Arc.dev vs Terminal: What’s the Best Option for Hiring Developers in 2024?

Many remote talent-hiring platforms have arisen to meet the growing demand for software and website developers in all business areas. However, if you’ve tried a few of them, you will immediately realize that they’re not all equally good at satisfying the client’s hiring needs. In this article, we will make a head-to-head comparison of two excellent choices: Arc.dev vs. Terminal. 

Arc and Terminal are remote talent-hiring platforms connecting software and website developer talent to companies needing their skills. With both, you can hire full-time software developers for your company much faster than traditional hiring. However, they differ on various metrics that make each suited for a different set of hiring needs. 

So, which one of these two will be the best option for your next hire? This article will elaborate on both options and then compare them on crucial metrics. Without further ado, let’s discuss Arc.dev vs Terminal. 

What is Arc.dev?

Arc.dev is a niche online platform for hiring software developers. It leverages AI technology in the form of its HireAI Recruiter, which guides you through the hiring stages, from candidate screening to payroll arrangements and administrative processes. 

In 2019, Arc launched as a platform connecting pre-approved developers with companies hiring remotely. It later launched Arc 2.0, a more encompassing platform that combines over 50,000 developer jobs from 13,000+ companies worldwide and additionally offers some community support. 

What is Terminal?

Terminal is the smarter, global hiring platform for hiring developers, built to cost-effectively and seamlessly connect high-growth companies and startups with top-quality software developers for hire. Its services are more comprehensive than just offering a tech talent marketplace, as it also actively ensures the successful onboarding of hired developers as part of its team management services. Not only can you hire through Terminal, but you can employ and manage global HR for your full-time and contract hires through the Terminal platform.

The platform was founded in 2016, making it older and more experienced in the tech talent industry than Arc. Unlike Arc, it only provides developers for hire from Canada, Latin America, and Europe – a thoughtfully selected talent pool.

Arc.dev vs Terminal.io

We will now match Arc.dev vs Terminal according to five different factors that will determine the best remote talent-hiring platform for you. 

• Tech Stack Scope
• Project Roles
• Developer Vetting
• Hiring Costs
• Hiring Process
• Trial Offer and Quality Assurance

Tech Stack and Skills

As software development continues to advance, newer tech stacks are at play in the global market, each offering different digital features and functionalities. To service such a market effectively, a remote talent-hiring platform must offer developers skilled in as many of these software development technologies as possible. So, in this section, we will compare Arc.dev vs Terminal in terms of the technologies their developers specialize in.

Arc.dev

There are up to 10 developer specialties by tech stack that you can find on Arc.dev. They include gaming-specialized technologies like Unity, programming languages like Java, Python, and JavaScript, and database technologies like AWS and SQL. Additionally, there are developers specializing in WordPress, React, Shopify, and DevOps.

Terminal.io

Terminal offers developers for some of the tech stacks you can find on Arc.dev, namely JavaScript, Python, and AWS. It also has MySQL (which supports more programming languages and integrations than SQL) in addition to both React and React Native developers.

But, Terminal has even more to offer. There are developers for many other technologies, including Typescript, .NET, Android, Angular, Docker, Node.js, Vue.js, MEAN, MongoDB, Ruby on Rails, Swift, JQuery, Drupal, Azure, API, ASP.NET, Django, PHP, C, C#, and C++. Beyond that, Terminal has grown its practice for AI and Machine Learning meaningfully, as it has tapped into the large and growing pools in Latin America and Canada and have placed many of these cutting edge roles for companies.

Developer Roles for Hire

When building a software development team, you must ensure the best matching of technology specialty to roles. Finding a remote hiring platform with developers who can adequately fill these roles becomes essential. So, we will compare the roles developers on Arc.dev can fill to those that Terminal developers can.

Arc.dev

Arc developers specialize in remote front-end, back-end, and full-stack development. You can also find mobile, game, and blockchain developers, as well as data scientists, data engineers, software architects, and DevOps engineers. 

