Best EOR Services for Startups in 2026
Startups can now hire top talent anywhere in the world without setting up costly foreign entities. We evaluated 15+ Employer of Record platforms to find the 8 best for startups at every stage, from pre-seed to Series C and beyond.
Watch: Best EOR for Startups
Our Top 3 EOR Picks for Startups
Why Startups Need an Employer of Record
Hire Globally Without Foreign Entities
Setting up a legal entity in a new country costs $20,000-$80,000 and takes 2-6 months. An EOR lets you hire compliantly in days for a flat monthly fee per employee, preserving runway for product and growth.
Stay Compliant Across Jurisdictions
Employment law varies dramatically between countries. EOR providers handle local labour laws, tax withholding, statutory benefits, and termination requirements so you don't need to hire international employment lawyers.
Access the Best Talent Anywhere
The best engineer for your startup might be in Poland, Brazil, or Nigeria. An EOR removes geographic restrictions from your hiring, letting you compete for talent based on opportunity rather than location.
Scale Quickly and Predictably
Startups need to move fast. An EOR lets you go from zero to fully employed team members in a new market within days, with predictable per-employee pricing that makes financial planning straightforward.
Top 8 EOR Services for Startups
Deel
Best Overall EOR for Startups
Why It's Best for Startups
Deel has become the go-to EOR platform for startups thanks to its lightning-fast onboarding, coverage in 150+ countries, and a self-serve experience that feels more like a fintech product than a traditional HR tool. Startups can hire their first international employee in as little as 24 hours without talking to a sales rep. Deel also bundles contractor management, global payroll, and equity incentive administration into one platform, which means early-stage companies can consolidate multiple vendor relationships into a single subscription as they scale.
Key Features
- EOR coverage in 150+ countries
- 24-hour employee onboarding
- Built-in contractor management
- Automated tax document collection
Additional Capabilities
- Equity incentive administration
- Integrated global payroll
- Slack and HRIS integrations
- Real-time compliance monitoring
Pros
- Fastest onboarding in the industry
- Self-serve platform with no sales calls required
- Covers both contractors and full-time employees
- Excellent API and integrations ecosystem
- Transparent per-employee pricing
Cons
- Premium pricing compared to newer entrants
- Customer support can be slow during peak periods
- Limited customisation for enterprise-grade compliance
- Benefits options vary significantly by country
Seed to Series B startups hiring their first 5-50 international employees across multiple regions
Remote
Best for Owned-Entity Compliance
Why It's Best for Startups
Remote differentiates itself by owning its legal entities in every country it operates in rather than relying on third-party partners. For compliance-conscious startups, this means stronger intellectual property protections, more consistent employee experiences, and reduced legal risk. Remote's IP Guard feature is particularly valuable for tech startups that need to ensure their invention assignment agreements hold up across jurisdictions.
Key Features
- Owned legal entities in 75+ countries
- IP Guard intellectual property protection
- Localised benefits administration
- Built-in contractor management
Additional Capabilities
- Equity compensation support
- Automated onboarding workflows
- Country-specific compliance guides
- Time-off and expense management
Pros
- Strongest IP protection in the market
- Owned entities reduce third-party risk
- Transparent and competitive pricing
- Excellent compliance documentation
- Purpose-built for remote-first companies
Cons
- Fewer countries than some competitors
- Benefits packages can be basic in certain regions
- Platform interface can feel overwhelming initially
- Limited payroll analytics and reporting
IP-sensitive tech startups hiring engineers and product teams in 5-20 countries
Oyster HR
Best for Developer-Friendly Experience
Why It's Best for Startups
Oyster HR was built by a distributed team for distributed teams, and it shows in the product experience. The platform offers an exceptionally clean interface, robust API documentation, and workflow automations that technical founders appreciate. Oyster also stands out with its Total Rewards Calculator, which helps startups benchmark compensation packages against local markets so they can make competitive offers without overpaying.
Key Features
- EOR services in 180+ countries
- Total Rewards compensation calculator
- Automated global payroll processing
- Localised benefits and perks
Additional Capabilities
- Time tracking and PTO management
- Expense management
- Developer-friendly REST API
- Hiring and onboarding workflows
Pros
- Best-in-class user interface and UX
- Excellent compensation benchmarking tools
- Strong API and developer documentation
- B Corp certified with social impact mission
- Good self-serve knowledge base
Cons
- Slower onboarding in some emerging markets
- Customer success varies by account size
- Benefits options limited in smaller markets
- Reporting capabilities are still maturing
Remote-first tech startups (Series A-B) hiring product and engineering talent globally
Rippling
Best for All-in-One HR + EOR
Why It's Best for Startups
Rippling takes a fundamentally different approach to EOR by embedding it within a comprehensive HR, IT, and finance platform. For startups that want a single system for domestic employees, international hires, contractors, payroll, benefits, device management, and app provisioning, Rippling eliminates the tool sprawl that plagues growing companies. When you hire an international employee through Rippling's EOR, they automatically flow into the same system you use for everything else.
