Remote

What is remote

Remote is a global payroll, benefits, and compliance platform that helps companies hire, pay, and manage employees and contractors across many jurisdictions. The platform combines payroll processing, employer of record (EOR) services, contractor onboarding, and local benefits administration into a single service intended for distributed teams. Remote targets HR and finance teams at startups, scaleups, and enterprises who need a single provider to handle cross-border employment complexities.

Remote centralizes country-specific compliance rules (tax withholding, social contributions, statutory benefits), payroll cadence, and reporting while providing local employment contracts and localized pay slips. The platform is typically used alongside existing HRIS and accounting systems and is offered as either payroll-only (where the company remains the legal employer) or full EOR (where Remote becomes the legal employer in the target country).

For teams comparing payroll vendors, Remote positions itself as a single provider that reduces the operational and legal burden of running payroll globally, consolidating multiple country vendors into one contractual relationship and a unified interface. For more detailed service descriptions and country coverage, consult Remote's payroll pages on their official website: Remote's payroll page (https://remote.com/payroll).

Remote features

Remote exposes a set of features intended to cover the full lifecycle of hiring, paying, and managing global workers. Core capabilities include payroll runs, tax and statutory contributions handling, onboarding workflows, contract generation, benefits administration, and consolidated reporting.

Key operational features include automated payroll calculations for dozens of countries, multi-currency payments, local statutory filings and tax reporting, and out-of-the-box employment contracts tailored to local law. For contractor-only engagements, Remote supports contractor self-onboarding, automated invoice reconciliation, and contractor payments via bank or other payout rails.

Integration and administration features include single sign-on (SSO), role-based access control, audit logs, exportable payroll journals for accounting systems, built-in time-off tracking, and local benefits enrollment management where supported. The platform also offers dedicated dashboards for HR and finance to review payroll previews, approve payroll runs, and export accounting entries.

What does remote do?

Remote processes payroll and handles employment compliance for distributed teams across multiple countries, allowing organizations to hire and pay people without establishing local entities. The platform either acts as a payroll processor while the client remains the legal employer (payroll-only) or it provides Employer of Record services, taking on local employer responsibilities where requested.

The service streamlines administrative tasks such as drafting compliant local contracts, calculating withholding and employer contributions, filing statutory returns, and issuing pay slips. It also centralizes employee and contractor documentation (IDs, tax forms, bank details) and automates recurring tasks so finance teams can reduce manual checks.

Remote supports reporting and record-keeping required for audits and accounting, providing payroll journals and exports compatible with general ledgers. It also offers locale-aware benefits administration, like private healthcare and pension contributions, where the local product set is available.

Remote pricing

Remote offers these pricing plans:

• Free Plan: $0/month — limited, typically used for basic contractor self-service onboarding in a demo or basic manual-pay setup (availability is country-dependent)
• Starter: $29/month per contractor for payroll-only services in supported countries (estimates; fees vary by country and volume)
• Professional: $99/month per employee for more comprehensive payroll services, integrations, and priority support (country-specific adjustments apply)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for large customers that need full EOR, advanced SLAs, dedicated account management, and bespoke integrations

Pricing for cross-border payroll and EOR services depends on the country, employee vs. contractor status, benefits selections, and payment frequency. Typical pricing combines a per-person service fee plus statutory costs, taxes, and payout fees. Check Remote's payroll pricing page (https://remote.com/payroll) for the most up-to-date country-specific rates and enterprise offers.

Remote frequently adjusts its fees to reflect local costs and regulatory changes, and some countries carry additional setup or registration fees. For customers evaluating multiple countries, vendors often provide a consolidated quote showing per-country breakdowns, statutory employer costs, and recurring service fees so you can compare total cost of employment across locations.

How much is remote per month

Remote starts at $29/month per contractor for a basic payroll-only contractor plan in supported regions; monthly fees scale up for employee payroll, benefits, and EOR services. Monthly invoicing typically includes the per-person service fee plus the aggregated statutory employer costs and local taxes for that pay period.

For companies that run frequent payrolls or have many employees, vendors like Remote offer volume discounts or custom pricing under Enterprise agreements. Payment methods and currency conversions can add small transaction or FX fees depending on payout rails and country-specific banking requirements.

To see exact monthly amounts for the countries you operate in, view Remote's payroll pricing page (https://remote.com/payroll) where country-by-country pricing and exceptions are listed.

How much is remote per year

Remote costs $348/year per contractor for a basic plan billed monthly at $29/month, when multiplied across 12 months; full employee EOR pricing will be substantially higher and is quoted per case. Annual cost depends heavily on whether the arrangement is contractor-only, payroll-only, or EOR, and whether benefits or local insurance are included.

Large customers who negotiate Enterprise contracts commonly obtain annual billing terms, committed headcount discounts, and tailored SLAs that change effective per-year pricing. For accurate annualized budgeting, include employer-side statutory costs, benefits, and any one-time setup or termination fees in your cost model.

Review Remote's country-specific pricing information for annual estimates and discuss committed-volume discounts with their sales team: Remote's payroll pricing page (https://remote.com/payroll).

