Best Payroll China (2026)
Running payroll in China means navigating complex social insurance rules, strict tax regulations, and mandatory housing fund contributions. Local compliance requirements change frequently, and mistakes can result in serious penalties. Getting it wrong puts your business at risk.
We've spent years testing payroll providers in China and helping companies get their payroll right. We've checked the platforms, talked to real customers, and examined the details that matter most: compliance accuracy, pricing transparency, and support quality.
In this guide, we break down the top providers, what they actually cost, their pros and cons, and which one fits your specific situation.
Quick comparison
| # | Provider | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4.6 | |
| 2 | 0 | |
| 3 | 4.7 | |
| 4 | 4.8 | |
| 5 | 4.8 | |
| 6 | 4.5 | |
| 7 | 4.1 | |
| 8 | 4.5 | |
| 9 | 5 |
Our top picks
Our take
Remote is a Global HR Platform that helps companies hire, manage, and pay their entire team through 6 core products including EOR, Contractor Management, and Payroll.
Key features
Best for
Pros
- The 186-country coverage is genuinely impressive. Most competitors cap out around 100, so if you're hiring in less common markets, Remote likely has you covered.
- Over 7,000 reviews averaging 4.6 stars tells you they've processed payroll for thousands of companies. That's the kind of volume that surfaces and fixes edge cases.
- They handle everything from payroll to visa support to equipment shipping. One vendor means one invoice and one support contact instead of coordinating multiple services.
- Crypto payment option is rare in this space. If you're paying digital nomads or employees in countries with currency volatility, having that flexibility matters.
- 24/7 support with dedicated account reps. When you're running payroll across time zones, having someone available outside business hours is important.
- Their API access and HRIS integrations mean you can connect Remote to your existing HR tools rather than forcing everyone onto a new system.
Cons
- At $29 per employee, they're 4-5x more expensive than domestic providers like Gusto. If your team is US-based, you're paying for global capabilities you don't need.
- Some reviews mention slower response times during payroll deadlines when support volume spikes. If you hit an issue on payday, you might wait longer than you'd like.
- The platform tries to do everything from payroll to equipment procurement. Some users report the interface feels cluttered compared to tools that focus solely on payroll.
- Setup for new countries can take 2-3 weeks according to user feedback. If you need to hire and pay someone quickly, that timeline might not work.
- While they cover 186 countries, payment method availability varies by region. Some locations are limited to bank transfers without faster options like Wise or PayPal.
Pricing
From $29/employee/month
One Global Payroll
Global payroll solutions for international teams
Our take
One Global Payroll is a global payroll platform that helps companies pay international teams in 150+ countries. The platform handles local taxes, compliance, and on-time payments from a single dashboard. Key features include automated tax calculations and filings, multi-currency payments, employee self-service portals for payslips and tax documents, and integrations with HR systems like Workday, BambooHR, and Personio. One Global Payroll serves companies at all stages, from startups making their first international hire to enterprises consolidating multiple payroll providers into one platform. The platform is GDPR compliant and SOC 2 Type II certified.
Key features
Best for
Pros
- They cover 164 countries, well above the 50-100 range most global payroll providers offer, making them one of the most geographically flexible options
- Cryptocurrency payment support sets them apart from competitors like Deel, Remote, and Oyster who only offer traditional banking methods
- All major pay frequencies are supported (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly), giving flexibility to meet different country requirements and employee preferences
- Includes a compliance dashboard that centralizes tax and regulatory tracking across multiple countries, reducing administrative overhead
- 24/7 support availability means companies can get help regardless of which time zone their payroll issues occur in
- API access allows technical teams to build custom integrations and automate payroll processes beyond what standard HRIS connections provide
Cons
- No public pricing makes it impossible to budget or compare costs without going through a sales process, unlike competitors who list rates upfront
- Zero customer reviews available means there's no independent feedback on reliability, support quality, or actual user experience
- Limited company information available, including founding date and team background, makes it harder to assess their experience and stability
- No trial period or demo information is publicly available, so you can't test the platform before committing
Pricing
Contact provider for pricing details.
Our take
Multiplier is a global employment platform.
