Deel vs RemoFirst: Honest Employer of Record Service Comparison (2025)

General overview

When expanding a global workforce, choosing the right Employer of Record (EOR) service can significantly impact compliance, onboarding, and payroll management.

In 2025, two leading players in this space are Deel and RemoFirst. Both platforms promise to simplify global hiring and compliance for companies expanding globally without local entities, but they have distinct strengths that cater to different business needs.

RemoFirst positions itself as a cost-effective option for companies with tight budgets. It offers EOR services in over 180 countries, primarily through a network of in-country partners. Its infrastructure supports basic global hiring needs for small businesses and early-stage startups.

Deel is known for being the complete global hiring, payroll, and compliance solution. It offers EOR services in over 150 countries through its own entities. It’s backed by in-house infrastructure, AI-powered tools, and a dedicated team of compliance, payroll, and HR experts. It’s ideal for small, medium, and large enterprises seeking a single, unified solution to global expansion and team management.

Let’s dive deeper into how these two Employers of Record stack up across key criteria.

Key features

RemoFirst:

• EOR coverage in 180+ countries through in-country partners
• Localized payroll processing managed through local providers
• Additional workforce management services, including equipment provisioning, background checks, and visas and work permits
• In-house global and local health insurance coverage through RemoHealth
• Compliance monitoring with human-driven support
• Intellectual property (IP) protection services
• 24/5 support via phone, email, and chat

Deel:

• EOR coverage in 150+ countries through owned legal entities in each country
• In-house global payroll infrastructure with automated local compliance
• Contractor of Record and contractor management services
• Built-in global HRIS
• Integrated workforce management tools, including visa and immigration support, equity management, a suite of performance management tools through Deel Engage, equipment management through Deel IT, and PEO services
• Enterprise-grade data security
• Automated compliance management through a Compliance Hub plus an AI assistant
• 24/7 support through 8+ channels

See also: What Are the Pros and Cons of Hiring With an Employer of Record (EOR)?

Pros and cons

RemoFirst

Pros:

• Lower pricing compared to other EOR providers
• Beginner-friendly user interface featuring core EOR features
• In-house global and local health insurance through RemoHealth
• Goes beyond EOR to provide additional workforce management services

Cons:

• Relies on third-party local partners, leading to potential inconsistency in employee experience
• Limited automation and workflow customization
• Basic compliance support requiring active oversight
• Support limited to five days a week

Deel

Pros:

• Operates through owned legal entities and in-house payroll infrastructure, delivering consistent service and employee experience globally
• Extensive, yet user-friendly feature set with guided workflows
• Customizable onboarding workflows
• Proactive, automated compliance monitoring backed by in-house legal teams and AI tools
• Comprehensive workforce management suite to manage diverse global teams
• Marketplace offering a wide variety of enterprise-grade benefits

Cons:

• The platform’s depth can be intimidating for new users, but dedicated support helps you get up to speed fast
• Pricing may stretch lean budgets, but automation and built-in HR and compliance reduce long-term costs

Cost

RemoFirst:

RemoFirst charges USD 199 per person, per month for its EOR services. However, the price reflects a leaner offering.

You get payroll processing, contact creation, local tax compliance, and 24/5 HR support. But you still need to invest in additional HR tools for features like workforce analytics and reporting, which are essential in workforce management.

Additionally, RemoFirst relies on third-party in-country partners to deliver EOR services, which can create inconsistent employee experiences across countries.

Deel:

Deel’s EOR pricing starts at USD 599 per person, per month. While this may seem higher, it reflects a far more diverse set of services that reduces your overall costs.

In addition to compliant payroll and benefits, contract creation, local tax compliance, and 24/7 HR and legal support, Deel includes built-in features like a global HRIS.

The global HRIS supports:

• Centralized and comprehensive workforce analytics and reporting
• Customized HR workflow automation
• App provisioning and permissions management
• Time off management
• Automated approval flows

Deel uses its own local entities to deliver EOR services, creating consistent employee experiences globally.

