Deel vs Remofirst: Which EOR is best for your business?
Compare features, pricing, and capabilities side-by-side. I've analyzed both EOR providers to help you make the right decision for your global hiring needs.
Robbin Schuchmann
Co-founder, Employ Borderless
Deel vs RemoFirst: quick comparison
Short on time? Here are the key differences between Deel and RemoFirst at a glance.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| EOR pricing | $599/per employee/month | $199/per employee/month |
| Contractor pricing | $49/per employee/month | $25/per employee/month |
| Payroll pricing | $29/per employee/month | — |
| Overall rating | 8.9/10 | 9.3/10 |
| Countries | 88+ | 185+ |
| Visit site | Visit site |
EOR pricing
$599/per employee/month
Contractor pricing
$49/per employee/month
Payroll pricing
$29/per employee/month
Overall rating
8.9/10
Countries
88+
EOR pricing
$199/per employee/month
Contractor pricing
$25/per employee/month
Payroll pricing
—
Overall rating
9.3/10
Countries
185+
Let me be honest: choosing between Deel and Remofirst for global hiring is trickier than most comparison articles make it seem. You’ll find plenty of feature lists, but what really matters is understanding whether the $400/month price difference per employee is worth it – like when you need deep platform integrations with your existing tech stack, your finance team requires advanced reporting and analytics, or you’re dealing with complex multi-country payroll scenarios that go beyond basic compliance.
I’ve been analyzing EOR platforms for the past few years, and I keep seeing the same thing: companies pick Remofirst for the budget savings, then realize three months later they’re spending extra time on manual workarounds, or they choose Deel without considering if they actually need all those features. Deel built its reputation on comprehensive functionality and owned infrastructure, while Remofirst positioned itself as the affordable option through partner networks and essential-only features. Both work, but they’re built for completely different budget realities.
The real decision comes down to what matters most to you: Deel works best when you need extensive integrations, 24/7 support, and built-in HR tools that eliminate other software costs, while Remofirst is better for budget-conscious companies that need solid compliance and payroll without the bells and whistles. Your budget constraints, internal tech capabilities, and whether you’re willing to manage some processes manually will determine which trade-offs actually matter.
My goal is to help you understand how these platforms actually work in practice, so you can decide if saving $48,000 annually on a 10-person team with Remofirst at $199/employee is worth the simpler feature set compared to Deel’s comprehensive platform at $599/employee.
Editorial note: By using our partner links, you'll get exclusive discounts and the best available offers we've negotiated while also supporting our efforts to provide unbiased comparisons of global hiring solutions.
What is Deel?
Deel is an Employer of Record (EOR) and a global payroll platform. Companies use it to hire, pay, and manage international contractors and full-time employees without setting up local entities.
Alex Bouaziz, Shuo Wang, and Ofer Simon founded the company in 2019. Deel is headquartered in San Francisco and has raised more than $980 million in seven funding rounds.
The platform is now valued at $17.3 billion.
How Deel works
Deel supports hiring and payroll across more than 150 countries.Companies typically use the platform for the following services:
- Employer of Record (EOR): Deel becomes the legal employer in the target country while the client manages the day-to-day work
- Contractor management: Allow clients to hire, manage, and pay independent contractors in multiple countries through a single platform.
- Contractor of Record (COR): Deel takes on the liability, manages all HR/admin, and handles the risk for you.
- Global payroll: Clients submit payroll data and approve it in one dashboard, and Deel handles taxes, deductions, and currency conversions automatically.
What stood out in my tests
In my tests of the platform, the onboarding stood out for its simplicity and speed.In most cases, contracts are generated automatically based on the country, reviewed right on the platform, and approved in a few steps.
What it means for clients: Deel clients can hire in established markets within days. They’re also likely to find better contract standardization, clear compliance guidance, and faster onboarding compared to smaller regional providers.
| Founded | 2019 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco |
What is RemoFirst?
