Global payroll software typically costs $29 to $50 per employee per month when your company already owns legal entities in the countries where employees work. Published prices from Remote, Deel and Papaya Global start at $29 per employee per month. Remote's comparison guide places the starting range at approximately $29 to $50.
The figures below reflect published pricing checked on ****.
The final cost can also include:
- One-time implementation fees
- Per-entity platform fees
- Country-specific charges
- Payment processing
- Off-cycle payroll runs
- Year-end reporting
- Custom reports and statutory payment services
If you need an Employer of Record, rather than payroll software for your own entities, expect a much higher fee. Published EOR prices range from approximately $499 to $699 per employee per month.
Global Payroll Software Cost at a Glance
| Payroll Model | Typical Published Starting Price | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll for your own foreign entities | $29 to $50 per employee/month | Payroll processing, local calculations, payslips and compliance support |
| Payroll with entity-level fees | $29 per employee/month plus entity charges | Payroll software and managed payroll administration |
| Employer of Record | $499 to $699 per employee/month | Legal employment, payroll, benefits and compliance where you do not own an entity |
| Contractor management | Usually $29 to $49 per contractor/month | Contractor contracts, invoices and international payments |
These are software or service fees only. Employee salaries, employer taxes, benefits, pension contributions and other employment costs are separate.
What Does Global Payroll Software Cost by Provider?
Published starting prices range from $29 per employee per month to quote-based pricing. The provider's headline rate does not show the full cost of running payroll across several entities or countries.
| Provider | Published Pricing | Additional Cost Details |
|---|---|---|
| Deel Global Payroll | From $29 per employee/month | Deel states that a one-time $1,000 implementation fee applies per entity. Pricing can also vary based on the number of payroll cycles and employee volume. |
| Remote Payroll | $29 per employee/month | Remote states that payroll customers may also pay entity implementation fees, payroll delivery fees and country-specific charges. |
| Papaya Global Payroll Plus | From $29 per employee/month | Papaya describes this as fully managed global payroll with automated processing, statutory payments and global payment capability. |
| Oyster Global Payroll | $29 per team member/month plus $290 per entity/month | Oyster also lists a $500 one-time implementation fee per entity and an optional $2 per employee/month payment-processing charge. |
| Workday Global Payroll | Quote-based | Workday connects its platform with local and global payroll partners and does not publish a standard per-employee price on its product page. |
Entity count, country mix and payroll complexity can affect the final quote more than the advertised per-employee price.
How Much Would Global Payroll Cost for 50 Employees?
At a base price of $29 per employee per month, payroll software for 50 employees costs:
- $1,450 per month
- $17,400 per year
- Plus implementation, entity, payment and country-specific fees
Deel's published pricing would produce a first-year base cost of approximately $18,400 for 50 employees in one entity, including the stated $1,000 implementation fee. This calculation excludes taxes, benefits and additional payroll services.
Oyster's published structure would cost approximately:
- $1,450 per month for 50 employees
- $290 per month for one payroll entity
- $500 for one-time implementation
- Approximately $21,380 in the first year before optional payment processing
Oyster's optional $2 per employee/month payment-processing fee would add another $1,200 per year for 50 employees.
What Extra Fees Should You Budget For?
The main extra costs are implementation, entity fees, country services, off-cycle payroll, statutory payments and payment processing.
Implementation and Onboarding
Global payroll providers commonly charge an implementation fee for each legal entity. Deel lists $1,000 per entity, while Oyster lists $500 per entity. Remote confirms that payroll implementation fees apply, although the amount depends on the setup and is not shown as a universal public price.
A company operating payroll in five countries may pay five separate implementation fees, even when all countries are managed through one platform.
Entity and Country Charges
Some providers combine a per-employee price with a monthly fee for each payroll entity. Oyster lists $290 per entity per month in addition to its $29 per team member per month charge. Country-specific services may also be priced separately.
Off-Cycle Payroll
Off-cycle processing may apply when you need to correct payroll, pay a bonus outside the regular schedule or process a missed payment. Remote lists off-cycle payroll at $29 per employee plus the applicable country fee.
Statutory Payment Services
Some providers charge separately to submit payroll taxes, social security, pensions and other government payments. Remote lists statutory payment handling at $150 per month.
Payment Processing and Foreign Exchange
Global payroll invoices may include payment-processing fees, currency conversion costs or foreign-exchange spreads. Oyster lists payment processing at $2 per employee per month as an optional add-on. Remote states that its FX rate appears on the monthly invoice, while the specific cost depends on the billing currency and transaction.
How Much Does an Employer of Record Cost Compared With Payroll Software?
An Employer of Record costs more because the EOR becomes the legal employer of the worker. The service includes employment contracts, benefits administration, local compliance responsibilities and employment liability.
Published examples include:
- Papaya Global EOR from $499 per employee/month
- Deel EOR at $599 per employee/month
- Remote EOR at $699 per employee/month
- Oyster EOR at $699 per employee/month
For 10 employees, an EOR could cost approximately $4,990 to $6,990 per month before salary and employment costs.
By comparison, payroll software for employees in your own entities would start at roughly $290 per month at a $29 per employee rate, before additional fees.
What Price Should You Use for Budgeting?
For a first budget, use the following planning figures:
- Existing entities: $29 to $50 per employee per month for the software or managed payroll fee.
- Small international workforce: Add entity fees and implementation costs, since fixed fees have a larger effect when employee numbers are low.
- Multiple payroll countries: Request a country-by-country quote instead of multiplying one headline price across every location.
- No local entities: Approximately $499 to $699 per employee per month for an EOR instead of standard global payroll.
- Complex payroll: Include contingency for off-cycle runs, statutory payments, custom reports, benefits administration and foreign exchange.
Bottom Line
Compare providers using quotes with the same scope. Ask each provider to itemise implementation by entity, recurring entity fees, country charges, payment and foreign exchange costs, off-cycle runs and statutory services.
A $29 starting price is useful for comparing providers, but it is not a complete cost estimate.