Best Remote Alternatives 2026
Hire and pay global teams without setting up local entities. Find free, indie, and cheaper options that work for your team.
Want to calculate your exact savings from Remote?
Calculate Remote Savings →What is Remote?
Remote is a global HR and payroll platform that enables companies to hire employees and contractors in countries worldwide through its employer of record service. It handles international payroll, benefits, taxes, and compliance. Contractor management starts free (with per-transaction fees) or $29/contractor/month for added features, while Employer of Record plans start at $599/employee/month billed annually.
Key Features
Why Look for Remote Alternatives?
Companies may seek Remote alternatives when they need coverage in countries not yet supported or when per-employee costs become unsustainable at scale. Some teams also prefer platforms with more comprehensive day-to-day HR features beyond just payroll and compliance.
Common Pain Points
- •Per-employee pricing can be very expensive for larger distributed teams
- •Onboarding timelines vary significantly by country and can cause delays
- •Benefits options are limited in some regions compared to local providers
- •Platform features for day-to-day HR management are less mature than dedicated HRIS tools
Best Remote Alternatives (4)
Deel
$49/contractor
40% savings
Global payroll and contractor management. Free for contractors under certain plans. Strong compliance in 150+ countries.
Best for: Companies with international contractors and employees
Visit Deel →Oyster HR
$29/contractor
65% savings
Global employment platform. Contractor payments start free, EOR from $599/employee.
Best for: Growing companies hiring globally
Visit Oyster HR →Papaya Global
$20/payee
75% savings
Workforce payments platform. Handles payroll, contractors, and compliance in 160+ countries.
Best for: Companies needing automated global payments
Visit Papaya Global →Gusto
$40/mo + $6/person
45% savings
US payroll with contractor payments. Best for US-based teams with some international contractors.
Best for: US companies with mostly domestic team
Note: Limited international employee support
Visit Gusto →How to export your data from Remote
CSV, Excel (via CSV with Excel support) · verified against official docs
More HR tools people are leaving
All HR alternatives →What would you save without Remote?
Pick your team size and see the yearly number.
Tips for Switching from Remote
Remote alternatives: common questions
How do I export my employee and payroll data from Remote?+
You can export employee records, payroll history, and signed contracts as CSV or PDF directly from the Remote dashboard. For EOR employees, data export alone isn't enough — you also need to formally transfer the employment relationship to a new entity or provider, which involves re-issuing local employment contracts and coordinating a handover date with Remote's team.
What do I lose if I switch away from Remote?+
You lose Remote's self-owned legal entities in 60+ countries, meaning your new provider may rely on third-party local partners instead, which can slow down onboarding and compliance support. You also lose Remote's built-in immigration and visa assistance, which many cheaper HR tools don't offer at all.
Is a free HR tool enough for a small team instead of Remote?+
If you only work with a handful of international contractors, free tiers from tools like Remote's own contractor plan or platforms like Deel's free contractor management can work fine. But if you're employing full-time staff abroad, you still need a paid EOR service — there's no free way to legally employ someone in another country without one.
Do Remote alternatives integrate with the same payroll and accounting tools?+
Most competitors like Deel, Rippling, and Papaya Global integrate with QuickBooks, Xero, Slack, and major accounting systems similarly to Remote. Check each platform's integration list directly since coverage varies by region and by whether you're using EOR, contractor, or global payroll features.
Will switching from Remote actually save money long-term?+
Savings depend heavily on headcount and countries — some competitors charge less per employee ($399-$499/month vs Remote's $599) but may have hidden setup or termination fees. Run a cost comparison based on your actual country mix and employee count for at least 12 months before deciding, since EOR pricing structures differ significantly between providers.
Pro Tips
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