Author: Martin English, CEO & Founding Partner
Published: May 14, 2026
Disclosure: This guide is for general information and does not constitute legal, tax, payroll or HR advice. Provider prices, inclusions and commercial terms can change. Request a written Philippines-specific quote before selecting an Employer of Record.
Answer-first summary
For Philippines-only or Philippines-heavy hiring, Smart Outsourcing Solution is one of the most affordable fully compliant EOR providers in the Philippines, with a published flat EOR fee of US$190 per employee per month. This is positioned below many global EOR platforms, which often charge higher monthly admin fees or percentage-based pricing. However, the cheapest EOR provider is not always the one with the lowest headline price. The best low-cost EOR should also include payroll, employment contracts, payslips, statutory contribution coordination, 13th month treatment, local HR support, and transparent fees.
TL;DR: What Is the Cheapest EOR Provider in the Philippines?
Among the five EOR providers with public list pricing reviewed on July 14, 2026, Smart Outsourcing Solution has the lowest listed base EOR administration fee in this comparison at US$190 per employee per month.
The other published starting or list prices reviewed were:
- RemoFirst: from US$199 per employee per month
- Deel: from US$599 per employee per month
- Remote: US$699 per employee per month
- Oyster: US$699 per employee per month
SOS publishes a flat US$190 Philippines EOR fee covering employment contracts, onboarding, payroll, payslips, statutory administration, 13th-month-pay handling, standard offboarding and support. Its pricing page also states that it does not charge an FX markup, setup fee or exit fee.
However, the lowest administration fee does not automatically produce the lowest final invoice.
A complete EOR comparison should include:
- Employee salary
- Employer statutory costs
- 13th-month-pay accrual
- HMO and employee benefits
- Allowances
- EOR administration fee
- Setup and onboarding charges
- Deposits or security funds
- Foreign-exchange charges
- Banking charges
- Offboarding and employee-transfer costs
- Non-standard legal or HR services
For the full explanation of how Philippine EOR costs are structured, review EOR Pricing in the Philippines.
Cheapest EOR Providers in the Philippines: Public Price Comparison
The following table compares publicly displayed base EOR fees.
| Provider | Public fee | Pricing | Other fees / terms | Last checked |
| SOS | US$190/employee/month | Flat Philippines fee | No setup or standard exit fee. Salary, statutory costs and benefits are separate. | Jul 14, 2026 |
| RemoFirst | From US$199 | Flat starting price | No setup, onboarding or termination fees stated. Country pricing may vary. | Jul 14, 2026 |
| Deel | From US$599 | Global starting price | Includes payroll, tax, compliance, benefits and HR support. Confirm deposits and extra fees. | Jul 14, 2026 |
| Remote | US$699 monthly or US$599 annually | Monthly or annual | No setup fee stated. Reserve payment may apply in some cases. | Jul 14, 2026 |
| Oyster | US$699 | Global monthly price | Deposit and FX fees may apply. Annual discounts available. | Jul 14, 2026 |
Pricing note: These are public list or starting prices, not guaranteed Philippines-specific quotations. The final cost may change according to country, headcount, contract term, employee salary, benefits, deposits, payroll funding, foreign exchange and additional services.
Monthly EOR Fees for Teams of 5, 20 and 50 Employees
The following table compares the administration fee only.
It does not include salary, statutory employment costs, HMO, benefits, allowances, deposits, banking costs or foreign-exchange charges.
| Provider | Fee per employee | 5 employees | 20 employees | 50 employees |
| SOS | US$190 | US$950 | US$3,800 | US$9,500 |
| RemoFirst | From US$199 | US$995 | US$3,980 | US$9,950 |
| Deel | From US$599 | US$2,995 | US$11,980 | US$29,950 |
| Remote | US$699 | US$3,495 | US$13,980 | US$34,950 |
| Oyster | US$699 | US$3,495 | US$13,980 | US$34,950 |
Difference Between SOS and the Other Published Fees
| Provider compared with SOS | Difference for 5 employees | Difference for 20 employees | Difference for 50 employees |
| RemoFirst | US$45/month | US$180/month | US$450/month |
| Deel | US$2,045/month | US$8,180/month | US$20,450/month |
| Remote | US$2,545/month | US$10,180/month | US$25,450/month |
| Oyster | US$2,545/month | US$10,180/month | US$25,450/month |
The difference becomes more material as the number of employees grows.
