With businesses increasingly expanding their reach across borders, hiring international employees has become a strategic necessity. However, paying and managing employees globally brings a unique set of challenges, from complying with local labour laws to navigating complex tax regulations. Fortunately, platforms like Deel and Globalization Partners aim to simplify this process. In this article, we will compare the key features and costs of these two major global workforce solutions, Deel vs Globalization Partners, to help you determine the best option for your business.
Overview of Deel vs Globalization Partners
Deel is a modern solution that helps companies hire and manage employees and contractors worldwide. Deel provides a self-service platform with a focus on legal compliance, onboarding, and payroll in over 150 countries. It is particularly suited for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a flexible, easy-to-use platform.
Globalization Partners, on the other hand, is a more established Employer of Record (EOR) service. It acts as the legal employer on your behalf in the countries where you want to hire, ensuring compliance with local employment laws, tax codes, and benefit systems. With a global presence in over 180 countries, Globalization Partners is often seen as a robust solution for large corporations or companies with complex hiring needs.
| Feature | Deel | Globalization Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Type | Global payroll and contractor management platform | Employer of Record (EOR) service and global payroll |
| Coverage | 150+ countries | 180+ countries |
| Employment Compliance | Self-service compliance platform, with automated tax filings and contract management. Company retains ultimate compliance responsibility. | Full compliance managed as the Employer of Record, with all legal obligations and local requirements handled by Globalization Partners. |
| Payroll Options | Supports payments in 120+ currencies, offers flexible payment methods such as bank transfer, PayPal, and cryptocurrency. | Manages full payroll, tax withholding, social contributions, and benefits. Payments are handled centrally, but fewer payment method options compared to Deel. |
| Contractor Management | Strong support for managing international contractors, with contract generation, onboarding, and payments. | Focuses more on full-time employees than contractors. Contractors can be managed, but not its primary function. |
| Benefits and Perks | Offers health insurance, pensions, and equity management add-ons. Customisation needed for some regions. | Provides comprehensive, locally tailored benefits, including healthcare, pensions, and other perks, often customised for specific countries. |
| Onboarding Process | User-friendly, self-service platform. Businesses can onboard employees and contractors quickly. | Full onboarding handled by Globalization Partners with local documentation, ensuring compliance with regional laws. |
| Cost Structure | Flat fee per contractor (approx. £40-50/month), per-employee pricing for full-time workers (£350-500/month depending on the country). | Customised pricing, typically 10-20% of an employee’s salary. Includes tax compliance, benefits, and payroll management. |
| Tax Filing and Contributions | Automated tax filings and local contributions, but businesses remain responsible for ensuring ongoing compliance. | Globalization Partners manages all tax filings, social contributions, and local payroll taxes as the Employer of Record. |
| User Experience | Highly rated for its modern, intuitive interface. Self-service makes it suitable for businesses managing payroll directly. | More hands-on, offering full-service support. Less self-service but ideal for companies wanting to outsource the entire employment process. |
| Contract Types Supported | Full-time employees, part-time employees, and contractors. | Primarily full-time employees, but can handle contractors if needed. |
| Flexibility | Highly flexible in terms of payment methods and contract management, suitable for businesses hiring a mix of employees and contractors. | Offers less flexibility but provides a comprehensive EOR solution, taking full control of local employment matters. |
| Best For | Small to medium-sized businesses, startups, or companies with a mix of contractors and employees. | Larger businesses, corporations, or companies entering new, complex markets where full compliance outsourcing is needed. |
| Additional Services | Integrates with financial tools, allows for cryptocurrency payments, and has a robust API for custom integrations. | Provides local HR support, compliance training, and market-specific expertise. Handles all aspects of local employment and HR matters. |
| Support | Customer support via chat, email, and phone. Strong online resources and documentation for self-service users. | Dedicated account managers, full support team handling HR, legal, and compliance matters in each region. |
| Time to Onboard Employees | Quick onboarding process, typically within a few days. | Onboarding can take a little longer as Globalization Partners handles all compliance and documentation, typically within a few weeks depending on the country. |
| Customisation for Business Needs | Offers some level of customisation for benefits and payroll tools. | Fully customisable benefits packages, payroll, and compliance tailored to local markets. |
Key features
1. Employment compliance
One of the most critical aspects of hiring international employees is ensuring compliance with local regulations.
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- Deel offers a decentralised approach, helping companies manage payroll, contracts, and compliance through its platform. It automates tax filings and ensures that contracts adhere to local employment laws. However, the onus is on the company to remain compliant with ongoing employment regulations.
- Globalization Partners offers a more hands-on approach. Since they act as the employer of record, they take on the legal responsibilities, ensuring full compliance with local laws and regulations. This includes handling all aspects of tax, benefits, and legal obligations, which can be particularly advantageous for businesses unfamiliar with local employment frameworks.
2. Payroll and payments
Both Deel and Globalization Partners offer international payroll services, but there are some differences in how they manage payments.
- Deel allows businesses to pay international employees and contractors through a variety of methods, including direct bank transfers, PayPal, and even cryptocurrency. It supports payments in over 120 currencies and integrates with other financial tools for easy reconciliation.
- Globalization Partners manages the entire payroll process, including tax withholding, social contributions, and benefits. While the platform is not as flexible as Deel in terms of payment methods, its robust compliance ensures that payroll is handled accurately and in line with local laws.
3. Benefits and perks
Attracting top talent often requires offering competitive benefits, and both Deel and Globalization Partners provide solutions for this.