Summary:

Remofirst offers a low-cost entry point but leaves gaps that require additional tools. Deel’s pricing reflects a more advanced infrastructure with owned entities, continuous HR and legal support, and a built-in global HRIS.

Deel reduces reliance on multiple systems and vendors and ensures a consistent experience for both HR teams and employees.

See also: EOR vs. Entity Costs: What’s More Affordable?

Compliance & legal reliability

RemoFirst:

Remofirst emphasizes human-driven compliance, with limited automation and real-time monitoring. It relies on in-house legal and HR teams, along with local partners, to help clients stay compliant with local labor laws.

The platform automatically generates compliant contracts and aligns payroll and benefits with regional employment laws. But because its compliance support is relatively basic, you’ll need to take a more active role in tracking and managing regulatory changes across your markets.

Deel:

Deel takes a comprehensive approach to compliance that leaves no loopholes. Its in-house legal teams track regulatory changes across countries and update contract terms, tax settings, and employment practices in real time.

Deel’s Compliance Hub provides automated, ongoing compliance monitoring. It scans for global regulatory updates relevant to your workforce and flags potential risks as they arise.

You receive Monthly Workforce Insights directly in your inbox, covering issues like expiring visas and minimum wage changes. A Compliance Monitor summarizes the latest legal changes and explains how they impact your operations.

The Compliance Hub also includes an AI-based worker classification tool that helps you accurately classify contractors and employees based on local legal standards, reducing misclassification risk.

An AI assistant is available to answer compliance questions in real time and support your internal HR teams with day-to-day compliance tasks.

All these measures ensure your workforce remains fully compliant without requiring costly legal resources on your end.

Summary:
RemoFirst offers basic compliance and legal support, making it suitable for businesses with simple international hiring needs or those with strong internal legal teams already in place.

Deel provides a more comprehensive compliance infrastructure that combines automation with human oversight. This supports companies as they grow and manage complex, multi-country workforces.

See also: Compliance Challenges When Managing a Global Contingent Workforce

Onboarding speed

RemoFirst:

RemoFirst’s onboarding takes several days. Once you submit a new hire’s details, RemoFirst’s team handles the compliance steps required in that country.

Although RemoFirst supports company-specific onboarding workflows, its capabilities are limited. For example, the level of customization for triggers may not match what a dedicated workflow automation tool can provide.

Deel:

Deel automates much of the onboarding process, which takes minutes. Its platform lets you add new hires through a self-service interface and instantly generates compliant contracts and payroll entries.

Employees can self-upload required documents, e-sign contracts on the platform, and request support from an HR specialist directly from their dashboard.

Deel includes a Workflow Builder you can use to create customized onboarding flows for your team. For example, you can assign equipment, schedule check-ins, and trigger internal approvals in one flow. If you prefer an even simpler approach, Deel’s onboarding plugin for Slack lets you assign and follow up on tasks right from your workspace.

Through Deel Engage, you can create and assign onboarding training courses using an AI-powered learning management system (LMS). These tools help you standardize and simplify onboarding across your global workforce without relying on third-party systems.

Summary:
Remofirst relies on manual processes and coordination with local partners, which can slow down onboarding. Its workflow customization is basic and does not support advanced automation.

Deel, on the other hand, delivers a faster, more automated onboarding experience. It provides all the tools you need to set up employees properly, deliver the resources and training they need, and do so without expending excessive time or manpower on the process.

See also: Elevate Employee Onboarding & Offboarding Efficiency with Deel

Benefits & payroll management

RemoFirst:

RemoFirst relies on in-country partners to process payroll. The platform automatically calculates employees’ hours, bonuses, taxes, and deductions and issues a single invoice in your preferred currency.

Employees are then paid in their local currencies and can access payslips and tax documents on the dashboard.

All payroll adjustments must be finalized by the third working day of the month. RemoFirst then sends the final payroll for approval between the 8th and 10th day. You have two business days to review it; otherwise, it’s automatically approved.

