Employer of Record · FreeMalta Duel
Remote People
EOR, recruitment and payroll in one operation, from $199/month, in 150+ countries. Handles EU employment compliantly — the kind of cross-border hiring a Malta company actually does. ISO 27001 + SOC 2 certified. Live in 48 hours....
vs
Gusto
Best-in-class US payroll — automatic multi-state tax filing, benefits administration, 401(k), workers' comp, time tracking. Built for US entities with US-based employees. Outside the US, its capability drops sharply....
Your company structure decides this. Not the product.
The best product is the one that operates in your legal reality.
Remote People and Gusto are both excellent at what they do. "Excellent" only matters if what they do matches where your company actually operates and where your people actually live.
A Malta company comparing these two is like a chef comparing a knife to a bread machine — both are kitchen tools, both are well-made, but they answer different questions. The knife is for one kind of cooking; the bread machine is for another. Before evaluating features, establish which legal jurisdiction you're hiring in.
ROUND 01
What it actually does
Core purpose
EOR, recruitment and payroll in one operation, from $199/month, in 150+ countries. Handles EU employment compliantly — the kind of cross-border hiring a Malta company actually does. ISO 27001 + SOC 2 certified. Live in 48 hours.
Best-in-class US payroll — automatic multi-state tax filing, benefits administration, 401(k), workers' comp, time tracking. Built for US entities with US-based employees. Outside the US, its capability drops sharply.
Neither wins outright — they cover different geographies. Where your people live determines which tool is relevant.
ROUND 02
Skin in the Game
Who carries the risk
Remote People takes on EOR liability across 150+ countries — they are the employer of record, not you. ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications signal that their compliance infrastructure is audited and serious.
Gusto processes your payroll and files your taxes. They help you stay compliant, but the legal employment relationship and its risks remain with your US entity. Gusto is a service provider, not an employer.
For international hiring, Remote People's EOR model transfers employer liability away from you. Gusto's model keeps it with you — appropriate for US domestic payroll, not for cross-border employment risk.
ROUND 03
The real cost
Price vs total cost
Remote People from $199/employee/month — including recruitment, payroll and benefits on one invoice. For Malta companies hiring across Europe, this replaces: a local entity (€5K–20K to set up), local accountant, local legal counsel. The total cost of the alternative is significantly higher.
Gusto from $6/employee/month plus base fee — outstanding value for US payroll. But for a Malta company without US employees, the cost is academic: there's no applicable use case to evaluate.
For Malta companies, Remote People's total cost vs alternatives is competitive. Gusto's pricing, however attractive, is irrelevant without a US payroll use case.
ROUND 04
The Malta angle
Local reality
Remote People has deep roots in the Malta market — iGaming, financial services and tech hiring is their native territory. They understand the specific nuances of hiring outward from Malta across the EU.
A Malta company should consider Gusto only if it also has a US entity with US-based employees — a legitimate scenario for Malta holding companies with American operations. Without that US component, Gusto has no role in the stack.
For a primary Malta operation, Remote People is the fit. Gusto belongs in the US subsidiary — if and when you have one.
The Verdict
If you're in Malta and hiring internationally, Remote People. If you're running US payroll, Gusto.
Choose if you're
Remote People
A Malta or EU company hiring internationally — you need EOR compliance, and recruitment and payroll in one place from $199/month.
Start with Remote People →
Choose if you're
Gusto
A US-incorporated company with US-based employees — best-in-class domestic payroll, tax filing and benefits administration.
Start with Gusto →
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