EOR vendors compared
Published October 2025
If you're hiring full-time employees internationally, an Employer of Record (EOR) can make sense. But the EOR market is crowded, and not all platforms are created equal. Here's a neutral comparison of the leading EOR vendors, their strengths and limitations, and when you might not need an EOR at all.
EOR vendor comparison
| Vendor | Starting Price | Countries | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deel | $599/mo per employee | 150+ | Startups, tech companies |
| Remote.com | $599/mo per employee | 80+ | Remote-first companies |
| Oyster | $699/mo per employee | 180+ | Distributed teams |
| Rippling | $8/mo + EOR fees | 90+ | Companies with US + international |
| Atlas HXM | $599/mo per employee | 160+ | Growing companies |
| Boundless | $685/mo per employee | 170+ | Compliance-focused teams |
| ChaadHR | $299/mo per employee | 150+ | Budget-conscious startups |
| Gloroots | $299/mo per employee | 140+ | Small to mid-size teams |
Note: Prices shown are starting rates for EOR services. Actual costs vary by country, benefits package, and employee count. Always request a detailed quote.
Vendor strengths and limitations
Deel & Remote.com
Strengths:
Market leaders with extensive country coverage, mature platforms, strong compliance teams, and good customer support. Both offer contractor management features.
Limitations:
Premium pricing ($599+/month per employee). Contractor features are expensive ($49-99/month per contractor) for what you get. Can be overkill for small teams.
Oyster
Strengths:
Excellent user experience, strong focus on distributed teams, good benefits packages, transparent pricing. Great for remote-first companies.
Limitations:
Higher starting price ($699/month). Smaller company than Deel/Remote, so less market presence. Limited contractor management features.
Rippling
Strengths:
All-in-one platform (HRIS, payroll, IT management, EOR). Great if you're already using Rippling for US employees. Strong automation and integrations.
Limitations:
Complex pricing (base fee + per-employee EOR fees). EOR coverage is smaller (90+ countries vs 150+). Best for companies already in the Rippling ecosystem.
Budget EORs (ChaadHR, Gloroots, 1EOR)
Strengths:
Lower pricing ($199-299/month per employee). Good for startups and small teams. Decent country coverage. Fast onboarding.
Limitations:
Smaller companies with less market presence. Support may be slower. Platform features may be less mature. Benefits packages may be more limited.
When to use each EOR
Use Deel or Remote if:
- • You're hiring 10+ international employees
- • You need extensive country coverage
- • You want a proven, mature platform
- • Budget is less of a concern
Use Oyster if:
- • You're building a remote-first company
- • You value user experience and design
- • You want strong benefits packages
- • You're hiring in common markets (Europe, LATAM, Asia)
Use Rippling if:
- • You already use Rippling for US employees
- • You want one platform for everything (HRIS, payroll, IT)
- • You're hiring in countries Rippling covers well
Use budget EORs if:
- • You're hiring 1-5 international employees
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You're testing international hiring
- • You don't need advanced platform features
When you don't need an EOR
Here's the reality: if you're working with independent contractors (not employees), you don't need an EOR at all. EORs are designed for employment relationships—payroll, benefits, taxes, compliance. Contractors handle their own taxes and benefits.
Yet many EOR platforms charge $29-99/month per contractor for what amounts to payment processing and basic tracking. That's expensive for what you get.
A better approach for contractors:
- •Use Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer for payments (your accounts, not a middleman)
- •Use a contractor management tool (like Kontrable) to organize contracts, invoices, and payment tracking
- •Keep full control of your cash flow (no 3-5 day holds)
- •Pay $99/month for up to 25 contractors instead of $1,225-2,475/month with an EOR
Save the EOR for actual employees. Use a contractor-first tool for contractors.
Hybrid strategies
Many companies use a hybrid approach:
Strategy 1: EOR for employees, direct for contractors
Use Deel/Remote/Oyster for full-time international employees. Use Kontrable + Wise for contractors. This gives you compliance for employees and cost efficiency for contractors.
Strategy 2: Start with contractors, convert to employees
Hire people as contractors first (via Kontrable). After 3-6 months, convert top performers to employees via an EOR. This reduces risk and lets you test the market before committing to EOR fees.
Strategy 3: EOR in key markets, contractors elsewhere
Set up EOR employment in 2-3 key markets where you're hiring multiple people. Use contractors in other markets. This balances compliance with flexibility.
Frequently asked questions
Which EOR is the cheapest?
It depends on your needs. For contractors only, none—you don't need an EOR. For employees, pricing varies: Deel and Remote start around $599/month per employee, while newer platforms like Atlas HXM and ChaadHR start at $299-599/month. Always ask for total cost including setup fees, benefits, and FX markups.
Can I use multiple EORs at once?
Yes, but it's administratively complex. You'll have separate dashboards, invoices, and processes for each EOR. Most companies pick one primary EOR and use it consistently. If you're hiring both employees and contractors, consider using an EOR for employees and a contractor management tool (like Kontrable) for contractors.
What happens if I want to switch EORs?
You'll need to offboard employees from the old EOR and onboard them to the new one. This involves new contracts, benefits enrollment, and payroll setup. It typically takes 30-60 days and can be disruptive. Choose carefully upfront to avoid switching costs.
Do EORs handle contractor payments?
Most EORs offer contractor payment features, but they charge per-contractor fees ($29-99/month) even though contractors aren't employees. This is expensive for what you get—essentially just payment processing. A contractor-specific tool is more cost-effective.
Are EORs compliant in all countries?
No EOR operates in every country. Most cover 100-150+ countries, but coverage varies. Always verify the EOR operates in your target country before committing. Also check their local entity setup—some use partners, which can add complexity.
Ready to manage contractors without EOR fees?
Join the waitlist for early access to Kontrable. We're launching in Q1 2026, and early users get 50% off for 6 months.