Compare · Direct US Hiring
Stop treating hiring as the only way to get capacity.
Hire developer vs outsource — for many US SMEs, leasing dedicated offshore engineers is the bridge (and often the keep).
Direct hiring is the default. It is also slow and expensive. Many CTOs use DontHireDevs as a bridge while hiring — then keep the lease because the economics hold.
Their pitch
“Build the team on your payroll.”
Our counter
Direct hiring costs roughly $42K per hire, takes ~42 days on average, and creates employment liability. We match in 72 hours with zero admin burden and a free pilot.
~72% lower monthly cost vs senior US hire
Senior engineer in Austin: ~$165K salary + ~30% overhead ≈ $17.8K/mo. DontHireDevs senior capacity: about $5,000/mo — plus you skip recruiter fees and 42-day ramp.
Direct US Hiring vs DontHireDevs — side by side
Same evaluation criteria CTOs use on discovery calls. Numbers reflect typical market ranges; your quote may differ by role and seniority.
| Feature | Direct US Hiring | DontHireDevs |
|---|---|---|
| Loaded monthly cost | $50–$90/hr equiv. | $12–$35 |
| Time to productive | ~42 days avg | 72-hour match + pilot |
| Upfront recruiting | $35K–$45K common | $0 setup |
| Employment liability | Full employer | Vendor-employed |
| Pricing transparency | Salary + benefits opaque total | Full salary + fee breakdown |
| Trial | Probation (still paid) | 14-day free pilot |
| Exit flexibility | At-will + severance risk | 30-day notice |
| Management | Your managers | Account manager + optional tech lead |
| Quality gates | Your process | Internal pre-review + Day-14 scorecard |
When each option wins
Choose Direct US Hiring when
- Core IP owners, managers, and culture-critical roles
- You have budget and time for a full in-house build-out
Choose DontHireDevs when
- Open roles older than two weeks and roadmap pressure
- You want capacity now without permanent headcount risk
- 72-hour matching vs multi-week recruiting
- No recruiter fees or benefits admin
- 14-day free pilot before you pay
- Keep US hiring for core roles; lease for capacity
Direct US Hiring alternative — FAQ
Is offshore leasing a replacement for all US hiring?+
No. Keep hiring for leadership and core product ownership. Use leased dedicated engineers to absorb backlog and specialist execution without freezing the roadmap.
How much does a US software engineer really cost?+
Fully loaded senior cost often lands near $17K–$20K/mo once benefits, taxes, tools, and recruiting amortization are included. See our 2026 hiring cost breakdown for the full model.
How fast can we start versus posting a job?+
Typical US hiring cycles run about 42 days. We target a match in 72 hours and prove fit with a 14-day free pilot.
Prove it on real tickets — not another sales deck.
Start a 14-day free pilot. If DontHireDevs is not a better fit than Direct US Hiring for your roadmap, you owe nothing.
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