The world of HR is full of complicated tasks that sometimes a human being can’t do perfectly. For startups, an HR is important, but doing it all manually can be stressful. You’re juggling multiple responsibilities, and managing human resources shouldn’t add to your stress.
Enter Deel, a tool that promises to simplify this process. It’s caught the attention of many, but is it the right fit for your startup? Let’s dive into an in-depth review to uncover the truth and help you make an informed decision. Remember, the right HR tool can be a game-changer for your startup’s growth and success.
What Is Deel?
Deel is a San Francisco-based company that was founded by two MIT graduates, Alex Bouaziz and Shuo Wang. The main idea behind Deel was to easily hire employees and pay people across the globe without a visa and local labor laws issues.
Initially was a hiring and compliance product that helped hire and pay contractors all over the world, but with time their team improved the tool to provide more services.
Deel Payroll is a cloud-based service that helps companies manage and pay their employees in over 100 countries. It simplifies the often complex task of understanding and following international payroll regulations, making it straightforward to pay both employees and contractors, regardless of their location.
This HR tool is particularly useful for businesses looking to quickly onboard global workers and scale in a digital-first professional environment. It’s an ideal solution for companies eager to hire talent but lacks the necessary systems to handle payroll in various locations.
While companies with direct employees will find value in Deel’s offerings, especially within its free-to-use boundaries, those using Deel to pay employer of record (EOR) employees may find the cost challenging to maintain as their global workforce expands.
However, Deel continues to offer a convenient way for these companies to add workers to their payroll, particularly those living outside locations qualifying for “direct employee” status.
Quick Facts About Deel
- The response time of Deel support is less than 1.25min.
- Deel has 200+ in-house tax, payroll, and legal specialists.
- In 2023, this tool won four awards (Top 100 Fastest Growing Products, Top 100 Highest Satisfaction Products, Top 50 HR products, Top 100 Software Products.)
- Deel provides legal and tax support to grant global EOR employees with equity.
- Deel has processed payments of over $5.5b, helped hire 150,000 workers, and is available in 150 countries (at the time of writing).
- As of 2023, Deel said it has over 15K customers, including Shopify, Airtable, Dropbox, Intercom, Nike, Subway, Reebok, and Forever21.
How To Setup And Use Deel
Setting up and using Deel is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Step 1 – Sign Up: To start making your account click on the “Sign Up” button.
Step 2 – Choose Account Type: You’ll be asked to select your account type. Choose “I’m A Business” to sign up as a client and then click “Next“.
Step 3 – Fill in Your Details: You’ll need to provide some basic information to create your account. Fill in the required fields and click “Create Your Deel Account“. If you’re the first user from your organization to sign up for Deel, you’ll need to use your company email.
Note: You cannot make a Deel account using a personal email. You’ll need a company account or someone from your company to add you to their Deel team.
Step 5 – Provide Business Details: Before you can start hiring and paying employees from around the world, Deel needs to know a bit more about your organization. Follow the prompts, provide the necessary information, and click “Next” to continue.
Step 6 – Enter Personal Details: Deel requires a few personal details for your profile to complete the sign-up process. Once you’ve filled in this information, click “Complete Profile“.
Step 7 – Set Up Two-Factor Authentication: Deel requires two-factor authentication when logging into your account for security reasons. Click “Set Up Now” to get started. Setting up your 2FA with an authenticator app is recommended, which you can download from the App Store or Google Play. Some popular options include Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator.
Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll have a Deel account and can start creating contracts and managing your global team. If you accidentally created the wrong account type, you can add another account by selecting your avatar and clicking “Account Settings“. You can switch between your client and contractor accounts by clicking on your avatar.
If you need more specific instructions on using the Deel app, check out Deel’s Help Center page or contact their customer support team.
Features Of Deel
Deel is like a Swiss Army knife for businesses, packed with features that make hiring, managing, and paying employees a breeze, no matter where they are. Here are some of the key features that make Deel stand out:
1. Global Payroll Management
Image Source: Deel
The primary feature of Deel is its ability to handle global payroll. It simplifies the process of paying employees or contractors in over 150 countries, reducing the time and cost associated with establishing international payroll processes.
It supports numerous payment methods, making it easy to pay employees no matter where they work.
2. Employer Of Record (EOR) Services
Image Source: Deel
Deel offers EOR services in over 150 countries, helping businesses quickly onboard global employees and contractors. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses that must start paying professionals in multiple countries at once rather than establishing a presence in new nations one at a time.
3. HR Functionality
Image Source: Deel
Beyond payroll, Deel includes a suite of HR tools that help manage aspects like paid time off (PTO), expense reporting, and more. This makes it a one-stop shop for many of your HR needs, saving you from juggling multiple platforms.
4. Compliance And Legal Support
Image Source: Deel
The extensive support for compliance and legal concerns provided by deal helps businesses navigate international payroll regulations and even offers protection against contractor misclassification.
