Building a global workforce doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Whether you’re a startup scaling internationally or an established company entering new markets, finding the right Employer of Record (EOR) company can be transformative. An EOR partner handles the complex administrative side of hiring—payroll, compliance, taxes, and benefits—so you can focus on what truly matters: growing your business and supporting your team.
In 2026, the EOR landscape has evolved significantly. Companies now offer streamlined onboarding, competitive pricing, and coverage in over 180 countries. This guide walks you through the top EOR service providers, helping you make an informed decision that aligns with your company’s needs and growth goals.
Contents
What Is an Employer of Record (EOR)?
An Employer of Record is a professional employer organization that serves as the legal employer for your international contractors and employees. Here’s how it works: you identify and hire talent, and your EOR partner handles all the behind-the-scenes complexity.
This includes managing payroll in local currencies, ensuring compliance with local labor laws, setting up benefits packages, handling tax obligations, and processing terminations. Essentially, the EOR becomes the employer on paper, but you maintain complete control over hiring decisions, day-to-day management, and company culture.
The beauty of this model is simplicity. Instead of establishing legal entities in multiple countries—which requires significant time, capital, and expertise—you can hire talented professionals anywhere, almost instantly. EOR services are particularly valuable for remote hiring, international expansion, and managing distributed teams across different jurisdictions.
How to Choose the Best Employer of Record Company
Selecting an EOR partner is an important decision. Here are the key factors to consider:
Geographic Coverage: Where do you need to hire? Ensure your EOR operates in your target countries. Some specialize in specific regions (like Latin America or Asia-Pacific), while others offer truly global reach.
Pricing Structure: EOR costs vary. Most charge a percentage of payroll (typically 8-15%) or a flat fee per employee per month. Compare total cost of ownership, not just the headline number. Some companies offer volume discounts or flexible pricing tiers.
Integration Capabilities: Can the EOR integrate with your existing HR, accounting, or payroll software? Seamless integrations reduce manual work and potential errors.
Compliance & Legal Support: This is non-negotiable. Verify that your EOR stays current with local labor laws, tax regulations, and compliance requirements. Ask about their legal support and how they handle disputes.
Customer Support & Speed: How quickly can they onboard new employees? What support channels are available? Read reviews and speak with current clients if possible.
Features & Flexibility: Look beyond basic payroll. Do they offer benefits administration, expense management, equity support, or professional development tracking?
Transparency & Reporting: You should have real-time visibility into payroll, compliance status, and costs. Demand accessible dashboards and regular reporting.
Top 7 Employer of Record Companies in 2026
1. Deel
Deel has become synonymous with global hiring, and for good reason. Operating in 150+ countries, Deel offers one of the most comprehensive platforms for hiring contractors and full-time employees. Their user-friendly interface makes it incredibly easy to onboard talent, even for first-time international hires.
Deel stands out for competitive pricing, fast payouts to international contractors, and excellent compliance support. They’ve invested heavily in automation, which keeps costs down while maintaining high accuracy. Their platform includes built-in features for contracts, invoicing, and basic HR functions, making them particularly attractive for startups and growing companies.
Strengths: Extensive country coverage, quick onboarding, contractor-friendly features, competitive pricing.
Best for: Startups and companies scaling quickly with remote teams.
2. Remote
Remote specializes in making international employment simple and compliant. They handle full-time employee hiring across 100+ countries with a focus on comprehensive support and transparency.
What makes Remote stand out is their commitment to compliance. They maintain a team of employment lawyers and compliance experts to ensure you’re always operating legally. Their dashboard is clean and intuitive, and they offer exceptional customer support. They also provide benefits integration, which is increasingly important for retaining talent.
Strengths: Excellent compliance support, strong benefits offerings, transparent pricing, reliable customer service.
Best for: Companies hiring full-time employees who prioritize legal security.
3. Papaya Global
Papaya Global combines EOR services with advanced payroll and HR capabilities. They operate in 160+ countries and are particularly strong in managing complex payroll requirements across multiple currencies and tax jurisdictions.
Their platform is more robust than some competitors, offering detailed compliance reporting, multi-currency management, and integration with major accounting software. They’re ideal for companies with established operations wanting a more sophisticated solution.
Strengths: Advanced payroll management, detailed compliance reporting, strong integrations, suitable for complex operations.
Best for: Mid-sized and enterprise companies with sophisticated payroll needs.
4. Rippling
Rippling takes a different approach by combining EOR with comprehensive HR and IT management. Beyond just payroll and compliance, Rippling manages benefits, devices, applications, and employee onboarding under one platform.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that extends beyond traditional EOR services, Rippling delivers. Their Rippling EOR service is backed by their broader platform, meaning you get unified management for your entire employee experience. They operate in 150+ countries and are rapidly expanding their EOR capabilities.
Strengths: All-in-one platform with HR and IT management, user-friendly interface, growing country coverage, comprehensive employee experience management.
Best for: Companies wanting integrated HR and EOR solutions without juggling multiple platforms.
5. Oyster HR
Oyster HR takes pride in delivering a human-centered approach to global hiring. They operate in 180+ countries and emphasize personalized support, particularly for startups and scale-ups.
