Deel vs Rippling – Comparing features and costs

Globalisation has increased the need for businesses to hire talent from across the world, but managing payroll for international employees can be a complex task. Tools like Deel and Rippling have emerged to simplify the process, helping businesses efficiently handle payments, tax compliance, and benefits across borders. In this article, we compare the features and costs of Deel vs Rippling, two prominent platforms designed to streamline global payroll and HR management.

Key features of Deel vs Rippling

Both Deel and Rippling offer powerful tools, but they cater to slightly different business needs. Understanding what each platform brings to the table will help you decide which is better suited for your business.

Here’s a detailed comparison table that outlines the features and costs of Deel and Rippling side by side:

Feature/Aspect	Deel	Rippling
Target Audience	Small to medium-sized businesses, start-ups, and companies with a focus on remote or international teams	Small, medium, and large businesses with broader HR, IT, and payroll needs
Core Functionality	International payroll and contractor management	Comprehensive HR management (HR, payroll, IT, and global workforce management)
Global Payroll	Yes, available in 150+ countries	Yes, but requires purchase of core HR platform first
Contractor Management	Available with simplified onboarding and automated invoicing	Available with broader HR integration and automated features
Employee Management	Full-time employee management with local contracts and benefits	Full employee lifecycle management with customisable HR features and benefits administration
Currency Support	120+ currencies	Multiple currencies, but specifics depend on the modules chosen
Compliance & Legal Support	Comprehensive, country-specific compliance support, local contracts, and tax handling	Automates tax compliance and audit readiness with custom reporting
Employee Benefits	Health insurance, pension, and other benefits for international employees	Customisable benefits management, integration with health, retirement, and insurance options
IT Management	Not available	Available, including device provisioning, app management, and IT systems integration
Automation	Contractor invoicing and payroll	Extensive automation for HR, payroll, onboarding, benefits, and IT
Integration with Other Tools	Limited to payroll, benefits, and compliance tools	Integration with 500+ third-party applications, including accounting, project management, etc.
Visa & Immigration Support	Yes, available as an add-on	No
User Interface	Intuitive and simple, focused on payroll and compliance tasks	Comprehensive but more complex due to extensive functionality
Pricing for Contractors	Starting at £40 per contractor per month	Flexible pricing depending on HR modules chosen
Pricing for Employees	Around £450 per employee per month, including payroll, compliance, and benefits	Starting at £8 per employee per month for basic HR, but increases with additional features
Add-ons	Visa support, IP protection, extended benefits packages	Add-ons include IT management, device provisioning, advanced reporting, and more
Scalability	Best suited for small to medium-sized businesses or those rapidly expanding internationally	Suitable for businesses of all sizes, especially those needing a comprehensive HR solution
Customer Support	24/7 support, multilingual support available	Customer support available but may vary by package
Onboarding Time	Quick setup with templates and ready-to-use contracts for international hires	Can be more complex due to the broader range of features

Summary

• Deel is ideal for businesses seeking a simplified, transparent, and compliant way to manage international payroll and contractors, particularly if they want to scale quickly without setting up entities abroad.
• Rippling offers a broader, modular HR solution that integrates payroll, IT, and employee management, making it suitable for businesses that need more than just payroll services and have complex operational needs.

Deel

Deel is a platform designed specifically for businesses with remote or international teams. It enables companies to hire employees and contractors in over 150 countries without needing to set up legal entities in each region. Its core features include:

• Global payroll: Deel allows businesses to pay both employees and contractors in over 120 currencies, simplifying multi-currency transactions. See our guide to international payroll providers.
• Compliance support: Deel handles country-specific tax and employment law compliance, ensuring businesses meet legal requirements in each jurisdiction.
• Local contracts: Deel provides ready-to-use local contracts, tailored to specific countries, to ensure legal adherence.
• Employee benefits: Deel offers benefits like health insurance, pension plans, and other perks tailored to international employees.
• Automated invoicing: Contractors can easily submit invoices, and businesses can manage approvals and payments through the platform.

Deel is particularly popular with start-ups and smaller businesses that are expanding globally and need quick access to compliant payroll and legal frameworks without setting up physical offices overseas.

Rippling

Rippling is a broader HR and payroll management platform that caters to businesses of all sizes, with a focus on automation and integration across HR, payroll, IT, and compliance. Key features include:

• Unified platform: Rippling allows businesses to manage not just payroll, but also HR, benefits, and IT, all from one centralised system.
• Automation: Rippling’s automation tools cover employee onboarding, payroll processing, and benefits management, saving time and reducing human error.
• Global workforce management: Like Deel, Rippling supports payroll for international employees and contractors, but its strength lies in its integrated approach to IT and HR management.
• Compliance tools: Rippling automates tax compliance, ensuring adherence to regional laws. It also offers custom reporting to help businesses stay audit-ready.
• App ecosystem: Rippling integrates with over 500 third-party applications, from accounting tools to project management software, offering extensive flexibility for businesses.