5. Integration With Collaboration Tools
Image Source: Deel
Deel integrates with popular virtual collaboration suites like Teams, GSuite, and Slack. This makes incorporating Deel into your existing workflow easy, reducing the learning curve and making it easier for your team to adopt.
This makes it easier to manage things like contracts and payments, because you can do it all in one place. It’s like having a helper who takes care of the boring stuff, so you and your team can focus on doing great work. This is really helpful, especially if your team is spread out in different places.
6. Dedicated Customer Success Manager
For enterprise clients, Deel provides a dedicated customer success manager. This means you have a go-to person for any questions or issues, ensuring you get the most out of the platform.
7. Co-Working Access Via WeWork
Deel provides your team with access to WeWork co-working spaces. This is a great perk for remote employees who prefer a professional workspace over a home office. It’s a thoughtful feature that shows Deel’s commitment to employee satisfaction and productivity.
8. Automatic Data Sync
Image Source: Deel
With this tool, you can automate any process and sync data with advanced integrations. This means it can work seamlessly with your existing software, making your workflow even more efficient.
9. In-House Visa Support
Image Source: Deel
You can enjoy in-house visa support to help you hire or relocate team members. This feature simplifies the often complex and time-consuming process of obtaining work visas, making building a diverse, global team easier.
10. Global Equipment Shipping
Image Source: Deel
This HR tool is not only limited to payroll and hiring, you can also send equipment worldwide, eliminating the hassle of shipping laptops or other necessary tools to your remote employees. This feature ensures that your team has everything they need to do their jobs effectively, no matter where they are.
11. Country-Specific Benefits
With this tool, you can offer country-specific benefits (such as local labor laws, tax documentation, and payroll in local currency) at competitive rates. This ensures that your employees receive relevant and valuable benefits, enhancing job satisfaction and employee retention.
12. Payroll Automation
Image Source: Deel
Deel can run compliant payroll for your global team in minutes. It handles taxes, provides benefits, payslips, and more. This feature eliminates administrative tasks, giving you more time to focus on strategic initiatives.
13. Multiple Payment Options
Deel gives your team flexibility with over 15 global payment options, including Deel Card, Deel Instant Card Transfer, Binance, Coinbase, PayPal, Payoneer, Revolut, Local Banks Transfer, and International Bank Transfers/SWIFT. This ensures that your employees can receive their pay the best way for them.
14. Expert Support
With Deel, you have local, legal, tax, and accounting expertise just a click away. This support can be invaluable as you navigate the complexities of global HR and payroll. However, expert support is only available in plan for enterprise clients.
15. Extensive Coverage
Deel offers the most extensive coverage on the market, allowing you to hire anywhere in five minutes using their 150+ entities and visa support. This feature opens up a world of talent, making finding the right people for your team easier.
Deel Pricing
Free – $599 per contract/mo
Pros And Cons Of Deel
Pros
- Easy to setup and use
- Extended integration abilities
- Available in 150+ countries
- Supports over 120 local currencies
- Top-notch security to keep your account and data safe
- Lots of resources are available on the website for easy learning
Cons
- User fees are per employee/contractor making deel a little expensive
- Expert support is for enterprise clients only
Deel Integrations
Deel offers a range of integrations with other software platforms to streamline your workflow and make managing your global team even easier. Here are a few examples:
1. Slack
Deel’s integration with Slack lets you receive notifications about important updates directly in your Slack workspace. This includes notifications about new contracts, payments, and more. This integration helps ensure that you stay up-to-date with your team’s activities without constantly checking Deel.
2. QuickBooks
Deel integrates with QuickBooks to simplify your accounting processes. With this integration, you can automatically sync your Deel transactions with QuickBooks. This saves you time and reduces the risk of errors when manually entering data.
3. Xero
Similar to the QuickBooks integration, Deel’s integration with Xero allows you to sync your Deel transactions with your Xero account automatically. This makes it easier to keep track of your finances and ensures that your financial records are accurate and up-to-date.
4. Workday
Adding the Workday integration allows you to manage your global workforce from one platform. You can easily onboard new hires, manage employee data, and process payroll all within Workday, making it a seamless experience.
Note: Deel also offers a 30 minute demo for those who want to check out the tool and its features before buying.
Companies Using Deel
Deel is a trusted tool used by a variety of companies across different industries. Here are a few examples:
1. Coinbase
A leading cryptocurrency platform, Coinbase uses Deel to manage its global workforce. Deel’s features allow Coinbase to efficiently handle payroll, contracts, and compliance for their employees around the world.
2. Intercom
Intercom, a customer engagement platform, uses Deel to streamline its HR processes. With Deel, Intercom can easily onboard new hires, manage employee data, and process payroll.