Key Features
- EOR integrated with full HR platform
- Unified domestic and international payroll
- IT device and app management
- Automated compliance workflows
Additional Capabilities
- Benefits administration across countries
- Time and attendance tracking
- Custom reporting and analytics
- Workflow automations and triggers
Pros
- One platform for HR, IT, and finance
- Best automation and workflow engine
- Seamless domestic-to-international scaling
- Excellent device and app provisioning
- Powerful custom reporting
Cons
- EOR is newer compared to dedicated providers
- Requires buying into the broader Rippling ecosystem
- Country coverage still expanding
- Can be complex to configure initially
Venture-backed startups (50-500 employees) that want one platform for domestic and international HR
Multiplier
Best for Asia-Pacific Hiring
Why It's Best for Startups
Multiplier has built the deepest expertise in Asia-Pacific markets, making it the ideal choice for startups expanding into India, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, and other APAC countries. Their local knowledge translates into faster entity setup, better benefits packages, and more nuanced compliance guidance in a region where employment law varies dramatically between countries. Multiplier's pricing is also among the most competitive, starting at $400/employee/month.
Key Features
- EOR coverage in 150+ countries
- Deep APAC market expertise
- Multi-currency payroll processing
- Localised benefits and insurance
Additional Capabilities
- Automated tax compliance
- Employment contract generation
- Expense management
- 24/7 customer support
Pros
- Most competitive pricing in the market
- Best-in-class APAC coverage and expertise
- Fast onboarding in Asian markets
- Strong local benefits packages
- Responsive customer support team
Cons
- Platform UX is less polished than competitors
- Fewer integrations with third-party tools
- Limited analytics and reporting
- European and Americas coverage is less mature
Startups hiring engineering and operations teams across Asia-Pacific markets
Papaya Global
Best for Payroll Automation
Why It's Best for Startups
Papaya Global has invested heavily in payroll automation and intelligence, making it the strongest choice for startups that need bulletproof payroll accuracy across multiple countries. Their platform uses AI to flag payroll discrepancies before they become problems and provides real-time visibility into global workforce costs. For finance-minded founders and CFOs, Papaya's analytics dashboards and workforce cost projections are the best in the EOR space.
Key Features
- AI-powered payroll processing
- Real-time workforce cost analytics
- Cross-border payment automation
- Compliance engine with proactive alerts
Additional Capabilities
- Benefits management and benchmarking
- Pre-built payroll integrations
- Workforce planning tools
- Multi-entity financial reporting
Pros
- Best payroll accuracy and automation
- Excellent workforce cost analytics
- Strong financial reporting capabilities
- Proactive compliance monitoring
- Good integration with accounting tools
Cons
- Higher starting price than competitors
- Platform can feel complex for small teams
- Minimum employee thresholds for some features
- Sales-required onboarding process
Finance-conscious startups (Series B+) that need precise payroll and workforce cost management
Velocity Global
Best for Emerging Markets
Why It's Best for Startups
Velocity Global stands out with the broadest country coverage in the EOR space, including many emerging markets that other providers don't serve. If your startup needs to hire in countries across Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, or Latin America, Velocity Global likely has you covered. Their local expertise in these less-served markets means better compliance guidance, more competitive benefits, and faster onboarding where other providers struggle.
Key Features
- EOR coverage in 185+ countries
- Specialised emerging market expertise
- Global benefits and insurance
- Compliance risk assessments
Additional Capabilities
- Immigration and visa support
- Contractor conversion services
- In-country HR advisory
- Multi-currency payroll
Pros
- Broadest country coverage available
- Best option for emerging and frontier markets
- Strong immigration and visa support
- Dedicated in-country advisors
- Flexible engagement models
Cons
- Custom pricing lacks transparency
- Platform technology less modern than competitors
- Onboarding can be slower in complex jurisdictions
- Requires higher-touch sales process
Startups expanding into emerging markets across Africa, LATAM, and APAC
Globalization Partners (G-P)
Best for Enterprise Startups
Why It's Best for Startups
G-P pioneered the modern EOR industry and has the most mature platform for startups that are scaling rapidly toward enterprise. Their legal and compliance infrastructure is the most battle-tested in the market, which matters when you're hiring dozens of employees across multiple countries simultaneously. G-P also offers dedicated account management and legal advisory that later-stage startups need as their international workforce grows in complexity.
