The top Deel competitors and alternatives for 2023

Blue Marble: Best for compliance support

Blue Marble Payroll is a global payroll solution provider that simplifies the risks and complexities of expanding businesses globally. With operations in over 145 countries, it offers global payroll, accounting, tax, finance and HR services.

Its cloud-based platform, WebGlobe, enables businesses to take control of their international payroll operations. It provides customized monthly reporting, real-time access to payroll data across all countries and compliance features to meet local tax and labor laws. Blue Marble ensures payroll compliance through dedicated resources and advanced technology, reducing the risk of fines and penalties.

Additionally, Blue Marble offers consolidated reporting of payroll costs across all countries. It  provides a network of trusted global consultants who assist with tasks such as company registration, local benefits, timekeeping automation, foreign accrual calculations, talent recruitment, onboarding, banking establishment, employee performance management and global HRIS processes.

Pricing

Blue Marble does not provide prices online. Customers need to contact the company for price quotes.

Features

• Aggregated reporting for global payroll.
• Multinational payroll calendar.
• Treasury management and currency conversion services.
• Global payroll compliance guaranteed.
• Advanced controls.

Pros

• Standardized data from various firms worldwide.
• Integrations with third-party solutions for accounting, taxes, finance and HR processes.
• Personalized reporting of global payroll expenses.

Cons

• No transparent pricing online.
• No 24/7 support.

Papaya Global: Best for analytics

Papaya Global is a comprehensive payroll and HR support provider for global teams. It enables businesses to effectively manage and pay workers in over 160 countries. The software offers analytics tools for data-driven insights, empowering companies to make informed decisions based on their payroll and HR data.

Papaya Global’s plans incorporate AI-based automation tools to ensure accuracy and minimize risks in payroll and compliance processes. From a single intuitive solution, organizations can effortlessly carry out payroll tasks, process payments, generate reports, and manage onboarding and hiring.

Papaya Global prioritizes legal compliance services specific to each worker’s country. Their team of experts, stationed worldwide, provides real-time guidance and legal support. Additionally, Papaya helps attract high-quality workers by allowing businesses to compare and offer country- and culture-specific benefits.

One notable distinction between Deel and Papaya Global is that Papaya has a more limited contractor product, lacking contracts, compliance documentation and advanced payment functionality. Moreover, Papaya operates through third-party entities rather than owning them directly.

Learn more in our Papaya Global review.

Pricing

• Full-Service Payroll: Starts at $12 per month per employee.
• Payroll Platform License: Starts at $3 per month per employee.
• Data and Insights Platform License: Starts at $150 per month per location.
• Payments-as-a-Service: Starts at $3 per month per employee.
• Employer of Record: Starts at $650 per month per employee.
• Contractor Management: Starts at $2 per month per employee.
• Global Expertise Services: Starts at $190 per month per employee.

Customers can also contact the company sales team or go online to get a customized quote based on their business needs.

Features

• Payroll supported in 160+ countries.
• Automated direct payments in local currency.
• Third-party tax payments.
• Compliance alerts.
• Customized user permissions, workflows and approval chains.
• Reporting for payroll, HR, payments, billing and admin data.

Pros

• Self-service platform for employees, workers and contractors that’s available in multiple languages and accessible on both desktop and mobile devices.
• HRIS system offers robust customization.
• Global payments guaranteed to be processed and delivered within 72 hours.
• Dedicated single-point-of-contact client account manager.
• BI analytics suite and people reports on key datasets, such as payroll costs and HR workforce data — also with data monitoring capabilities to identify trends.

Cons

• No EOR subsidiaries or legal entities in the countries it serves.
• Fewer third-party integrations available compared to the majority of competitors.
• Lacks commonly offered HR features found in other HR and team management solutions, such as performance monitoring and training functionalities.
• Initial setup process may require up to three weeks.
• Provides limited HR, tech and finance tools in comparison to competing solutions.

Remote: Best for employee support

Deel and Remote are both global payroll and Employer of Record service providers that cater to international employees and offer contractor management. Remote offers an extensive global payroll system with comparable features to Deel. For instance, it is available in 180 countries, which is a significant advantage over Deel’s coverage. Remote enables payroll calculations, local tax deductions and reporting, benefit deductions, time-off management and bonus calculations. However, Remote’s HR features are limited mainly to onboarding tools.

