Payoneer Workforce Management (formerly Skuad) advertises EOR from $199/employee/month, but real costs include security deposits, payroll pre-funding, and FX spreads of 1.5% to 3% not listed in the published rate.
Payoneer Workforce Management Pricing Facts:
- Contractors plan starts at $19/contractor/month; full-time EOR starts at $199/employee/month, with premium tiers reaching $600/month.
- Security deposits of roughly one month of salary per employee are required upfront before any employee is onboarded through the platform.
- FX spreads of 1.5% to 3% on currency conversions add to every payroll cycle and are not disclosed in any published plan pricing.
- AOR misclassification coverage and visa processing are add-ons, priced separately at approximately $99/month and above.
- No public per-country rate card exists: finance teams need a direct quote to model accurate costs before entering new markets.
Key Benefits:
- Understand what Payoneer Workforce Management actually costs before entering a sales process, beyond the advertised $199 starting rate.
- Compare Payoneer's pricing directly against alternatives, including Gloroots, which starts at the same $199/month with fixed, transparent country-level rates.
- Know exactly when the $199 rate no longer applies and when switching to a fixed-pricing EOR platform makes financial sense.
Best for: HR, Finance, and Operations leaders evaluating EOR platforms who need accurate total cost data before committing to a new market or provider.
Key Takeaways at a Glance:
- EOR billing: Skuad charges $299/employee/month on monthly billing and $199/employee/month on an annual commitment.
- AOR plan: $99/contractor/month, covering misclassification risk for contractors who need compliant engagement.
- CMS plan: $19/contractor/month for payment-only contractor management without misclassification coverage.
- Security deposit: Roughly one month of salary per employee is required upfront before onboarding begins, and this cost does not appear in published pricing.
- FX spreads: Cross-border payroll cycles carry spreads of 1.5 to 3%, which are not listed on Skuad's public pricing page.
- Gloroots comparison: Gloroots starts at $199/employee/month with fixed, country-level rates and no deposit requirement.
Skuad's Three Pricing Plans Explained
Skuad operates four distinct tiers: EOR, Agent of Record (AOR), Contractor Management System (CMS), and Enterprise. Many comparisons describe only three tiers by collapsing AOR and CMS into a single contractor line, which understates costs for teams that need misclassification coverage. If your team engages contractors who could be reclassified as employees, the AOR tier at $99/contractor/month applies, not the $19 CMS rate. Knowing which tier fits your situation before comparing prices matters for accurate employer of record cost forecasting.
One naming note: Skuad rebranded to Payoneer Workforce Management in 2025. Skuad Pte Limited remains the legal entity. Readers searching for Skuad pricing will find both names refer to the same platform.
EOR Plan: $199/month Annual or $299/month Monthly
Skuad's EOR plan carries two distinct rates depending on billing term. Teams that commit to a 12-month annual plan pay $199 per employee per month. Teams on month-to-month billing pay $299 per employee per month. Most published comparisons cite only the annual rate, so finance teams budgeting on $199 without confirming their billing term will underestimate costs by 50% per employee.
The flat EOR fee covers compliant onboarding, localized employment agreements, payroll in 70+ currencies, statutory compliance, tax filings, benefits administration, dedicated account managers, and platform access including 70+ integrations. Statutory employer contributions and tax filings are managed within the fee rather than billed as pass-through charges.
- Compliant onboarding and localized employment contracts
- Cross-border payroll in 70+ currencies
- Statutory compliance and tax filings
- Benefits administration aligned to local requirements
- Platform access with 70+ integrations and dedicated account managers
The $199 annual rate is not a fixed ceiling. Premium tiers reaching $600 per employee per month apply to complex markets or senior roles. No public per-country rate card exists to forecast which employees will hit premium pricing. Volume discounts are available, but thresholds are not published, so teams must confirm directly with Skuad before budgeting at scale.