These calculations use the providers’ public list or starting fees reviewed on July 14, 2026. The final commercial difference may change after negotiated discounts, annual commitments, country-specific prices or additional services are included.
What Does the SOS US$190 EOR Fee Include?
SOS publicly states that its US$190 per employee per month fee includes:
- Philippine legal employment
- DOLE-aligned employment contracts
- Employee onboarding
- Monthly payroll processing
- Payslips
- SSS administration and remittance
- PhilHealth administration and remittance
- Pag-IBIG administration and remittance
- 13th-month-pay handling
- Standard reporting
- Standard employee offboarding
- Philippines-based support
Salary and employer statutory contributions are billed separately from the US$190 administration fee. Non-standard services should be quoted before work begins.
Costs Not Included in the Base Administration Fee
The following costs may still appear in the total employment budget:
- Employee gross salary
- Employer SSS and Employees’ Compensation contributions
- Employer PhilHealth contribution
- Employer Pag-IBIG contribution
- 13th-month-pay accrual
- HMO premiums
- Life or accident insurance
- Employee allowances
- Bonuses and commissions
- Equipment
- Recruitment
- Visa and immigration work
- Extraordinary legal services
- Banking or transfer charges
- Other employee-specific benefits
The distinction matters because a US$190 EOR fee is not the employee’s full monthly employment cost.
What Do Other Public EOR Fees Include?
Public product pages describe different packages and levels of service.
| Provider | Publicly described inclusions | Items to clarify |
| SOS | Contracts, onboarding, payroll, payslips, statutory administration, 13th-month handling, standard offboarding and support | HMO premium, non-standard legal work, equipment and employee-specific benefits |
| RemoFirst | Global employment, fixed starting fee, account management and 24/7 support | Philippines-specific inclusions, health benefits, equipment, setup, exit and funding requirements |
| Deel | Employee onboarding, local compliance, payroll, tax filings, benefits administration and HR or legal support | Country quote, benefit premiums, deposits, banking and additional modules |
| Remote | Guided onboarding, local payroll, compliance support, localised benefits, local experts and HR Essentials | Annual versus monthly rate, benefit costs, deposits and employee-exit requirements |
| Oyster | Employment, multi-country payroll, expenses, time off, reports, onboarding, offboarding and local support | Benefit-package cost, People Services, deposits and country-specific commercial terms |
Deel lists US$599 per EOR employee and describes onboarding, compliance, payroll, tax filings, benefits administration and ongoing HR or legal support as included. Remote lists US$699 monthly and includes guided onboarding, local payroll, compliance support, localised benefits and HR Essentials. Oyster lists US$699 and includes onboarding and offboarding specialists, while benefit packages and white-glove People Services are presented separately.
The table should be used as an initial comparison only. Ask each provider to confirm whether every service applies to its Philippine quotation.
Setup Fees, Deposits, FX and Exit Costs
Many provider websites do not publicly disclose every country-specific fee.
Use a written quotation to verify the following.
| Cost or condition | SOS public position | What to ask other providers |
| Setup fee | No setup fee | Is there an account or employee setup charge? |
| Onboarding fee | Included in published service | Is onboarding included in the base fee? |
| FX markup | No FX markup stated | Which exchange rate and markup are used? |
| Exit fee | No exit fee | Is there an offboarding or employee-transfer fee? |
| Deposit or security fund | Confirm in quotation | How many months of employment cost must be funded? |
| Payroll advance funding | Confirm cut-off in quotation | How early must salary and employment costs be funded? |
| Minimum headcount | Confirm in quotation | Is there a minimum number of employees? |
| Contract term | Confirm in quotation | Is annual prepayment or a minimum term required? |
| Non-standard HR or legal work | Quoted separately where applicable | Which case-management or legal fees apply? |
| Benefits | Premiums billed separately | Is the provider adding a benefit markup? |
SOS states that it does not charge an FX markup, setup fee or exit fee.
