Our recommendation: start with RemotePeople for clear terms and hiring help
Both providers advertise a USD 199 entry point, so the headline fee won’t settle this choice. RemoFirst’s starting fee can change with the country and its local requirements. RemotePeople’s USD 199 EOR Select plan applies only in selected countries and salary ranges. Otherwise, EOR Global from USD 499 is the figure to compare.
The terms around the fee separate them. RemotePeople’s deposit is one month of the employee’s gross salary, and the unused balance comes back within 5 days of the final payment. RemoFirst publishes no standard deposit amount or refund deadline, so your quote has to supply both.
We would also start with RemotePeople if the role is still open. It sells recruitment and EOR together or separately, and both EOR plans include a named account manager. RemoFirst sources candidates through partner agencies.
RemotePeople vs RemoFirst at a glance
Our provider ratings reflect our recommendation order for providers overall.
Question
RemotePeople
RemoFirst
Our rating
RemoFirst
Question
Advertised EOR entry fee
RemotePeople
Global from USD 499 and Select from USD 199 (selected countries and salary ranges) per employee/month; the proposal sets any commitment.
RemoFirst
From USD 199 per employee/month, varying by country, with no minimum term, minimum headcount or setup fee advertised.
Question
Deposit and refund
RemotePeople
One month of the employee’s gross salary, due before the contract goes out; unused balance refunded within 5 days of the final payment.
RemoFirst
No standard amount or refund deadline published, so your quote sets both; balances return as payroll credit or a bank transfer.
Question
Who employs your hire
RemotePeople
Its own entities in its highest-volume markets and a local partner in some others, named in the proposal before the hire.
RemoFirst
Local employment partners: RemoFirst says it works exclusively with vetted in-country partners, so a third company employs your hire and changes and exits pass through both. Ask for the partner’s name and who approves payroll corrections and exit costs.
Question
What must be confirmed
RemotePeople / RemoFirst
Check before signing: confirm country price, Select eligibility, currency, commitment, deposit amount and refund date, named employer, recruitment scope, support hours and exit charges in writing.
RemoFirst charges no setup, onboarding or provider termination fee. Health cover, visa support, equipment and background checks are priced separately. RemotePeople’s country proposal sets its billing commitment and minimum headcount.
Compare RemotePeople’s Global and Select plans with RemoFirst’s EOR pricing for the same hire. The figures here are US dollar service fees. Add salary, employer costs and benefits separately, and ask each provider for the cash due before the first payroll.
If you already have the candidate
Ask RemotePeople first whether your hire qualifies for EOR Select. If it does, both fees start at USD 199 and the comparison turns on the terms. If it doesn’t, EOR Global from USD 499 sits above RemoFirst’s starting fee. Weigh that gap against what each proposal includes.
Put the deposit next to the fee. RemotePeople bills one month of the employee’s gross salary before the contract goes out for signature, and the debit note is due within five calendar days. The proposal sets the final amount, which can rise with pay, seniority or notice obligations. RemoFirst’s country agreement should state the amount, currency, due date and permitted deductions.
Then check who employs the person. RemoFirst works through local employment partners, so a third company stands between you and your employee, and payroll changes, questions and exits can take longer. RemotePeople runs its own entities in its highest-volume markets and names the employer before the hire. Match each name to the company that will sign the contract and issue payslips.
If you still need to find the employee
RemotePeople can run the search and then employ the person. Its recruitment and EOR service charges 2% of annual salary each month for 12 months, 24% in total, on top of EOR fees. Recruitment on its own costs 20% of annual salary, payable on the hire’s first day.
RemoFirst connects you with recruitment agencies through its Talent Marketplace. Fees depend on the partner and the role. Ask who passes the accepted candidate to the EOR team and when onboarding starts.
In both cases, ask who runs the search, what triggers the fee and what happens if the hire leaves early. Keep the recruitment charge on its own line so it isn’t confused with the monthly EOR fee.
When RemoFirst could justify the choice
RemoFirst makes a strong case for one hire on a tight budget when flexibility matters most. It advertises no annual commitment and no minimum headcount. It also charges no setup, onboarding or provider termination fee. Our RemoFirst review places its best fit with cost-conscious companies and nonprofits that need international hiring without a large HR operation.
Coverage can decide it, too. RemoFirst advertises EOR in 185+ countries, against RemotePeople’s 150+. If RemotePeople can’t employ in your hiring country, RemoFirst belongs at the top of your list.
Test support fairly. Each RemoFirst client gets a dedicated account manager, and live agents work Monday to Friday, 24 hours a day, with a chatbot and tickets outside those hours. RemotePeople publishes human-support targets in business days, including a same-day first response for first-level questions. Ask both who handles an urgent payroll issue at the weekend.
Two situations where RemotePeople deserves priority
Hypothetical example: a startup has chosen one engineer abroad and has little spare cash. The founder wants to know exactly how much money will be tied up and for how long. Start with RemotePeople’s country quote and check EOR Select eligibility. A deposit of one month’s gross salary, returned within 5 days of the final payment, is simple to plan around. Ask RemoFirst for its deposit amount and refund date in writing before comparing totals.
Hypothetical example: a small company needs its first international hire and has no recruiter. The hiring manager knows the role but can’t run a local search. Start with RemotePeople’s combined proposal and require a named recruiter, an interview timetable and the full recruitment fee. Compare it with RemoFirst’s EOR quote plus a Talent Marketplace agency fee for the same role.
Before signing either agreement, ask who handles a payroll correction, a delayed start, an employee’s pay question and an early departure. If neither provider fits, use the EOR comparison directory to choose another pair.
Basis for the recommendation
Our comparison draws on our hands-on tests of both providers, set out in our RemotePeople review and RemoFirst review. We checked the linked official pages on 8 November 2026. Our preference for RemotePeople is specific to the situations above and rests on its published fees, deposit terms and service scope. The examples are hypothetical, and a country quote for your hire decides the final cost and terms.