In terms of global employment coverage, Remote currently operates in 77 countries, slightly fewer than Deel. However, Remote distinguishes itself by owning its global entities, setting it apart from other competitors that rely on external parties. Remote’s platform assists in crafting competitive benefits packages for each country and ensures compliance with local regulations in hiring countries. Remote also offers cross-cultural training to facilitate employees’ adaptation to a new country. The company supports employees by providing relocation assistance and comprehensive insurance guides tailored to specific countries.

Remote’s contractor plan, available in 150+ countries, is affordable and has a free trial. It streamlines onboarding, simplifies payment approvals and can schedule recurring invoices to reduce repetitive tasks. The system generates localized contracts verified by legal experts, guaranteeing compliance with local tax and employment laws.

Learn more in our Remote review.

Pricing

• Contractor Management: $29 per contractor per month.
• Employer of Record: $599 per employee per month, paid annually.
• Global Payroll: Custom pricing.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing.

Features

• Customizable contracts for global employees.
• Intellectual property and international invention rights protections.
• Employee benefits packages.
• Integration with third-party applicant tracking systems, payroll and accounting software.
• Remote API for custom integrations.

Pros

• Affordable contractor plan.
• Offers a mobile app.
• Intuitive UI design that’s easy to navigate.
• Fast employee onboarding.

Cons

• Free trial available only for contractor plan.
• Sales quote required to get pricing for standalone global payroll solution.
• Email-only customer support.
• EOR available in fewer countries than Deel.

Oyster: Best for employee self-service tools

Oyster HR offers comprehensive international payroll and HR services to businesses with contractors in over 180 countries and full-time employees in over 130 countries. Through their software, Oyster acts as a global employer of record, ensuring compliance for hiring, onboarding, payment processing and management of full-time global employees.

Oyster HR provides a range of features that keep businesses compliant with global employment and payroll processes, enabling employers to seamlessly hire, pay and manage international workers. These features also help businesses optimize talent-sourcing locations and stay within their workforce hiring budgets.

Like Deel, Oyster facilitates payment processing for international contractors. However, Oyster achieves this through self-service features within their platform. The solution offers automated payment administration and allows organizations to provide competitive-rate benefits in over 180 countries. Furthermore, Oyster’s contractor plan is priced at $20 per employee per month, which is lower than Deel’s $49 per employee per month.

Still, Oyster can be found lacking in certain respects when compared to Deel. For instance, it has more limited HR features compared to Deel, and not all of its local entities are owned by Oyster. This might present challenges when hiring in certain countries.

Learn more in our Oyster review.

Pricing

• Contractor plan: Starts at $29 per contractor per month and is suited for businesses that hire only international contractors in 180+ countries.
• Employee plan: Starts at $499 per employee per month when billed annually or $599 billed monthly and can operate in 130+ countries as Oyster’s global employer of record solution.
• Scale plan: Requires a custom quote, but is ideal for growing global enterprises.

Features

• Country-specific global employment guidance.
• Financial management features for expense tracking, employee allowances and benefits.
• Options for global employee benefits.
• Tools for bulk hiring.
• Dedicated global employment support.

Pros

• Affordable employer of record service compared to its competitors.
• Can administer contractor payments in over 120 currencies.
• Localized benefit offerings.

Cons

• Limited integration capabilities with third-party business software when compared to the majority of competitors.
• Limited customization options.

Multiplier: Best for benefits features

Multiplier is a comprehensive solution for international payroll, human resources and compliance, offering businesses the ability to expand globally and effectively manage international workers, contractors and freelancers. It simplifies the complexities of local payroll and compliance in various countries, so companies can get global talent without having to establish legal entities.

Multiplier specializes in multi-country payroll for full-time employees, part-time employees, contractors and freelancers. Additionally, it offers a self-service platform for workers, enabling them to track time and attendance, manage invoices, expenses and receive payment in over 150 currencies. Multiplier also comes with helpful tools to streamline work permits, work visas and a wide range of online resources and guides for numerous countries.

Multiplier ensures visibility through its cloud-based platform, accessible via web and mobile devices. Users can generate reports, establish permissions and track performance, time, attendance, schedules and more within the solution. Administrators also have the flexibility to customize the platform to meet their specific requirements.

However, it’s important to note that Multiplier has entities established in only 25 countries, which is fewer compared to Deel’s extensive coverage through its EOR services. Customers aiming for scalability may need to consider this factor when comparing the two options.

Learn more in our Multiplier review.

