Remote vs Horizons: 2025 EOR Comparison

If you’re reading this, you’re probably exploring ways to expand your global workforce or simplify your international hiring process. You’ve heard about Employer of Record (EOR) services and are considering Remote and Horizons as potential solutions for your business needs.

But you’re also probably uncertain about:

1. How Remote and Horizons compare in terms of features, pricing, and global reach
2. Which platform offers better compliance management and risk mitigation across multiple countries
3. The user experience and ease of implementation for each service
4. Whether Remote or Horizons is the right fit for your specific business size and industry
5. The potential drawbacks or limitations of using either platform as your EOR

If that sounds familiar, this comprehensive comparison will provide the insights you need to make an informed decision. This detailed analysis could save you significant time in research and help you avoid potentially costly mistakes in your global expansion journey.

The key to choosing between Remote and Horizons lies in understanding their unique strengths and how they align with your specific business needs:

Here’s what you’ll learn:

1. Overview of Remote and Horizons (the essentials you need to know)
2. Key features and benefits of each platform (what sets them apart)
3. Pricing structures and value propositions (is the investment worth it?)
4. User experiences and platform interfaces (because ease of use matters)
5. Security and compliance measures (crucial for global operations)
6. Pros and cons of each service (the good, the bad, and the noteworthy)
7. Recommendations for different business types (who should choose which)

By the end of this comparison, you’ll understand the strengths and limitations of both Remote and Horizons, enabling you to choose the EOR solution that best fits your company’s global hiring needs, compliance requirements, and overall business strategy.

Overview of Remote and Horizons

Remote and Horizons offer comprehensive solutions for managing global teams, but they approach the task differently. Here’s a closer look at how each platform supports businesses in expanding their international workforce.

Overview of Remote

Remote launched in 2019 and quickly gained traction as a reliable platform for global employment management. The platform operates in over 180 countries and provides payroll, compliance, and benefits management services. 

Remote simplifies the hiring process by handling complex legal and tax requirements, making it easier for companies to onboard international employees. The platform is user-friendly and appealing to startups and small—to mid-sized businesses. With transparent pricing and a focus on protecting intellectual property (IP), Remote is designed for companies that value efficiency and security in global hiring.

Remote boasts an impressive roster of clients, including industry leaders like Semrush, GitLab, and SoundCloud. As of August 2024, Remote is evaluated at $3B+.

Read more info in our detailed Remote review

Overview of Horizons

Horizons, founded in 2018, is a global employer of record (EOR) that emphasizes customized compliance solutions. Horizons operates in over 180 countries and offers tailored services, including payroll, HR support, and local compliance management. The platform excels in complex regulatory environments, making it a strong choice for businesses with diverse and geographically spread teams. 

Horizons also provides detailed local insights and guidance, ensuring companies comply with varying laws and regulations. With its focus on personalized service and in-depth local expertise, Horizons is well-suited for larger enterprises and companies entering new international markets.

Horizons stands out with a stellar client portfolio, including renowned names like IBM, Porche, and Boeing. As of August 2024, It is valued at over $300 million.

Read more info in our detailed Horizons review

Key Features of Remote

Key Services of Horizons

Benefits of Using Remote

Benefits of Using Horizons

Pricing and Plans

The cost of using Remote and Horizons varies based on the services you need and the scale of your operations. Let’s dive into how each platform structures its pricing and what you can expect for your investment.

Remote Pricing

Remote offers straightforward pricing with transparency as a key feature. For EOR services, Remote charges $599 per employee per month. This plan includes everything from payroll to compliance, making it an all-inclusive solution. If you manage contractors, the cost is $29 per contractor per month. This fee covers essentials like payments, tax filings, and access to Remote’s platform.

While the pricing may seem high for some, it’s worth noting that Remote doesn’t have hidden fees. You pay what’s listed. Additionally, Remote offers custom pricing for larger enterprises with complex needs, which can make the service more affordable when scaling.

Pricing of Horizons

Horizons takes a more customized approach to pricing. Their EOR services start at $299 per employee per month, significantly lower than Remote’s standard rate. However, the final cost can vary depending on your business’s requirements (think complex compliance needs or additional services).

For contractors, Horizons charges $49 per contractor per month. This is higher than Remote’s rate, but Horizons justifies the cost with tailored support and in-depth compliance services. Like Remote, Horizons also provides custom pricing for companies with unique needs, allowing flexibility as your business grows.

Ultimately, while both platforms offer competitive pricing, the choice will depend on your requirements and budget constraints.

Pros and cons of Remote

Pros and Cons of Horizons

User Data Security and Compliance

Data security and compliance are non-negotiable when managing a global workforce. Both Remote and Horizons recognize this and have built their platforms with strong safeguards to protect user data. However, they take slightly different approaches to handling these critical aspects.

Remote emphasizes compliance with international standards. They fully comply with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and offer SOC 2 Type II certification, ensuring your data is handled carefully. Remote also uses encryption (both in transit and at rest) to secure sensitive information. Additionally, they employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) to prevent unauthorized access. These features make Remote a reliable choice for businesses that must protect their data across borders.

Horizons, on the other hand, goes beyond standard compliance measures. They also comply with GDPR and hold ISO 27001 certification, a globally recognized standard for information security management. Horizons adds an extra layer of security by integrating KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) protocols. This particularly benefits businesses operating in high-risk sectors where regulatory scrutiny is intense. They also conduct regular security audits, which help to identify and mitigate any potential vulnerabilities in their system.

Customer Reviews and Ratings

When comparing Remote and Horizons’s ratings across G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot, the following scores and review volumes provide insight into user satisfaction levels:

Remote vs Horizons: Summary

A detailed summary of the comparison of Remote and Horizons:

Recommendations

When choosing between Remote and Horizons for global employment solutions, it’s crucial to consider your company’s specific needs, growth plans, and target markets. Based on extensive research, here are my recommendations.

Who do I recommend using Remote to?

Remote is ideal for companies prioritizing ease of use and straightforward global hiring. If you’re a startup or a small to mid-sized business, Remote’s user-friendly platform will likely appeal to you. It simplifies complex processes, from payroll to compliance, making it easier to onboard international talent quickly. With its transparent pricing and strong focus on IP protection, Remote is also a great fit for tech companies or businesses that handle sensitive information.

Remote provides a streamlined solution for businesses looking to scale fast without getting bogged down in administrative details. It’s perfect for companies that value efficiency and want to focus on growth rather than navigating legal complexities. If your team is distributed across multiple countries and you need a solution that just works (with minimal fuss), Remote is a strong contender.

Best for: startups, small to mid-sized businesses, and tech companies that need an easy-to-use platform for quick and efficient global hiring and payroll management.

Who do I recommend using Horizons to?

Horizons is better suited for larger enterprises or companies with complex international operations. It offers in-depth compliance support if your business operates in multiple countries with varying regulatory requirements. This is particularly beneficial for industries like finance, healthcare, or manufacturing, where compliance isn’t just important—it’s critical.

Horizons is also a good fit for companies that need more than just basic HR support. If you’re expanding into new markets and require local expertise (detailed insights into each region’s labor laws), Horizons provides customized services that can make a difference. For businesses that value tailored solutions and need a partner to help navigate the intricacies of global expansion, Horizons offers the depth and flexibility you’re looking for.

Best for: large enterprises and industries like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing that require comprehensive compliance support and tailored HR solutions for complex international operations.

When to consider alternative EOR providers?

While Remote and Horizons are strong contenders in the EOR space, other platforms might better suit your needs. Depending on your business’s size, industry, or geographic focus, these alternative EOR providers could offer the right mix of services and pricing.