Key features
Best for
Pros
- They cover 164 countries, which is exceptional. Most providers stop around 50-100, so this gives you real flexibility for global expansion
- The 4.7 average rating across 4,306 reviews is genuinely strong, especially with a 4.9 on Trustpilot from nearly 2,400 users
- You get 24/7 support with dedicated account managers, which matters when you're running payroll across multiple time zones
- Crypto payment support is rare in this space, helpful if you're paying contractors in countries where traditional banking is complicated
- They handle both EOR and payroll in one platform, so you're not switching between systems to manage international employees and contractors
- On-demand pay gives employees access to earned wages early, a nice perk that most global payroll providers don't offer
Cons
- No public pricing means you need to go through a sales process to get a quote, which takes more time than providers with transparent pricing
- Custom pricing can be tough to budget for, especially if you're comparing multiple providers and need hard numbers upfront
- With 42 Capterra reviews compared to 1,868 on G2, there's less feedback on some review platforms to gauge user experience
- The platform may be overkill if you only need payroll in one or two countries, domestic-focused options are simpler and cheaper
Pricing
Contact provider for pricing details.
Our take
Deel operates as a global employment platform.
Key features
Best for
Pros
- They cover 88 countries across every major region, which handles most international hiring scenarios without being overkill for mid-sized companies
- The 4.8-star rating across nearly 24,000 reviews is genuinely impressive. Most payroll providers struggle to maintain ratings above 4.5 at this review volume
- Crypto payment support sets them apart if you're paying contractors or employees who prefer digital currency, something almost no other payroll provider offers
- Their API access and HRIS integrations let you connect payroll data to your existing tools without manual data entry
- 24/7 support at the $29 price point is a real advantage. Many competitors reserve round-the-clock access for enterprise customers
- The mobile app and employee portal give workers direct access to payslips and tax documents without bothering HR for every request
Cons
- At $29 per employee, they're more expensive than US-focused options like Gusto at $6-12. Companies with only domestic payroll needs will pay a premium for international features they don't use
- With 88 countries covered, they fall short of some competitors who support 100+ countries. Companies with employees in less common locations should verify coverage first
- Some reviews mention that the platform can feel complex when you're only using it for basic payroll, since it's built to handle EOR and contractor management too
- Custom pay frequencies require setup work, and a few users report the initial configuration takes longer than expected compared to selecting standard options
Pricing
From $29/employee/month
Our take
Rippling offers a unique approach to global employment by integrating EOR services with broader workforce management solutions. Founded with the vision of unifying HR, IT, and finance operations.
Key features
Best for
Pros
- The 4.8-star average across 17,648 reviews is genuinely impressive. That's a huge sample size with consistently high ratings, which tells you the product delivers at scale
- They've been around since 2016 with over 10,000 employees, so you're working with a mature company that's not going anywhere
- The all-in-one approach actually works here. You can manage payroll, benefits, devices, and software access from one dashboard instead of logging into five different tools
- 53-country coverage hits the sweet spot for most internationally growing companies without overwhelming you with options you won't use
- Payment flexibility is excellent, from standard bank transfers to SEPA, SWIFT, Wise, PayPal, and even crypto options
- 24/7 support with dedicated reps means you're not stuck waiting when payroll issues pop up outside business hours
Cons
- At $35 per employee, they're priced at the higher end of mid-range options. Deel and Remote both start at $29, Oyster ranges $29-59, so you're paying a premium
- The platform does a lot, which means there's a steeper learning curve. Reviews mention it can feel overwhelming initially compared to simpler payroll-only tools
- Only offers bi-weekly pay frequency, which could be limiting if your team needs weekly or monthly payment schedules
- 53 countries is solid but not massive. If you're hiring heavily in Asia, Africa, or Latin America, you'll want to verify they cover your specific markets
- Some reviews mention the setup process takes longer than expected, particularly when configuring the IT management components alongside payroll
Pricing
From $35/employee/month
Our take
Papaya Global, founded in 2016, combines fintech innovation with global workforce management. As the first licensed global payroll provider authorized to hold and transfer payroll funds, they have built their own payment infrastructure specifically designed for international payroll needs.