Pricing

• Hire Employees: Starts at $400 per month.
• Pay Freelancers: Starts at $40 per month.
• Run Global Payroll: Starts at $20 per month.
• Provide Employee Insurance: Starts at $20 per month.

Features

• Payscale guidebooks.
• One-click payroll in 150+ countries.
• Multi-currency payments.
• System of record for employers and employees.
• Multilingual and regionally compliant employment contracts.

Pros

• Comprehensive support for various HR, IT, payroll, benefits and compliance aspects in different countries, with a library of HR resources.
• Automatic calculations for employee pay, deductions and taxes.
• Time management for employees across different countries, including paid leave, time off and attendance — which seamlessly syncs with payroll, HR and reporting systems.
• Helps provide employee IT equipment internationally by offering a catalog of options with automated delivery processes.

Cons

• Legal entities in only 25 countries.
• Withdrawals limited to bank transfers.
• Lacks integrations with widely used finance and bookkeeping applications.

Gusto: Best for small teams

Gusto is a widely acclaimed and user-friendly HR software that has gained popularity among a diverse user base worldwide. Although the solution may not be an EOR, like Deel, its easy-to-navigate user-interface and convenient mobile app keep businesses satisfied. It comes with several handy automated features that simplify payroll processes, saving organizations time, effort and risk.

Gusto’s payroll features support payroll for full-time employees and contractors in 120+ different countries. Alternatively, the Contractor Only plan is a cost-effective option for businesses that wish to only manage and automate their onboarding and payroll for contractor staff members.

Furthermore, Gusto provides HR features for organizations of all sizes, including native time and attendance tracking, benefits administration and even talent and performance management. Still, this option won our pick for smaller teams, as it is a cost-effective option with more affordable price plans. Additional perks even include money-saving features, like the identification of hidden tax credits to save businesses an extra buck.

Learn more in our Gusto review.

Pricing

• Contractor Only: $35 per month plus $6 month per contractor.
• Simple: $40 per month plus $6 per month per person.
• Plus: $80 per month plus $12 per month per person.
• Premium: Custom pricing.

Features

• Employee self-service features.
• Alerts.
• Project tracking.
• Health insurance administration.
• Payroll and time-off reports.
• Next-day direct deposit

Pros

• Seamless integration with third-party solutions for scheduling, accounting, time tracking, staff scheduling, expense management and even employee engagement.
• Transparent pricing structure.
• Affordable contractor-only plan.
• User-friendly and easy to navigate.

Cons

• No 24/7 customer support.
• Does not currently provide EOR services.
• Certain features for HR and payroll may be limited to the higher-priced tiers.

Rippling: Best for larger organizations

Rippling Global, like Deel, is a workforce management system that empowers administrators to hire, pay and oversee workers on a global scale. However, Rippling Global focuses on running payroll in just over 50 countries, whereas Deel’s payroll capabilities extend to over 100 countries.

Both companies facilitate essential admin processes such as sending employment agreements, generating locally compliant contracts, onboarding new hires and ensuring prompt payments to employees.

When it comes to benefits administration, Rippling surpasses Deel in robustness. Rippling consolidates all benefits, including health insurance and 401(k) plans, within a single system. Users gain access to more than 4,000 plans from leading carriers, so they can easily get quotes, make comparisons and enroll. Alternatively, users can integrate their preferred broker for additional guidance.

Rippling’s added capabilities will be especially valuable for larger businesses seeking to consolidate their HR software stack. Unlike Deel, Rippling also offers the option to purchase software add-ons for finance and IT, further streamlining the consolidation process.

Learn more in our Rippling review.

Pricing

Rippling allows buyers to choose which services they prefer, and plans are tailored to specific businesses with custom pricing. But its services start at $8 per month per user.

Features

• Time and attendance.
• EOR services.
• Document management.
• Global workforce management.
• Referral tracking.
• Remote device management.
• Employee expense management.
• Inventory management.

Pros

• Admins can process payroll within five days and gain insights into taxes, gross pay and currency conversions during pay runs.
• Adjustable payroll runs, prorated payroll and off-cycle pay runs for local and international employees and contractors.
• Seamlessly integrates with Rippling Time and Attendance, Rippling Spend Management and Rippling Benefits Administration.
• Automatic new-hire enrollment in company benefits with automated compliance with ACA (Affordable Care Act) and COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) handled by Rippling.

Cons

• Steep learning curve.
• No free trial or forever free plan.
• No transparent pricing.