How much is remote in general

Remote pricing ranges from $0 (free) to $149+/month per person. The lower end applies to minimal contractor-only onboarding in some locales; the higher end reflects full EOR and benefits packages for employees in high-cost jurisdictions. Total cost of employment includes service fees plus statutory contributions, employer taxes, and benefit costs.

Expect additional one-time setup fees in certain countries for entity registrations, local filings, or legal contract translations. For budgeting, model both the fixed service fee and the variable statutory employer cost per employee per month.

Contact Remote for a consolidated quote if you plan to hire in multiple countries; their team provides country-level breakdowns to compare the total monthly and yearly cost of hiring internationally: Remote's payroll pricing page (https://remote.com/payroll).

What is remote used for

Remote is used to hire, onboard, pay, and manage employees and contractors across international borders without the client needing to establish local legal entities. It solves common cross-border problems such as local contract compliance, payroll tax calculations, statutory filings, and benefits administration.

Typical use cases include hiring a single engineer in a new market, running payroll for distributed teams in multiple countries, moving contractors to employee status while ensuring compliance, and centralizing global payroll reporting for finance teams. Companies scaling internationally rely on Remote to reduce the time between offer acceptance and the first compliant paycheck.

Beyond payroll and compliance, Remote is used to provide localized benefits, manage offboarding and final settlements, and supply consolidated accounting exports. HR teams use it to keep legally-required documents, while finance teams use its exports to post payroll journals and reconcile bank statements.

Pros and cons of remote

Remote reduces the legal and administrative burden of global hiring by consolidating payroll, compliance, and benefits into one service with a single vendor relationship. This can save time and reduce the number of local vendors you manage, which is especially valuable for companies expanding into many countries quickly.

On the downside, costs can be higher than running local payroll in-house for a single country where you already have an entity, and some customers prefer a local provider for granular jurisdictional nuances. As with any third-party EOR or payroll provider, you trade some direct control for speed and compliance convenience.

Other practical considerations: onboarding times depend on local data collection (bank info, tax IDs), some countries require local registration steps that extend setup time, and benefits availability varies by country. It’s important to confirm country-level SLAs and the exact services included in the quoted price before contracting.

Remote free trial

Remote does not typically offer a universal self-serve free trial for full EOR services because setup for payroll and employment requires country-specific registrations and legal documentation. However, Remote often provides demos, sandbox accounts for API testing, and pilot programs for selected countries or a small number of hires.

For contractor-only workflows, Remote may allow low-friction onboarding or a relationship that looks like a free trial because contractors can be set up to invoice immediately and the service fee is charged only on payment. Pilot engagements commonly let a team run a single payroll to validate processes before committing to a larger rollout.

If you need to evaluate the platform, ask Remote for a sandbox or pilot agreement, or request access to API docs and a staging environment to validate integrations with your HRIS and accounting systems: Remote's API documentation (https://remote.com/api).

Is remote free

No, Remote is not universally free for full payroll or EOR services; core services are charged per person and vary by country. Some contractor self-onboarding or demo arrangements may appear free in initial trials, but ongoing payroll and employer obligations are billed.

Small one-off contractor payments may incur only transaction fees in certain circumstances, but comprehensive payroll processing, statutory contributions, and benefits administration are billed under formal plans. Always confirm which services are included in any quoted or trial arrangement.

Remote API

Remote provides an API and developer resources to integrate payroll, worker records, time-off, and reporting with internal systems. Common API capabilities include creating and updating worker profiles, initiating payroll runs, retrieving pay stubs and tax documents, and receiving webhook notifications for events such as hire, termination, or payroll completed.

Authentication typically uses API keys or token-based OAuth; the API exposes REST endpoints for workers, contracts, payments, invoices, and reports. Clients use the API to automate employee onboarding, synchronize HRIS records, fetch payroll journals for accounting systems, and build custom dashboards that combine Remote data with internal metrics.

Remote offers SDKs or example client libraries in common languages, rate limits and pagination for large data sets, and enterprise options for dedicated integration support and custom webhooks. For implementation details, reference Remote's API documentation which lists endpoints, request/response schemas, and authentication patterns: Remote's API documentation (https://remote.com/api).

10 Remote alternatives

• Papaya Global — Global payroll and workforce management with payroll-only and EOR options and strong payroll automation features.
• Deel — Contractor and EOR platform focused on rapid onboarding and payments in many countries, with marketplace integrations.
• Rippling — Payroll and HR platform that integrates global payroll with local HR and IT provisioning for U.S.-centric and some global teams.
• ADP — Large enterprise payroll provider with global payroll services and broad country coverage for complex multinational organizations.
• Gusto — U.S.-focused payroll and HR platform that is easier and cheaper for domestic companies but not a global EOR.
• Papaya (note: sometimes used interchangeably with Papaya Global) — specialized in global payroll automation and compliance.
• Velocity Global — EOR and global expansion services with a focus on enterprise customers and country coverage.
• Remote (you’re already here) — payroll and EOR services for global teams.
• Oyster — EOR and global payroll provider focused on simple international hiring and streamlined HR workflows.
• Fortune 100 local payroll providers — a category rather than a single vendor; local providers can offer deep technical expertise in a single country.