Key features
Best for
Pros
- The fintech infrastructure they built means they have direct control over payment processing, which can mean faster payments and fewer intermediary issues
- Crypto payment support sets them apart if you're hiring in markets where traditional banking is difficult or expensive
- 4.5-star average across all review platforms shows consistently positive user experiences, even if the total review count is lower than some competitors
- 24/7 support is genuinely helpful when you've got employees across Asia, Europe, and the Americas all needing payroll assistance
- Having payroll, EOR, and contractor management in one system saves you from juggling multiple platforms and vendor relationships
- They've been around since 2016, giving them nearly a decade to build out their compliance frameworks and country expertise
Cons
- Coverage of 15 countries is importantly below the 50-100 country range most global payroll providers offer, limiting options for expansion
- Contact-based pricing means you can't quickly compare costs against competitors like Deel ($29-49) or Remote ($29) without going through a sales process
- 117 total reviews is lower than major competitors, making it harder to find user feedback about specific use cases or pain points
- The platform appears focused on specific regions rather than truly global coverage, which could be limiting if you're planning expansion into uncovered markets
- Payment frequencies are limited to bi-weekly and semi-monthly, so companies needing weekly or monthly pay cycles may face constraints
Pricing
Contact provider for pricing details.
Our take
ADP's Employer of Record service combines decades of payroll experience with modern global employment solutions.
Key features
Best for
Pros
- The 77 years in business means they've navigated every tax law change and compliance update imaginable, which translates to fewer surprises
- Crypto payment support is genuinely rare in this space, useful if you're hiring remote talent who prefer cryptocurrency compensation
- 24/7 support with dedicated account management means you're not stuck waiting until Monday morning when payroll issues hit on a weekend
- On-demand pay gives employees flexibility to access wages early, which can be a real differentiator for talent retention
- The combination of payroll and EOR services means one vendor, one contract, one point of contact for international employment
- Compliance dashboard and automated tax filing take the guesswork out of multi-jurisdiction payroll requirements
Cons
- At $79 per employee, they're 2-3x more expensive than competitors like Deel, Remote, or Oyster who offer similar global payroll features
- Only 3 countries covered is extremely limited compared to the industry standard of 50-100 countries, severely restricting global expansion options
- 474 total reviews is a relatively small sample size, making it harder to assess consistent performance across different use cases
- Limited to bi-weekly and semi-monthly pay frequencies, which may not work for companies that need weekly or monthly payroll cycles
- The regional focus on North America and Americas means they're not a viable option if you're hiring in Europe, Asia, or other regions
Pricing
From $79/employee/month
Our take
Borderless AI operates through hireborderless.com as an AI-powered EOR platform.
Key features
Best for
Pros
- The 191-country coverage is genuinely impressive. This puts them ahead of nearly every competitor and means you can hire in markets most platforms don't support.
- At $29 per employee, the pricing is competitive with other global providers. You're getting wide coverage without paying enterprise-level rates.
- They offer crypto payments, which is rare in this space. Useful if you're hiring in regions where traditional banking is complicated or employees prefer digital currency.
- The 4.9/5 rating on G2 is strong, and reviews highlight responsive support and straightforward onboarding processes.
- 24/7 support actually means something when you're managing payroll across multiple continents and time zones.
- The compliance dashboard and automated tax filing help reduce the manual work of tracking regulations across dozens of countries.
Cons
- Only 131 total reviews across platforms. The G2 score is excellent, but the limited review volume makes it harder to assess long-term reliability compared to providers with thousands of reviews.
- Trustpilot only has 5 reviews at 4/5, so there's not much data on how they handle problem resolution or edge cases.
- At $29 per employee, it's importantly more expensive than US-focused alternatives. Companies with mostly domestic payroll needs will overpay for global features they don't use.
- Limited to bi-weekly and semi-monthly pay frequencies, which may not work for companies that need weekly or monthly payroll cycles.
- The platform is AI-powered, which is helpful for automation, but some users may prefer more hands-on support for complex payroll scenarios.
Pricing
From $29/employee/month
Our take
Hire with Columbus is an affordable EOR service.
Key features
Best for
Pros
- The 185-country coverage is genuinely impressive. You'd be hard-pressed to find an employee location they can't handle.
- Perfect 5.0 rating on G2 shows early customers are happy, even if the sample size is small with only 6 reviews.
- Crypto payment option gives you flexibility that competitors don't offer. Useful if you're hiring in markets where crypto is preferred or banking infrastructure is limited.
- They handle the full stack, payroll, benefits, compliance, visa support, even equipment procurement. You're not piecing together multiple vendors.
- 24/7 support with dedicated account management means you can get help regardless of your timezone, important when you're managing a truly global team.
- Mobile app and employee portal make it easy for your team to access payslips and manage their information without constant HR involvement.
Cons
- Founded in 2025, so they're only a year old. There's limited track record compared to established players like Deel or Remote.