Agent of Record (AOR): $99/contractor/month
Skuad's AOR plan sits at $99 per contractor per month, positioned between the EOR plan and the cheaper Contractor Management System. It covers compliant contractor payments in 70+ currencies, contract support, digital onboarding, and dedicated account managers. The defining feature is active misclassification risk mitigation: Skuad acts as the contracting entity, not simply a payment rail between the client company and the contractor.
The choice between AOR and CMS depends on misclassification exposure. Teams with contractors in markets where misclassification carries legal or tax liability, such as France, Germany, or Brazil, should use AOR. The plan provides a contractual buffer that the CMS plan does not. Teams that have already vetted their contractors and need only compliant cross-border payments can use the CMS plan at $19 per contractor per month without the added liability layer.
AOR pricing, like EOR pricing, may vary by country. No public per-country AOR rate card is available. Teams in high-complexity markets should confirm their specific rates directly with Skuad before building a contractor budget.
Contractor Management System (CMS): $19/contractor/month
The CMS plan covers payment execution and invoice management at $19 per contractor per month. It includes contractor payments in 70+ currencies, invoice creation and tracking, expense submission and approvals, downloadable payment history, and mobile app access. It does not include the misclassification risk mitigation that the employer of record cost model or the AOR plan provides. CMS is the right fit for teams that have already established compliant contractor relationships and need only payment execution.
Country-specific pricing variations are not publicly listed for CMS. Teams in complex markets should confirm rates directly with Skuad. Converting CMS contractors to full-time employees requires layering on EOR plan costs.
Enterprise Plan: Custom Pricing
The Enterprise plan covers the full EOR and contractor management stack, with custom benefits and compliance configurations, dedicated account support, and implementation assistance across 160+ countries. Pricing is set only through direct negotiation. No public benchmark exists, which makes pre-negotiation cost comparison against alternatives difficult.
Finance teams cannot independently forecast total employer of record software costs across geographies without a direct quote from Skuad. Gloroots publishes fixed, country-level pricing and can serve as a concrete benchmark before teams enter Skuad's enterprise sales process.
The Real Cost Drivers Behind the $199 Starting Rate
Four cost layers compound the $199 base fee and are absent from any published plan documentation: security deposits, payroll pre-funding, FX spreads, and country or role complexity. Most teams encounter these after onboarding begins, not during evaluation. Understanding all four before signing is the only way to forecast total monthly spend accurately. For context on how EOR fees compare to EOR vs contractor arrangements, that distinction matters here too.
The sub-sections below address each layer in turn. Security deposits and pre-funding affect cash-flow planning. FX spreads affect teams paying in non-USD currencies. Country mix and role seniority affect the per-employee rate itself.
Security Deposits and Payroll Pre-Funding Requirements
Skuad requires a refundable security deposit of approximately one month of salary per employee before onboarding begins. This deposit is held throughout the engagement and sits entirely outside the monthly EOR fee.
Skuad Security Deposit: Skuad requires a security deposit for EOR employees, with the deposit invoiced separately from monthly payroll. However, Skuad does not publicly disclose a fixed deposit amount or calculation formula, so the $41,700 estimate for a 10-person team earning $50,000 each cannot be independently verified. The deposit is returned when the engagement ends, but it ties up working capital from day one. Finance teams should confirm the exact deposit calculation directly with Skuad.
Payroll pre-funding is a separate requirement. All salary, taxes, and employer contributions must clear in Skuad's accounts before disbursement each cycle. This is a cash-flow timing issue rather than an additional fee, but it creates a recurring capital obligation on top of the deposit.
Teams with tight cash cycles or multi-country payroll runs face compounded pre-funding obligations each month. Skuad's payroll cut-off dates vary by country and pay frequency. Skuad does not publicly disclose a universal pre-funding lead time or confirm its applicability across all markets. Finance teams should confirm the required funding timeline and applicable countries directly with Skuad before budgeting for payroll.
Gloroots does not require a security deposit, which removes this upfront capital commitment for teams scaling headcount across multiple countries.
