Managing global and international payroll can often be complex, from keeping up with tax regulations to handling payments in multiple currencies. With more businesses expanding internationally, having the right tools is a necessity.
The best global payroll services offer automated tax calculations, multi-currency support, and scalable options to help streamline payroll and boost efficiency. On this page, we’ve tested and listed the top 10 global payroll software options to help you find the best solution for your business.
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Best Global Payroll Software Ranked
- Papaya Global — Best for in-country payroll expert support
- ADP — Best for enterprise companies
- Remote — Best EOR payroll software
- Rippling — Best time tracking for international employees
- OysterHR — Best for small businesses preparing to scale
- Paychex — Best for reporting and analytics
- Sage — Best all-in-one solution
- Deel — Best for global payroll compliance
- OnPay — Best for remote teams
- Paycor — Best for automating payroll processes
The Best Global Payroll Services Tested by Our Experts
What is International Payroll Software?
Global or international payroll software is specialized tools designed to manage global payroll processes across multiple countries or regions efficiently. It integrates with various systems to calculate wages, taxes, and compliance with local labor laws and regulations.
This software automates payroll tasks such as currency conversion, tax deductions, and reporting, ensuring accuracy and compliance across different jurisdictions.
It’s essential for companies with global employees to streamline payroll operations, mitigate risks, and maintain transparency in financial transactions across their global workforce.
The Best International Payroll Software Reviewed
Here are detailed reviews of the top 10 international payroll software so you can see what you can expect from different international payroll solutions and how they align with your business needs.
1. Papaya Global – Best for In-Country Payroll Expert Support
Starting Price | Starting from $15/mo/employee if you have over 1,000 employees |
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Countries Covered | 160 |
Reporting | ✅ |
Top Features | Payroll services for over 160 countries Support from in-country payroll experts |
Pros
- Payroll management for workers in over 160 countries
- 100 currencies supported
- Global contractor payment
Cons
- Fees for setup and onboarding
- Contract required
2. ADP – Best for Enterprise Companies
Starting Price | Custom pricing |
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Countries Covered | 140 |
Reporting | ✅ |
Top Features | All-in-one app with access to broad range of ADP services Retirement planning |
Pros
- Robust functionality on the user-friendly mobile app
- Multiple countries supported
- Wide range of payroll and HR services available
- Multiple international versions of the solution
- Top user ratings in the iOS and Google Play stores
Cons
- Lack of transparent pricing
- Focused on large enterprises
3. Remote – Best EOR Payroll Solution
Starting Price | $50/mo/employee for Global Payroll |
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Countries Covered | 50 |
Reporting | ✅ |
Top Features | End-to-end payroll services across 17 countries Option to add indemnity coverage for contractors |
Pros
- Seamless onboarding
- Compliance support
- Employee benefits management for multiple countries
Cons
- Lack of full pricing transparency
- Limited features in the free plan
4. Rippling – Best Time Tracking for International Employees
Starting Price | Starts at $7/mo/employee |
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Countries Covered | Not disclosed |
Reporting | ✅ |
Top Features | Straightforward time tracking Single sign-on for other apps |
Pros
- Robust set of payroll and complementary HR features
- Easy time tracking for hourly workers
- All-in-one payroll and HR solution
Cons
- Lack of pricing transparency
- Frequent app updates
5. OysterHR – Best for Small Businesses Preparing for Future Growth
Starting Price | Starts at $499/month |
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Countries Covered | 180 countries supported (for payments to contractors) |
Reporting | ✅ |
Top Features | Seamless optimization for mobile web Intuitive user interface |
Pros
- Browser app, so no installations or updates to manage
- Exceptional user experience on mobile web
- Up to 5,000 third-party app integrations
Cons
- Lack of clarity on currency exchange rates
- Limited technical support for international employees
6. Paychex – Best for Reporting and Analytics
Starting Price | Custom pricing |
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Countries Covered | 140 via Paychex partnerships |
Reporting | ✅ |
Top Features | Integrated app for employers & employees Feature-rich self-employed plan |
Pros
- An all-in-one app for employers and employees
- Benefits management tools
- Advice from payroll experts is available
Cons
- Lack of transparent pricing
- Some app menus are complex to navigate
7. Sage – Best All-in-one Solution
Starting Price | By quote based on number of employees |
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Countries Covered | 2 (potential to add more through DEEL integration) |
Reporting | ✅ |
Top Features | Pre-integrated with UK HMRC Customizable payroll reports |
Pros
- Trusted and established brand
- Access to a complete range of back-office solutions for small business
- Multiple third-party integrations
Cons
- Limited country coverage
- Lack of pricing transparency
- Limited integrations
8. Deel – Best for Global Payroll Compliance
Starting Price | $19 per employee/month |
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Countries Covered | 150+ |
Reporting | ✅ |
Top Features | Localized contracts and documents, Global payroll compliance checklist, A team of local experts in 100+ countries |
Pros
- Facilitates payroll compliance in over 100 countries
- Provides compliance checklist template
- Offers local tax filing
