Deel alternatives are worth a look if you hire mostly in Asia, if the price feels high, or simply because you want a second quote. Deel is a strong platform. It covers 130+ countries and lists an Employer of Record (EOR) fee of $599 per employee per month. A platform built for that many countries, though, is not always the best fit for a team with five hires in Manila and two in Jakarta.
This guide explains what to compare, which kinds of providers exist, what a switch involves, and what to check in the Philippines, Indonesia and India. We are Asiacruit, one of the providers you might compare, so we have kept the comparison to facts you can verify yourself.
- Deel lists its EOR service at $599 per employee per month in 130+ countries. Asiacruit starts at $199 per employee per month in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Thailand.
- There are four routes: a global platform, a regional EOR, your own entity or contractors. The right one depends on where your hires are and how many you have.
- Five checks matter more than the headline price: entity ownership, what the fee includes, setup and deposit costs, exit terms and who answers your questions.
- Get every quote in writing, on the same scope, before you decide.
Why teams look for Deel alternatives
Price is the first reason. At Deel’s list price of $599 a month, a team of ten costs $71,880 a year in EOR fees alone. That is before salary, employer contributions or 13th-month pay.
The second reason is regional depth. A global platform has to cover 130+ countries, so its attention is spread thin. A team with most of its people in one region often wants a provider that works in that region every day.
The third is plain good practice. Few companies sign an EOR contract without a second quote, and a comparison is the only way to know whether the first price is fair. None of this means Deel is the wrong choice. It means the choice should be made with the numbers in front of you. Our Deel pricing breakdown has them for the Philippines.
The main types of Deel alternatives
Most Deel alternatives fall into one of four groups.
| Route | Best when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Global EOR platform (for example Remote, Papaya Global, Oyster, Multiplier, Rippling or G-P) | You hire in many countries and want one dashboard | Fees are charged per head, and local support is often remote |
| Regional EOR provider (Asiacruit and other Asia-focused providers) | Most of your hires are in a few Asian markets | A narrower country list |
| Your own entity | You have a large, permanent team in one country | Setup time and running costs. Deel estimates ₱4,790,259 for the first year in the Philippines |
| Contractors | The work is short-term and specialist | Misclassification risk. See our guide on contractor vs employee in the Philippines |
Providers publish their own pricing and country lists. Check each one directly, because both change often.
Deel vs Asiacruit: what you can verify
This table sticks to details each company states publicly. Deel’s come from its pricing page and its Philippines EOR page, checked on October 16, 2026.
| Question | Deel | Asiacruit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly EOR fee | $599 per employee, list price | Starts at $199 per employee |
| Coverage | 130+ countries | Philippines, Indonesia and India |
| Local entity | Wholly-owned Philippine entity | Registered entities in the Philippines, Indonesia and India |
| Setup cost | ₱0 on its Philippines page | Confirm in your quote |
| Time to first hire | One business day, per Deel’s Philippines page | Typically within 72 hours of submitted details |
| Contract terms | Month to month, cancel at any time, per its pricing page | Confirm in your quote |
For a longer side-by-side, read Asiacruit vs Deel. We also cover Papaya Global alternatives and Oyster HR alternatives. We also compare Asiacruit with Remote and Papaya Global.
Five checks that matter more than the headline price
A low monthly fee means little if the contract hides costs elsewhere. Run these five checks on every quote, whichever of the Deel alternatives you are weighing.
1. Who owns the local entity?
Ask for the registered name and country of the entity that will employ your staff. A provider that owns its entity answers in seconds. One that works through partners may take longer, and your contract may sit with a third party.
2. What does the monthly fee include?
Get the scope in writing. Payroll, tax filings, contracts and 13th-month handling should be named, not implied. Anything that is not named is a possible extra charge.
3. Are there setup or deposit costs?
Some providers charge a one-time setup fee or hold a deposit, and some add surcharges for services such as extra filings. Deel shows ₱0 setup on its Philippines page. Ask every provider the same question.
4. What are the exit terms?
Check the minimum term, the notice period and what leaving costs. Remember that ending the EOR contract does not end local notice and severance duties to the employee.
5. Who answers your questions?
Time zone and response time matter on payroll day. Ask who you will talk to, in which hours, and how long a typical reply takes.
Deel alternatives for the Philippines, Indonesia and India
Each country has its own rules, so the Deel alternatives you shortlist need a local check as well.
Philippines
Employers must pay 13th-month pay by December 24 and cover the employer share of SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG. Statutory contributions usually add roughly 10% to 14% to base salary, depending on pay. See our Employer of Record in the Philippines page and the PhilHealth calculator.
Indonesia
THR, a holiday allowance equal to one month’s salary for employees with 12 or more months of service, is mandatory. BPJS contributions add roughly 10% to 14%. An EOR also lets you skip the PT PMA, which carries a minimum capital requirement of about Rp 10 billion in most sectors. Read more on our Employer of Record in Indonesia page.
India
Employer EPF is 12% of basic wages plus dearness allowance, ESI is 3.25% for eligible employees, and gratuity accrues at 15 days of wages per year of service after the qualifying period. The new Labour Codes also change how wages are defined. See our Employer of Record in India page.
Official sources for the country notes above: SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG Fund, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, EPFO and ESIC. Confirm current rates with each agency.
How to switch to one of the Deel alternatives
- Get a written quote from the new provider and compare it with your current invoice.
- Check the notice period in your Deel agreement and in each employee’s contract.
- Agree a transfer date so payroll and statutory contributions have no gap.
- Move employees to the new employer and confirm that benefits and leave balances carry over.
Local labor law decides what notice and consent apply. Confirm each step with the new provider before you start.
Red flags in an EOR quote
- No named local entity.
- A price listed only as “on request” with no range.
- Setup or deposit costs that are unclear.
- A long minimum term with heavy exit fees.
- Separate charges for each filing or report.
- No named contact and no stated response time.
Get a quote to compare with Deel
Asiacruit’s Employer of Record services start at $199 per employee per month.
Schedule a call with usFrequently Asked Questions
It depends on your needs. For hires concentrated in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Thailand, a provider that works in those markets can cost less and offer closer support. Asiacruit starts at $199 per employee per month.
The common reasons are price, a need for local support in one region and a wish to compare quotes. Deel lists its EOR service at $599 per employee per month.
Employees can usually be moved to a new employer of record. The timing and any notice depend on the contracts and local labor law, so plan the transfer date with the new provider.
Compare the monthly fee, setup and deposit costs, entity ownership, onboarding time and exit terms. Ask each provider for the same scope in writing.
For a small team, usually yes, because an entity carries setup and running costs. For a large, permanent team in one country, an entity can become cheaper. Break-even is often around 20 to 30 employees.
Asiacruit provides Employer of Record services in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and Thailand.
Featured image: Photo by olla danilevich on Pexels.