Ranking
The best employer of record (EOR) providers for startups in 2026
This page lists the 12 EOR providers of our ranking for a startup: by their average published price, lowest first, with the deposit, the set-up fee and the minimum term of each.
No provider can pay for its place. Every fact comes from the provider's own website.
Key facts
- Lowest average price
- Boundless and RemoFirst, at US$199 a month on average.Boundless pricing, RemoFirst pricing, European Central BankChecked 1 Oct 2026
- No minimum term
- 6 of 12 providers have none, by their own websites: Boundless, RemoFirst, Playroll, Deel, G-P and Oyster.
- No set-up fee
- 5 of 12 providers say that they charge none: Boundless, RemoFirst, Playroll, Oyster and Remote.
- Deposit
- 8 of 12 providers say that they take a deposit, at least in some cases. 4 do not say.
EOR providers for startups, by price
In the order of the average published price, lowest first. The price is the average published monthly fee for one employee, in US dollars at the ECB rate of 30 Sep 2026. The # column is the place in our ranking, with its score out of 100 points. The deposit, the set-up fee and the minimum term are what each provider says on its own website. "Not stated" means that we found nothing on its public pages.
Sources: each provider's own website, and the ECB reference rates of 30 Sep 2026. Read the full answer of each provider in the guide to hidden EOR costs.
How we order this list
The list uses the same data as our ranking. It has no score of its own. It shows four facts that matter for the first employees of a small company:
- Price. The average published monthly fee, over the countries where the provider publishes a price. It sets the order of the list. Providers with the same price keep the order of the ranking, and a provider without a published price comes last.
- Deposit. Money that the provider holds until the contract ends. You get it back, but you cannot use it until then.
- Set-up fee. A one-off fee for each new employee, or for your account.
- Minimum term. A minimum term, or a long notice period, can make you pay after the work ends.
The prices are list prices. The price for one country, and the price after a discount, can differ, so ask for a quote. We do not compare service quality, support or software, because we cannot check them against a source.
The contract can add other terms, such as the liability cap and the costs of claims. Read which contract terms to check.
The lowest fee in each country
A startup often hires in one country first. The lowest published fee differs by country.
The lowest published monthly fee for one employee, in the currency of the country. Other prices are converted at the ECB rate of 30 Sep 2026.
| Country | Lowest fee |
|---|---|
 Germany | €175Boundless |
 United Kingdom | £149Boundless |
 Canada | CA$279Boundless |
 India | ₹19,071Boundless |
 Philippines | ₱12,479Boundless |
 Netherlands | €175Boundless |
 Singapore | S$254Boundless |
 Brazil | R$1,035Boundless |
 Spain | €175RemoFirst |
 Mexico | MX$3,607Boundless |
Sources: the provider tables in each country guide, with a link to each provider's pricing page. These are the provider fees only. The employer costs come on top. Compare the all-in cost in every country.
Questions and answers
Which is the best EOR for a startup?
It depends on the countries where you hire. Boundless, RemoFirst, Playroll and Oyster publish a price, and have no minimum term and no set-up fee, by their own websites. The cheapest of them is Boundless, at US$199 a month on average. Check the deposit before you sign.
Which EOR is the cheapest for a startup?
By the average published price in our 10 countries, the cheapest are Boundless (US$199), RemoFirst (US$199) and Skuad (US$404) a month. These are list prices. The price for one country, and the price after a discount, can differ, so ask for a quote.
Does an EOR ask a startup for a deposit?
8 of the 12 providers say that they take a deposit, at least in some cases. Where they state an amount, it is about 1 month of the salary or of the total cost. Deel's standard deposit is 1 to 1.5 months of all charges. A refundable deposit comes back at the end, but you cannot use the money until then.
Can a startup use an EOR for one employee?
Yes. An EOR employs each person for a monthly fee, so you can start with one employee. With many employees in one country, compare the fees with the cost of your own company.
Do providers pay for their place?
No. The order is the average published price, and the facts come from each provider's own website. No provider pays us.
Why do you not compare service quality?
We compare only facts that a provider states on its own website, and that we can link to. We cannot check service quality, support or software features against a source, so this page leaves them out.
Warning: This page is not legal or tax advice. The figures come from official sources, but your case can be different. Check them with a payroll expert before you hire.