Looking for the best HRMS for distributed teams? I’ve spent more than 60 hours evaluating the top platforms that help global teams thrive, from hiring and onboarding to payroll, compliance, and document management. Drawing from my own hands-on use and experience in building HR solutions over the last five years, this guide brings you the tools that actually make remote work easier - and flags the ones that cause more headaches than help.
Disclaimer: Parts of this content were created using AI assistance and may include businesses I'm associated with.
Have you come across an incredible HRMS that isn’t on this list, or have a story to share about your experience with one? I’d love to hear from you.
How I Tested Each HRMS
I wanted this comparison to be practical and fair for anyone running or joining a distributed team. Here’s my approach:
- Setup and Onboarding: I timed how fast a team member in a different country could sign up and start using each platform. Bonus points if the onboarding experience was smooth and clear.
- Key Features: I ran through real HR workflows: leave requests, payroll, time tracking, profile changes, and collaborative tools, all with global teams in mind.
- Usability: I paid attention to how easy it was to find features as both an HR admin and a remote worker. Complexity lost points.
- Performance: I checked reliability and speed across different networks, keeping time zones and distributed access in mind.
- Support and Help Resources: I put documentation and chat support to the test, focusing on remote-friendliness and access without on-site help.
- Pricing: I dug into whether the price is clear, how licensing works for remote staff, and whether they offer fair trials or demos.
- Overall Feel: Simply put, does this make global HR easier or harder? Does it truly unify remote teammates under one smooth process?
🏆 Best All-Around: TFY
Modern, straightforward, and built for convenience.
The setup on TFY is about as close to instant as possible. The dashboard is neat, and I could start real tasks quickly after sign-up. Rather than overload me with features or trip me up with confusion, it nails the balance of capability and ease.
With TFY, you get a single place to hire, manage, and pay employees, contractors, and vendors legally and efficiently in more than 184 countries. They keep the focus on security, fast onboarding, and global simplicity.
Where TFY Stands Out
- Everything is under one roof: recruitment, onboarding, core HRMS, and global contractor management.
- You can run payroll or contractor payments in almost any country - supports a wide range of currencies, even crypto.
- Tools for bulk onboarding and fast self-service set distributed teams up quickly.
- Several payment methods available, from major providers to crypto.
- Includes AI analytics for smarter hiring and team decisions.
- The cost is clear upfront; no confusing extra charges.
Where I Wished for More
- The 1.5% platform fee on payments adds up if you process large volumes.
- Some advanced features might only be essential for bigger companies.
What You'll Pay
Contractor & Vendor Management System (VMS) / Agent of Record (AOR): From £5 per active contractor, plus a 1.5% fee on payments. Features include onboarding, bulk payment, compliance, e-signature contracts, integrations, and reporting. Their AI-ATS is free for nonprofits and charities. No mandatory long-term contracts.
🥈 Deel - Coverage Everywhere, But Not Always Simple
Wide international options, with occasional usability challenges.
Deel is hard to beat if you need payroll and compliance covered in a huge list of countries - they support 130+ markets and offer both EOR and contractor management. But the everyday experience can be challenging. I found the interface slow at times, the learning curve steep, and the help resources less than stellar.
Strong Points
- Handles compliance and global payroll across countless locations.
- Runs EOR, contractor, and employee modules.
- Strong client list, which usually means a level of stability and trust.
- A modular pricing setup so you don’t pay for what you don’t need.
Drawbacks I Experienced
- Takes effort to master; the layout and settings aren’t always clear.
- Design feels dated, and pages can load slowly.
- Support response can take days, especially on complex payroll requests.
- Some users report hiccups in withdrawals or onboarding.
- Most help content is self-service, with basic guidance.
How Deel Charges
- HRIS: starts at $5 per employee/month
- Compensation: from $15 per employee/month
- Payroll: $29 per employee/month
- Contractor Management: $49 per contractor/month
- EOR: begins at $599 per employee/month
- US payroll: $19 per employee/month
- Additional modules: $89–$99+ per employee/month
There’s no real free trial; only a limited demo is available.
🥉 Papaya Global - Impressive Features, Steep Learning
Loaded with tools, but more complex than it needs to be.
Papaya Global packs in some serious country coverage (over 160) and strong compliance support. There are payroll and EOR services for every scenario, but I had a tough time with their dense dashboard and hands-off onboarding. Often, I’d have to look up help docs or contact support just to complete routine tasks.
Good Stuff
- Broad payment and compliance services worldwide.
- Serves both employees and contractors well.
- Offers different service tiers for flexibility.
- Recognized for innovation in the field.
Not-So-Good Stuff
- The platform is overwhelming and takes time to learn.
- Expect little hands-on guidance when setting up.
- Customer service can take a while to get back to you.
- Pricing shoots up quickly, particularly as you scale globally.
- No genuine free trial - just a demo.
