# Multiplier Alternatives and Competitors: 6 EOR Options Compared > Machine-readable page from Employ Borderless (https://employborderless.com/), an independent advisory platform for global hiring solutions. > Canonical page: https://employborderless.com/review/multiplier-alternatives/ > Methodology: how providers are researched, tested and scored is documented at https://employborderless.com/methodology/. > Disclosure: Employ Borderless is free to use. We may earn a referral fee from some providers; this never affects a score or ranking position (https://employborderless.com/disclosure/). > Last updated: 2026-10-15 We independently research and review the top alternatives so you don't have to. **Top pick: RemoFirst.** Of the 6 providers ranked, RemoFirst places first with an overall score of 4.7 out of 5. Best for: the lowest monthly fee. Full review: https://employborderless.com/review/remofirst/ Multiplier is the best mid-market employer of record we have reviewed, with its employer of record service from $459 per employee per month with annual billing. If you're a growing team that wants platform depth without enterprise pricing, it does that job. Our Multiplier review names three situations where another provider fits better: you want the cheapest compliant option, you need verified owned entities, or analytics and integrations are a core requirement. Each of those points to a different provider. Below, we compare the three alternatives our review points to, say which situation each one fits, and add three more providers we review. ## The ranking | # | Provider | Score | Pricing | Best for | |---:|---|---:|---:|---| | 1 | RemoFirst | 4.7 out of 5 | $199/mo | the lowest monthly fee | | 2 | Remote | 4.5 out of 5 | $699/mo | when the provider must be the legal employer | | 3 | Deel | 4.5 out of 5 | $599/mo | analytics and integrations | | 4 | Hire with Columbus | 4.5 out of 5 | $179/mo | teams hiring five or more people who want low, predictable pricing | | 5 | Oyster | 4.3 out of 5 | $699/mo | growing companies that want guided onboarding and compliance support | | 6 | Papaya Global | 4.4 out of 5 | $499/mo | mid-size to large companies with complex multi-country payrolls | ### 1. RemoFirst RemoFirst was founded in 2021 by Nurasyl Serik and Volodymyr Fedoriv, is headquartered in San Francisco, has raised $39 million and employs between 201 and 500 people. It sells two things: employer of record services for hiring employees abroad without a local entity, and contractor management for paying freelancers compliantly. Your contract is with RemoFirst. In most countries the legal employer of your hire is an in-country partner that RemoFirst manages; we have confirmed that model in 34 countries and have no owned entities on file. RemoFirst issues the employment contract, runs payroll, files taxes and statutory contributions and administers benefits. You manage the work. For a first hire abroad that replaces the three to six months it takes to set up your own entity. Beyond EOR and contractors it offers RemoHealth, one health insurance program across countries, RemoTech equipment provisioning, and visa and work-permit support in 85+ countries. Third-party rating average: 4.5 out of 5. Full review: https://employborderless.com/review/remofirst/ ### 2. Remote Remote is an Employer of Record (EOR) service that helps companies hire international employees without creating local entities. It was founded in 2019 by Job van der Voort and Marcelo Lebre, both former GitLab executives. The company has raised more than $500 million and expanded quickly. They now support hiring in 186+ countries. The platform manages the full employment cycle through a centralized dashboard (compliant contracts, onboarding, payroll, benefits, taxes, and termination). A key standout: owned entities Remote stands out in the industry because they own and directly operate legal entities in each country instead of relying on third-party partners, which is not the case with all providers. This wholly owned structure gives the company full control over employment tasks and compliance. What this means for you: Remote is a good fit for businesses that prioritize compliance and risk management when expanding into new markets because the platform keeps employment responsibilities in-house. Third-party rating average: 4.7 out of 5. Full review: https://employborderless.com/review/remote/ ### 3. 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 153 countries. Companies typically use the platform for the following services: - Employer of Record (EOR): Deel becomes the legal employer in the target country while you manage 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. Note: The main difference between contractor management and Contractor of Record services is who bears the legal risk and responsibility: you (with a standard Deel contractor service) or Deel (with COR). Onboarding In most cases, contracts are generated automatically based on the country, reviewed right on the platform, and approved in a few steps. What this means for you: you 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. Third-party rating average: 4.8 out of 5. Full review: https://employborderless.com/review/deel/ ### 4. Hire with Columbus Hire with Columbus is an Employer of Record (EOR) service that enables companies to hire and pay international employees without establishing local legal entities. Operating as a high-volume discount provider, Columbus has positioned itself on price by buying