Compare · Checked November 5, 2026

Baobun Studio vs Toptal.

Toptal puts a freelance designer on your team in about 48 hours. A focused redesign costs from $15,000 with Baobun Studio, and Toptal shares its price on request.

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Baobun StudioFrom $15,000Fixed price, 4 to 12 weeks

ToptalOn requestNo price on their site

Side by side. 01 · From Toptal’s site and ours,
where they do more, it says so.

FeatureToptalBaobun Studio

Product and UI designFreelance designers

Product redesigns

MVP design

Design systems

Coded prototypesIn every project that needs one

Front-end or full buildDevelopers are hired separatelyFront-end help, not full app builds

Audits and user researchAn audit, then tests on a prototype

Brand identity

Websites and landing pagesDesigned and built in Astro

Marketing design (ads, social)

A fixed price before work starts

A monthly planFull-time engagementsDesign partner plan

A way to try firstUp to two weeks, pay if satisfiedFree audit, $1,000 screen, $7,500 pilot

Prices on their websiteOn request

What it costs. 02 · The cheapest way in for each kind of work,
in US dollars, checked November 5, 2026.

ScenarioToptalBaobun Studio

One screen redesignedOn request$1,000One dashboard screen in 48 hours

Try them firstUp to 2 weeksPay only if satisfied$7,500A two-week pilot; the UX audit is free

A focused redesignOn requestFrom $15,000Fixed price, 4 to 12 weeks

A month of designOn requestFrom $15,000Design partner plan, month to month

Toptal: toptal.com/designers. Baobun Studio: pricing.

Who Toptal is. 03 · In their own words and numbers.

Team: Freelancers from its network
Based in: Remote, worldwide
How you work: Hourly, part-time or full-time freelancers
Clients include: Not listed on the page read
Their site says: “Top 3%” of applicants, 98% trial-to-hire
Their site: toptal.com/designers

Who each fits. 04 · We’d rather you pick the right studio.

Toptal is a marketplace of vetted freelance designers, hired by the hour or full time, with a trial of up to two weeks. It suits teams that want to add a designer and manage the work themselves. Baobun Studio suits teams that want a studio to run the redesign, with a fixed price and a process.

Pick Toptal if

You want a designer on your team, managed by you.
You need one in about 48 hours.
You want to pay by the hour.

Pick Baobun Studio if

You want a studio to run the redesign, not a freelancer to manage.
You want a fixed price and a set process.
You want coded prototypes and front-end help.
You want to try us first: a free UX audit, a $1,000 dashboard screen or a $7,500 two-week pilot.

Working with Toptal now? 05 · Bring what you have,
we keep what works.

Share what existsThe Figma files, design system and research you already have.
An audit firstOf the product as it is today, in the first week.
Keep what worksThe parts that work stay, the rest gets redesigned.
Ready to buildSpecs and a coded prototype for your engineers.

Questions. The ones people ask next.

How much does Toptal cost?

Try them first: Up to 2 weeks (pay only if satisfied). From their site on November 5, 2026.

How much does Baobun Studio cost?

Projects start at $15,000 at a fixed price, in 4 to 12 weeks. The design partner plan starts at $15,000 a month. To try us first: a free UX audit, a $1,000 dashboard screen or a $7,500 two-week pilot.

Is Baobun Studio a Toptal alternative?

For product design, yes: redesigns, MVPs and design systems for B2B SaaS and AI products. For what Toptal does beyond that, the table above says where they do more.

Other comparisons. Baobun Studio next to other studios.

Toptal is a trademark of its owner, named here to compare. Baobun Studio isn’t affiliated with Toptal. Facts come from toptal.com/designers on November 5, 2026 and may have changed: tell us and we’ll fix it.

Tell us about your product. We’ll tell you honestly if we’re the right fit.

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