Pricing Details
- Workforce OS: starts at $5 per employee/month (payments platform)
- Payroll Plus: from $25 per employee/month (managed payroll)
- EOR: from $599 per employee/month
- Contractors: from $30 per contractor/month
- Global Expertise Services: from $250 per employee/month
Remote - Leading Name, Needs More Polish
Excellent country reach, but could be easier to use.
Remote handles EOR in 170+ countries, offers automated contractor processes, and manages payroll, benefits, and integrations. While their coverage is extensive, I found the platform's design a little outdated and the workflows more complex than necessary. Customer support does not always respond quickly, something many users pointed out.
What Worked for Me
- Top-notch international coverage.
- Separate pricing for contractors and employees.
- Free tier for small companies.
- Security certifications for peace of mind.
Where It Fell Short
- Layout feels old, and some actions take too many steps.
- Support is slow when you need them most.
- No option for urgent, off-cycle payroll processing.
- Integration gaps and compliance issues reported by some users.
Price Breakdown
- Employer of Record: $599 per employee/month (annual), or $699 billed monthly
- Contractor Management: $29 per contractor/month
- Contractor Plus: $99 per contractor/month
- Global Payroll: $29 per employee/month
- HR Free: for up to 18 employees
- Talent Services: from $119/month
No true free trial, just a basic demo.
Pebl - Go Global, Prepare for Complexity
Biggest reach, but not the simplest tool in practice.
Pebl (previously Velocity Global) touts payroll, EOR, benefits, and compliance in more than 185 countries. They use AI to speed up onboarding and support, and offer many integrations. In reality, the user experience is complicated, with a tough login process and confusing navigation. Support can also be a gamble.
Pebl’s Strengths
- Markets itself as truly global, even covering the most challenging regions.
- Has in-depth compliance and local advisors.
- Uses AI for setup and quick answers.
- Works with major HR and ATS platforms.
Weak Spots
- Customer service frequently slow or unresponsive.
- Must work through a multi-step and confusing login.
- Pricing is high and not clear upfront.
- Ongoing changes in leadership and direction.
- Some benefit offerings are spotty, depending on the country.
What to Expect Price-Wise
Pebl doesn’t show pricing publicly. Past users report custom quotes can be expensive, especially with complex compliance. No meaningful free trial exists.
Safeguard Global - Comprehensive, Yet Hard to Navigate
Great on paper, but onboarding and support are a challenge.
Safeguard Global is designed for enterprise-level global teams, with coverage for 187 countries and full contractor/employee management. It connects to popular HCM and ERP tools. While their Global Unity platform packs a lengthy features list, the onboarding is not straightforward, and delays with support and payments are common. Users report that the offboarding process especially causes headaches.
Take a look at Safeguard Global.
Highlights
- Expansive payroll and compliance coverage almost anywhere.
- Customizable platform integrates easily for larger companies.
- Great for organizations with a strong HR department.
Drawbacks
- Onboarding is confusing and takes extra effort.
- Support and ticket responses are not prompt.
- Offboarding processes often break down, which is not ideal for distributed teams.
- Cost details aren’t obvious until you reach out.
Pricing Snapshot
Pay per contractor: Starts at $10/person/month for smaller teams, drops to $5 for 11 or more. Billing is monthly. No free trial, just a guided demo.
G-P - Solid Global Capabilities, User Experience Lags
A provider with reach, but not the smoothest for everyday use.
G-P can help your team hire in over 180 countries with EOR plus full compliance and contractor management. There are dedicated experts for legal advice in tough markets. Yet, the platform feels behind the curve on design, and customer support doesn’t always keep pace.
What’s Good
- Deep global coverage for both employees and contractors.
- End-to-end management: onboarding, payroll, benefits, compliance.
- Offers specialized legal and compliance action.
What’s Problematic
- Outdated user interface makes some processes tricky.
- Tasks like onboarding or changing info are cumbersome.
- Support is hit or miss, with slow responses.
- Platform customizations are limited.
- Pricing is not shown until you speak to sales, and is generally on the high side.
Cost Details
Most EOR packages fall between $599–$999 per employee/month depending on the country and team size. Contractor rates begin at $39 per contractor/month. G-P Prime (for extra support and planning) will be even higher. There is no trial available.
Multiplier - Good Coverage, Some Friction
Easy contracts and global support, but still has operational kinks.
Multiplier gives you hiring, onboarding, payroll, and compliance in 150+ countries without creating your own entity. Contracts are drafted instantly, and their pricing is flat and upfront. While the concept is strong, a few processes remain manual, analytics are limited, and sometimes support can take a while, especially for tricky problems.
Multiplier Wins
- EOR, payroll, contractors, benefits, and instant contracts available.
- Flat, predictable pricing and no extra onboarding charges.
- Supports compliance in over 150 countries.
- Can tie into some HRMS tools for basic integrations.
Areas for Improvement
- No advanced analytics or accounting integrations yet.
