Christa N'dure
By Christa N'dure

Verified review

~30

Countries

$575

From /month

2021

Founded

4.2 of 5

Rating

Rivermate is a Netherlands-based global Employer of Record platform founded in 2020 by Lucas Botzen. Today, Rivermate is owned by France-based group Hightekers who also owns Dutch Employer of Record and has recently acquired Serviap Global.

In this expert review, we’re evaluating what Rivermate has to offer and how it compares with other EORs in the industry.

Overview: Rivermate at a Glance

Overview: Rivermate at a Glance

Headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, with offices across 13 European locations, Rivermate was born directly from Botzen’s frustration with the complexities of hiring remote employees compliantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company operates with a fully remote team of 100+ people across 14 countries, positioning itself as a more human-centric, transparent alternative to larger EOR players like Deel and Remote. Rivermate serves over 200 businesses and manages approximately 2,000 employees globally, offering EOR services in 50+ countries through a hybrid model of owned entities and in-country partners.

rivermate homepage overview

The platform emphasizes transparent pricing (starting at โ‚ฌ299/employee/month), 48-hour onboarding, and personalized 24/7 support, differentiating itself through flexibility and dedicated account management rather than heavy automation.

With strong reviews on G2 (4.9/5) and mediocre reviews on Trustpilot (3.2/5), Rivermate has carved out a reputation as a cost-effective, responsive EOR particularly suited for startups, SMBs, and companies hiring in emerging markets where larger providers may lack regional expertise.

Key Services of Rivermate

Key Services of Rivermate

Employer of Record (EOR): Rivermate acts as the legal employer for international hires, handling compliant employment contracts, onboarding, payroll processing, tax filings, social contributions, and statutory benefits across 150+ countries. The platform enables companies to hire without establishing local entities.

Global Payroll: Monthly payroll processing with local currency payments, accurate tax deductions, and statutory compliance. Rivermate handles all employer contributions and generates payslips through its centralized dashboard.

Contractor Management: Management and payment of independent contractors globally for โ‚ฌ199/month per contractor, including contract creation, compliance checks, and multi-currency payments.

Benefits Administration: Both statutory and supplementary benefits management, including partnerships with health insurance providers offering discounted group rates (claimed 50% cheaper than individual rates). Covers health insurance, pensions, equity options, and wellness programs.

Recruitment Services: Full talent sourcing and executive search capabilities with a success-based fee model (15% of annual salary). This differentiates Rivermate from pure-play EORs that require clients to bring their own candidates.

Employee Relocation: Support for cross-border employee relocations, including visa guidance and compliance management for employees moving between countries.

product screenshots of rivermate eor provider hris platform

How Rivermate Is Scoring: Our Data-Driven Analysis

How Rivermate Is Scoring: Our Data-Driven Analysis

๐ŸŒ Global EOR Performance
Goood

Rivermate delivers strong value for companies seeking a balance between technology and human support. Its transparent pricing, fast onboarding, and personalized service model make it particularly compelling for startups and SMBs, though enterprise clients may prefer more established providers with deeper compliance track records.

4.2 /5.0

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ Global Coverage & Services
Good

โœ” EOR coverage across 30+ countries (not 180 as they claimed)ย via local partners

โœ” Local HR and legal experts staffed in supported markets

โœ” Contractor-to-employee conversion supported

โœ” Recruitment services with success-based pricing (15% of annual salary)

โœ” Health insurance administration via discounted group plans (claimed ~50% savings)

โœ” Employee relocation assistance and visa guidance

โœ” Global payroll-only services for companies with existing entities

โœ˜ Coverage depth and execution quality vary by country

โœ˜ Limited owned-entity footprint compared to enterprise EORs

โœ˜ Lacks enterprise-grade add-ons such as equity administration or dedicated immigration legal services

Coverage is broad and well-suited to SMB needs, but less comprehensive than enterprise EOR ecosystems.

4.0 /5.0

๐Ÿ’ฐ Pricing & Transparency
Very Good

โœ” Public EOR starts at pricing at around $299, actual pricing at $575 per employee/month

โœ” No setup fees

โœ” No percentage-based payroll markups for EOR

โœ” Contractor management (COR) priced at โ‚ฌ199/month

โœ” Recruitment services priced at 15% of annual salary

โœ˜ Final pricing can vary depending on country complexity

4.5 /5.0

๐Ÿ“ Payment & Contract Terms
Good

โœ” Flexible contract terms with no long-term commitments

โœ” Monthly billing with straightforward invoicing

โœ” Supports payouts in 8+ currencies with local bank transfers

โœ” Smooth termination processes reported by customers

โœ” Willingness to accommodate non-standard arrangements

โœ˜ Limited public documentation on notice periods, liability frameworks, SLAs, and detailed terms

Rivermateโ€™s contract model is startup-friendly and adaptable, though less formally documented than enterprise-grade competitors.

