Alternatives compared
Six ways to buy development capacity, compared with ordering the result.
Buyers of large projects usually arrive from a talent network, a freelance marketplace, a B2B directory, a staffing provider, an offshore vendor or a freelancer's referral. Each page below describes that route in its own published terms, states where it is the better choice, and shows what changes when you order a fixed-price build instead. No logos, no discrediting, facts checked on 9 November 2026.
Choose your starting point
Seven comparisons, one offer.
The offer is identical on every page: a written scope, a trial build within 72 hours for a fixed 9,900 euros (excl. VAT), then the full scope at one fixed price. See how it works, who it's for and where we work.
Toptal alternative
A Toptal alternative for large projects: screened freelancers by the hour compared with a fixed-price build delivered as tested commits within 72 hours.
Open the comparison Open freelance marketplacesUpwork alternative
An Upwork alternative for large projects: one written scope, one fixed price and tested commits within 72 hours instead of proposals, fees and coordination.
Open the comparison Agencies found in B2B directoriesDevelopment agency alternative
Shortlisted agencies on Clutch, GoodFirms or DesignRush? Compare the directory-and-RFP route with a fixed-price build: written scope, trial build in 72 hours.
Open the comparison Staff augmentation and body leasingStaff augmentation alternative
A staff augmentation alternative: instead of renting developers by the day, order a fixed-price scope built 24/7 by an autonomous system, delivered as tested commits.
Open the comparison Offshore and nearshore teamsOffshore team alternative
An offshore development team alternative: a fixed-price build from an EU company, delivered in 24/7 cycles as tested commits, no time-zone overlap required.
Open the comparison Individual freelancersFreelance developers alternative
An alternative to hiring freelance developers for a large project: one written scope, one fixed price, tested code in 72 hours, and no coordination of individuals.
Open the comparison HiringInstead of hiring developers
Recruiting, onboarding, payroll and management compared with a fixed price, delivery in days and tested code.
Open the comparisonHow these pages are written
Fair comparison, by design.
Like with like
Every page compares ways of buying software development capacity for a large project, and nothing else.
Their words, linked
Statements about a named company are limited to what it publishes itself, with the source linked and the check date stated. Trademarks belong to their owners; no logos are used.
When they win
Each page has a section on when the other route is the better choice. Most large organisations use more than one.
Trust & delivery standards
Your systems stay untouched. Your product arrives tested.
All development happens in AIPOS OÜ's own secure environment. We never connect to your code hosting, servers, cloud accounts or development environment, so no outside party enters your systems and your supplier and security risk stays small. You receive tested code as a clean package, not half-finished changes in your main branch, and you follow progress every day without watching any technical tools.
How the code is built and handed over
- Tests and independent review. Every change passes the automated test suite and an independent review agent before it is merged.
- Documentation, tests, history. You receive the documentation, the tests and the complete git history of your product's code.
- No dependency on our tools. Code and intellectual property transfer to you without any dependency on AIPOS OÜ's tooling: the product builds, tests and runs from the delivered package with publicly available tools.
- 30 days of free fixes. Defects found within 30 days of hand-over are fixed free of charge, within the written scope description.
How you verify the work without seeing our environment
- Specification first. A written specification with measurable acceptance criteria, prepared by AIPOS OÜ and confirmed by you before development starts.
- A written report every day. By e-mail: what was done, which tests passed, where the work stands against the criteria, the next step, and whether anything needs your answer.
- Preview at every milestone. A password-protected preview link where you try your product working, at every milestone.
- Code you can audit. At every milestone, a test report and the product's code at that point as a file package: run it yourself or have an independent developer audit it. The complete code follows final payment.
- Written acceptance. You accept in writing against the agreed criteria. 50% is paid on scope confirmation and 50% only after acceptance; then 30 days of free defect fixing within the written scope. All communication is by e-mail.
Company details, security, warranty, payment and VAT terms in one place: Trust & delivery standards. The binding wording is in the terms of service.
Not sure which comparison applies? Send the project anyway.
The form is the same for every route. You receive a written scope description for a trial build.