Multiplier vs Horizons: Best EOR for 2024 Comparison

Multiplier and Horizons are two notable global payroll and hiring platforms. They offer distinct advantages as Employer of Record (EOR) providers. However, their strengths and limitations make them better suited to different types of businesses, depending on size, complexity, and specific needs.

Multiplier is a comprehensive global employment platform that stands out among the EOR providers I’ve encountered. Its ability to simplify international hiring processes and offer crucial compliance support makes it a strong contender for companies aiming to hire, pay, and manage employees efficiently across multiple countries.

However, Multiplier’s pricing structure may not be the most cost-effective for small teams, and its feature set might be more than necessary for businesses with limited international presence. In this review, I’ll provide insights on when Multiplier is the ideal choice for expanding or managing a global workforce and when you might want to explore alternative EOR services.

On the other hand, Horizons offers a focused approach to global employment solutions, with a particular emphasis on compliance and risk management. While it may not provide the same breadth of features as some competitors, its specialization in navigating complex international labor laws can be particularly valuable for businesses prioritizing legal security in their global operations.

Despite its strong compliance focus and user-friendly interface, Horizons’ coverage might be more limited in certain regions, and its pricing model could be less flexible for rapidly scaling businesses. In this review, I’ll examine Horizons’ key features and potential limitations, focusing on its EOR service. I’ll also suggest ideal use cases for Horizons and recommend alternatives for organizations with different priorities in their global expansion.

By comparing Multiplier’s comprehensive platform with Horizons’ compliance-focused approach, I aim to help you determine which solution best aligns with your business needs, whether you’re managing a growing mid-sized company or a larger enterprise looking to expand its global footprint while minimizing compliance risks.

Overview of Multiplier and Horizons

Overview of Multiplier

Multiplier has quickly made a name in the EOR space, offering a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to hire and manage international talent.

What sets Multiplier apart is its focus on simplifying the complexities of global employment through technology-driven processes and robust compliance support.

From my experience working with Multiplier, I’ve found their platform particularly adept at handling payroll across multiple currencies, which is a significant pain point for many growing companies.

Their user-friendly dashboard allows for easy management of tasks, from onboarding new hires to generating compliant contracts.

Here’s a quick overview of Multiplier’s key details:

Read our in-depth Multiplier review and analysis

Overview of Horizons

Horizons is a global EOR solution that emphasizes simplicity and broad international coverage. In my interactions with businesses using Horizons, I’ve noticed that it’s particularly favored by companies looking for a straightforward approach to global hiring.

One of Horizons’ standout features is its extensive country coverage, which can be a game-changer for businesses with diverse geographical targets.

Their platform excels in providing tailored benefits packages, including health insurance and pensions, which can be a significant draw for attracting top talent in competitive markets.

Here’s a snapshot of Horizons’ key information:

Read our in-depth Horizons review and analysis

Multiplier vs. Horizons At a Glance

To give you a comprehensive view of how Multiplier and Horizons stack up against each other, I’ve compiled this detailed comparison table:

Key Features of Multiplier

User-Friendly Dashboard

Multiplier’s dashboard stands out for its intuitive design and ease of use. As someone who’s navigated numerous EOR platforms, I appreciate how Multiplier has streamlined complex processes into a manageable interface.

The dashboard provides a clear overview of all employees and contractors, making it simple to track onboarding progress, payroll status, and compliance requirements.

What I find particularly useful is the ability to quickly access and generate key documents directly from the dashboard. This feature has saved me countless hours when managing multiple international hires simultaneously.

Comprehensive Payroll Module

The payroll module in Multiplier is a powerhouse of functionality. It handles multi-currency payroll with impressive accuracy, which is crucial when dealing with a global workforce.

The system automatically calculates taxes, social contributions, and other deductions based on local regulations, significantly reducing the risk of compliance errors.

I’ve found the automated payroll runs to be a game-changer for businesses operating across multiple time zones. The ability to schedule payments in advance and have them processed automatically ensures that employees are paid on time, regardless of where they’re located.

Compliance Management

Multiplier’s compliance management features are among the most robust I’ve encountered in the EOR space. The platform provides an extensive library of legal resources, including up-to-date information on labor laws, tax regulations, and statutory requirements for each country they operate in.

What sets Multiplier apart is its proactive approach to compliance. The system alerts users to upcoming regulatory changes that may affect their employees, allowing businesses to stay ahead of potential issues.