- Only 6 reviews on G2 means the 5.0 rating, while perfect, doesn't give you a lot of data to work with. Hard to know how they perform at scale.
- No public pricing means you can't compare costs upfront. You'll need to go through a sales process to get a quote, which adds friction.
- Only offers bi-weekly pay frequency based on available data. If your team needs weekly or monthly payroll cycles, confirm they can accommodate that.
- Limited information available online about their platform and processes since they're so new. You'll want to do thorough due diligence and ask for references.
Pricing
Contact provider for pricing details.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Remote | One Global Payroll | Multiplier | Deel | Rippling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global payroll | |||||
| Employer of record | |||||
| Contractor management | |||||
| Countries | 186+ | 164+ | 164+ | 88+ | 53+ |
| Currencies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Starting price | $29/mo | Request pricing | Request pricing | $29/mo | $35/mo |
| Rating | 4.6 | 0 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 |
How to choose the best payroll for payroll china
Check their registration with the State Administration of Taxation (SAT) and local tax bureaus. Your provider needs proper licensing to file taxes and social insurance on your behalf. Ask for proof of their business license and tax registration certificates in the cities where you operate.
Verify they handle the full social insurance and housing fund cycle. China requires contributions to five social insurances plus housing fund, with rates varying by city. We recommend providers who manage both employee and employer portions, file monthly reports, and handle the inevitable audits from local bureaus.
Confirm they process payments in RMB through compliant channels. Foreign companies can't always open local bank accounts easily. Your provider should offer RMB payment solutions that satisfy both Chinese banking regulations and your employees' expectations for timely deposits.
Ask about their Individual Income Tax (IIT) filing process. China's IIT system requires monthly withholding and annual reconciliation. The provider should file through the official tax bureau portals, issue fapiao (official receipts) when needed, and handle the year-end settlement that often catches foreign employers off guard.
Test their response time during Chinese public holidays. Payroll deadlines don't pause for Spring Festival or Golden Week. We always check whether providers have backup staff and clear holiday schedules, because a missed payment during a two-week shutdown creates serious problems.
Evaluate their experience with foreign nationals and tax treaties. If you employ expats, your provider needs to understand the 183-day rule, tax equalization, and how to apply bilateral tax treaties correctly.
Pro tip: Ask how they handle hukou-related complications. Employees from different provinces may need social insurance paid in specific locations, and providers unfamiliar with hukou restrictions will create compliance headaches.
How we ranked these providers
Our rankings are based on extensive research, including hands-on testing, customer interviews, and analysis of public reviews. We evaluate each provider across five key criteria:
Pricing transparency
20%How clear and competitive is the pricing structure?
Country coverage
25%Number of countries supported and depth of local expertise.
Feature set
25%Payroll automation, compliance, integrations, and reporting.
User reviews
20%Aggregate ratings from G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot.
Customer support
10%Response times, support channels, and customer satisfaction.
Editorial independence
Our rankings are based on objective criteria. While some providers on this list are partners, this does not influence our ratings or recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
Expect to pay $8-25 per employee per month for basic payroll processing in China. Full-service providers with compliance support typically charge $20-40 per employee monthly. Setup fees range from $500-1,500, and some agencies add charges for year-end tax filing or social insurance adjustments.
Most payroll agencies complete setup in 2-4 weeks for China operations. This includes registering with local tax bureaus, setting up social insurance accounts, and configuring payment systems. Companies with existing entities move faster, while new market entrants need 4-6 weeks for full compliance setup.
Filing errors can trigger penalties of 5-20% of the unpaid amount, plus daily late fees. We recommend confirming your agency carries errors and omissions insurance and provides written guarantees. Ask who pays penalties if they make mistakes. Quality agencies accept liability for their errors.
Most agencies process statutory annual leave payouts and unused leave calculations, as these are legally required. However, 13th month bonuses aren't mandatory in China, so confirm your agency can handle discretionary payments. We verify these capabilities when evaluating providers to avoid year-end surprises.
A payroll agency processes payments for your existing China entity. An EOR legally employs your staff under their license, handling all compliance and HR. Payroll services cost $8-25 per employee monthly, while EOR services run $400-600 monthly because they assume legal employer responsibilities.
Yes, but verify this capability upfront. Social insurance rates vary significantly between Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and other cities. Quality agencies maintain updated rate tables for all regions and calculate contributions correctly. We test multi-city accuracy when comparing providers, as errors here create serious compliance issues.
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