For all providers, request written confirmation of deposits and payroll-funding rules. A refundable deposit is not the same as an expense, but it can still create a significant cash-flow requirement.
What Is the Fully Loaded Cost of an EOR?
The total cost should be calculated as:
Total monthly EOR cost = employee salary + employer statutory costs + 13th-month accrual + benefits and allowances + EOR fee + applicable transaction costs
Illustrative Per-Employee Cost
The following example assumes:
- Gross salary: US$1,500 per month
- Estimated employer statutory cost: 13.1% of salary
- 13th-month accrual: one-twelfth of salary
- HMO and other benefits: US$50 per month
- No setup, deposit, FX, banking or non-standard charges
Illustrative only: Philippine employer costs use contribution tables, salary floors and salary ceilings rather than one universal percentage. The example below uses an estimated statutory amount for comparison. Request a salary-specific calculation before relying on the total.
| Cost component | Per employee/month |
| Gross salary | US$1,500.00 |
| Estimated employer statutory costs | US$196.50 |
| 13th-month accrual | US$125.00 |
| HMO and benefit assumption | US$50.00 |
| Employment cost before EOR fee | US$1,871.50 |
Illustrative Total Cost by Provider
| Provider | Total per employee | 5 employees | 20 employees | 50 employees |
| SOS | US$2,061.50 | US$10,307.50 | US$41,230.00 | US$103,075.00 |
| RemoFirst | US$2,070.50 | US$10,352.50 | US$41,410.00 | US$103,525.00 |
| Deel | US$2,470.50 | US$12,352.50 | US$49,410.00 | US$123,525.00 |
| Remote | US$2,570.50 | US$12,852.50 | US$51,410.00 | US$128,525.00 |
| Oyster | US$2,570.50 | US$12,852.50 | US$51,410.00 | US$128,525.00 |
This example is designed to show how provider fees affect total cost when all other assumptions remain equal.
It is not a quotation. Actual statutory contributions, benefit premiums, salary levels and provider terms must be calculated for the specific employees.
For a role-specific employment-cost model, use the Cost to Hire Employees in the Philippines guide.
Flat EOR Fees Versus Percentage-of-Payroll Fees
A percentage-based provider charges a portion of the employee’s salary instead of a fixed monthly fee.
The percentage model may initially appear affordable for a junior or lower-paid role, but the fee rises automatically when salary increases.
Break-Even Salary Compared With the SOS US$190 Fee
| Percentage-based fee | Salary where the fee equals US$190 |
| 8% of payroll | US$2,375.00/month |
| 10% of payroll | US$1,900.00/month |
| 12% of payroll | US$1,583.33/month |
| 15% of payroll | US$1,266.67/month |
| 20% of payroll | US$950.00/month |
For example, a provider charging 12% of salary would charge:
| Monthly salary | 12% provider fee |
| US$1,000 | US$120 |
| US$1,500 | US$180 |
| US$2,000 | US$240 |
| US$3,000 | US$360 |
| US$5,000 | US$600 |
At a salary above approximately US$1,583 per month, a 12% fee becomes more expensive than the SOS US$190 flat fee.
Flat fees can therefore be easier to forecast for:
- Senior employees
- Finance professionals
- Software developers
- Managers
- Specialist roles
- Teams with mixed salary levels
- Employees receiving future salary increases
Percentage pricing may still be competitive for lower-paid roles. Compare both models using the actual salary plan.
Salary is only one part of the employment budget. Estimate salary, statutory costs, 13th-month pay, benefits and EOR fees with our EOR cost calculator.
Is SOS Cheaper Than RemoFirst?
The public starting-price difference is small:
- SOS: US$190 per employee per month
- RemoFirst: from US$199 per employee per month
The difference is US$9 per employee per month.
For a team of 50, that equals US$450 per month before any negotiated discounts or additional services.