This level of detail and foresight in compliance management can be invaluable, especially for companies expanding into unfamiliar markets.

Key Features of Horizons

Onboarding and Payroll

Horizons excels in providing a streamlined onboarding and payroll process for international employees. From my experience, their contract generation tool is particularly impressive.

It automatically creates compliant employment contracts tailored to each country’s specific requirements, saving significant time and reducing the risk of legal issues.

The payroll system is equally efficient, handling payments in local currencies with ease. What I appreciate most is the transparency of the process – employers can clearly see a breakdown of all costs, including taxes and social contributions, before processing payroll.

Compliance Assurance

Horizons takes a thorough approach to compliance, ensuring that businesses adhere to local employment laws and regulations. Their team of in-country experts continuously monitors legal changes and updates the platform accordingly.

One feature that stands out is the automatic adjustment of employment terms when regulations change. This proactive approach means that businesses don’t have to worry about keeping up with every legal nuance in each country they operate in – Horizons handles it seamlessly.

Benefits Administration

Horizons offers comprehensive and flexible benefits administration. They provide tailored benefits packages that include health insurance, pensions, and other perks that comply with local standards and expectations.

What impresses me most about Horizons’ benefits administration is the level of customization available. Businesses can choose from various options to create competitive packages that attract top talent in each market.

This flexibility is particularly valuable for companies looking to establish a strong presence in new international markets.

Multiplier’s Pricing Structure

Multiplier offers a straightforward pricing model that appeals to businesses looking for predictability in their global employment costs.

Their EOR service starts at $400 per employee per month and includes essential features like payroll processing, compliance management, and benefits administration.

Multiplier charges a flat fee of $40 per contractor per month for contractor management. This pricing is particularly attractive for companies that work with a mix of full-time employees and contractors.

Using an EOR allows you to embrace the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) of employing a global team. EORs minimize the upfront costs of expansion, eliminate legal compliance risks, and make it easy to manage HR operations efficiently.

EORs like Multiplier are a valuable investment to companies looking to hire internationally. In a world of talent crunch and high interest rates, the need for businesses to continue growing and expanding across borders is only increasing, and you’ll need an EOR that can match your pace

– Rimmi Kesari, Partner Marketing Specialist at Multiplier

One aspect of Multiplier’s pricing that I find particularly valuable is the absence of hidden fees. There are no additional charges for onboarding, offboarding, or setup, which can lead to significant savings, especially for companies with high employee turnover or those in rapid growth phases.

Here’s a summary of Multiplier’s main pricing plans:

Horizons’ Pricing Structure

Horizons takes a slightly different approach with its pricing, offering a value-based model that starts at a lower price point but can vary based on specific needs. Their EOR service begins at $299 per employee per month, making it an attractive option for businesses on a tighter budget.

For contractor management, Horizons charges $49 per contractor per month. While this is slightly higher than Multiplier’s contractor fee, the overall lower starting price for full-time employees can balance out the costs for many companies.

What stands out about Horizons’ pricing is its flexibility. The company tailors its costs based on the client’s specific needs and the complexity of local labor laws in the countries where they’re hiring. This can be particularly beneficial for businesses expanding into challenging markets or those with unique employment requirements.

Here’s a breakdown of Horizons’ main pricing plans:

Multiplier Pros and Cons

Horizons Pros and Cons

Head-to-Head: How They Compare in Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: Rapid International Scaling (Winner: Horizons)

Imagine a tech startup that’s just secured Series B funding and needs to hire 50 employees across 15 countries in the next three months. In this scenario, Horizons has a slight edge. Its broader country coverage (180+ countries) provides more flexibility for diverse hiring locations. The streamlined onboarding process and contract generation tool would be particularly valuable for quickly bringing on new team members in multiple countries simultaneously.

Multiplier would also perform well in this scenario, but its slightly smaller country coverage might limit options if the startup needs to hire in more niche markets.

Scenario 2: Small Business Going Global (Winner: Multiplier)

Consider a small e-commerce business looking to hire its first five international employees in different countries. Here, Multiplier shines with its straightforward pricing and comprehensive compliance resources. The absence of hidden fees and the inclusive $400 per employee per month rate makes budgeting simpler for a small business with limited resources.

While Horizons offers a lower starting price, the potential for variable costs based on complexity might be less predictable for a small business in its early stages of global expansion.

