By Michael Preston, founder of Pink Shark Marketing (since 2013). Updated .Last updated . Prices and features checked: October 24, 2026, on deel.com, remote.com and each vendor's help center. See sources at the bottom.
Published "starting at" prices, checked October 24, 2026.
That is my verdict in two lines. The rest of this page shows why.
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I run Pink Shark Marketing, a marketing agency. We work with contractors outside the US, and we use Deel for their contractor agreements and their payouts. So I know the Deel side from the inside.
We picked Deel for three plain reasons:
Compliance. It is hard to find platforms that stay compliant. I need the one I use to keep up with the rules in every country we pay people in.
One payment run. Deel pays all our contractors in one run, instead of one by one.
A wallet for my team. My team gets a wallet to hold their funds and transfer them into whatever currency they want.
I have not used Remote as a customer. Everything I say about Remote comes from Remote's own website, pricing page and help center, checked on October 24, 2026. Where the two companies disagree about each other, I say so and tell you what to ask in a demo.
Side by side
Here is the whole comparison on one screen. Each row is one thing I looked at. I only mark an edge where the public sources show a clear difference.
What I compared
| Criterion |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Employer of Record (EOR) |
| Edge
|
| Global PayrollTie |
|
|
| Contractor Management |
|
|
| Pricing (list prices) |
| Edge
|
| Countries and coverage (vendor stated) | Edge
|
|
| Contractor payment methods | Edge
|
|
| Contractor wallet and currencies | Edge
|
|
| Pay every contractor in one run |
|
|
| Compliance toolingTie |
|
|
| Support (vendor stated)Tie |
|
|
| Best for |
|
|
* Not verified: not stated in the public sources I checked on October 24, 2026. Ask in a demo. "Edge" marks a clear difference in the public sources; rows without a mark depend on your team. Vendor stated means the number comes from the vendor's own site.
These three get mixed up all the time. They are different products, at different prices, with different legal setups. Pick the wrong one and you either overpay or take on risk you did not plan for.
You want a full-time employee in a country where your company has no legal entity. The EOR provider becomes the legal employer in that country. It runs local payroll, taxes, benefits and the employment contract. You still manage the person's day-to-day work. This is the most expensive option because the provider carries the employer's legal duties.
Your company already has its own legal entity in the country, so you are the employer. You just need someone to calculate pay, withhold taxes, file returns and pay people on time. You keep the legal risk. This is much cheaper than EOR.
The person is an independent contractor, not an employee. They send invoices, and you pay them. The tool handles the contract, invoices, payouts and tax forms. With standard contractor management, classifying the worker correctly is still on you. Both Deel and Remote also sell a Contractor of Record (COR) plan, where the provider holds the contract and takes on more of the misclassification risk.
A simple way to choose:
Prices are published "starting at" prices, checked October 24, 2026. Your quote can be different.
| Feature | Deel | Remote |
|---|---|---|
| EOR price | Starting at $599 per employee per month | Starting at $599 per employee per month |
| EOR countries | Deel says "130+ countries" for EOR | Remote says "90+ countries" for EOR |
| EOR entity model | Deel says it owns entities and its payroll engine in 130+ countries | Remote says its EOR uses "100% owned entities, no third parties" |
| EOR deposit | Yes. Standard deposit is 1 to 1.5 months of total monthly charges, refunded after the contract ends | No standard deposit. Remote "may require a refundable reserve" in some cases |
| Global Payroll price | Starting at $29 per employee per month | Starting at $29 per employee per month |
| Global Payroll countries | Deel says 150+ countries | Remote says 100+ countries |
| Contractor Management price | Starting at $49 per contractor per month | Starting at $29 per active contractor per month |
| Middle contractor tier | None published | Contractor Management Plus, starting at $99, with up to $100,000 indemnity per contractor ($1M per company cap) |
| Contractor of Record | Starting at $325 per contractor per month | Starting at $325 per contractor per month |
| Contractor payout options | Bank transfer, Wise, Revolut, PayPal, Payoneer, Coinbase, Deel Card, Instant Card Transfer, AstroPay, digital currency (USDC and USDT) | Local bank transfer, SWIFT (USD or EUR), Stripe Connect, USDC stablecoin. Options vary by country |
| Contractor currencies | 120+ currencies | 73 currencies |
| US PEO | Starting at $125 per employee per month | Starting at $99 per employee per month |
| Support | Deel says 24/7 support by chat, email, phone, video, WhatsApp, WeChat, Slack and Teams | Remote says every plan includes dedicated support and in-house experts |
| Contract terms | Month-to-month, cancel anytime (per Deel's pricing FAQ) | No setup or onboarding fees, platform included on every plan (per Remote's pricing FAQ). Ask about minimum terms |
Deel: Starting at $599 per employee per month
Remote: Starting at $599 per employee per month