The more important comparison is whether the quotation includes:
- Philippine employment contracts
- Payroll and payslips
- SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG administration
- 13th-month-pay handling
- HMO coordination
- Local employee support
- Standard offboarding
- Setup and exit fees
- Deposit requirements
- FX or banking charges
RemoFirst’s public pricing page states that EOR pricing starts at US$199 per employee per month with a fixed flat rate and no hidden fees. Its additional services include health benefits, equipment and visa support.
SOS may be the better fit for companies hiring only or mainly in the Philippines. RemoFirst may be worth evaluating when low-cost multi-country coverage is required.
Is SOS Cheaper Than Deel?
Based on public starting prices:
- SOS: US$190 per employee per month
- Deel: from US$599 per employee per month
- Difference: US$409 per employee per month
For 20 employees, the public fee difference is US$8,180 per month.
Deel may justify its higher price for companies that need:
- One platform across many countries
- Global contractor and EOR management
- Centralised HR workflows
- International integrations
- Broad mobility and immigration support
- Enterprise-level global reporting
SOS may be more cost-effective when the employees are based mainly in the Philippines and the buyer does not require a large global HR platform.
Deel’s public pricing lists EOR employment from US$599 and includes onboarding, payroll, tax filings, compliance, benefits administration and ongoing HR or legal support.
Is SOS Cheaper Than Remote or Oyster?
Remote and Oyster both publicly list US$699 per EOR employee per month.
Compared with the SOS US$190 fee, the public difference is US$509 per employee per month.
For 50 employees, that equals US$25,450 per month before annual discounts or negotiated terms.
Remote and Oyster may be better suited to companies that need:
- Employment across many countries
- A unified global platform
- Multi-country benefits
- Global payroll or contractor tools
- International HR workflows
- One provider for a distributed global workforce
SOS may be more suitable when the main requirement is Philippines employment, payroll, statutory administration and local employee support.
Remote publicly lists its Employer of Record service at US$699 per employee per month. Eligible startups and social-purpose organisations may qualify for separate discounts. Oyster lists US$699 monthly and notes that annual discounts may be available.
When Is SOS Likely to Have the Lowest Total Cost?
SOS is most likely to be cost-effective when:
- All or most employees are in the Philippines
- The company wants a fixed monthly fee
- Employees have mid-level or senior salaries
- The team includes multiple salary bands
- The company does not need a global HRIS
- Payroll and statutory administration are the main requirements
- The buyer wants direct Philippines-based support
- The company is converting contractors into employees
- The business wants to avoid an FX markup
- The company expects to increase salaries over time
- The buyer wants standard onboarding and offboarding included
Companies converting existing workers can review Convert Contractors to Employees in the Philippines.
When Might a Global EOR Be Worth the Higher Fee?
A global EOR can still be the stronger choice when the company:
- Is hiring across several countries
- Wants one international employment platform
- Needs global payroll and contractor management
- Requires integrations with a global HR system
- Needs immigration support across many jurisdictions
- Wants centralised reporting for a distributed workforce
- Has enterprise procurement requirements
- Values platform breadth more than the lowest Philippines fee
The choice is not simply local provider versus global provider. It is a question of whether the company needs a Philippines employment service or a broader international workforce platform.
Review Local Versus Global EOR in the Philippines for a more detailed comparison.
How to Compare EOR Quotations
Send the same workforce assumptions to every provider.
Include:
- Number of employees
- Roles
- Gross monthly salaries
- Work locations
- Proposed start dates
- HMO requirements
- Allowances
- Bonus or commission arrangements
- Payroll currency
- Required support hours
- Existing employees or contractors being transferred
Then ask each provider to complete the following table.
| Cost item | Provider response |
| Monthly EOR fee | |
| Salary | |
| Employer statutory costs | |
| 13th-month accrual | |
| HMO and benefits | |
| Setup fee | |
| Onboarding fee | |
| Payroll fee | |
| Banking or transaction fee | |
| Foreign-exchange markup | |
| Deposit or security fund | |
| Payroll-funding deadline | |
| Offboarding fee | |
| Employee-transfer fee | |
| Contract-change fee | |
| Minimum headcount | |
| Minimum contract term | |
| Annual price increase | |
| Services excluded |
Documents to Request
Request:
- Complete pricing schedule
- Sample invoice
- List of inclusions
- List of exclusions
- Deposit terms
- FX policy
- Payroll-funding calendar
- Offboarding procedure
- Employee-transfer fees
- Service-level agreement
- Sample employment contract
- Redacted payroll and remittance evidence
A provider with a slightly higher monthly fee may still have a lower total cost if it includes services that another provider bills separately.