Scenario 3: Compliance in Challenging Markets (Tie)

A medium-sized consulting firm must hire employees in countries with complex labor laws, such as Brazil, France, and Indonesia. Both Multiplier and Horizons perform exceptionally well in this scenario, but for different reasons.

Multiplier’s extensive legal resources and proactive compliance updates would be invaluable in navigating the complexities of these markets. Their system of alerting users to upcoming regulatory changes could help the firm stay ahead of potential issues.

With its in-country experts and automatic adjustment of employment terms, Horizons would also excel in ensuring compliance. Their tailored approach to each market’s specific requirements could provide peace of mind for the consulting firm.

In this scenario, the choice would likely depend on the consulting firm’s specific needs and preferences, as both platforms offer strong compliance support for challenging markets.

When to Consider Other EOR Providers

While Multiplier and Horizons are excellent choices for many businesses, there are scenarios where other EOR providers might be more suitable:

Specialized Industry Needs

For businesses in highly regulated industries like healthcare or finance, an EOR provider with deep industry-specific expertise might be necessary. In these cases, a provider like Globalization Partners, known for its strong compliance focus across various sectors, could be a better fit.

Extensive HR Software Integration

Companies with complex existing HR ecosystems might benefit from an EOR provider with more extensive integration capabilities.

Oyster HR, for instance, offers a wide range of integrations with popular HR and payroll systems, which could streamline operations for businesses heavily reliant on specific software stacks.

Region-Specific Expansion

A provider with specialized knowledge in particular regions, such as Latin America or Asia-Pacific, could be advantageous for companies focusing on expansion in those areas.

Deel, for example, has strong coverage and expertise in emerging markets, which could benefit businesses targeting these regions.

Who I Recommend Multiplier To

Based on my experience and the features we’ve discussed, I recommend Multiplier for:

• Small to medium-sized businesses looking for a cost-effective global employment solution
• Companies prioritizing strong compliance support and resources
• Startups and scale-ups in need of a user-friendly platform with predictable pricing
• Businesses with a mix of full-time employees and contractors

Multiplier’s straightforward pricing, comprehensive compliance resources, and user-friendly interface make it an excellent choice for companies that want to simplify their global hiring process without breaking the bank.

Multiplier has helped more than 2,000 customers tap into global talent pools in 150+ countries, allowing them to hire the right people for the role—no matter where they are.

We support our customers by taking care of their employment contracts, payroll, taxes, and benefits, eliminating the need to open a legal entity abroad.

– Rimmi Kesari, Partner Marketing Specialist at Multiplier

Its strong focus on compliance and payroll automation can benefit businesses expanding into new markets without extensive in-house legal expertise.

Who I Recommend Horizons To

Horizons is an excellent fit for:

• Companies planning rapid expansion across multiple countries
• Businesses that value flexibility in benefits administration
• Organizations looking for a lower entry point for EOR services
• Enterprises requiring extensive integrations with existing HR, IT, and finance systems

Horizons’ broad country coverage and flexible pricing model make it ideal for businesses with diverse international hiring needs. Its strong focus on tailored benefits packages can be a significant advantage for companies looking to attract top talent in competitive markets.

The platform’s extensive integration capabilities make it a good choice for organizations with complex tech stacks.

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Multiplier and Horizons offer robust solutions to streamline international hiring and management in the evolving global employment landscape.

Multiplier stands out for its comprehensive compliance resources, user-friendly interface, and transparent pricing, making it an excellent choice for small to medium-sized businesses and startups venturing into global markets. Its strengths in payroll automation and proactive compliance management can significantly reduce the complexities of international employment.

Conversely, Horizons proves powerful with its extensive global coverage, flexible pricing model, and strong focus on customizable benefits packages. It’s particularly well-suited for rapidly growing companies with diverse international hiring needs and those requiring extensive software integrations.

Ultimately, the best choice between Multiplier and Horizons depends on your specific business needs, growth plans, and budget constraints.

Small businesses and startups might find Multiplier’s straightforward pricing and strong compliance support more appealing. At the same time, larger enterprises or those planning rapid global expansion might lean towards Horizons for its broader coverage and flexibility.

Regardless of which platform you choose, both Multiplier and Horizons represent the cutting edge of EOR services, offering powerful tools to simplify global employment and unlock international talent pools.

As you navigate your global expansion journey, consider your long-term goals, the specific markets you’re targeting, and the level of support and customization you require to make the best decision for your business.

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