FX Spreads on Cross-Border Payroll
Currency conversions through Skuad's financial rails carry an undisclosed FX spread of 1.5% to 3% per payroll cycle. This spread is not disclosed in any published plan documentation. On a $10,000 monthly payroll run, a 2% spread adds $200 per cycle, or $2,400 annually.
Teams paying workers in EUR, GBP, INR, or other non-USD currencies face this cost on every cycle. The spread applies as a percentage of the converted amount, so larger payrolls carry larger absolute FX costs. Gloroots does not apply an FX markup on disbursements.
Illustrative example: $10,000 payroll run × 2% FX spread = $200 added cost per cycle / $2,400 per year.
Which currencies trigger the spread is not publicly documented. Teams with USD-denominated payroll may not be affected. Confirm the applicable currencies directly with Skuad during a demo before committing.
Country Mix, Role Seniority, and Benefits Complexity
Skuad's per-employee rate varies by country, role seniority, and benefits structure. Markets with complex statutory requirements, such as France, Brazil, and Germany, push rates above the $199 entry point. Premium tiers are documented up to $600 per month per employee, a 3x increase over the advertised starting rate.
No public per-country rate card exists. Teams cannot model costs independently before entering a sales process, which creates a forecasting gap for finance teams managing employer of record cost across multiple regions.
- A 50-person team at the $199 base rate costs $9,950 per month.
- The same team at the $600 premium ceiling costs $30,000 per month.
- That gap is $20,050 per month, or $240,600 annually.
Annual commitment at $199 does not guarantee the rate holds as country mix changes. Senior roles with higher benefits obligations move into premium tier pricing, and that shift is only confirmed through a direct quote.
Add-On Services: Background Checks, Visas, and Device Facilitation
Skuad lists several services outside its published plan pricing. Background checks, visa and immigration processing, device facilitation, office space access, and talent discovery are all priced variably by location, role, and local requirements. Teams that run background checks or EOR-Sponsored Visas: A Guide for Enterprise Businesses for every new hire should include these line items in total cost estimates. None appear in any published plan rate.
One genuine offset: Skuad includes 70+ one-click integrations in its base pricing at no additional cost. Teams with existing HRIS, time-tracking, or accounting tools will not pay extra to connect them.
True Cost of Employment by Country: Beyond the EOR Fee
The EOR platform fee is one component of total employer cost. Statutory employer contributions, payroll taxes, and mandatory benefits are pass-through costs added on top. Depending on the country, these contributions add 8% to over 100% above gross salary.
Finance teams must model both figures together. The EOR fee covers platform and compliance management. Statutory contributions are separate and vary significantly by market, role, and benefits structure. Forecasting only the platform fee produces an incomplete cost picture.
The table below shows total employer cost at a $50,000 base salary across five key markets, using data from Skuad's employee cost calculator.
| Country | Base Salary | Total Employer Cost | % Above Base Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | $50,000 | $54,007 | 8% |
| Germany | $50,000 | $67,521 | 35% |
| Philippines | $50,000 | $59,394 | 19% |
| France | $50,000 | $84,085 | 68% |
| Brazil | $50,000 | $87,123 | 74% |
These figures represent statutory employer costs only. Add the EOR platform fee ($199 to $600 per employee per month) on top to calculate total monthly cost-per-hire.
Skuad's employee cost calculator at skuad.io/employee-cost-calculator provides downloadable PDF estimates for specific countries and salary inputs. Gloroots provides fixed, country-level pricing before onboarding begins. Using both tools before committing to a market gives the most complete cost picture. For a broader view of employer of record cost across providers, that comparison is also available.
Real-World Skuad Cost Scenarios
The three scenarios below use the $199 annual EOR rate as a base and layer in security deposits, pre-funding, and FX spreads to show how costs compound as team size grows.
Each scenario adds one more cost layer than the previous. Use them as estimation frameworks, not as exact quotes. Country mix and role seniority will shift the numbers for your specific configuration.
Small Team: 10 Employees Across 2 Countries
At the $199 annual rate, 10 employees generate a base EOR fee of $1,990 per month. That number is competitive at entry level and among the more accessible starting points in the market for small teams.