Paid alternatives to remote

• Papaya Global — Strong payroll automation workflows, country coverage, and consolidated reporting with per-employee fees and enterprise plans.
• Deel — Competitive for contractor-first teams and offers EOR services; pricing depends on contractor vs employee and country.
• Rippling — Combines HR, IT, and payroll for companies that want a tightly integrated employee lifecycle platform, with per-employee pricing.
• ADP — Best suited for very large employers needing global payroll in many countries; pricing and contracts are customized for enterprise needs.
• Velocity Global — EOR-first provider with deep global footprint and enterprise-focused implementation services.

Open source alternatives to remote

• Odoo — Open source ERP with payroll and HR modules; requires significant local configuration and maintenance for country-specific payroll rules.
• ERPNext — Open source accounting and HR suite that includes payroll features; suitable for teams that can manage and adapt payroll logic to local rules.
• OpenHRMS — An open source HRMS built on Odoo that can be extended with payroll modules, but requires local payroll expertise for compliance.

Open source platforms can be cost-effective for teams with in-house payroll and legal expertise, but they require continuous maintenance to stay compliant with changing local tax and labor laws.

Frequently asked questions about Remote

What is Remote used for?

Remote is used for global payroll, contractor payments, and Employer of Record services so companies can hire and pay people in other countries without setting up local entities. It handles local contracts, statutory tax and social contributions, pay slips, and benefits where available.

Does Remote support EOR (Employer of Record) services?

Yes, Remote provides EOR services in many countries enabling clients to transfer local employment responsibilities to Remote while Remote handles payroll, taxes, and statutory employer obligations. Coverage and exact services vary by country.

How much does Remote cost per user per month?

Remote starts at $29/month per contractor for basic contractor onboarding in supported countries, with employee and EOR plans priced higher depending on country and benefits. Exact per-user costs depend on service level, benefits, and local statutory employer costs.

Is there a free version of Remote?

No universal free version exists for full payroll or EOR services; initial demos or limited contractor onboarding may feel low-cost but ongoing services are billed per person. Confirm what is included in any pilot or demo agreement.

Can Remote integrate with my accounting system?

Yes, Remote supports integrations and provides payroll journals that can be exported to common accounting systems or pushed via API/webhooks for automated reconciliation. Integration details depend on your ERP or accounting stack.

Does Remote process contractor payments and invoices?

Yes, Remote handles contractor onboarding, invoice reconciliation, and contractor payouts with options for multiple payout methods and currencies. Payment rails and timing vary by contractor country and bank processing rules.

How secure is Remote with payroll data?

Remote follows enterprise security practices including encrypted data in transit and at rest, role-based access, and audit logging; enterprise customers can request more detailed security documentation and compliance attestations. Confirm specific certifications and compliance levels for your compliance needs.

Can I use Remote for a single hire in a new country?

Yes, Remote is suitable for single hires and small pilots because it removes the need to set up a local entity and accelerates time-to-pay. Expect some country-specific onboarding steps that may extend setup by days to weeks depending on local requirements.

Does Remote provide benefits administration?

Yes, Remote offers local benefits where available such as healthcare and pension contributions; the exact benefits package varies by country and is included in quotes when requested. Some benefits are optional add-ons that affect total cost of employment.

What APIs does Remote provide for automation?

Remote provides REST APIs and webhooks for automating worker lifecycle and payroll operations including endpoints for workers, contracts, payroll runs, documents, and reports. Use the API to sync workers, trigger payroll, and pull accounting journals — check Remote's API documentation (https://remote.com/api) for endpoint and auth details.

remote careers

Remote hires across product, engineering, sales, and operations roles that support global payroll and HR services. Teams focus on payroll engineering, regulatory compliance, localization, and customer implementation to support country-specific employment rules. Careers pages typically list open roles, descriptions of responsibilities, and required local or remote working arrangements.

If you are evaluating roles, look for positions that match your domain expertise in payroll, international HR, tax or regulatory compliance. Remote’s hiring process often includes technical interviews, case studies related to payroll scenarios, and discussions about cross-border compliance challenges. For current openings and recruitment processes visit Remote's careers page: Remote careers (https://remote.com/careers).

remote affiliate

Remote may provide partner and referral programs for consultants, payroll brokers, and other companies that refer customers or integrate Remote into service bundles. Affiliate or partner programs typically feature commission structures, lead sharing agreements, and co-marketing benefits for certified partners.

If you represent an HR consultancy or global mobility provider, look for Remote’s partner program terms to understand referral fees, certification requirements, and co-selling opportunities. Contact Remote’s partnerships team via their website to request partner documentation and signing terms.

Where to find remote reviews

For independent user reviews and ratings, consult business software review sites and community forums where HR and finance professionals discuss payroll vendors. Sites such as G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius aggregate ratings, pros and cons, and verified customer comments about global payroll and EOR providers.

Also review case studies and customer testimonials published on Remote’s site for firsthand examples of implementations, though independent reviews can provide more balanced perspectives on implementation effort, support responsiveness, and pricing. Start your research with Remote's public case studies and then cross-check user reviews on third-party review platforms.