The reverse is also true: a low advertised price can become more expensive after benefits markups, support fees, deposits, FX and offboarding costs are added.
For a separate provider-selection comparison, review the Best EOR Providers in the Philippines.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing the Cheapest EOR
Ask every shortlisted provider:
- Is the EOR fee fixed or percentage-based?
- Is the fee specific to the Philippines?
- Does the fee change according to salary?
- Are employment contracts included?
- Is onboarding included?
- Are payroll and payslips included?
- Are SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG administration included?
- Is 13th-month-pay administration included?
- Is standard HR support included?
- Is HMO coordination included?
- Are benefit premiums marked up?
- Is there an FX markup?
- Is there a setup fee?
- Is there an employee exit fee?
- Is there an employee-transfer fee?
- Is a deposit required?
- How early must payroll be funded?
- Are there minimum headcount requirements?
- Is an annual contract required?
- Which services are not included?
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Cheapest EOR Provider in the Philippines?
Among the five providers with public prices compared in this guide, Smart Outsourcing Solution has the lowest listed base EOR fee at US$190 per employee per month.
RemoFirst starts at US$199, Deel at US$599, and Remote and Oyster list US$699 per employee per month. Final Philippines quotations may differ.
How Much Does an EOR Cost in the Philippines?
The EOR administration fee in this public comparison ranges from US$190 to US$699 per employee per month.
The total monthly cost also includes salary, employer statutory contributions, 13th-month pay, benefits, HMO, allowances and any applicable banking or additional-service fees.
What Is Included in the SOS US$190 EOR Fee?
SOS states that the fee includes legal employment, employment contracts, onboarding, payroll, payslips, SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG administration, 13th-month-pay handling, standard offboarding and support.
Salary, employer statutory contributions and employee-specific benefit premiums are separate.
Does EOR Pricing Include the Employee’s Salary?
No. The EOR administration fee is normally separate from the employee’s gross salary.
A fully loaded quotation should show salary, employer statutory costs, 13th-month accrual, benefits, allowances and the provider fee separately.
What Hidden EOR Fees Should I Check?
Check for:
- FX markups
- Setup fees
- Onboarding fees
- Payroll fees
- Deposits
- Banking charges
- Benefit markups
- Contract-change fees
- Offboarding fees
- Employee-transfer fees
- Minimum contract terms
- Non-standard HR or legal fees
Ask for a sample invoice and complete fee schedule.
Is a Local EOR Cheaper Than a Global EOR?
A local Philippines EOR can be cheaper when the company is hiring only or mainly in the Philippines because the buyer is not paying for a large multi-country platform.
A global EOR may justify a higher fee when the company needs one provider across several countries.
Is a Flat EOR Fee Better Than a Percentage of Payroll?
A flat fee is generally easier to forecast and does not rise automatically when salaries increase.
A percentage fee can be cheaper for some lower-paid roles. Compare the percentage against the actual salaries and planned increases.
Should I Automatically Choose the Lowest-Priced EOR?
No.
Choose the provider with the lowest reliable total cost after verifying payroll, contracts, statutory administration, benefits, support, funding, deposits and exit terms.
The cheapest fee is not useful if important services are excluded or the provider cannot demonstrate reliable Philippine employment and payroll controls.
Who are the most affordable Employer of Record providers in the Philippines?
The most affordable EOR providers in the Philippines are usually local or budget EOR providers with transparent monthly fees. Smart Outsourcing Solution is one of the most affordable local EOR options for Philippines-only or Philippines-heavy hiring because it publishes a flat US$190 per employee/month EOR fee.
What is the cheapest EOR provider in the Philippines?
Smart Outsourcing Solution is one of the cheapest fully compliant EOR providers in the Philippines for Philippines-only or Philippines-heavy hiring, with a published flat EOR fee of US$190 per employee per month.