4.0 /5.0

๐Ÿ’ฌ Customer Experience & Support
Very Good

โœ” 24/7 support via Slack, WhatsApp, email, and phone

โœ” Dedicated account managers providing personalized guidance

โœ” Strong third-party feedback (4.9/5 on G2, 20+ reviews)

โœ” Praised for handling complex compliance cases in Europe

โœ” Local HR and legal experts

โœ˜ Occasional response delays (up to ~24 hours) reported during peak periods

Support quality is Rivermateโ€™s standout strength and a clear differentiator versus chatbot-first EOR platforms.

4.5 /5.0

๐Ÿ’ป Platform & Integrations
Average

โœ” Clean, user-friendly dashboard for contracts, payroll, time off, and expenses

โœ” Automated contract generation, onboarding, and payroll calculations

โœ” Employee and employer self-service functionality

โœ˜ Limited native integrations with finance stacks, accounting tools, and enterprise HRIS

โœ˜ External BI tools often required for advanced reporting

โœ˜ No dedicated mobile admin app

The platform is functional and improving, but not yet at parity with Deel or Remote in terms of technology depth.

3.8 /5.0

Pros & Cons on Rivermate

Pros & Cons on Rivermate

Pros
  • Transparent, Competitive Pricing: Rivermate offers clear upfront pricing starting at โ‚ฌ299/month for EOR (approximately $340) with no hidden fees, setup charges, or percentage-based calculations that increase with higher salaries.

  • Human-Centric Support Model: Unlike automation-heavy competitors, Rivermate emphasizes personalized service with dedicated account managers, 24/7 support via Slack, WhatsApp, email, and phone, and local HR experts in each country.

  • Fast Onboarding: Claims 48-hour onboarding capability; significantly faster than the 7-14 days typical of larger providers. Contracts can be generated and signed quickly through the platform.

  • Flexible Contract Customization: Unlike rigid enterprise EORs, Rivermate accommodates custom contract clauses, non-standard employment scenarios, and unique business requirements without forcing clients into one-size-fits-all templates.

  • Founder-Led, Bootstrapped Culture: As a bootstrapped company as part of the Hightekers Group without heavy venture funding pressure, Rivermate maintains focus on sustainable service quality over aggressive growth metrics. The founder’s personal experience as an EOR customer shapes the product’s customer-centricity.

Cons
  • Relatively New Market Entrant: Founded in 2020, Rivermate lacks the decade-long track record of established players like G-P or Pebl. This may concern enterprise clients requiring extensive compliance history and proven legal infrastructure.

  • Limited Native Integrations: The platform has fewer built-in integrations with finance, accounting, and HRIS systems compared to Deel or Remote. Users report needing to export data to BI tools for deeper analysis.

  • Hybrid Entity Model: Rivermate operates through a combination of owned entities and in-country partners (rather than wholly-owned infrastructure everywhere), which may create inconsistencies in service quality across different markets.

  • Smaller Brand Recognition: Less market awareness than category leaders means fewer peer references, case studies, and third-party validation. Companies requiring extensive due diligence may find fewer public resources.

  • Reporting Limitations: Users note that while functional, the reporting dashboards could offer more sophisticated customization and ad hoc reporting capabilities for finance and operations teams.

  • No Mobile Admin App: Unlike some competitors, Rivermate currently lacks a dedicated mobile application for administrators to manage payroll and compliance on the go.

Who is Rivermate for?

This visual highlights where this provider performs best across common buyer dimensions, based on Employsomeโ€™s independent, data-driven analysis. It reflects typical real-world usage patterns rather than marketing positioning.

Customer Type
Rivermate is well-suited for small and growing companies hiring internationally for the first time, especially those that want guidance and hands-on support rather than a complex enterprise setup.
Startup/SMB
Mid-market/Enterprise

Best Fit

Price Sensitivity
Rivermate positions itself as a cost-efficient alternative to large EOR platforms, appealing to teams that want predictable pricing without premium enterprise fees.
Budget Conscious
Premium Spend

Best Fit

Tech vs Service
Rivermate emphasizes human support, guidance, and managed processes over deep automation or advanced self-serve workflows.
Tech-First
Service-Led

Best Fit

Speed vs Compliance
Onboarding is relatively fast for standard roles, making Rivermate suitable for straightforward international hires where speed matters more than complex structuring.
Speed
Compliance Strictness

Best Fit

Complexity Handling
Best for standard full-time employment without complex equity plans, advanced benefits design, or highly regulated edge cases.
Simple Cases
Complex Cases

Best Fit

Regional Strenght
Rivermate offers broad country coverage, but depth and execution can vary by country compared to providers with owned entities or long-standing local teams.
Global Generalist
Regional Expert

Best Fit

Hiring Team Size
Rivermate works best for companies making a few international hires rather than managing large, distributed global workforces.
Small Team (<10)
Large Team (>50)

Best Fit

Our Final Verdict on Rivermate

Our Final Verdict on Rivermate

Logo of Rivermate (part of the Highteker Group)

Rivermate’s transparent pricing, genuine human support, and flexibility make it a refreshing alternative to larger, more bureaucratic competitors.