3. Notion
Notion, a popular productivity tool, uses Deel to handle its HR needs. Deel’s comprehensive suite of features allows Notion to manage its global team efficiently.
4. Airtable
Airtable, a cloud collaboration service, uses Deel to manage its global workforce. Deel’s features help Airtable to streamline its HR processes and ensure compliance with international labor laws.
5. Shopify
Shopify, a leading e-commerce platform, uses Deel to manage its global team. With Deel, Shopify can easily handle payroll, contracts, and compliance for their employees around the world.
These companies represent a small sample of the diverse range of businesses that rely on Deel to manage their global teams. Deel’s comprehensive features and user-friendly interface make it a popular choice for companies of all sizes and industries.
Deel Alternatives
Deel is a powerful tool for managing global teams, but it’s not the only one out there. Here are five alternatives that you might consider:
1. Velocity Global
Price: Contact Sales
Velocity Global is another tool that helps companies hire people from different countries. It’s like a guide that helps you understand and follow the rules when hiring someone from a different country.
2. RemoteFirst
Price: $19-$99 per person/mo
RemoteFirst helps companies manage their employees who work from home or from different places around the world. It’s like a virtual office that keeps everyone connected and working together, even if they’re far apart.
3. Immedis
Price: Contact Sales
This is a tool that helps companies pay their employees, no matter where they are in the world. It’s like a big calculator that makes sure everyone gets paid the right amount, at the right time, in the right currency.
4. Remote.Com
Price: $29-$599 per contractor/mo
Remote.com is another platform that helps businesses hire, pay, and manage global teams. It offers features like global payroll, benefits, taxes, and compliance. It’s a good option for businesses that need to manage employees in multiple countries.
5. Rippling
Price: $35 per month plus $8 per month per employee
Rippling is a platform that combines HR and IT into one system. It allows businesses to manage things like payroll, benefits, and employee computers from a single dashboard. It’s a good option for businesses that want to streamline their HR and IT processes.
6. Skuad.Io
Price: $19-$199/mo
Skuad is a tool that helps companies hire, pay, and take care of their employees, no matter where they are. It’s like a helper that takes care of all the paperwork and rules, so companies can focus on their work.
7. Global Expansion
Price: Contact Sales
This tool helps companies grow and hire people in different countries. It’s like a map that guides companies as they expand and hire people from different parts of the world.
Each of these platforms has its own strengths and weaknesses, so the best choice for your business will depend on your specific needs and circumstances. It’s always a good idea to consider multiple options and weigh the pros and cons of each before making a decision.
Comparison Between Deel & The Top 3 Global HR Platforms
| Features | Deel | Velocity Global | Immedis | Remote.com |
| Employment Compliance | Local legal and tax compliance in over 150 countries. | Local legal and tax compliance in over 185 countries. | Strong focus on global payroll compliance, tax, and employment laws. | Full local legal compliance in 50+ countries. |
| Payroll Services | Handles international payroll, benefits, taxes, and compliance for employees and contractors. | Manages international payroll, benefits, and taxes. | Specializes in global payroll services and compliance. | Manages international payroll, benefits, and taxes. |
| Hiring and Onboarding | Supports contract generation, onboarding, and offboarding processes. | Offers PEO services, including hiring, onboarding, and offboarding. | Not primarily focused on hiring/onboarding. | Supports hiring, onboarding, and offboarding. |
| Global Coverage | Over 150 Countries. | Over 185 countries. | Global payroll solutions, specific country coverage not specified. | Over 50 countries. |
| Customer Support | 24/7 customer support. | Dedicated account manager, regular business hours. | 24/7 customer support. | 24/7 customer support. |
| Pricing | Starts at $35 per month per contractor and $149 per month per employee plus running costs | Custom pricing, need to contact | Custom pricing, need to contact | Starts at $149 per employee per month, plus running costs |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Does Deel Handle Government Regulations For Global Teams?
Deel is designed to help businesses navigate the complex world of international labor laws and government regulations. It provides extensive support for compliance, ensuring that your company meets all legal requirements, no matter where your employees are located. This includes everything from contract creation to payroll processing.
2. How Is Deel Better Than Other HR Tools?
Deel simplifies international hiring by handling payroll, compliance, and taxes for businesses in 150+ countries. It centralizes HR tasks in one easy-to-use platform, saving time. Unlike many HR tools, Deel focuses on remote teams, offering specific solutions for this growing workforce. Its features provide peace of mind for employers, ensuring they remain compliant with varying global regulations.
Final Words
Deel is a comprehensive HR tool that simplifies the process of hiring, managing, and paying employees, especially for remote teams. Its robust features, easy integrations, and global compliance make it a top choice for startups and established companies alike.
While it has its pros and cons, its benefits have led companies like Coinbase, Intercom, and Shopify to trust Deel with their HR needs. It’s a valuable tool for any company with a global workforce.