- Centralized dashboard for a quick payroll view across different locations
Cons
- Its multiple packages may be confusing to new users
- It can be expensive
- It requires significant payroll knowledge to use it effectively
9. OnPay – Best for Remote Teams
Starting Price | Starting from $40/month + $6/month/employee |
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Countries Covered | US only (potential to add more through integrations) |
Reporting | ✅ |
Top Features | Employee self-service, Automated taxes, Custom reporting |
Pros
- Affordable payroll software
- Easy to use
- Simple interface and navigation
- Offers unlimited pay runs
Cons
- Limited features compared to competitors like Sage
- There’s no free forever plan
- It may not support large enterprise
10. Paycor – Best for Automating Payroll Processes
Starting Price | By quote based on number of employees |
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Countries Covered | US only (potential to add more through integrations) |
Reporting | ✅ |
Top Features | Wage garnishments, 300+ integrations, Compliance dashboard |
Pros
- Diverse prebuilt and customizable reports
- Employee benefit and wage garnishment calculation
- Mobile app
- Serve as a comprehensive solution for large businesses
Cons
- Its navigation can be a bit complex
- Lack of price transparency
- Steep learning curve
- Requires a one-time set-up fee
The Best Global Payroll Compared
Provider | Best For | Standout Features | Free Plan Offer | Countries Covered | Expense Management | Mobile App |
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Papaya Global | In-country payroll expert support | Payroll services for over 160 countries, Support from in-country payroll experts | ❌ | Over 160 countries in over 100 currencies | ✅ | ✅ |
ADP | Best for big companies | All-in-one app with access to broad range of ADP services, Direct debit card | ❌ | 40-140 depending on company size | ✅ | ✅ |
Remote | Best EOR payroll software | End-to-end payroll services across 17 countries, Option to add indemnity coverage for contractors | ✅ Time tracking and expense reimbursement only | 17 | ✅ | ✅ |
Rippling | Best time tracking for international employees | Simplified time tracking, Single sign-on for other apps | ❌ | Not disclosed | ✅ | ✅ |
OysterHR | Most scalable solution | Automated cross-border payments, Exceptional user experience on mobile web browsers | ❌ | 180 countries supported (for payments to contractors). | ✅ | ❌ |
Paychex | Best for reporting and analytics | Integrated app for employers & employees, Detailed reporting | ❌ | Up to 140 countries potentially available through Paychex global partnerships | ✅ | ✅ |
Sage | All-in-one solution | Pre-integrated with UK HMRC, Customizable payroll reports, Easy data migration from other systems | ❌ | 2, with potential to add more through Sage Intacct/Deel integration. | ✅ | ✅ |
Deel | Global Payroll Compliance | Localized contracts and documents, Global payroll compliance checklist, A team of local experts in 100+ countries | ❌ | 150+ | ✅ | ✅ |
OnPay | Remote Teams | Employee self-service, Automated taxes, Custom reporting | ❌ | 1, with potential to add more through integrations | ✅ | ✅ |
Paycor | Automating Payroll Processes | Wage garnishments, 300+ integrations, Compliance dashboard | ❌ | 1, with potential to add more through integrations | ✅ | ✅ |
How We Review And Test Payroll Products
To provide our readers with accurate and well-informed recommendations, we test the most popular payroll products on the market to find the best options for you. Our methodology consists of the following criteria:
- Features: We examine the features to determine what capabilities are offered, how useful those capabilities will be for the user, and how the variety of features compare to competitor software.
- Scalability: We look at how many users can be added to a platform, and how easy it is to do so, to ensure companies can bring more employees on payroll with ease as they scale their operations.
- Error Handling: Errors in payroll can be disastrous for a company, so it’s critical payroll software safeguards against them. We evaluate how quickly each software can adjust and fix errors to ensure there are no interruptions in payroll operations.
- Price and Value for Money: We look at the features, integrations, customer service, and extras to determine if the price matches the value it provides. We score a product higher if it offers a free trial, and if it is transparent about its pricing plans.
- Integrations: We evaluate the integrations of each piece of software to determine how well it fits in with other key pieces in a business’s software stack, and whether its functionality can be expanded as required.
- User Experience: We get hands-on with each product to put ourselves in the shoes of a new user, testing each platform to gain understanding if the platform is easy to use or requires onboarding.
- Security: We dig into the security policies of each company, interrogating the safeguards they have in place to ensure the software protects user data properly.
- Compliance: We evaluate payroll software based on whether it offers local compliance when it comes to accounting, taxes, documentation, and more.
Benefits of Global Payroll Services
Global payroll services streamline international employee management and ensure compliance across multiple jurisdictions. Companies can use these platforms to improve efficiency and accuracy across their businesses. Beyond these, there are still more benefits.
- Automation: Global payroll software automates repetitive tasks, reducing manual effort and the likelihood of human error. This automation empowers admins and HR to attend to other business activities while the payroll platform automates their employees’ payments accordingly.
- Consistency: Since most payroll software allows you to customize workflow based on your internal processes, the set standard doesn’t change even when you change admins. It ensures uniformity in payroll processing standards across regions and countries, improving overall efficiency.