While it lacks the scale, integrations, and track record of market leaders, Rivermate delivers exceptional value for companies prioritizing responsiveness over reputation. For startups and SMBs expanding internationally, particularly within central Europe, Rivermate offers the right balance of capability, cost, and care. It’s a strong choice for companies that want to feel like a partner, not a ticket number.

Frequently Asked Questions on Rivermate

Frequently Asked Questions on Rivermate

Rivermate is a global EOR platform headquartered in Amsterdam that enables companies to hire, pay, and manage employees in 150+ countries without establishing local legal entities. The platform handles employment contracts, payroll, taxes, benefits, and compliance while clients retain day-to-day management of their teams.

Rivermate is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, with its main office at Herengracht 420. The company operates with a fully remote team across 14 countries and maintains 13 office locations across Europe, including Barcelona, Lisbon, and ‘s-Hertogenbosch (the founder’s home city).

Rivermate was founded in December 2020 by Lucas Botzen, a Dutch entrepreneur based in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Botzen previously co-founded and successfully exited Boloo, an e-learning and software company he scaled to over โ‚ฌ2 million in annual revenue. He started Rivermate after experiencing the difficulties of hiring remote employees compliantly at his previous company.

Rivermate EOR services start at โ‚ฌ299 per employee per month (approximately $340 USD), with no setup fees or hidden charges. Contractor management costs โ‚ฌ199 per month per contractor. Recruitment services operate on a success-based model at 15% of the candidate’s annual salary. The company aims to be among the most affordable global EOR providers.

Rivermate provides EOR services in over 150 countries through a combination of owned legal entities and in-country partners. The platform is particularly strong in emerging markets including Africa (Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa), Latin America, and Southeast Asia, while also covering major markets in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific.

Yes, Rivermate offers full recruitment and executive search services, distinguishing it from pure-play EORs. The company sources and recruits candidates on behalf of clients with a success-based fee model (15% of annual salary paid only upon successful placement). This makes Rivermate suitable for companies without existing talent pipelines in target markets.

Rivermate claims 48-hour onboarding capability, significantly faster than the 7-14 day average of larger EOR providers. The platform generates compliant contracts quickly and employees can self-onboard through the dashboard. Actual timing may vary based on country complexity and local requirements.

Yes, Rivermate provides a centralized HR dashboard where employers can manage employees, contracts, payroll, expenses, time off, and compliance documents. Employees also have portal access for payslips, personal information updates, and leave requests. While user-friendly, the platform has fewer native integrations than competitors like Deel or Remote.

Rivermate is primarily designed for startups, SMBs, and mid-market companies. While it can serve larger organizations, enterprises requiring extensive compliance documentation, complex multi-system integrations, comprehensive SLAs, and decade-long track records may prefer more established providers like G-P or Remote. Rivermate’s strength lies in personalized service rather than enterprise-scale infrastructure.

Rivermate positions itself as a more human-centric, affordable alternative to Deel and Remote. While Deel offers extensive automation and a comprehensive HR tech stack, Rivermate emphasizes personalized support with dedicated account managers and 24/7 human assistance. Remote focuses on wholly-owned entities and compliance depth; Rivermate uses a hybrid model with more pricing flexibility. Rivermate typically costs less than both competitors and offers faster, more responsive supportโ€”but has fewer integrations and less brand recognition. Users describe Rivermate as the “balance between EOR tech like Deel and premium guidance.”

Compare With Other Providers

Compare With Other Providers

Agility EOR
Agility EOR

3.9 / 5.0

Borderless AI
Borderless AI

4.3 / 5.0

Deel
Deel

4.5 / 5.0

Oyster HR
Oyster HR

4.2 / 5.0


Author photo

Written by

Christa N’dure

Christa is a Copywriter at Employsome with 17 years of professional writing experience across global brands, startups, and online publications. A native English-Finnish writer, she brings strong editorial skills and a versatile background in business, SaaS, and finance. At Employsome, Christa focuses on clear, practical content about HR, payroll, and Employer of Record topics.

Our content is created for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide any legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice. Please obtain separate advice from industry-specific professionals who may better understand your businessโ€™s needs. Read our Editorial Guidelines for further information on how our content is created.