- Deel offers a relatively straightforward process for handling benefits, with add-ons such as health insurance, retirement plans, and equity management. However, its benefits offerings are often geared towards smaller teams and may require customisation depending on the region.
- Globalization Partners offers a more comprehensive benefits package tailored to local markets. The platform provides region-specific benefits packages, including health insurance, pensions, and other perks, ensuring that your employees receive benefits comparable to local standards.
4. Onboarding and user experience
Both platforms streamline the onboarding process, but they cater to different needs.
- Deel is highly rated for its user-friendly interface and ease of use, allowing companies to onboard employees quickly and with minimal friction. Its flexibility makes it suitable for businesses hiring a mix of full-time employees and contractors.
- Globalization Partners offers a more hands-on approach. They handle the onboarding of employees, ensuring all documentation and contracts comply with local laws. While this approach is less self-service, it is ideal for companies that want to outsource the entire process to experts.
Cost comparison
Cost is always a key factor in choosing a global payroll solution. Both Deel and Globalization Partners operate on a subscription or per-employee basis, but their pricing structures differ.
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- Deel charges a flat rate for contractors, with a per-employee pricing model for full-time employees. Its pricing starts at around £40-50 per contractor per month, while full-time employee plans can range from £350-500 per employee per month, depending on the country and level of service.
- Globalization Partners operates on a customised pricing model, often charging a percentage of the employee’s salary, typically between 10-20%. While this may seem more expensive than Deel on the surface, the pricing includes a wide range of services such as local tax compliance, payroll management, and benefits administration, which can be more cost-effective for larger companies with complex needs.
Comparing key company statistics
| Metric | Deel | Globalization Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Founded year | 2019 | 2012 |
| Number of employees | Approximately 2,000 | Over 1,000 |
| Global reach | Active in over 150 countries | Coverage in more than 180 countries |
| Total funding raised | Over $670 million | Undisclosed (backed by institutional investors) |
| Clients served | Over 15,000 companies | 2,000+ companies |
| Focus on contractors vs full-time employees | Primarily focused on contractor management, growing support for full-time employees | Specialises in full-time international employee management through EOR services |
Which platform is best for your business?
Deel is ideal for smaller to medium-sized businesses or startups looking for flexibility and cost-effective solutions. If your company works with a mix of contractors and full-time employees and requires an easy-to-use platform, Deel’s straightforward approach may be the right choice. It offers flexibility in how employees are paid and is best suited for companies looking to remain hands-on with some aspects of compliance.
Globalization Partners, on the other hand, is better suited for larger corporations or businesses looking to fully outsource their global hiring processes. With Globalization Partners, you’re getting a more robust and comprehensive service, but at a higher cost. It takes on all the legal and administrative responsibilities, making it an attractive option for businesses unfamiliar with international labour laws or those entering new markets with complex regulations.
Conclusion – Deel vs Globalization Partners
When choosing between Deel vs Globalization Partners, the decision comes down to the size and specific needs of your business.
Deel provides flexibility and cost-effective solutions, making it suitable for smaller companies with limited international payroll needs.
Globalization Partners offers a higher level of support and compliance, making it the best option for larger businesses or those with more complex global hiring requirements.
In the end, both platforms offer powerful tools to help your business navigate the complexities of hiring and paying international employees. The best choice will depend on your company’s scale, budget, and the level of support you need to remain compliant and competitive in the global market.
FAQ – Deel vs Globalization Partners
Deel and Globalization Partners both provide robust HR services, but Globalization Partners is often seen as more comprehensive due to its deeper expertise in compliance, payroll, and onboarding, especially for mid to large-sized enterprises. Deel excels with its tech-driven platform and contractor management.
Yes, both Deel and Globalization Partners handle international contractor payments. Deel, however, focuses more on contractor management with automated payments, while Globalization Partners specialises in employing international workers with full legal and payroll compliance.
Deel offers a wider range of integrations with HR software, including Slack, QuickBooks, and Xero. Globalization Partners also integrates with various tools, but its strength lies in end-to-end international employment management rather than a large number of third-party integrations.
Globalization Partners provides more in-depth compliance support for hiring full-time employees internationally, covering local tax and legal requirements. Deel offers solid compliance for contractors but places less emphasis on full-time employee regulations.
Deel tends to offer a more cost-effective solution for smaller companies and startups managing contractors. Globalization Partners generally costs more but offers broader services for large companies needing comprehensive international employee management.
Deel offers a more intuitive, user-friendly experience, especially for startups and small businesses. Globalization Partners, while user-friendly, provides more complex features geared toward larger enterprises, which can take more time to navigate.
Deel’s biggest advantage is its focus on tech-driven simplicity for managing contractors. Its streamlined platform, automation features, and pricing make it an excellent choice for smaller businesses looking to scale their remote workforce quickly.
Globalization Partners excels in providing end-to-end global employment solutions, handling everything from hiring to payroll and compliance for international employees. It’s ideal for larger companies requiring a fully compliant solution for complex global expansions.
Deel is generally a better fit for SMEs, offering simpler contractor management tools and lower costs. Globalization Partners, while comprehensive, is better suited for larger organisations that need to manage full-time international employees across multiple countries.
Globalization Partners specialises in hiring full-time international employees with compliance services. Deel can manage full-time employees but is more focused on contractor management and lacks the comprehensive support offered by Globalization Partners for employee compliance.