capacity in bulk. When you use Hire with Columbus, they technically employ workers through their partner entities in 193 countries. Columbus manages the legal employment paperwork, local tax compliance, payroll processing, and benefits administration, while you handle day-to-day work management. This arrangement saves the 3-6 months and $15,000-$50,000 typically required for foreign entity establishment. The platform serves two primary functions: - Full EOR services for companies hiring employees internationally - Contractor management for businesses working with global freelancers What distinguishes Columbus is their pricing model, at $179 per employee per month, they offer a 10% discount on standard market rates through volume aggregation. This approach makes enterprise-level EOR services accessible to smaller businesses that previously couldn't afford international expansion. Hire with Columbus operates through strategic partnerships with established EOR providers, negotiating bulk rates based on aggregate client volumes. That is how the price is lower without the service being thinner, and compliance still runs through the partner in each country. Third-party rating average: 5.0 out of 5. Full review: https://employborderless.com/review/hire-with-columbus/ ### 5. Oyster Oyster HR is an Employer of Record (EOR) and a global employment platform that allows companies to hire and manage international workers in 132+ countries without setting up local legal entities. Founded in 2020, the company focuses on supporting distributed teams. Oyster’s services include international employment contracts, payroll processing, benefits administration, and ongoing local compliance in each country where it operates. Focus on employee experience Oyster places more emphasis on the employee experience than traditional EOR providers. Alongside core employment services, the platform includes Oyster Academy for professional development, as well as tools designed to support onboarding and cross-cultural collaboration. What this means for you: Oyster acts as more than a compliance partner. The platform is designed to help companies build and maintain engaged global teams, not just employ them on paper. Typical customers Oyster primarily serves mid-market and enterprise companies with 50 or more employees, but I've also seen a few startups in their customer base. The limiting factor here is the higher rate for Employer of Record (EOR) services. The platform attracts companies that value consistency, employee satisfaction, and long-term retention, even when that means paying more than low-cost EOR alternatives. Third-party rating average: 4.5 out of 5. Full review: https://employborderless.com/review/oyster/ ### 6. Papaya Global Papaya Global is a global workforce platform that helps companies manage payroll, payments, and employment across multiple countries. Founded in 2016 by Eynat Guez, Ruben Drong, and Ofer Herman, Papaya Global later raised roughly $440 million, including a $250 million Series D in 2021. On the product side, Papaya covers: - Global payroll: Runs payroll and workforce payments in 163+ countries - Employer of Record: Allows companies to hire employees in countries where they don’t have a legal entity - Contractor management: Supports compliant onboarding and payments for international contractors - Compliance support: Handles local tax rules, labor laws, and reporting requirements - Benefits administration: Offers benefits for employees (including health coverage) that are matched to each country - Integrations: Connects with tools like Workday, NetSuite, and other HRIS and ERP systems Note: HRIS (Human Resources Information System) manages employee data, payroll, benefits, and HR functions. ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) integrates core business processes, including finance, accounting, supply chain, and human resources, into one platform. Third-party rating average: 4.5 out of 5. Full review: https://employborderless.com/review/papaya-global/ ## Selection criteria We compared each alternative against the three situations our Multiplier review flags: a lower monthly fee, a provider that owns its legal entities, and deeper analytics and integrations. Prices are the providers' published starting prices for employer of record services, checked in October 2026. ## Frequently asked questions ### What are the best Multiplier alternatives? It depends on why you're leaving. RemoFirst starts from $199 per employee per month if the lowest fee decides it. Remote employs people through its own entities if the provider must be the legal employer. Deel suits teams where analytics and integrations are a core requirement. ### Is there a cheaper alternative to Multiplier? Yes. RemoFirst lists its employer of record service starting from $199 per employee per month, compared with Multiplier's $459 with annual billing. These are published starting prices, and your cost depends on the country you hire in. ### Does Multiplier own its legal entities? So far we have verified one legal entity that Multiplier owns itself. If you need the provider to be the legal employer, Remote employs people through its own entities in the countries we have verified. ### How do I choose between Multiplier alternatives? Start with the reason you're leaving: price, owned entities, or analytics and integrations. Then book calls with two providers in the same week and ask both who will employ your hire, the all-in cost, the deposit and the exchange rate.