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owen zhang
owen zhang

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Deel vs Remote vs Playroll: Which EOR for Chinese Companies 2026

Chinese companies expanding overseas need to hire local staff without a legal entity. EOR platforms make this possible. Full comparison with free calculator: Deel vs Remote vs Playroll.

What EOR means in practice

The EOR becomes the legal employer in the destination country: local contracts, payroll in local currency, tax withholding, statutory benefits. Your company directs the work. Time to hire: 1–2 weeks via EOR vs 6–12 months to establish a local entity.

Deel

150+ countries. $599–$899/employee/month. Contractor management at $49/contractor/month (most Chinese companies start here). Requires entity outside mainland China (Hong Kong company works). English-primary platform.

Remote.com

80+ countries, owned entities only (no local subcontractors). $599/employee/month flat. Better compliance consistency in Southeast Asia and Latin America where Deel's provider quality varies.

Playroll

40+ countries. From ~$349/employee/month — 40–50% cheaper than Deel. Best for South Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia focus. Newer platform (founded 2022).

Free cost calculator

We built a free EOR cost calculator — enter employee salary and country to compare total monthly employer cost across all three platforms.

Verdict

First hire in US, UK, Germany: Deel. Budget-constrained with Playroll-covered markets: Playroll saves significantly. Southeast Asia or Latin America compliance priority: Remote.

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