Remote.com
Rippling
| Feature | Remote.com | Rippling |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $29/mo | From $8/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | distributed-teams, global-companies, startups-hiring-globally, remote-first-companies | mid-market-companies, tech-companies, fast-growing-startups, it-teams |
| Founded | 2019 | 2016 |
| Employer Of Record | ✓ | ✗ |
| Contractor Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Global Payroll | ✓ | ✗ |
| Compliance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Benefits | ✓ | ✓ |
| Equity Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Onboarding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Payroll | ✗ | ✓ |
| Device Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| App Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Workflow Automation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Global Employment | ✗ | ✓ |
| Spend Management | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Remote.com Pros
- Employer of Record in 75+ countries
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
- Own legal entities (not third-party partners)
- Free contractor management plan available
✗ Remote.com Cons
- EOR pricing ($599/employee) is expensive
- Onboarding can take 2-4 weeks in some countries
- Benefits options limited in smaller markets
✓ Rippling Pros
- Unifies HR + IT + Finance in one platform
- Automatic device setup/wipe for onboarding/offboarding
- Global payroll in 50+ countries
- Extremely powerful workflow automation
✗ Rippling Cons
- Pricing is complex and modular
- Can be overkill for very small teams
- Implementation takes time for full platform
The Verdict
Remote.com is built for distributed teams and global companies, with a focus on employer-of-record and contractor-management. Rippling targets mid market companies and tech companies and leads with payroll and benefits.
On pricing, Rippling is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $8/mo compared to $29/mo for Remote.com. That $21/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Remote.com has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Rippling requires a paid subscription from day one.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.