Deel: Deel says "130+ countries" for EOR
Remote: Remote says "90+ countries" for EOR
Deel: Deel says it owns entities and its payroll engine in 130+ countries
Remote: Remote says its EOR uses "100% owned entities, no third parties"
Deel: Yes. Standard deposit is 1 to 1.5 months of total monthly charges, refunded after the contract ends
Remote: No standard deposit. Remote "may require a refundable reserve" in some cases
Deel: Starting at $29 per employee per month
Remote: Starting at $29 per employee per month
Deel: Deel says 150+ countries
Remote: Remote says 100+ countries
Deel: Starting at $49 per contractor per month
Remote: Starting at $29 per active contractor per month
Deel: None published
Remote: Contractor Management Plus, starting at $99, with up to $100,000 indemnity per contractor ($1M per company cap)
Deel: Starting at $325 per contractor per month
Remote: Starting at $325 per contractor per month
Deel: Bank transfer, Wise, Revolut, PayPal, Payoneer, Coinbase, Deel Card, Instant Card Transfer, AstroPay, digital currency (USDC and USDT)
Remote: Local bank transfer, SWIFT (USD or EUR), Stripe Connect, USDC stablecoin. Options vary by country
Deel: 120+ currencies
Remote: 73 currencies
Deel: Starting at $125 per employee per month
Remote: Starting at $99 per employee per month
Deel: Deel says 24/7 support by chat, email, phone, video, WhatsApp, WeChat, Slack and Teams
Remote: Remote says every plan includes dedicated support and in-house experts
Deel: Month-to-month, cancel anytime (per Deel's pricing FAQ)
Remote: No setup or onboarding fees, platform included on every plan (per Remote's pricing FAQ). Ask about minimum terms
Last checked: October 24, 2026.
Employer of Record
On list price, this is a tie. Both start at $599 per employee per month.
Coverage. Deel claims more EOR countries (130+) than Remote (90+). If you are hiring in a less common country, check both lists before anything else. That one fact can decide it for you.
Entities. Both companies now say they own their EOR entities. Each company's comparison page accuses the other of leaning on partners in some places. I cannot verify either claim from the outside, so here is the honest move: for each country you plan to hire in, ask the sales rep in writing, "Is this your own entity, and do you run payroll in-house here?"
Deposits. This is the clearest real difference I found. Deel's help center says it charges a deposit for each EOR hire, usually 1 to 1.5 months of total monthly charges (salary, employer costs and fees), refunded after the employee leaves and the final invoice is paid. Deel caps it at two months over the life of the contract. Remote's pricing page says it does not charge a standard deposit, but it may ask for a refundable reserve in some cases. If cash flow is tight, that matters.
Who wins
Remote, slightly, for a small company hiring its first one or two EOR employees in a common country, because of the deposit. Deel if your country is only on Deel's list, or if you want EOR, contractors, HR and US payroll in one system.
Global Payroll
Both start at $29 per employee per month. Remote says it pays employees in 100+ countries. Deel says 150+.
Deel's page offers two ways to run it: Deel's experts run payroll for you, or your own team runs it (the self-run option is noted as US and Canada only on Deel's pricing page). Remote also offers self-serve or fully managed.
For most small agencies, this product does not matter yet. You only need Global Payroll once you open your own entity in another country. When you get there, compare the country lists and ask for a sample invoice.
Who wins
A tie for most buyers. Deel if you need a country only Deel covers.
Contractors
This is the part I know best, because it is what we use Deel for at Pink Shark.
Price. Remote is cheaper. $29 vs $49 per contractor per month, and Remote says you only pay for contractors you actively work with that month. If you pay three contractors by bank transfer and nothing else matters, Remote saves you $60 a month.
Risk tiers. Remote also has something Deel does not publish: a middle plan. Contractor Management Plus starts at $99 and covers misclassification penalties up to $100,000 per contractor (capped at $1M per company). Both companies sell a full Contractor of Record plan starting at $325.
Payouts. This is where Deel pulls ahead, and it is the reason we use it. Deel's help center lists bank transfer, Wise, Revolut, PayPal, Payoneer, Coinbase, the Deel Card, Instant Card Transfer, AstroPay and digital currency. Contractors can withdraw in 120+ currencies, split their balance across methods, and set up automatic withdrawals.
Remote's payout explorer and help center list local bank transfer, SWIFT in USD or EUR, Stripe Connect and USDC. Remote supports 73 currencies for contractor payments.
When your contractors live in different countries, they each have a way they like to get paid. More options means fewer "where is my money" messages.
Deel pays all our contractors in one run, instead of one by one. My team gets a wallet to hold their funds and move them into whatever currency they want.
Be honest about fees
Deel's withdrawal methods are not all free. Per Deel's help center, local bank transfers, Wise, Revolut and the Deel Card have no Deel fee. PayPal is 2.5%, Payoneer is 1% (minimum $12), cross-border withdrawals are $5, and SWIFT is $5 to $10. Tell your contractors which method is free in their country before their first payout.