RemoFirst is an Employer of Record (EOR) service that lets companies hire and pay international employees without setting up local legal entities. Founded in 2021 by Nurasyl Serik and Volodymyr Fedoriv, this San Francisco company has attracted smaller businesses and startups with $39 million in funding.
When you use RemoFirst, they technically "hire" through their local entities in 180+ countries. RemoFirst handles the legal employment paperwork, local tax compliance, payroll processing, and benefits administration, while you manage the day-to-day work. This setup saves the 3-6 months and $15,000-$50,000 usually needed to set up foreign entities.
The platform serves two main purposes:
- Full EOR services for companies hiring employees internationally
- Contractor management for businesses working with global freelancers
| Founded | 2020 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco |
| CEO | Nurasyl Serik |
| Employees | 10001+ |
| Total funding | $0.0B |
What are the key features of Deel vs RemoFirst?
When you're choosing between EOR providers, it comes down to what each one actually does for you. Some focus on payroll processing, others specialize in compliance management, and some offer better employee benefits. Here's what sets these two apart.
Deel key features
Deel processes payroll in 120+ currencies across 150+ countries with withdrawal options including bank transfers, Revolut, Wise, PayPal, and crypto. The payment dashboard shows exactly what each person receives after local tax deductions.
Allow clients to hire full-time employees without establishing their own legal presence. Deel handles employment contracts, onboarding, tax registration, and mandatory benefits in each country.
Deel legally employs contractors on your behalf and assumes liability for any misclassification claims.
The platform generates localized contractor agreements and handles payments in 150+ countries. Tax forms such as 1099s are created automatically.
Deel tracks regulatory changes across all countries and automatically updates the contract templates.
The platform offers health insurance, retirement plans, and stipends tailored to each country. The client can customize packages through the dashboard while Deel ensures mandatory benefits are always included.
RemoFirst key features
RemoFirst acts as the legal employer in 185+ countries. They create employment contracts, register employees with local authorities, and manage tax withholdings and social contributions. One price across all countries.
Processes payroll in 100+ currencies with automatic tax withholdings and mandatory deductions. Supports monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly payment cycles.
Creates compliant contractor agreements and manages payments in local currencies across 150+ countries for $25 per contractor monthly. Separate contractor dashboard follows the same workflow as employee management.
RemoHealth provides standardized health insurance across all countries, with optional dental and vision coverage. Handles equipment provisioning for laptops and tools shipped to remote team members.
Handles tax filings, paid time off policies, parental leave, termination requirements, and other country-specific employment regulations automatically.
Employees request time off through the platform. Automatic calculations based on local entitlements. Managers approve or deny requests directly in the system with calendar view showing team availability.
What benefits do Deel and RemoFirst offer?
Features are one thing, but how do they actually help your business? Think faster onboarding, fewer compliance headaches, and smoother payroll runs. Here are the real benefits you'll get from each provider.
Deel benefits
Faster international hiring
Deel allows companies to hire internationally without creating owned subsidiaries. This can cut weeks or months from the hiring process.
Lower compliance risk
Employment contracts, payroll rules, and benefits follow local regulations automatically. That means lower compliance risk and less manual tracking (or none at all).
Centralized workforce management
Contractors and full-time employees are managed through a single platform. This replaces multiple HR and payroll systems and saves time.
Better employee experience
Faster onboarding, predictable payroll, and access to local benefits all add to the overall experience of international employees and contractors.
RemoFirst benefits
Major cost savings
A 10-person team costs $1,990 monthly with RemoFirst versus $5,990 with Deel or Remote. That's $48,000 in annual savings.
Avoided expansion costs
Setting up a foreign entity costs $15,000-$50,000 upfront, plus $20,000-$40,000 annually for compliance. RemoFirst eliminates both.
Faster market entry
Setting up legal entities takes 3-6 months. RemoFirst onboards employees in 5-7 business days across all countries.