The cash-flow picture changes once the security deposit is factored in. Skuad typically requires a deposit equivalent to one month of each employee's salary before onboarding begins. At an average salary of $50,000 per year, that is roughly $4,167 per employee, or approximately $41,700 across 10 hires.
First-month capital requirement breakdown:
- Base EOR fee: 10 x $199 = $1,990/month
- Security deposit: 10 x ~$4,167 = ~$41,700 upfront
- Total capital required before first payroll: ~$43,690
Country-specific rates may push the per-employee fee above $199 depending on the markets chosen. Teams with limited working capital should factor the deposit into their platform selection before committing to Skuad.
Scaling Team: 50 Employees With Mixed Country Complexity
At 50 employees, the base EOR cost is $9,950 per month (50 x $199). If country mix or role seniority pushes rates to the $600 premium ceiling, that figure rises to $30,000 per month. The gap between those two numbers is $20,050 per month and cannot be resolved without a direct quote from Skuad.
Security deposits add a separate upfront obligation. At roughly $4,167 per employee, a 50-person team may need to fund approximately $208,333 before onboarding begins. That capital sits outside the monthly fee structure entirely.
FX spreads apply on top of both figures. At 2% on a $30,000 payroll run, currency conversion adds $600 per month, or $7,200 per year. Teams paying workers in USD-denominated contracts avoid this cost; teams running multi-currency payroll do not.
At this scale, the advertised starting rate is not a reliable planning number. Finance teams need a confirmed quote to close the range. Gloroots' employer of record cost structure uses fixed country-level pricing, which removes this forecasting gap before a contract is signed.
Enterprise: 100+ Employees With Pre-Funding and FX Exposure
At 100 employees, the base EOR cost is $19,900 per month (100 x $199). At the $600 premium ceiling, that rises to $60,000 per month. A security deposit of roughly $4,167 per employee adds approximately $416,667 in upfront capital before the first payroll runs.
Pre-funding adds a separate cash flow obligation. Skuad requires the full payroll amount, including salaries, taxes, and statutory contributions, to clear before each disbursement cycle. For a $60,000 payroll run, that means the full sum must be available in advance, every cycle.
FX spreads compound at this scale. At 2% on a $60,000 payroll run, currency conversion costs $1,200 per month, or $14,400 per year. Enterprise teams running payroll across multiple currencies carry the largest absolute FX exposure of any configuration.
No public enterprise rate card exists. Cost modeling requires entering Skuad's sales process before any number can be confirmed. Teams that want a pre-negotiation benchmark can review EOR for enterprises on Gloroots, where country-level pricing is published without a sales call.
Skuad vs Gloroots vs Deel vs Remote: EOR Pricing Compared
Skuad's $199 annual rate sits at the lower end of published EOR starting prices. Deel and Remote both start at $599 per month, and Multiplier at $400 per month. However, deposits, FX spreads, and pre-funding requirements mean Skuad's effective cost is higher than the headline rate suggests.
The table below compares five platforms across starting price, key strength, hidden cost exposure, and best-fit use case.
| Platform | Starting EOR Price | Key Strength | Hidden Cost Exposure | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skuad | $199/employee/month (annual) | Low entry price, 160+ countries | Security deposits, FX spreads, pre-funding requirements | Small teams at entry-level EOR |
| Gloroots | $199/employee/month | Fixed country-level pricing, 24/7 human support | None: quoted rate is the actual rate | Scaling teams needing cost predictability |
| Deel | $599/employee/month | Broad enterprise features and integrations | Add-on fees for certain compliance services | Large teams with complex compliance requirements |
| Remote | $599/employee/month | Extensive global country coverage | Variable benefits costs by country | Companies expanding across many countries simultaneously |
| Multiplier | $400/employee/month | Mid-range pricing with solid feature depth | Country-specific rate variations | Teams balancing cost and feature requirements |
For a detailed breakdown of Deel's cost structure, see Deel Pricing 2026: Here's What You'll Actually Pay for EOR and Contractors.