The platform supports off-cycle payments, but EOR employees do not have access to on-demand pay.

RemoFirst also helps streamline benefits administration, enabling companies to offer locally compliant health insurance and standard benefits.

However, the benefits options are limited. The platform offers a global health insurance product called RemoHealth as an add-on, but does not include a centralized marketplace for additional perks like retirement contributions. These often require coordination with third-party or local providers.

Deel:

Deel runs payroll in-house using its own payroll engines, which allows for greater speed and control. It handles every aspect of payroll, from salary calculations and tax withholdings to payslip generation and local government filings.

You can view payroll previews in real time, make last-minute adjustments, and pay your entire workforce with one mass payment.

Deel’s payroll cutoff date is the 20th of the month, giving you ample time to finalize any changes. The platform also supports off-cycle payments and supports on-demand pay through its Anytime Pay feature.

Beyond payroll, Deel manages benefits while ensuring compliance with local laws. The platform hosts a global benefits marketplace with enterprise-level health insurance, mental health support, pension plans, and more offered at discounted rates.

To support better planning of your payroll costs, Deel also provides built-in research tools. You can:

• Use the Employee Cost Calculator to estimate total employment costs across countries
• Compare compensation packages using the Salary Insights tool
• Evaluate global benefit options through the Benefits Tool

Summary:
RemoFirst is a solid choice for standard global payroll processing, but its partner-based model and limited flexibility may not meet the needs of fast-scaling teams managing diverse workforces.

Deel offers in-house payroll infrastructure and greater customization across pay schedules and benefits. It also features compensation research tools that help you make data-driven decisions, supporting your company from planning to payments.

See also: In-Kind Benefits Packages for Global Team Success

Support & user experience

RemoFirst:

RemoFirst provides 24-hour human support five days a week (weekdays only). Support options include email, phone, and live chat. You also get a dedicated account manager.

Since RemoFirst routes certain inquiries through its local partners, support experiences can vary depending on the country and type of inquiry.

RemoFirst offers a clean, easy-to-use dashboard focused on core EOR tasks like onboarding, payroll, and document management. You can complete basic tasks efficiently, but advanced users may find it restrictive.

Deel:

Deel delivers 24/7 support through multiple channels, including:

• Live chat: In-app and web
• Email
• Messaging apps: WhatsApp, WeChat, Slack, Microsoft Teams
• Phone support: Including callback requests
• Video calls

You also get a dedicated Customer Success Manager and onboarding support.

Deel’s in-house model helps its support team resolve issues quickly and effectively. They maintain a CSAT score above 90%, reply to live chats within a minute, and resolve 91% of cases on first contact. On average, they handle most EOR-related issues in just six minutes.

Deel balances usability with depth through a clean, modern dashboard that adapts to different roles, such as admins vs. employees.

Users find its navigation intuitive, even without prior experience. The system provides task-level guidance with automated document prompts and contextual instructions that appear throughout onboarding and HR workflows.

Summary:
RemoFirst offers weekday support through three channels, with a straightforward platform focused on essential EOR tasks. Deel surpasses it with round-the-clock support available in over eight channels, plus a high-performing in-house team. Its platform delivers powerful features without sacrificing usability.

Integrations

RemoFirst:

RemoFirst’s platform is largely standalone, with limited emphasis on third-party integrations or API access. Most users rely on manual data exports directly from the dashboard when they need to sync information.

That said, RemoFirst offers additional services within the platform itself, including:

• Immigration support
• Background checks
• Equipment provisioning

Deel:

Deel integrates natively with more than 120 tools across HR, finance, communication, and project management. Popular integrations include Xero, QuickBooks, SAP SuccessFactors, BambooHR, Greenhouse, Lever, and Slack.

For teams that want to go further, Deel offers a user-friendly, well-documented public API. Developers can quickly build and test custom integrations using a ready-to-go sandbox environment.

