Top Global Payroll: Best Service Providers In 2024

Global payroll processing is evolving as more of the global workforce goes remote. We’ve put together a list of the providers that have impressed us the most in 2024, based on their global reach, the services they offer and what their customers have to say about their experiences. Here’s our quick guide, with the occasional hat tip.

Global Payroll

Julienne Raboca

May 15, 2024

Table of Contents

Example H2

Ready to get Started?

Let's Chat

Key Takeaways

The human resources payroll software market is estimated at around a cool US$16 billion, and a challenge of that size attracts innovation.

We’re not the only players in the global payroll business, and we believe in giving credit where it’s due. Connecting across borders and keeping track of compliance, payroll taxes, and employment laws across multiple jurisdictions is a technological, legal and logistical challenge. Choosing one of the top international payroll processing providers on this list could allow small businesses and large enterprises alike to focus on growing while their global payroll solution needs are taken care of.

Here’s our own round-up of the top 5 global payroll solutions companies in 2024, using three main criteria:

Global payroll coverage: How many different countries does the service provider open to you?
Offering: Does the provider allow you to onboard both employees and international contractors?
Customer service: Do you get ongoing customer support and up-to-date tech solutions to the problems you face?

Here’s the cheat-sheet version, in no particular order:

Playroll
Deel
Remote
OysterHR
Papaya Global

Top 5 Global Payroll Processing Providers in 2024

These are the best global payroll companies that we think are knocking it out of the park in 2024.

Deel: The Rising Star In Payroll Services

Deel's acquisition of PaySpace and the impressive milestone of reaching $500 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) underscore its ascent in the global payroll services market. This expansion broadens its geographic coverage, particularly in emerging markets like Africa and the Middle East. However, a critical examination of Deel's offerings, global payroll coverage, and customer service reveals areas of strength and potential concerns.

Criteria	Details
Global Payroll Coverage
Broad Coverage	Deel’s acquisition of PaySpace boosts its payroll services to 50 countries, covering Europe, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa.
Expansion Goals	Deel aims to serve 100 countries with native payroll engines within four years.
Offerings
Comprehensive Services	Deel offers a full HR stack: Employer of Record (EOR) services, onboarding for employees and contractors, payroll management, compliance insights, and HRIS capabilities.
Enhanced Integration	Integration of PaySpace's technology and PayGroup’s APAC presence enhances Deel's localized payroll solutions and global team management.
Customer Service
Support Challenges	Customers report issues with support responsiveness, platform usability, and communication.
Tech Solutions	Users are dissatisfied with Deel's execution and support, indicating a need for better customer service and user experience.

Remote: Tech-Focused Growth

Remote’s commitment to simplifying global employment through technological innovation is evident in the launch of its enhanced API, which integrates global payroll and employee management systems. This approach addresses operational challenges faced by companies with international workforces.

However, while Remote claims substantial global payroll coverage in over 150 countries, the effectiveness and reliability of such extensive service can vary depending on local regulations and the complexity of employment laws, which are not uniformly straightforward across different jurisdictions.

Criteria	Details
Global Coverage	Provides payroll services and has legal entities in over 150 countries, ensuring compliance and data security
Offering	Supports onboarding and management for both employees and international contractors
Customer Service	Offers ongoing customer support, but has received multiple complaints about fear tactics, inefficiency, and poor communication
Developments and Partnerships	October 2022: Enhanced Remote API available to all customers March 2022: Launched first-to-market API for global employment April 2022: Secured $300 million Series C financing round, total funding at $495 million, valuation at nearly $3 billion July 2021: Partnership with Greenhouse, integrating global employment solution with Greenhouse's ATS
Employee Growth	Experienced a 900% increase in employees and over 13-fold growth in annual recurring revenue in 2022
Customer Reviews	Negative feedback on customer service, including issues with payments, onboarding delays, buggy UI, and tax handling Reports of fear tactics and aggressive collections practices

Papaya Global: Harnessing AI

Since its founding in 2016, Papaya Global has expanded its global footprint, serving customers in 160 countries and gaining recognition for its innovative solutions and customer-centric approach.

Moreover, Papaya Global supports the onboarding of both employees and international contractors, catering to diverse workforce needs. The company's proprietary technology platform, integrated with advanced AI, provides real-time analytics and customized reporting, enhancing the efficiency of payroll management.

However, amidst its accolades and strengths, Papaya Global has faced criticism from disgruntled customers regarding service quality and transparency. Recent reviews highlight concerns regarding unexpected transfer fees, unresponsive customer service during holiday periods, and inaccuracies in cost estimates, raising questions about the company's adherence to its claims of excellence.