Starting price is one input. Deposits, FX spreads, and pre-funding requirements determine which platform is actually cheaper at your specific headcount and country mix. Gloroots' fixed pricing means the quoted rate is the actual rate, with no deposit or FX surprises after onboarding.
See How Gloroots Stacks Up on Price
Comparing EOR providers is easier when you can review a transparent, itemized breakdown. Check Gloroots pricing to understand exactly what you'd pay before making a decision.
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Where Skuad Pricing Creates Planning Friction at Scale
Three cost issues compound as teams grow on Skuad. First, there is no public per-country rate card, so finance teams cannot model costs independently before entering new markets. Second, security deposits and payroll pre-funding create capital obligations that the monthly fee does not reflect. Third, FX spreads of 1.5 to 3 percent apply on every payroll cycle without disclosure in any plan documentation.
These friction points rarely surface at the initial onboarding stage. Entry-level use cases in low-complexity markets at $199 are relatively predictable. Friction emerges when teams expand into France, Brazil, Germany, or other high-contribution markets where statutory requirements and benefits complexity push costs above the base rate. Each new market requires a new sales conversation because no rate card exists.
For finance teams, the missing rate card is a genuine planning constraint. Headcount approvals in new markets require confirmed per-employee costs. A quote-dependent model slows that process. Gloroots' fixed, country-level pricing removes that dependency and lets teams confirm costs before committing to a new market.
How Gloroots Prices Differently
Gloroots starts EOR pricing at $199 per employee per month with fixed, country-level rates. The quoted rate is the actual rate: no security deposit, no FX markup on disbursements, and no hidden fees added after onboarding begins. Finance teams can model costs before the first hire is placed.
Contractor management starts at $29 per contractor per month, higher than Skuad's $19 CMS rate, but includes broader compliance support. Dedicated account managers with retained business context are included in base pricing at all tiers. 24/7 human support is standard, not a separately negotiated enterprise add-on.
Gloroots covers 140+ countries, compared to Skuad's 160+. Teams with hiring needs in markets outside Gloroots' network should confirm country availability before switching. For teams focused on India and APAC, Gloroots carries deeper specialized infrastructure in those regions.
For a full breakdown of what Gloroots charges by country, see the pricing page.
Talk Through Your Global Hiring Costs
Every team's situation is different. Book a call to walk through how Gloroots structures fees for your specific countries and headcount so there are no surprises at invoice time.
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When Skuad Makes Sense and When to Consider Gloroots
The choice between Skuad and Gloroots depends on three factors: country coverage needs, pricing predictability requirements, and cash-flow capacity for deposits and pre-funding.
Skuad covers 160+ countries and suits teams that need broad geographic reach and can absorb variable, quote-dependent pricing. Gloroots suits teams that require fixed, country-level cost visibility and operate without the capital buffer that Skuad's deposit and pre-funding model assumes.
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If the comparison has helped you decide, you can create an account and begin onboarding your first international hire without a lengthy sales process.
Sign upSkuad Is a Strong Fit If…
Skuad works well for teams hiring across 160+ countries, including markets outside Gloroots' network, teams hiring in low-complexity markets where the $199 base rate holds, and teams with the working capital to absorb deposit and pre-funding requirements without cash-flow impact.
Skuad also suits tech-forward teams that prefer self-service over dedicated human support. Its 70+ integrations fit teams with existing HR stacks, and G2 ratings confirm strong user satisfaction for onboarding speed and ease of use.
Gloroots Is a Better Fit If…
Gloroots works well for teams that need fixed, country-level pricing before onboarding, teams scaling across India and APAC with in-house compliance expertise, and teams with limited working capital that cannot absorb Skuad's security deposit and pre-funding requirements.
Fixed pricing means finance teams can approve headcount in new markets without entering a sales process. No security deposit requirement is a direct cash-flow advantage for early-stage and capital-constrained teams.
