niche mentioned that learning Javascript helps in learning Python or C++.
C. Knows The Importance Of Testing And Debugging
Any brilliant web developer knows how important it is to test a web page for possible errors from time to time. Testing simply checks if your code is doing what it is supposed to do.
It’s a way for developers to see if website features are working and functioning correctly. This is a skill a web developer needs since testing is important before any changes or addition to a website go live.
Debugging, on the other hand, is the process of detecting and removing errors that are causing some features on a website to not fully function. These errors can lead to unresponsiveness pages and functional errors. So the developer that you’re looking for should not only know how to test but also solve the problem when needed.
Testing and debugging work hand-in-hand because the testing phase checks whether something is wrong with a website while debugging is used to see if there are errors found in the testing phase.
D. Analytical Skills
Analytical skills play a vital role in web development and web application. It is used in web design to analyze what the website’s market wants. They also need to be analytical of new trends to grab the attention of web visitors.
Additionally, analytical skills are also used in debugging errors. Debugging is a necessary process that needs to be addressed quickly because a professional website serving a big market can’t afford any downtime. When some businesses experience this, they lose money every second that the website is down.
Analytical skills can be applied to various aspects of web development. It’s an essential skill that all website developers need in 2024. So if you’re looking for a brilliant web developer who needs little to no supervision, hire someone with excellent analytical skills.
You can ask the candidate to go through a series of analytical skill tests or ask them how they would respond to a specific problem and listen to what they would do. These are good ways to gauge the analytical skills of a web developer.
E. SEO Skills
SEO is about creating and structuring a website to make it efficient. A brilliant website developer understands that SEO is essential for a website to rank on search engines and get the website more visitors and exposure. A web developer with SEO skills can bring a lot of value to a business by helping it scale faster.
Having SEO skills means that the web developer knows how to make a website Google-friendly and increase its speed. In this day and age, speed is the name of the game for all things online. Website speed is even considered a ranking factor by Google as well.
Unbounce reported that 70% of consumers admit that page speed impacts their decision to buy from an online retailer. TowerMarketing mentioned that the average attention span of a website visitor is only around 8 seconds. If your website doesn’t load faster, they are quick to close it and move on to the next business.
Other than speed, having SEO skills mean that the developer is capable of creating a seamless user experience by improving the core web vitals of the website. A seamless experience encourages people to revisit your website frequently. Great user experience can be manifested in:
- Blog posts
- Customer service
- Delivery of products
- Marketing campaigns
- Purchase processes for eCommerce
F. Constant Improvement And Learning
What separates brilliant web developers from mediocre ones is their ability to always be willing to improve and learn. They have a thirst for learning, making them stay updated on the best frameworks and innovations in the space. This results in producing high-quality results that exceed their client’s expectations.
A web developer needs to be on top of their game and be on the lookout for new technologies that can position the business to be at a great advantage.
Other than being on top of the latest trends in the industry, web developers need to have this particular skill because it allows them to be valuable. Coding itself is a skill - a person who aims to improve daily will surely bring more value. They will be able to debug more things faster. These types of developers can bring something new to the table and execute it flawlessly.
Setting A Web Development Budget
Setting a website development budget beforehand is important because this prevents overspending on a project. The budget typically revolves around how fast you want the website to be finished, the quality of the finished project, and the price set by the web developer.
You can ask for an estimated rate when you’re in talks with your chosen web developer. If the developer is paid by hourly rate or on a full-time or part-time basis, this gives you an idea of how much the whole project will cost.
The figure that you come up with should be run through the stakeholders in your business. Ask them what they think and take note of their opinions. Setting a budget is always good when done collaboratively.
Posting Your Project
When posting your project or a job posting, you need to be as detailed as possible. List all the specifications, features, and extras you want the project to have. Include the timeline as well on how fast you want it to be done. If you are looking for certain web developer skills, add that information too.
How To Interview
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices of web developers, it’s time for the interview part of the process. An interview will allow you to know more about the candidate.
This is your chance to go deeper into their resume and LinkedIn profile, talk about their years of experience, and allow the candidate to explain in detail his experiences and issues he has encountered. It’s also an excellent time to explain how they solved those web development problems.
Here are some of the questions you can start with to help you get some ideas on what questions to ask in interviews.
- What is your biggest accomplishment in your career?
- What was the most challenging problem you’ve encountered?
- How did you solve it?
- How much time did it take you to resolve the issue?
- What’s hard about website development?
- What do you like about it?
- Are you on top of the latest developments in the field?
- How do you do testing? And improve QA?
- Can you describe your workflow when creating a project?
- What content management system do you use?
- Have you tried working with startups?
- How do you handle project management?
- How well do you work with a development team?
- How do you communicate with other developers?
You can start with these general questions but you shouldn’t be limited to them. To find a web developer that is right for your project and business, you need to go into details.
Ask them what language they are proficient in, ask them if they can find the errors in a test code, and ask about their proficiency in other languages and platforms. These questions should be formulated independently since every project is different from the rest.
Conclusion
If you want to hire web developers, you have to recognize that it is a process that requires strategic planning and patience. Among all the things, choosing the right recruitment platform is most important since not every website out there has the best pool of web developers in the market today.
We understand that choosing the best place to hire web developers for your project might be challenging, but we hope that after reading this guide, your decision process will be simpler.
With a highly-qualified team of web developers and project managers, our top pick Aloa saves you from all the woes of the web development process. To make sure your project is completed without any gaps, we offer the best remote workers with solid professional and academic credentials.
Our vetted professionals are ready to work on any project and in any setting. All you have to do is give us the green light by contacting us at [email protected].
