EOR platforms (Deel, Remote, Oyster) alternative
Employer of record · comparison last checked 2026-09-09
An EOR employs a person you already found, handling payroll and compliance for roughly $500–700 per person per month on top of salary. It does not find or screen anyone. HireBrazilDevs sources, screens and contracts the engineer for one flat fee. They solve different halves of the problem, and using both is a normal outcome.
Read this first. Every figure below attributed to EOR platforms (Deel, Remote, Oyster) is a publicly reported range, not a quote from them and not a number we can vouch for. Terms change without notice. Ask EOR platforms (Deel, Remote, Oyster) directly for their current pricing and contract terms before you decide anything — and hold us to the same standard.
How EOR platforms (Deel, Remote, Oyster) works
This is the comparison people get wrong most often, because the two things are not competitors. An employer of record is payroll and compliance infrastructure: you bring a person you have already found, and the EOR employs them legally in their country. A studio is sourcing and screening: we find the person. If you already know who you want to hire in Brazil, you do not need us — you need an EOR, and we will say so.
Side by side
| EOR platforms (Deel, Remote, Oyster) | HireBrazilDevs | |
|---|---|---|
| Finds candidates | No | Yes |
| Screens candidates | No | Yes — live technical screen |
| Handles Brazilian payroll and compliance | Yes, as legal employer | Not needed — engineer contracts with the studio |
| Reported cost | Around $500–700/month on top of full salary | One flat rate, $3,500–6,400/month all in |
| Setup time | Reported two to four weeks | Days |
| Best when | You already know who you want to hire | You need to find someone |
When EOR platforms (Deel, Remote, Oyster) is the better choice
- You have already identified the engineer — a former colleague, a referral, an inbound applicant — and just need to employ them legally.
- You want the person to be a formal employee with local benefits and a long-term relationship.
- Your legal team requires employment rather than a contractor or vendor relationship.
- You are building a permanent Brazilian entity-free team of five or more and want one payroll.
When we are the better choice
- You do not yet know who to hire. That is the actual problem, and an EOR does not solve it.
- You want to start in days and be able to stop in 30 of them.
- You want a replacement guarantee — an EOR has no obligation to find you another person.
- You want one number that covers everything rather than salary plus a per-seat fee.
Our pricing, for the comparison
Mid-level engineer
3–5 years of experience
Full time · about $22/hour equivalent
Ships well-scoped features independently. Needs a defined backlog.
U.S. equivalent costs about $12,604/month loaded — you save 72%.
Senior engineer
6–10 years of experience
Full time · about $31/hour equivalent
Owns a service or product area end to end. Reviews others’ code.
U.S. equivalent costs about $16,458/month loaded — you save 70%.
Tech lead / staff engineer
10+ years of experience
Full time · about $40/hour equivalent
Sets architecture, leads a squad, interfaces with your stakeholders.
U.S. equivalent costs about $19,896/month loaded — you save 68%.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use both?
Yes, and it is a sensible path. Start with us to find and prove the engineer, then move them onto an EOR as a permanent employee when you are sure. We charge nothing for that after six months.
Is an EOR cheaper?
It depends entirely on the salary you negotiate, since the EOR fee sits on top of it. Once you add sourcing and screening cost — yours or a recruiter’s — the totals are usually closer than the headline fee suggests. Model both before deciding.
Other alternatives
Tell us the role. We come back with candidates.
A 20-minute call to scope the role, then vetted profiles within five business days. No fee to talk, no retainer, no exclusivity.