Gloroots also includes 24/7 human support and dedicated account managers with retained business context in base pricing at all tiers. Teams that need that level of account ownership without negotiating a separate enterprise tier will find it built in. Gloroots is rated 4.9/5 on G2 across 21 reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions About Skuad Pricing
The six questions below cover the full evaluation journey: billing terms, plan differences, deposit requirements, fee inclusions, contract terms, and how Skuad compares to Gloroots. Jump directly to the question most relevant to your stage.
What is the difference between Skuad's monthly and annual EOR rate?
Skuad charges $299 per employee per month on monthly billing and $199 per employee per month with a 12-month annual commitment. Teams evaluating month-to-month flexibility should budget at $299, not $199.
Skuad's FAQ states there are no long-term lock-ins, but the $199 rate is conditional on completing a 12-month commitment. The lower rate is not available on a rolling monthly basis.
Volume discounts exist for higher headcount. Skuad's pricing page references bigger savings with more onboardings, but no public threshold is listed. Confirm discount tiers directly during the demo or sales process before forecasting at scale.
What is the AOR plan and how does it differ from the $19 CMS plan?
The AOR plan at $99 per contractor per month has Skuad act as the contracting entity, which includes misclassification risk support, compliant payments, and dedicated account management. The CMS plan at $19 per contractor per month covers payment processing and invoice management only, with no misclassification liability layer. Teams with contractors in high-risk markets such as France, Germany, or Brazil should use AOR. Teams with pre-vetted contractors in lower-risk markets may use CMS.
The $80 per month difference is the cost of misclassification liability coverage. Penalties in markets like France or Brazil can reach tens of thousands of dollars, far exceeding that monthly premium.
Does Skuad require a security deposit before onboarding?
Yes. Skuad requires a refundable security deposit for EOR employees before onboarding begins. This is separate from the monthly EOR fee. However, Skuad does not publicly disclose the current deposit amount or calculation formula. This requirement is not disclosed in any published plan pricing.
Gloroots does not require a security deposit. For teams with limited working capital, that is a direct cash-flow advantage when comparing total upfront cost across EOR providers.
What does Skuad's flat fee actually cover?
Skuad's flat EOR fee covers onboarding, localized employment agreements, payroll processing, statutory compliance, tax filings, benefits administration, dedicated account managers, and platform access including 70+ integrations. Statutory employer contributions such as pension, social security, and healthcare are pass-through costs billed separately on top of the platform fee.
Skuad's FAQ states "no hidden costs," but this refers to the platform fee structure only. Statutory contributions, security deposits, payroll pre-funding, FX spreads, and add-on services such as background checks, visas, and device facilitation are not covered by the flat fee and should be budgeted separately.
Is there a minimum contract term or lock-in with Skuad?
Skuad's FAQ states "no long-term lock-ins." Month-to-month billing is available at $299 per employee per month. The annual commitment at $199 per employee per month is optional and reduces the per-employee rate by 33% over a 12-month term.
The phrase "no long-term lock-ins" means no mandatory multi-year contracts, not the absence of any commitment. Teams that need flexibility should budget at $299 per employee. Teams prepared to commit for 12 months can access the $199 rate.
Early termination conditions on the annual plan are not publicly documented. Confirm these terms directly with Skuad during the sales process, particularly if headcount stability over the next 12 months is uncertain.
Is Gloroots more expensive than Skuad?
Both platforms start EOR at $199 per employee per month on annual billing, so the headline rate is identical. Gloroots charges no security deposit, no FX markup, and has no payroll pre-funding requirement. Skuad's effective cost includes all three: a deposit of roughly one month's salary per employee, an FX spread of 1.5 to 3 percent on cross-border payroll, and mandatory pre-funding before each payroll run.
For teams with FX exposure and limited working capital, Gloroots' total cost is typically lower once deposits, spreads, and pre-funding are factored in. On contractor management, Skuad's $19 CMS rate is lower than Gloroots' $29 per contractor per month, making Skuad the cheaper option for payment-only contractor use cases.
The right comparison is total cost at your specific headcount, country mix, and currency exposure. Book a demo with Gloroots to review fixed, country-level pricing against Skuad's full rate structure.
