Best Remote (remote.com) Alternatives in 2026
Remote.com owns its local entities in 60 countries but its pricing and platform maturity leave room for alternatives depending on your needs.
Quick verdict
Best for contractor-heavy teams: Deel. Best for HRIS integration: Rippling Global. Best for cost on contractor-only work: Plane or Papaya Global.
Why teams look beyond Remote
Remote.com is a legitimate Employer of Record with a good reputation for owning its legal entities rather than relying on local partners. The most common reasons teams explore alternatives: pricing at $599 per month per employee for EOR is not differentiated from competitors, the contractor management feature is free but basic compared to Deel, and some teams find the onboarding documentation requirements more demanding than expected.
Remote also has less self-serve equity management tooling than Deel, which matters for startups that need to manage option grants for internationally-based employees.
Deel: most feature-complete alternative
Deel is the most direct competitor to Remote and generally has more self-serve tooling. Equity management, expense tracking, and contract customization are more developed on Deel. EOR pricing is $599 per month per employee, the same as Remote, but Deel has more room for negotiation on volume.
Deel also has a stronger contractor management module. If you are managing a mix of employees and contractors across countries, Deel handles that more cleanly.
Oyster: best for European hiring
Oyster has particularly strong coverage and local expertise in European employment law, which matters for teams hiring in the EU where employment contracts are more regulated. Pricing is $499 to $599 per month per employee.
The Oyster platform is more opinionated about compliant employment terms, which can be either a feature or a limitation depending on how much flexibility you need in your employment contracts.
Plane: best for contractor-first teams on a budget
Plane (formerly Pilot) is a lower-cost option for teams primarily managing contractors internationally rather than full EOR employees. Pricing starts at $29 per contractor per month, which is significantly cheaper than Deel at $49 per contractor.
Plane's EOR coverage is narrower than Remote or Deel, but for teams that mainly need contractor payments and the occasional EOR hire in a major market, it is a cost-effective option.
How to choose
If contractor management is the primary need: Deel at $49 per contractor per month or Plane at $29 per contractor. If you need EOR and want the most feature-complete platform: Deel. If European hiring is the priority: Oyster. If you are already on Rippling for US HR: Rippling Global for a smaller number of international hires.
Frequently asked questions
Does Remote own its own entities or use third-party partners? Remote owns its own legal entities in about 60 countries and uses partners in the remaining markets it covers. The countries with owned entities have more consistent employment terms and faster onboarding.
Is Remote cheaper than Deel? They charge the same rate for EOR ($599 per month per employee). Remote has a free contractor management tier; Deel charges $49 per contractor per month. For contractor-heavy teams, Remote's free contractor management can be a meaningful cost difference.
How long does EOR onboarding take with Remote? Typically 2 to 4 weeks depending on the country. Some customers report that Remote's documentation requirements are more thorough than competitors, which can extend the timeline.