Comparisons
Arbolus vs. GLG: A comparison for experts
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Arbolus Support
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Comparing Arbolus and GLG as an expert? Here’s an honest look at how the two networks differ, where each one is strongest, and which one is more likely to suit your background.
Arbolus vs. GLG: how they compare for experts
GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group) is one of the oldest and largest expert networks in the world, with a huge pool of experts across virtually every industry and a well-established reputation among institutional clients such as investment funds, consulting firms and corporations. Arbolus is a newer, more focused platform built specifically around B2B technology and software markets, and around the people who buy, use and manage those tools. Both are legitimate, both are free to join, and both can be worthwhile, depending on what you’re looking for and where your experience sits.
GLG | Arbolus | |
|---|---|---|
Scale | Extremely large network, broad industry coverage | Smaller, more focused network, concentrated in B2B tech and software |
Cost to experts | Free to join | Free to join |
How you get matched | Network sources and invites you to relevant projects | Network invites you to relevant projects, and you can also browse and apply to open projects yourself |
Project types | Primarily one-on-one calls, plus surveys and events | Expert calls, video questionnaires (Canopy), surveys and software reviews |
Payment model | Per-call or per-project, rate typically set per engagement | Per-project, plus ongoing payouts for software reviews |
Ongoing earnings | Paid per engagement, no ongoing component | Experts can qualify for the Rewards Programme and earn per software review |
Best suited to | Experts with broad, cross-industry experience wanting high call volume | Experts with specific B2B software or tech experience |
Where GLG has the edge
Scale is GLG’s biggest advantage. With one of the largest expert pools in the industry, it tends to generate a high volume of project invitations across a very wide range of sectors, which suits experts who want frequent opportunities regardless of their specific niche. Its size also means broader brand recognition among clients, which can translate into a steadier stream of work over time. If your experience is in healthcare, finance, industrials or consumer markets rather than technology, a network of this breadth will simply have more projects that fit you than a specialised platform can.
Where Arbolus has the edge
Arbolus gives experts more agency in how they find work. Rather than waiting entirely to be selected, you can actively browse the Suggested Projects in your account and apply to the ones that match your background, which suits experts who prefer not to sit passively in a pool until someone reaches out.
Arbolus also offers a route to income that does not depend on booking another call. Experts can qualify for the Rewards Programme by submitting software reviews, and once a review is published it can keep earning you money each time a client views it, without any extra outreach or negotiation on your part. For someone who uses several B2B tools day to day, this turns knowledge they already have into a recurring source of income alongside calls and surveys.
The honest takeaway
If your expertise spans broad industries and you want maximum call volume with minimal setup, GLG’s scale is hard to match. If your background is specifically in B2B software or technology, and you’d value more say in which projects you pursue plus a built-in route to ongoing income, Arbolus is likely to be the better fit.
The two are not mutually exclusive. There is no cost and no exclusivity requirement to joining both, and many experts keep a profile on more than one network so that they are visible to clients wherever a relevant project appears.
If you’re ready to see how it works, join Arbolus as an expert and get started for free.
This article is intended for experts, make sure you are in the right place.