- Real-time Reporting: Imagine the stress of managing a global team without access to cloud-based software. With global payroll software, you can have instant access to comprehensive payroll data and analytics, enabling better financial planning and decision-making.
- Regulatory Compliance: Losing sight of changing laws and regulations is possible, which may lead to spending more on penalties. A reliable global payroll service keeps you up-to-date with changing international labor laws and tax regulations to ensure compliance.
- Scalability: Many payroll software are flexible to support you as you expand. Compared to a manual payroll system, payroll software easily adapts to the needs of growing businesses by accommodating an increasing number of employees and countries.
- Enhanced Security: Data security is now more critical than ever with increasing cyber threat rates. Payroll software supports you by implementing robust security measures to protect sensitive payroll information from unauthorized access and breaches.
- Improved Employee Experience: Payroll software offers features like self-service portals that allow employees to view their pay stubs and manage their information independently.
How Much Does Global Payroll Cost?
Global payroll services costs vary widely depending on factors such as the number of global employees, their locations, local wage standards, and the complexity of payroll regulations.
On average, global payroll services can cost between $20 to $200 per employee per month. Additional expenses might include setup fees, compliance costs, and currency exchange fees.
Trends in Global Payroll Software 2024
From on-premise to cloud-based solutions, desktop-based software to mobile, the trend keeps changing. In 2024, global payroll software will experience certain shifts due to technological advancement.
Below are some significant trends in global payroll software in 2024.
- Integration with other business tools: Having a payroll system that integrates easily with your existing business tools is one of the strategic approaches to managing data across the team. As the year progresses, this continues to be a necessity. Also, 52% of HRs affirmed that increased integration of payroll, HR, and attendance systems will continue to shape payroll over the next two years.
- AI and automation: AI adoption in business tools has increased massively over the years, with a 72% increase rate in 2024. This increased adoption has also impacted its usage in the payroll software market as its usage is helping with data entry and calculation, time and attendance tracking, personalized communication for employees, tax compliance, benefits management, fraud detection, and more.
- Increased need for data security and privacy: The global data breach rate has risen 6% since 2022, signifying the need for more secure business tools. Since payroll systems manage sensitive business data, many payroll software now adopt advanced security measures such as multi-factor authentication, encrypted network communication, ensuring GDPR compliance, and regularly debugging the system.
- Increased on-demand payment solution: As the inflation rate rises, many employees experience financial pressure, making them seek more financial support. With an on-demand payment solution, employees can access all the money earned within a stipulated period or daily wages rather than waiting for their scheduled payday. By using a flexible payroll system supporting this functionality, payroll managers/HR can put this financial support in place for employees.
- Increased remote and global work: Research shows that more than one in five Americans will work remotely by 2025. With the possibility of an increase in remote work, many global teams will need flexible payroll solutions to help them support their global team payment.
Difference Between Payroll, EOR, and PEO
Understanding the differences between payroll, employer of record (EOR), and professional employer organization (PEO) is crucial for optimizing workforce management.
Payroll involves managing employee compensation and compliance directly in-house. EOR services, on the other hand, act as the legal employer for employees, handling all employment responsibilities while the client company retains control over day-to-day operations. PEOs provide a co-employment arrangement where they manage payroll, benefits, and compliance, allowing businesses to focus on their core activities.
To help illustrate how these solutions differ, we’ve created the table below.
Feature | Payroll | EOR | PEO |
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What is it | Internal payroll management | Outsourced legal employer | Co-employment arrangement |
Best For | Businesses with internal capabilities to manage payroll | Businesses requiring to quickly hire internationally without setting up local entities | Businesses needing comprehensive HR support |
Average Cost | $20-$200 per employee per month | $400-$1,000 per employee per month | $500-$1,500 per employee per month |
Responsibility | Employee compensation and compliance | Legal employment obligations | Payroll, benefits, and compliance |
Compliance | Managed internally | EOR ensures full compliance | PEO ensures full compliance |
How to Choose the Best Global Payroll Software
The choice of international payroll software solutions can make the difference between time-saving convenience and cumbersome nuisance. If you’re thinking of trialing a new payroll solution or investing in one for the first time, here are some key considerations:
Ease of use – Is the interface and functionality intuitive, or will training be required?
Essential Features – Does the solution combine payroll with complementary features like time tracking, PTO management, income tax calculation, and expense management?
Pricing – Is there a plan for my budget that covers all the countries where I have employees and contractors?
Scalability – How easy is it to move up or down price plans if business needs change?
Integrations – Can the solution blend easily into my existing payroll workflow?
Customer Support – What levels of support are offered, and do they change depending on where international employees are based?
FAQs
Who are the leading global payroll providers?
What is the function of global payroll software?
Does ADP provide international payroll solutions?
Can Paychex handle international payroll?
References
- The Current State and Future of Payroll 2023 (HR.com)
- The state of AI in early 2024 (McKinsey)
- 100+ Data Breach Statistics and Trends for 2024 (Stationx)
- Remote Work Statistics and Trends in 2024 (USA Today)