Aspect	Positive	Negative
Global Payroll Coverage	Operates in 160 countries.	Concerns raised about unexpected transfer fees.
Offering	Supports onboarding of employees and international contractors.	Complaints about unresponsive customer service during holiday periods.
Customer Service	Provides 24/7 assistance and compliance expertise through local professionals and in-house legal counsel.	Criticism regarding inaccuracies in cost estimates and lack of specialist knowledge in customer support.
Technology	AI-powered platform with real-time analytics and customizable reporting tools.
Recognition and Partners	Named a leader in EOR industry by NelsonHall; recognized by TIME100; partners with JP Morgan and Citibank.

OysterHR: Remote-first In Over 180 Countries

Oyster has established itself as a leader in global payroll and HR services, covering over 180 countries. Updates include the launch of Oyster Academy and new HR tools, supported by investments from PayPal Ventures and HR Tech Investments.

However, recent customer reviews highlight significant challenges faced by users. Many have reported issues with communication, especially regarding changes in service coverage, such as not managing locations like UAE directly. Delays in processing requests, unfulfilled promises regarding benefits packages, and difficulty in resolving issues efficiently have been common complaints.

These negative experiences indicate areas where Oyster needs to improve its service delivery and customer communication.

Category	Pros	Cons
Global Payroll Coverage	Oyster operates in over 180 countries, enabling businesses to hire and manage talent globally. Operates in over 160 countries.	Challenges with managing partnerships in certain locations like UAE, causing delays and confusion.
Offerings	The platform supports onboarding for both employees and international contractors, enhancing flexibility. Supports onboarding of employees and international contractors.	Complaints about delayed payments, lack of communication, and unfulfilled promises regarding health benefits packages.
Customer Service	Oyster provides comprehensive customer support and up-to-date tech solutions, including automated payroll, compliance management, and new integrations with tools like Slack and Zapier. Provides 24/7 assistance and compliance expertise through local professionals and in-house legal counsel.	Reports of unprofessionalism, lack of empathy, and unresolved issues regarding payment delays, tax calculations, and contract disputes.
Oyster Academy	Offers educational programs to prepare for distributed work, including certifications and access to an online community.
New HR Tools	Include an employment cost calculator, contractor risk assessment, and legal starter pack.
Oyster for Impact	Supports mission-driven companies with discounts and educational resources.
Recent Innovations	Launch of Oyster Embedded and Oyster API to facilitate global hiring and integrations with popular software.

Playroll: Veteran Talent, Fresh Strategy

Needless to say, we’re taking notes at Playroll. We know our corner of the SaaS world and we’re driven to provide a payroll solution to every challenge. We’ve spent 25 years building our fully-owned global employment infrastructure as part of the VAT IT Group, which services half of all Fortune 500 companies.

That’s one of the reasons Playroll is so well positioned to navigate global payroll, at exactly the time when international payroll services are needed the most. We’re not an HRIS platform that doubles as an EOR. Instead, we focus on opening doors for you to hire international employees and pay international contractors anywhere you like, and stay compliant with local regulations throughout the relationship.

Criteria	Playroll
Global Payroll Coverage	Presence in 180+ countries
Offering	Onboarding for employees and international contractors
Customer Service	Ongoing support with in-house experts and 24/5 in-app assistance
In-House Payroll Expertise	Local advisors versed in 180 country jurisdictions
Human Support	Dedicated employee and employer success managers for personalized assistance
Service Levels	Dedicated CSM with under 2-hour response times and 24/5 in-app support
Payroll & HR Integration	Unified platform for payroll, HRIS, expense management, and time & attendance
Compliance Guarantee	Protection from misclassification audits, tax handling, and government declarations
Accurate Payroll	Consolidated platform for reviewing salaries, taxes, and standardised billing local currencies

Playroll’s Global Payroll service platform offers a range of features, including automated payroll processes, benefits administration, compliance management, and more. The platform is easy to use and provides businesses with live access to their data. This enables businesses to stay up-to-date with their HR and payroll operations and make informed decisions about their international employees.

And while we offer a cutting-edge platform that provides state of the art data analytics and enterprise resource planning, we also understand the need for balance: we provide human support to help our clients make the most of our platform.

Friction-free global expansion

If you’re looking for global payroll solutions to kickstart your international expansion, there’s really only good news. With a wealth of the best international payroll service to choose from, you’re in a position to sift them all to find a solution that fits your needs.

At Playroll, we understand these challenges and are dedicated to providing businesses with a friction-free solution to global expansion. Our platform offers a range of features and services that make it easy for businesses to manage their international employees and comply with local regulations.

If you’re considering Playroll as your EOR or contractor management partner, it’s time to put us through our paces. Let’s talk about how we can power this new, exciting phase in the life of your small international business or large enterprise, for 2024 and beyond.