Terminal.io

Terminal.io also has developers specializing in front-end, back-end, and full-stack development, as well as mobile development (both Android and iOS), data and DevOps engineering, and data science. Additionally, it has QA engineers and engineering managers.

In all, Arc.dev vs Terminal appears to be an evenly matched comparison regarding developer roles. Each offers developers to fill some of the same roles in addition to some that the other does not cover. 

Developer Vetting

Before making developers available to clients, it’s necessary to be sure they are of only the finest quality. That’s where the vetting process comes in. To achieve the best results, the process must be rigorous and robust, testing candidates for all the vital and secondary skills needed to do their job excellently. So, which of the two platforms is the best at vetting? 

Arc.dev

The first stage of vetting on Arc.dev is to prescreen the candidate’s profile for relevant training and work experience. Arc proceeds to vet for communication and technical skills if the profile checks out. 

Since the platform sources talent from around the globe, English communication takes precedence. Arc tests a developer’s command of the language by either having its recruiting experts engage them in live, one-on-one video calls or through asynchronous video interviews. 

Next comes the technical vetting, where the recruiting experts test the developer’s proficiency and knowledge of various technologies. The candidates must be highly skilled in multiple programming languages, domains, and frameworks and able to put those skills into building functional and valuable digital products. 

Arc takes either of two approaches to vetting technical skills:

• It sets up technical interviews with expert developers from selected tech companies. Such interviews involve broad technical questions to test scope and versatility, live pair programming to test coding skills, and in-depth questions to assert the candidate thoroughly knows their area of expertise.
• It holds an exclusive programming challenge; in-house developers set up this challenge, and Arc’s global community of experts reviews the performance results. 

These options allow Arc’s technical vetting to accommodate variances in developers’ learning and working aptitudes. 

Terminal.io

Terminal’s vetting process is just as rigorous as Arc’s but also has more dimensions. Every candidate joining the platform completes a profile, which will be screened for pedigree and self-reported experience.

Communication skills are the next thing to check; Terminal’s recruiting experts speak directly to the candidates, rejecting any who can’t use English properly in a business setting. But then, it’s not just about being proficient in English. Terminal developers must be able to relay ideas concisely and relate well in social situations — a vital skill when working in a team. 

Terminal candidates must also be highly technically skilled, with proficiency and experience working with a range of technologies in various developer roles. Technical assessment can be anything from a client-built code challenge or HackerRank assessment to a live coding session. 

An advantage for people hiring through Terminal.io is that the platform is also very concerned with work ethic and motivation. So, it vets its clients for personal qualities like initiative as well as exceptional achievements — good indicators of a highly motivated developer willing to go far and beyond for your project. Only the top 7% of developers make it through Terminal’s rigorous vetting process.

Hiring Costs

Sticking to the budget is crucial, and cost considerations are always relevant when hiring software developers. You want a remote talent platform that offers you quality hiring services undiminished by the affordability of its costs. So, let’s compare Arc.dev vs Terminal and see which one has the best pricing. 

Arc.dev

Since Arc full-time developers choose their own annual salaries, the platform does not list any fixed prices. Instead, a hiring consultant discusses salary arrangements with you when you hire; you state your budget range, and the consultant will show you clients who fall within that. Once you hire a developer, Arc charges a one-time fee based on the agreed annual salary. 

Similarly, freelancers decide their hourly rates, typically charging between $40 and $100. Once you agree on a rate, the developer logs their daily hours, while Arc provides weekly invoices. 

Terminal.io

Terminal’s pricing system is generally very wallet-friendly. Recall we mentioned that Terminal specializes in hiring from Canada, Europe, and Latin America. This regional focus helps to slash costs for those hiring domestically in the US by an attractive 40-60%.

Like on Arc.dev, developers on Terminal set their own rates depending on seniority and rank. Still, unlike Arc, Terminal offers a very transparent price range, so you know what figures to have in mind. Monthly salaries for full-time developers range from $4,000 to $12,000. 

Additionally, you pay just a few thousand dollars in onboarding fees when you employ a developer, depending on developer rank and seniority. All things considered, Terminal can help you hire talent relatively affordably, saving as much as 45% per role.

