Payroll Software Review · July 7, 2026
Remote Payroll Review 2026: Pricing, Pros, Cons, and How It Compares
Last verified: July 7, 2026 · Reviewed by Marcus Williams, Payroll & HR Software Analyst
Quick Verdict
Remote is the strongest choice on our list for companies paying people in more than one country. Global Payroll runs $29 per employee per month, Employer of Record is $599 per employee per month on annual billing, and contractor management is $29 per contractor per month, all published openly on Remote's pricing page.
What separates Remote from Deel and Papaya Global is structure rather than price. Remote owns 100% of its legal entities in 90+ countries and never relies on third-party partners to employ workers, and it requires no upfront deposits for EOR hires. The trade-offs: narrower country coverage than Deel, quote-based implementation and delivery fees on the Payroll product, and a value proposition that mostly disappears if your entire team is in the US.
Bottom line: Choose Remote if you are hiring internationally and want clean compliance with predictable, deposit-free pricing. Choose OnPay or Gusto if your payroll is US-only.
What Is Remote?
Remote (Remote Technology, Inc.) was founded in 2019 and has grown into one of the three leading global employment platforms alongside Deel and Papaya Global. It serves over 400,000 clients and operates subsidiaries in more than 100 countries.
The platform covers five connected products: a free HR management system, Global Payroll for companies with their own foreign entities, Employer of Record for hiring where you have no entity, Contractor Management, and global equity administration. Unlike most competitors, every product runs on legal infrastructure Remote owns outright.
Remote Pricing in 2026
Remote publishes its core pricing openly, which remains rare in the global payroll segment.
| Product | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HR Management | Free | Up to 12 direct employees, includes time off and time tracking |
| Global Payroll | $29/employee/mo | Plus quote-based implementation fee and recurring delivery fee |
| Employer of Record | $599/employee/mo | Annual billing (save 14%); $699 on monthly billing |
| Contractor Management | $29/contractor/mo | Plus tier at $99; Contractor of Record from $325 |
Costs to budget beyond the headline rates: The $29 Global Payroll price excludes a one-time implementation fee to set up your entities and a recurring payroll delivery fee, both quote-based. FX conversion on cross-border payroll carries a spread of roughly 0.5 to 1% above mid-market rates, which is among the best in the industry but still adds $2,500 to $5,000 per year on $500K of international payroll. Supplemental benefits and visa support are priced separately.
Discounts: Eligible early-stage startups get 15% off annual EOR and contractor plans for the first 12 months, bringing effective EOR pricing to roughly $509 per employee per month. Social purpose organizations qualify for a similar offer.
Key Features
Global Payroll
Run payroll across every country where you hold entities from a single dashboard, with local tax withholding, statutory filings, and employee payslip self-service handled per jurisdiction.
Employer of Record
Remote becomes the legal employer for hires in 90+ countries where you have no entity, covering compliant contracts, local payroll, benefits administration, and IP protection in the flat fee. Onboarding typically takes 3 to 5 business days.
Owned entities
Remote directly owns all of its legal entities worldwide. There is no third-party partner between you and your employee's compliance chain, which means a cleaner audit trail, no risk of a partner entity failing, and consistent employment terms across countries.
No upfront deposits
Most EOR providers quote security deposits by country. Remote requires none, collecting reserve payments only in rare, high-risk circumstances. For a 10-person international team, that difference can keep six figures of working capital free.
Contractor Management
Compliant contracts and payments across 200+ jurisdictions at $29 per contractor per month, with a Fair Price Guarantee so you only pay for contractors actively working. Contractor of Record shifts classification risk to Remote from $325 per month.
Equity administration
Remote handles global stock option and equity grant administration end to end, a genuine differentiator for startups compensating international hires with equity.
Remote vs Deel
Both list EOR at $599 per employee per month on annual billing, so the decision comes down to structure.
| Remote | Deel | |
|---|---|---|
| EOR price (annual) | $599/employee/mo | $599/employee/mo |
| Contractor management | $29/contractor/mo | $49/contractor/mo |
| EOR coverage | 90+ countries | 150+ countries |
| Entity model | 100% owned | Mix of owned and partner entities |
| Deposits | None upfront | Quoted by country |
Remote wins on contractor cost, deposit policy, and compliance chain purity. Deel wins on raw coverage and a deeper add-on ecosystem. If your target markets fall inside Remote's 90+ EOR countries, Remote is the more capital-efficient pick.
Remote vs OnPay and Gusto
This comparison is simpler: if your team is entirely in the US, do not pay for global infrastructure. OnPay at $40 base plus $6 per person and Gusto from $49 plus $6 per person both handle multi-state US payroll, tax filing, and benefits for a fraction of the cost. Remote earns its price only when borders enter the picture.
Who Should Use Remote
- Companies hiring full-time employees in countries where they hold no legal entity
- Teams of 10 to 100 people spread across multiple jurisdictions
- Startups granting equity to international employees and contractors
- Finance teams that want deposit-free EOR to protect working capital
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- US-only businesses, where OnPay and Gusto deliver more for less
- Companies hiring in markets outside Remote's 90+ EOR countries
- Teams scaling past 100 employees that need enterprise payroll consolidation
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Remote payroll cost in 2026?
Global Payroll is $29 per employee per month plus quote-based implementation and delivery fees. EOR is $599 per employee per month on annual billing or $699 monthly. Contractor management is $29 per contractor per month, and the HR platform is free for up to 12 direct employees.
Does Remote require a deposit?
No upfront deposits are required for EOR hires. Remote collects reserve payments only in rare, high-risk circumstances, while competitors like Deel quote security deposits by country.
Is Remote cheaper than Deel?
On EOR the list prices match at $599. Remote is cheaper on contractors at $29 versus $49 and requires no deposits, while Deel offers broader country coverage.
Does Remote handle US payroll taxes?
Yes, Remote handles withholding and filings in every country where it runs payroll, including the US, though US-only teams will find better value in domestic-first platforms.
What is Remote's startup discount?
Eligible early-stage startups get 15% off annual EOR and contractor plans for 12 months. Confirm current eligibility directly with Remote, as terms change over time.
Pricing verified July 7, 2026 from remote.com/pricing. Employer costs, salary, taxes, and currency conversion are excluded from listed platform fees. Compare Bazaar may earn a commission when you purchase through links on this page. This does not affect our scores or rankings.