Key Features
- EOR coverage in 180+ countries
- Owned legal entities worldwide
- Dedicated account management
- Advanced compliance and legal advisory
Additional Capabilities
- Global benefits benchmarking
- M&A workforce transition support
- Enterprise-grade security and SOC 2
- Custom reporting and analytics
Pros
- Most established and battle-tested EOR
- Excellent legal and compliance advisory
- Strong enterprise-grade security
- Dedicated account management included
- Best for complex multi-country deployments
Cons
- Premium pricing not ideal for early-stage startups
- Platform feels dated compared to newer competitors
- Slower onboarding than newer providers
- Custom pricing requires sales engagement
Late-stage startups (Series C+) scaling to 100+ international employees with complex compliance needs
Quick Comparison
| Platform | Rating | Pricing | Countries | Onboarding | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deel | 9.2/10 | $599/emp/mo | 150+ | 24-48 hours | Overall best |
| Remote | 8.9/10 | $599/emp/mo | 75+ | 1-3 days | IP protection |
| Oyster HR | 8.7/10 | $599/emp/mo | 180+ | 2-5 days | Developer UX |
| Rippling | 8.8/10 | $599/emp/mo | Expanding | 2-4 weeks | All-in-one HR |
| Multiplier | 8.5/10 | $400/emp/mo | 150+ | 3-5 days | APAC hiring |
| Papaya Global | 8.3/10 | $650/emp/mo | 160+ | 1-2 weeks | Payroll automation |
| Velocity Global | 8.1/10 | Custom | 185+ | 1-3 weeks | Emerging markets |
| G-P | 8.0/10 | Custom | 180+ | 1-2 weeks | Enterprise startups |
How We Evaluated These EOR Platforms
Our team spent over 100 hours testing and evaluating EOR platforms specifically from a startup perspective. We assessed each solution across six key dimensions weighted for what matters most to growing companies.
Onboarding Speed (20%)
How quickly can a startup hire and onboard an international employee? We measured time from signing to the employee's first day across multiple countries.
Country Coverage (15%)
Breadth and depth of country coverage, including emerging markets. We evaluated not just the number of countries but the quality of local support and benefits in each.
Platform Experience (20%)
User interface quality, self-serve capabilities, API availability, and overall product design. Startups need tools that don't require training to use.
Compliance & Legal (20%)
Strength of compliance infrastructure, IP protection, local employment law expertise, and proactive risk monitoring for changing regulations.
Pricing & Value (15%)
Total cost of ownership including base fees, hidden charges, and value relative to startup budgets. We looked at pricing transparency and contract flexibility.
Startup Fit (10%)
How well the platform serves startup-specific needs like equity administration, rapid scaling, contractor-to-employee conversion, and integration with startup tooling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Employer of Record (EOR) and how does it work for startups?
An Employer of Record is a third-party organisation that legally employs workers on your behalf in countries where you don't have a legal entity. The EOR handles payroll, taxes, benefits, and compliance while your international hires work under your day-to-day direction. For startups, this means you can hire talent anywhere in the world without spending $20,000-$80,000 and 2-6 months to set up a foreign subsidiary.
How much does an EOR cost for startups?
Most EOR providers charge between $400 and $700 per employee per month. Multiplier starts at $400/employee/month, Deel and Remote at $599, and Papaya Global at $650. Some providers like G-P and Velocity Global offer custom pricing. Beyond the per-employee fee, factor in any one-time onboarding fees, deposit requirements, and the cost of benefits packages, which vary by country.
When should a startup use an EOR instead of setting up a foreign entity?
Use an EOR when hiring fewer than 10-15 employees in a single country, when you need to hire quickly (days vs. months), when testing a new market before committing to a full entity, or when you want to preserve cash instead of spending on entity setup. Consider setting up your own entity once you have 15+ employees in one country, as the per-employee economics typically favour an owned entity at that scale.
Can an EOR handle equity and stock options for startup employees?
Yes, most modern EOR providers support equity compensation, though the complexity varies by country. Deel, Remote, and Oyster HR all offer equity administration features that help you grant stock options or RSUs to international employees while navigating local tax implications. However, equity taxation rules differ dramatically between countries, so work closely with your EOR's legal team to structure grants correctly.
What are the risks of using an EOR for startups?
The main risks include permanent establishment risk (where tax authorities could argue your EOR activity constitutes a local business presence), intellectual property concerns (ensure your EOR contract includes proper IP assignment clauses), employee experience inconsistency (benefits and support quality can vary by country), and vendor lock-in (switching EOR providers requires terminating and re-hiring employees). Choose providers with owned entities, strong IP protections, and transparent contracts to mitigate these risks.
Ready to Hire Globally?
Explore our in-depth reviews of each EOR platform with detailed feature comparisons, pricing breakdowns, and implementation guides tailored for startups.
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