Reduced compliance risk
Employment law violations cost $10,000-$100,000 per incident. RemoFirst monitors changing regulations across all countries automatically.
Simplified global payroll
Automated payroll calculations and tax withholdings across multiple currencies save 15-20 hours per pay period of manual work.
Business flexibility
No minimum commitments or long-term contracts. Add or remove employees as projects change or when testing new markets.
Benefits administration
RemoHealth provides standardized health insurance across all countries. Offer dental and vision coverage without managing multiple local providers.
How do Deel and RemoFirst compare on pricing?
Let's talk money. EOR pricing can be tricky - some providers quote low monthly fees but charge extra for setup, onboarding, or additional services. Here's what each provider charges for their main services.
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Employer of record | $599/per employee/month | $199/per employee/month |
| Contractor management | $49/per employee/month | $25/per employee/month |
| Global payroll | $29/per employee/month | — |
Not sure which is right for you?
Tell me about your team and I'll give you a free, unbiased recommendation.
What are the pros and cons of Deel vs RemoFirst?
No EOR provider is perfect - they all have their sweet spots and pain points. Getting honest about what works and what doesn't will save you from unpleasant surprises down the road. Here's the real talk on both providers.
Deel
- +
Owned legal entities
This gives Deel more direct control compared to providers that use third-party suppliers.
- +
Multi-currency payroll services
Processes payments in over 120 local currencies (often with better exchange rates than bank transfers).
- +
Automated compliance tracking
Generates country-specific contracts and tax forms automatically.
- +
Contractor of Record service
Deel assumes the misclassification liability by hiring contractors on your behalf through their entities.
- +
Localized benefits packages
Health insurance, equipment stipends, and perks are tailored to each market. This helps Deel clients attract (and keep) better talent.
- +
24/7 support across multiple channels
They offer round-the-clock support beyond workdays.
- +
Unified platform
Manages both contractors and full-time employees in one system.
- −
Premium pricing
With EOR at $499 per month and contractor management at $49, their rates are higher compared to some budget providers.
- −
Support delays during peak periods
Response times might exceed those advertised during busy payroll periods.
- −
Limited reporting
Analytics covers the essentials but lacks deep customization options.
RemoFirst
- +
Lowest EOR pricing available
RemoFirst charges $199 across 185+ countries. Deel charges $599 and Remote charges $645 for the same service.
- +
Fast employee onboarding
Most employees start working within a week. Setting up your own entities takes 3-6 months.
- +
Complete compliance handling
They manage local employment regulations, tax filings, and statutory requirements in every country.
- +
Affordable contractor management
Contractor payments cost $25 monthly. Deel charges $49 for contractor management.
- +
No surprise costs
One price across all countries with no setup fees, deposits, or minimums.
- +
Global benefits program
Standardized health insurance across all countries without navigating multiple local providers.
- +
Simple interface
Most HR staff navigate core functions in their first session without training.
- −
Limited reporting
Analytics cover basic workforce data only. No custom dashboards or advanced visualization. You'll need separate tools for detailed workforce analysis.
- −
Fewer integrations
Supports fewer third-party connections than Deel, Remote, or Rippling. Expect manual work connecting HRIS, accounting, and payroll systems.
- −
Missing features (young platform)
Founded in 2021, RemoFirst lacks multi-country payroll consolidation and tax planning tools that older competitors offer.
- −
Limited country customization
Few localization options for employment contracts and policies. Challenging for companies with specialized regional requirements or highly regulated industries.
What do customers say about Deel vs RemoFirst?
Don't just take my word for it. Here's what actual users say about working with these providers on major review platforms.
| | |
|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4.8 11,935 reviews | 4.6 251 reviews |
| Trustpilot | 4.7 8,150 reviews | 4.2 64 reviews |
| Capterra | 4.8 3,697 reviews | 5.0 2 reviews |
| Glassdoor | 4.5 1,708 reviews | 4.4 33 reviews |
Ratings sourced directly from each platform. Last updated February 2026.