Hiring Process

How fast and seamless is the hiring process? How far does the hiring platform go to ensure the process is successful and your new developer integrates well into your team? Let’s answer some of the vital questions regarding procedures on Arc and Terminal. 

Arc.dev

Arc boasts of helping you find full-time developers four times as fast as traditional hiring, typically within two months of your request. If you’re looking for freelancers, they can be available within three days. 

If you request a developer for hire, Arc gives you a list of remote developers tailored according to your budget and required skill set. You can then go through the list and send interview invitations to the developers you’re interested in. Suppose you can’t find what you need; you may have to wait up to two weeks for a new list — quite inconvenient. 

If you want a freelance developer, you have to sign up on the platform and post a request detailing what skillset or roles you have in mind. A hiring consultant will reach out to you to discuss your needs, and then you’ll receive a list of candidates from which to take your pick and arrange interviews.

Terminal.io

Despite being more streamlined in geographical scope, Terminal.io always has just the right developer for the job on hand, waiting to be hired. It vets thousands of candidates monthly, ensuring a continuous inflow of talent to its existing pool of over 90,000 developers. Therefore, hiring on Terminal.io is about 40% faster than traditional hiring and many times faster than on Arc.dev. 

If you request a hire on Terminal, especially freelance ones, you can get more than five qualified candidates for each role between 7 and 14 days after your request. However, it may take longer for non-core roles that require custom talent sourcing. You can get contract hires in less than a month, while full-time developers will take no more than 45 days to hire officially.

Terminal’s full-scope hiring service extends beyond just providing the developers to even assisting in the interview process and ensuring they are successfully onboarded if you choose to hire them. That includes everything from role allocation to negotiating job benefits and providing IT support for the team the developer is joining. Essentially, unlike Arc, Terminal helps every step of the way, making hiring faster and simpler.

Trial Offer and Quality Assurance

Our final metric to compare Arc.dev vs Terminal is trial offers and quality guarantees. What do both platforms bring to the table in this regard? 

Arc.dev

Arc offers trial periods for both permanent hires and freelance developers. For the former, the trial period is three months; for the latter, it’s two weeks. 

Terminal.io

Given how well Terminal.io combines smart technology and human recruiting experience to ensure maximum developer qualification, it is rare for any hire to turn out the wrong fit. In the rare occurrence that they do, Terminal’s policy is to work with you to get a replacement immediately. Such replacements can happen at any time during the developer’s employment duration, but if they occur within three months of the start date, Terminal will charge no recruitment fees. 

If you hire contract staff, Terminal offers a 14-day trial period to be sure you are satisfied with the developer.

Arc.dev vs Terminal: Which Is the Best For Hiring Developers?

In comparing Arc.dev vs Terminal, the latter clearly stands out as the better option based on the metrics we have discussed. 

You can find experts in more tech stacks on Terminal, which enables the platform to provide developers for a more extensive range of projects than Arc. Both platforms are rigorous at vetting developers, but Terminal goes even further to vet more factors to ensure an excellent fit from the very first hire. 

In terms of cost, Terminal also takes the cake with its emphasis on slashing your expenses as much as possible while service quality remains intact. It’s also significantly more transparent about pricing, offering a price range to help your budget considerations even before you request a hire. By comparison, you never really have any idea how much you might pay on Arc.dev until you start the negotiation process. 

Finally, in terms of hiring processes and trial offers, Terminal also trumps Arc. You can hire developers much faster on Terminal.io than on Arc.dev, and you also get to enjoy better trial offers. Of course, Terminal provides remote developers from Europe, Latin America, and Canada, that are deep talent pools but technically from fewer geographies than Arc.dev. Still, the comparison stacks overwhelmingly in favor of Terminal as the better option for hiring top-tier developer talent for your company or startup.

Terminal, with its comprehensive approach to building and scaling remote engineering teams, exceptional global talent network, and full-stack hiring and employment solution, is the best choice. If you’re looking to grow your international talent team, 40% faster and 40 to 60% cheaper than domestic U.S. hiring, contact our team or start browsing talent for free!