However, you are unlikely to need external systems. Deel provides a robust in-house suite that can replace many standalone tools. In addition to a global HRIS, Deel provides tools like:

• Performance management
• Learning and development
• Career development tools
• Equity management
• Background checks
• Workforce planning
• Talent sourcing
• Compensation management
• Immigration and visa support
• Device lifecycle management

You can also automate tasks between systems using Deel’s no-code Workflow Builder. It lets you trigger actions across your connected tools.

For instance, when a new hire signs their contract, the system can simultaneously provide access to your identity management platform like Okta, ship equipment through Deel IT, and assign mandatory courses through Deel Engage.

Summary:
RemoFirst has limited integration options. Users rely on manual exports and its built-in services.

Despite having a wide range of additional tools, Deel provides deep integration capabilities. It connects natively with popular tools and offers a public API for custom builds. This supports real-time data synchronization across departments.

See also: 20 Best Payroll Integrations for Accounting, HR, and More

Scalability

RemoFirst:

RemoFirst is designed to support lean teams and startups looking for a cost-effective way to hire internationally. Its platform covers core EOR functionality and includes contractor management, making it a good option for companies in the early stages of global hiring.

However, it relies heavily on in-country partners rather than owned entities, which can impact consistency and control as hiring volumes increase.

The platform is intentionally lightweight, which simplifies use for smaller teams but may present constraints for larger organizations that need advanced customization, integration capabilities, or other features like workforce planning tools.

Deel:

Deel is built to support organizations at every stage of growth. It’s single platform supports all workforce types, including independent contractors, EOR employees, PEO arrangements, and direct employees. This flexibility allows you to evolve your hiring strategy without switching systems or migrating data.

It also makes international expansion far more manageable. You can start by hiring contractors in new markets and later convert top talent to full-time EOR employees within the same account. Deel even facilitates the contractor-to-employee conversion process, ensuring a smooth transition.

At the enterprise level, you can take advantage of Deel’s white-label and white glove services to offer customized employee experiences under your own brand. This helps maintain a consistent employer identity while Deel handles the infrastructure behind the scenes.

Because Deel controls the entire stack, the platform can release updates quickly and stay ahead of workforce management trends, tech advancements, and regulatory changes. You can scale your global workforce with the confidence that your infrastructure and processes will keep pace with current changes.

Summary:
RemoFirst can support early-stage international hiring efforts, but businesses planning long-term global expansion may outgrow its capabilities

Deel, on the other hand, is purpose-built for scale. Its capabilities support your growth, from the first international hire to managing a large, distributed team—all within a single platform.

See also: A Guide on How to Scale Global HR

Review ratings from review sites

RemoFirst:

• Trustpilot: 3.9
• G2: 4.5

Deel:

• Trustpilot: 4.8
• G2: 4.8

Bottom-line

RemoFirst is a good option for startups and small businesses with simple international hiring needs. Its low monthly pricing is attractive but comes with trade-offs: limited features, minimal automation, narrow compliance coverage, fewer integrations, and weekday-only support. It may work well if your needs are minimal and you already have strong internal legal and HR support.

Deel is built for companies of all sizes, from high-growth startups to large enterprises looking for a scalable, modern, and fully integrated global employment infrastructure. While pricing is higher, the value is significantly greater: proactive compliance support, advanced automation, built-in HRIS and workforce management tools, extensive integrations, and 24/7 global support.

Choose Deel if you’re planning to grow internationally and want a reliable, future-proof platform that streamlines global HR, payroll, and compliance without relying on additional vendors.

Expand your operations to 150+ countries with Deel

G2 has recognized Deel as the leading Employer of Record, citing the highest user satisfaction score and the strongest market presence. Today, over 20,000 companies worldwide trust the platform.

Deel is more than an EOR service. It’s an all-in-one Global People Platform for hiring, paying, and managing contractors and full-time employees in multiple countries. You can run global payroll using Deel’s in-house engines, offer localized benefits, and automate HR workflows across borders.

For companies that prioritize comprehensive, scalable global HR solutions and superior customer support, Deel is the clear choice.

See Deel in action by booking a 30-minute demo.