Who wins
Deel for agencies and startups paying contractors across many countries. Remote for a few contractors, mostly in countries with good local bank options, or if you want the $99 indemnity tier.
HR and compliance
Deel sells a lot beyond hiring and paying: an HR system, US payroll, a US PEO, in-house immigration support (Deel says 50+ countries), and compliance monitoring that flags rule changes. On its pricing page Deel lists HR tiers starting at $5 per employee per month. If you want one system for everything, Deel has more pieces.
Remote includes its platform on every plan with no base fee, has a compliance alert tool it calls Watchtower, and offers a US PEO starting at $99. Remote also offers 15% off EOR and Contractor Management for the first 12 months to startups that have raised pre-seed, seed or Series A.
More features are only worth it if you will use them. A five-person agency probably needs contractor payments and maybe one EOR hire, not a full HR suite.
It is hard to find platforms that stay compliant. That was the first box any tool had to tick for us.
| Product | Deel | Remote |
|---|---|---|
| EOR | $599 per employee per month | $599 per employee per month |
| Global Payroll | $29 per employee per month | $29 per employee per month |
| Contractor Management | $49 per contractor per month | $29 per active contractor per month |
| Contractor Management Plus | Not offered | $99 per contractor per month |
| Contractor of Record | $325 per contractor per month | $325 per contractor per month |
| US PEO | $125 per employee per month | $99 per employee per month |
Deel: from $599 per employee per month
Remote: from $599 per employee per month
Deel: from $29 per employee per month
Remote: from $29 per employee per month
Deel: from $49 per contractor per month
Remote: from $29 per active contractor per month
Deel: from Not offered
Remote: from $99 per contractor per month
Deel: from $325 per contractor per month
Remote: from $325 per contractor per month
Deel: from $125 per employee per month
Remote: from $99 per employee per month
Ask for a sample invoice
Both companies say their pricing is transparent. Still, ask each one for a sample invoice for your exact setup, including FX, deposit or reserve, and any withdrawal fees your workers will pay.
Strengths and trade-offs
Strengths
Trade-offs
Strengths
Trade-offs
Every point above comes from the vendors' own pricing pages and help centers, checked October 24, 2026. See sources.
Quick picks by situation
Contractors in many countries, and payouts matter
Pick: Deel
You want contractors, EOR, HR and US payroll in one system
Pick: Deel
First one or two EOR hires in a common country
Pick: Remote
A few contractors with good local bank options
Pick: Remote
You already have your own entity abroad
Pick: Global Payroll, a tie at $29
Funded startup (pre-seed to Series A)
Pick: Remote, check the 15% offer
For small agencies and startups paying international contractors, Deel is the better pick.
My three reasons, in short: it is hard to find platforms that stay compliant, Deel pays all our contractors in one run instead of one by one, and my team gets a wallet to hold funds and move them into whatever currency they want.
That is my use case, and it is why we use Deel at Pink Shark. The contractor agreement and the payout live in one place, and each contractor can pick the payout method that works in their country. That flexibility is worth the extra $20 a month per contractor to me, because payment problems with contractors cost more than $20 in time and goodwill.
Remote is the better pick for a company whose main need is one or two EOR employees in common countries, mostly because it does not take a standard deposit and it publishes a cheaper contractor plan.
If you are in my position, start with Deel for contractors. If you later need an EOR hire, compare both quotes for that exact country before you sign.
It depends on the product. EOR and Global Payroll start at the same price on both ($599 and $29). Remote is cheaper for contractor management ($29 vs $49). Both start Contractor of Record at $325. Remote's US PEO starts lower ($99 vs $125). Prices checked October 24, 2026.
With an EOR, the provider legally employs the person for you, with payroll, benefits and local employment law handled. With contractor management, the person stays an independent contractor who invoices you, and the tool handles contracts, invoices and payouts. EOR costs much more because the provider takes on employer duties.
When your company already has its own legal entity in that country. Then you are the employer, and you only need payroll run. If you have no entity there, you need an EOR.
Yes. Deel's help center says the standard deposit is 1 to 1.5 months of total monthly charges, with a maximum of two months over the contract, refunded after the contract ends and the final invoice is paid. Remote says it does not charge a standard deposit but may require a refundable reserve in some cases.
Deel lists bank transfer, Wise, Revolut, PayPal, Payoneer, Coinbase, the Deel Card, Instant Card Transfer, AstroPay and digital currency. Availability depends on the country, and some methods have fees.
Remote lists local bank transfer, SWIFT in USD or EUR, Stripe Connect and USDC stablecoin, depending on the country.
Deel's pricing FAQ says month-to-month with no long-term commitment and cancel anytime. Remote's pricing FAQ says there are no setup or onboarding fees. Ask Remote's sales team about minimum terms for your plan.
If you mostly pay international contractors, I recommend Deel for its payout options. If you mostly need one or two EOR employees and want to avoid deposits, look hard at Remote.
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