Their pricing is transparent and competitive, and they’re known for being genuinely responsive to customer needs. Oyster also offers equity support—important for startups offering stock options to international team members. Their onboarding is remarkably quick, often completing employment setup within days.
Strengths: Extensive country coverage, equity support, startup-friendly, quick onboarding, personalized service.
Best for: Startups and early-stage companies prioritizing speed and support.
6. Velocity Global
Velocity Global brings deep expertise in global employment coupled with personalized support. They operate in 180+ countries and are known for their white-glove service and thorough compliance expertise.
Their team includes employment specialists who proactively help you navigate regulatory challenges. While their pricing is higher than some competitors, the level of support and expertise justifies the investment for companies prioritizing reliability and minimal risk.
Strengths: Personalized support, expert compliance guidance, extensive coverage, white-glove service.
Best for: Enterprise companies and organizations requiring specialized compliance expertise.
7. Globalization Partners
Globalization Partners pioneered the EOR model and remains a leader in the space. Operating in 190+ countries, they offer a fully compliant way to expand globally without establishing local entities.
Their platform includes employee management, payroll processing, benefits administration, and compliance support. They’ve built strong partnerships with local providers, ensuring compliance expertise in every market. Their experience and established network make them a trusted choice for serious global expansion.
Strengths: Pioneer in EOR space, extensive country coverage, strong local partnerships, comprehensive services.
Best for: Organizations committed to serious international expansion with complex compliance needs.
Employer of Record Comparison Table
| Company | Countries | Pricing Model | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deel | 150+ | 8-12% of payroll | Startups, contractors | Fast onboarding, contracts, invoicing |
| Remote | 100+ | 8-14% of payroll | Full-time employees | Compliance expertise, benefits, transparent pricing |
| Papaya Global | 160+ | 10-15% of payroll | Enterprise, complex payroll | Advanced payroll, integrations, reporting |
| Rippling | 150+ | Custom pricing | Integrated HR needs | All-in-one platform, IT management, device management |
| Oyster HR | 180+ | 8-12% of payroll | Startups, equity needs | Quick onboarding, equity support, personal support |
| Velocity Global | 180+ | 12-16% of payroll | Enterprise, high touch | White-glove service, compliance expertise, proactive support |
| Globalization Partners | 190+ | 10-15% of payroll | Serious expansion | Pioneer experience, local partnerships, comprehensive |
Is Employer of Record Legal in the USA & UK?
Yes, EOR services are completely legal in both the USA and the UK, provided you use a legitimate, properly licensed provider.
In the United States: EOR companies are regulated and operate legally. However, the concept differs from Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs), which have specific federal regulatory status. Make sure your EOR is licensed appropriately in states where you operate.
In the United Kingdom: EOR services are legal and increasingly popular. Your EOR must comply with UK employment law, including the Employment Rights Act and tax regulations. Ensure your EOR understands both UK law and the specific regulations of countries where they’re placing employees.
Both jurisdictions require proper documentation, compliance with employment law, and transparent relationships with employees. Always verify your EOR partner is licensed and maintains current compliance practices.
Conclusion
Choosing an EOR partner is about finding the right fit for your company’s stage, geography, and priorities. There’s no universal best answer—the right choice depends on your unique situation.
If you’re a fast-growing startup focused on speed and cost-efficiency, Deel or Oyster HR are excellent choices. If compliance and full-time employee support are paramount, Remote or Velocity Global deliver exceptional expertise. If you want an integrated platform handling HR, IT, and EOR together, Rippling offers remarkable convenience. For serious, complex international expansion, Globalization Partners brings pioneering experience.
Start by clarifying your needs: Where do you need to hire? What’s your budget? How important is customer support? What integrations do you need? Answer these questions, evaluate the options above, and consider requesting demos or speaking with current users.
The right EOR partner isn’t just a vendor—they’re a strategic ally in your global growth journey. With the right support, building and managing your international team becomes a seamless, compliant, and genuinely exciting part of scaling your business.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best employer of record company?
The “best” EOR depends on your specific needs. Deel excels for startups and contractors; Remote offers superior compliance support; Rippling shines for integrated HR management; Oyster HR prioritizes speed and personal service. Evaluate based on your priorities: coverage, pricing, support level, and specific features you need.
How much does an employer of record cost?
EOR costs typically range from 8-16% of gross payroll. This includes payroll processing, tax compliance, benefits administration, and legal entity setup. Some companies charge flat fees per employee per month (ranging from $500-$2,000+). Always request a clear cost breakdown and understand what’s included.
Is employer of record legal in the USA?
Yes, EOR services are legal in the USA. The EOR becomes the employer of record on the official paperwork, but you manage the day-to-day work. Ensure your provider is properly licensed and maintains compliance with federal and state employment laws.
What is the difference between EOR and PEO?
Both handle payroll and compliance, but there are key differences. PEOs (Professional Employer Organizations) typically work with existing employees and require a co-employment relationship. EORs function as the official employer and are better for hiring contractors and international employees. EORs offer more flexibility for startup and remote hiring scenarios.
Can startups use employer of record services?
Absolutely. EOR services are ideal for startups, particularly those hiring remote or international talent. They eliminate the burden of establishing entities in multiple countries, reducing legal complexity and allowing startups to focus on growth. Companies like Deel and Oyster HR are specifically designed with startups in mind.
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