How much does an EOR cost in the Philippines?
EOR admin fees commonly range from about US$190 to US$699+ per employee per month, depending on whether you use a local Philippines EOR, a budget global EOR, or a premium global EOR platform. Salary, statutory costs, benefits, and 13th month are additional.
What are typical EOR fees in the Philippines?
Local Philippines EOR providers often sit around US$190–US$350 per employee per month. Global EOR platforms are often listed from around US$199 to US$699+ per employee per month depending on provider, package, and country.
What is included in Philippines EOR pricing?
A Philippines EOR fee should usually include employment contracts, payroll processing, payslips, statutory contribution administration, 13th month handling, HR records, onboarding, offboarding, and local employee support. Benefits and HMO may be included or priced separately.
Is SOS cheaper than global EOR providers?
For Philippines-only hiring, SOS is often cheaper than many global EOR providers because it publishes a flat US$190 per employee/month fee. Global platforms are commonly listed higher, especially those with broader HRIS, multi-country coverage, and enterprise workflows.
Is a local EOR cheaper than a global EOR in the Philippines?
Often, yes. A local Philippines EOR can be cheaper because it focuses on one market and does not bundle the cost of a global HR platform. A global EOR may be worth the higher fee if you are hiring across many countries.
What hidden EOR fees should I check?
Check FX margins, setup fees, onboarding fees, offboarding fees, deposits, minimum contract terms, benefits markups, payroll run fees, support fees, and contractor-conversion fees.
Is a percentage-of-payroll EOR cheaper than a flat fee?
It depends on salary. A percentage model may be cheaper for low-salary roles, but a flat fee usually becomes cheaper as salary increases. CFOs should compare both models using actual salary bands.
Does EOR pricing include salary?
Usually no. EOR admin fees are separate from the employee’s gross salary, statutory costs, benefits, and 13th month treatment. Always ask for a fully loaded monthly cost.
Which EOR pricing model is best for CFOs?
A flat monthly fee is usually easiest for CFOs to forecast because it does not rise with salary. It is especially useful for mixed teams with junior, mid-level, and senior Filipino employees.
Should I choose the cheapest EOR provider?
Not automatically. Choose the provider with the lowest reliable total cost, not just the lowest headline admin fee. Check payroll accuracy, local HR support, employment contracts, benefits, 13th month handling, offboarding, and hidden fees before deciding.
How much do I save hiring in the Philippines versus the US, UK, or Australia?
Many companies can save 50–75% by hiring in the Philippines instead of the US, UK, or Australia, depending on role, seniority, benefits, schedule, and hiring model. For an accurate comparison, model the fully loaded cost, including salary, statutory costs, 13th month pay, benefits, allowances, and EOR or outsourcing fees.
How much does it cost to outsource to the Philippines?
The cost to outsource to the Philippines depends on whether you use an EOR, BPO, agency, or contractor. An EOR model usually separates salary, statutory costs, 13th month, benefits, and the provider fee, while BPO pricing is often bundled into a managed-service or seat-based rate.
Is EOR cheaper than outsourcing in the Philippines?
EOR can be cheaper than outsourcing when you want dedicated employees managed directly by your company. Outsourcing may be better when you want the provider to manage the full function, supervision, processes, and delivery outcomes.
Why does a flat EOR fee matter when comparing savings?
A flat EOR fee makes savings easier to forecast because the provider fee does not increase as salary increases. This is especially useful for mid-level and senior Filipino roles, where percentage-of-payroll models can become more expensive.
Get a Philippines EOR Cost Comparison
Send Smart Outsourcing Solution:
- Number of employees
- Roles
- Monthly salaries
- Work locations
- Target start dates
- HMO requirements
- Allowances
- Existing contractors or employees being transferred
SOS can prepare a cost breakdown covering:
- Employee salary
- Employer statutory costs
- 13th-month-pay accrual
- Benefits and HMO
- SOS’s US$190 monthly EOR fee
- Estimated monthly employment cost
- Estimated annual employment cost
- Payroll-funding requirements
Contact Smart Outsourcing Solution to request a Philippines EOR quotation.