Rippling is best suited for larger businesses or those looking for a more comprehensive HR solution, offering tools to not only manage payroll but also the entire employee lifecycle.

Comparing key company statistics

When evaluating Deel and Rippling, it’s helpful to compare some of their key company statistics. These figures give insight into their market presence, customer base, and overall scale, helping businesses understand which platform may be better suited for their needs.

Statistic	Deel	Rippling
Founded	2018	2016
Headquarters	San Francisco, USA	San Francisco, USA
Countries Served	150+	100+
Currencies Supported	120+	Multiple (varies by modules chosen)
Employee Count	1,500+	2,000+
Valuation	Over £10 billion	Over £12 billion
Funding Raised	Over £650 million	Over £1.5 billion
Total Users	20,000+ companies	8,000+ companies
Global Payment Volume	£5 billion+ processed annually	Not publicly disclosed
Customer Retention Rate	95%+	Not publicly disclosed
Key Investors	Andreessen Horowitz, Spark Capital	Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital

Analysis

• Global reach: Deel serves more countries than Rippling, making it a stronger choice for businesses needing truly global payroll solutions.
• Funding and valuation: Both companies are well-funded, with Rippling having raised more capital, possibly reflecting its broader range of services beyond payroll.
• Customer base: Deel has a larger customer base, especially among small to medium-sized companies focused on global hiring, while Rippling is used by companies with more complex HR and IT needs.

These statistics illustrate how Deel has carved out a niche in the global payroll market, while Rippling’s broader service offering may appeal to larger organisations looking for an all-in-one solution.

Cost comparison – Deel vs Rippling

Pricing is a critical factor when deciding on payroll and HR software, and both Deel and Rippling operate on different pricing models.

Deel pricing

Deel offers a straightforward pricing structure, with a focus on transparency. Pricing is generally based on the number of employees or contractors being managed. Key pricing elements include:

• Contractor management: Pricing starts at around £40 per contractor per month. This includes global payments, compliance, and invoicing features.
• Full-time employees: Deel charges approximately £450 per employee per month, which covers payroll, benefits, compliance, and local contracts.
• Add-ons: Deel offers additional services such as visa support, intellectual property protection, and extended benefits packages, which may increase costs.

Deel’s pricing model is appealing to businesses with international contractors, as it simplifies payroll with minimal upfront costs. However, full-time employee management costs can add up quickly for larger teams.

Rippling pricing

Rippling offers more flexible pricing, but it is generally more complex than Deel’s straightforward structure. Rippling’s pricing is modular, meaning businesses can choose which features they need. Key pricing elements include:

• Base price: Rippling charges a base fee starting at around £8 per employee per month for basic HR and payroll features. However, the overall cost can rise significantly as more features are added.
• Add-ons: Rippling’s flexibility means businesses can choose additional features such as IT management, device provisioning, and customised reporting, with each feature increasing the monthly fee.
• International payroll: To unlock global payroll, Rippling requires businesses to purchase its core HR platform first, making it a less affordable option for companies primarily seeking global payroll services.

While Rippling’s modular pricing allows businesses to pay only for what they use, this model can lead to unpredictable costs, especially for businesses looking for a full HR suite with global payroll capabilities.

Which platform is right for your business?

The decision between Deel and Rippling depends largely on your business needs.

• For smaller businesses or start-ups with a remote, international workforce, Deel is often the better choice. Its simplicity, transparent pricing, and focus on international compliance make it an attractive option for businesses primarily looking to manage contractors or hire full-time employees abroad.
• For larger organisations or businesses that need a more comprehensive HR solution, Rippling offers more advanced features that go beyond payroll. Its unified platform can help manage not only global payroll but also HR, IT, and compliance in one system, which can be a major advantage for growing businesses with complex needs.

Conclusion – Deel vs Rippling

Deel and Rippling are both excellent platforms for managing global payroll and HR, but they serve different audiences. Deel excels in contractor management and compliance for international teams, making it ideal for smaller businesses with global ambitions. Rippling, on the other hand, offers a more comprehensive suite of tools that can integrate HR, IT, and payroll in one place, making it a strong choice for larger businesses with broader HR needs.

When selecting the right platform for your business, consider not only the features but also the long-term costs associated with managing your international workforce. By aligning your choice with your specific needs, you can find a solution that helps your business grow seamlessly across borders.

FAQ – Deel vs Rippling