- Payments can get delayed, especially with foreign currency.
- Contract changes sometimes require manual input.
- Expense tools could be more robust.
- Support is helpful, but can be slow for tough cases.
- Costs for the enterprise tier can escalate.
Pricing Breakdown
- EOR: $400 per employee/month
- Contractors: $40 per contractor/month
- Additional global payroll/immigration: by quote
No free trial, demo available on request. Billing available in several major currencies.
Atlas - Enterprise Reach, But Slow Going
All the EOR services you need, but not built for quick starts.
Atlas offers EOR across 160+ countries, with international payroll, compliance management, onboarding, and big-picture consulting. This platform is clearly built for large organizations looking for deep assurance as they expand. However, many processes are stuck in legacy workflows, with a lot of required communication and unclear costs.
What Stands Out
- Longstanding reputation for solving global hiring and compliance.
- Covers specialized markets, even government contracts.
- Provides support for compliance-heavy onboarding.
Where Atlas Could Be Better
- Pricing is not listed online; you need a demo call.
- Setup and HR processes feel old-fashioned and drawn out.
- Ticket response times can be slow.
- Security checks can sometimes lock users out.
- Not well priced for startups or small companies.
Price Expectations
No public pricing - tailored for each case, usually suited for larger enterprises.
Omnipresent - Great Compliance, Slows You Down
Strong global reach, but processes are heavy and support is slow.
Omnipresent enables hiring in over 160 countries, takes care of contracts, payroll, and legal needs as your EOR. Their integrations cover more than 100 third-party tools. But things can feel slow: both in customer service responses and in rolling out changes or getting answers to urgent payroll questions.
What Works
- Provides compliance coverage in a wide range of countries.
- Deep integrations with global HR stacks.
- Available for custom or complex scenarios.
- Handles payroll and contracting without requiring local entity setup.
Pain Points
- Getting support sometimes takes days.
- Payroll info and payment timelines are not always clear.
- Pricing remains higher than most, especially for smaller teams.
- Changing account managers leads to communication issues.
- No self-serve onboarding, only a basic demo.
Pricing at a Glance
- EOR: from £499 per employee/month
- Contractor Management: from £29 per contractor/month
- Larger organizations get custom quotes. Billing by month or by year.
Other Tools I Examined (In Brief)
- Paycom Software, Inc.: Steep learning curve, overwhelming features.
- Workday, Inc.: High-priced, ideal for massive companies.
- Dayforce: Fantastic payroll, less effective for distributed teams.
- GeoHR Solutions: Strong location features, weak on HR core.
- Global PEO Services: Limited to global hiring.
- SAP SuccessFactors HCM: Many options, but not user-friendly.
- Oracle Human Capital Management: Solid capabilities, sluggish for global teams.
- ADP Workforce Now: Payroll leader, but remote HR features lag.
- BambooHR: Basic HR done right, but expensive to start with.
- Rippling: Flexible setup, but price creeps up quickly.
- Paycor: Good for onboarding; app navigation poor.
- Gusto: Payroll works, minimal distributed tools.
- Namely: Buggy sometimes, not a perfect fit for growing orgs.
- SAP Fieldglass: Contractor focus, not a full HR suite.
- Gatekeeper: Contract-only platform.
- Precoro: Procurement, little focus on HR.
- Tipalti: Accounts payable, not made for HR.
- JAGGAER: Purely procurement, lacks HR functions.
- Kissflow Procurement Cloud: Centered on procurement, not HR.
- VenLink: Too lean for real HR work.
- Aptean: More ERP, less HR focus.
- Deltek: Project-focused, not a true HRMS.
- IBM Procurement Solutions: All about procurement.
- Greenhouse Software: Top-level recruiting but light HR.
- Workable: Great for hiring, not HR management.
- Lever: Excellent applicant tracking, limited people management.
- iCIMS: Recruitment only.
- SmartRecruiters: Solid for hiring, nothing else.
- Breezy HR: Friendly for recruiting, not a full HRMS.
- Jobvite: Strong in hiring, misses HRMS mark.
- Bullhorn, Inc.: For staffing, not HR teams.
- Taleo: Outdated, tough for remote teams.
My Final Thoughts
Choosing the best HRMS for distributed teams is hard. A lot of platforms are either too technical, too basic, or just unreliable if you’re managing a global workforce. Many promise seamless remote processes, but some will slow you down or surprise you with costs.
During my deep dive, TFY stood out as a clear winner because it gets the basics right and still offers the advanced features needed for a distributed team. It’s intuitive, brings together everything you need - from global hiring to payroll, onboarding, automation, and compliance - and keeps their pricing and operations transparent.
Distributed teams need tools that keep things simple and flexible, without sacrificing legal or financial security. Based on my tests, TFY really delivers on that promise. It’s your best bet for a streamlined, all-in-one HRMS that helps you focus on team success across borders, not on wrestling with a complicated platform.
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