Customer support: Deel vs RemoFirst
When things go wrong (and they will), you want to know someone's got your back. Great support can make the difference between a minor hiccup and a major disaster. Here's how these providers handle support.
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Support availability | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Dedicated account manager | Yes | No |
| Support languages | English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Other | — |
| Self-service resources | Yes | No |
| Community forum | No | No |
How do Deel and RemoFirst compare on our ratings?
I've scored both providers across 10 categories based on hands-on testing, user feedback, and independent research. Here's how they stack up.
Features
Country coverage
Pricing
User experience
Customer support
Integrations
Mobile app
Analytics & reporting
Security
Compliance
Third-party ratings average
Complete comparison table
Every detail that matters when choosing an EOR provider. Compare pricing, features, country coverage, and support options in one easy-to-scan table.
| Feature |  Deel |  RemoFirst |
|---|---|---|
| EOR pricing | From $599/mo | From $199/mo |
| Countries | 88+ | 185+ |
| Overall rating | 8.9/10 | 9.3/10 |
| Mobile app | ||
| API available | ||
| Webhook support | ||
| Dedicated account manager | ||
| Self-service resources | ||
| Community forum |
Which provider should you choose?
Different companies have different needs. Your team size, budget, and where you're hiring all play a role in which provider will work best for you. Here's how to pick the right fit.
Choose Deel if:
Deel is ideal for companies with complex international hiring needs and a desire for comprehensive HR solutions. Its robust platform caters to businesses scaling globally, offering extensive compliance support and payroll options across numerous countries. Deel’s advanced features and integrations make it suitable for:
- Large multinational corporations
- Fast-growing startups with global ambitions
- Companies hiring in multiple countries simultaneously
Choose RemoFirst if:
Remofirst is well-suited for smaller to medium-sized businesses looking for a more straightforward approach to global hiring. Its user-friendly interface and competitive pricing make it attractive for companies just starting their international expansion or those with more focused hiring needs. Remofirst is particularly good for:
- Companies prioritizing cost-effectiveness in global expansion
- Small to medium enterprises
- Startups with limited global hiring needs
When to consider alternatives
Sometimes neither option is quite right. Maybe you need rock-bottom pricing, enterprise-level features, or coverage in a specific country these providers don't serve well. Here are some other EOR providers worth checking out.
Remote
Companies who want strong protection of intellectual property (IP) and legal risk coverage when hiring internationally
Read review
Multiplier
Companies looking for fast global hiring & payments
Read review
Hire With Columbus
Budget-conscious companies needing affordable EOR services across many countries, especially those hiring 5+ international employees where cost savings compound significantly
Read reviewNot sure which is right for you? Get a free, personalized recommendation based on your team and budget.
Frequently asked questions
Deel operates in over 150 countries, while RemoFirst supports hiring in more than 180 countries. Both offer extensive global reach, but RemoFirst has a slight edge regarding the number of countries covered.
Generally, Remofirst is more cost-effective for small businesses. Their pricing starts lower than Deel’s, with EOR services beginning at $199 per employee per month compared to Deel’s $599. However, it’s important to consider the full range of services you need when comparing costs.
Both platforms prioritize compliance. Deel offers real-time updates on changing employment laws and built-in compliance checks. Remofirst ensures adherence to local labor laws and regulations, providing automatic updates on changes. Both platforms aim to keep businesses compliant across all countries where they operate.
Deel and RemoFirst offer management solutions for contractors and full-time employees. Deel charges $49 per monthly contractor, while Remofirst charges $25. Both platforms offer comprehensive EOR services for full-time employees.
Deel provides 24/7 customer support and has a comprehensive self-service knowledge base. RemoFirst emphasizes personalized support with dedicated account managers for each client and offers 24/7 assistance.
Still not sure?
Get a free, personalized recommendation based on your team size, budget, and hiring countries.