Provider Review: Links International (An Ascentium Company)
Links International is a leading APAC-focused Employer of Record and payroll specialist with 25+ years of operational depth across Asia and the Middle East. Unlike many global EOR platforms, Links employs through its own in-country entities and teams, delivering strong regional compliance, visa support, and multi-country payroll execution. This review breaks down Links’ coverage, entity model, platform capabilities, pricing, and the types of companies it is best suited for in 2026.
Table of Contents
Company Overview: Links International at a Glance
Links International is APAC’s leading regional HR outsourcing and EOR specialist, with over 25 years of continuous operation. Unlike global EOR platforms that bolt Asia coverage onto a worldwide model, Links was built from the ground up for the Asia-Pacific and Middle East corridor. The company delivers 100% in-country services (meaning it uses its own local teams rather than subcontracting to third-party partners) across 20+ locations.
In February 2025, Links was acquired by Ascentium Group, a Singapore-headquartered global business services platform. The acquisition expanded Links’ capabilities to include corporate services (accounting, tax, audit, advisory, company incorporation) and added investment to accelerate its technology roadmap and emerging markets expansion.
Links is also a member of the Global Payroll Association (GPA) and co-founded the Emerging Markets Payroll (EMP) alliance (with Axiomatic for Africa and Payroll Worldwide for Latin America), extending its reach to 80+ emerging markets.
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Service |
Details |
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Employer of Record (EOR/PEO) |
Legal employer model with secondment back to client; onboarding claim of <48 hours |
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Payroll Outsourcing |
Multi-country payroll across 30+ APAC & Middle East locations; 11 consecutive “Best Payroll Outsourcing Partner” awards (HK & SG) |
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Visa & Immigration |
In-house visa application services including employment, training, dependant and APEC Business Travel Card |
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Recruitment |
Contingent search, retained search, Recruiter on Demand, employer branding, salary benchmarking |
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Company Formation |
Entity setup services (enhanced post-Ascentium with accounting, tax, corporate secretarial) |
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Outplacement / Career Transition |
Employee assistance and career transition programmes |
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HR Tech (Links One) |
Proprietary HR platform consolidating payroll, leave, workforce data; integrates with Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM |
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Links Integration Hub |
Microservices-based integration platform connecting HCMs to local payroll engines |
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Emerging Markets Payroll (EMP) |
Alliance covering 80+ countries across APAC, Africa, and LATAM via three regional specialists |
How Links International Is Scoring: Our Data-Driven Analysis
Links International is not a “hire in 185 countries” platform. It is a regional heavyweight built for APAC and the Middle East, with one of the strongest owned-entity delivery models in the emerging markets payroll space. It scores exceptionally well on in-country execution, payroll depth, and enterprise integrations across Asia, but falls short of true global coverage due to limited presence in Europe and the Americas.
3.9 /5.0
✓ APAC-first EOR specialist with owned execution across 20+ locations
✓ Core entity markets include Hong Kong, Mainland China (80+ cities), Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia, New Zealand, and UAE
✓ Services extend beyond EOR into payroll outsourcing, immigration, recruitment, company formation, and outplacement
✓ Member of the Global Payroll Association and co-founder of the Emerging Markets Payroll (EMP) alliance, extending reach to 80+ emerging markets across Africa and LATAM
✓ Ascentium Group acquisition (Feb 2025) strengthens corporate services scope: accounting, tax, audit, advisory, incorporation
✗ No direct entity coverage in Europe, Switzerland, or North America – global delivery outside APAC depends on alliances rather than owned execution
3.0 /5.0
✓ Published starting EOR pricing from $300/month, unusually transparent for a regional specialist
✓ Online EOR cost calculator provides upfront estimates by country and role
✓ Competitive cost positioning for APAC market entry compared to premium global platforms
✗ Final pricing remains bespoke based on salary tier, country, visa scope, and employee volume
✗ FX markups, wire fees, and off-cycle payroll charges are not fully standardised publicly
4.0 /5.0
✓ Long-established secondment-style EOR model: employees hired onto Links entities and assigned back to client
✓ Flexible structuring across EOR, payroll-only outsourcing, and transition into entity setup through Ascentium corporate services
✓ Strong fit for multinational payroll consolidation via single-invoice coordination
✗ Less standardised contract automation and self-service onboarding than platform-first providers like Deel or Remote
4.0 /5.0
✓ One of the deepest operational support models in APAC, with 2,500+ professionals post-Ascentium integration
✓ Strong local payroll and HR expertise in highly complex markets, especially China
✓ Enterprise client references include Moncler, Pernod Ricard, Shell, Sephora, Nord Anglia Education, Shangri-La
✓ Consistently recognised for payroll execution with 11 consecutive “Best Payroll Outsourcing Partner” awards (HK & SG)
✗ Limited independent client review footprint (no G2 or Trustpilot listing), making external verification harder
✗ Glassdoor rating (3.3/5) reflects mixed internal employee sentiment, though not necessarily client delivery quality
4.5 /5.0
✓ Proprietary HR platform Links One supports multi-country payroll dashboards, employee self-service, leave, claims, analytics, and mobile workflows
✓ Integration Hub connects directly into enterprise HCM stacks: Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM/Fusion
✓ Everest Group “Star Performer” recognition for multi-country payroll technology (2023–2025)
✓ AI-based HR chatbot integrated with Microsoft Teams and continuous platform enhancements
✗ Technology is strong for payroll-led enterprise use cases, but not as automation-first or SaaS-native as Rippling or Deel
4.0 /5.0
🏆 Top Performer: LINKS International ranks among the strongest providers in our Employer of Record Hong Kong comparison, standing out for its Hong Kong-based execution, deep local compliance expertise, and strong operational control within the territory’s employment, MPF, and tax framework.
Pros & Cons of Links International
Deep APAC Specialisation: 25+ years focused exclusively on Asia-Pacific and Middle East; unmatched regional depth compared to global EOR platforms that treat APAC as one of many regions
100% In-Country Model: Own entities and own teams in every serviced location; eliminates subcontractor risk and compliance layering
Proven Payroll Excellence: 11 consecutive “Best Payroll Outsourcing Partner” awards and three consecutive Everest Group “Star Performer” recognitions
Enterprise-Grade Integrations: Workday, SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM integrations make Links suitable for MNCs with established HR tech stacks
Full-Service Bundle: EOR + payroll + visa + recruitment + company formation + outplacement under one roof, now enhanced by Ascentium’s corporate services
China Coverage: 80+ cities with monthly labour law updates; exceptional depth for mainland China, one of the most complex payroll environments globally
EMP Alliance: Extended reach to 80+ emerging markets for clients needing Africa and LATAM alongside APAC
Competitive Pricing: US$300/month starting point with online cost calculator for quick estimates
No Europe/Americas Coverage: Links has zero direct presence in Europe, Switzerland, North America, or Latin America. For clients needing Swiss or European EOR, Links is not a viable standalone option
Limited Independent Reviews: No Trustpilot or G2 profile makes independent client verification difficult; the absence of public review platform presence is unusual for a company of this size and tenure
Below-Average Glassdoor Score: 3.3/5 is below the HR/staffing industry average (3.8); internal operational concerns (turnover, resource constraints, management) may affect service delivery consistency
Post-Acquisition Integration Risk: The Ascentium acquisition (Feb 2025) is still recent; integration of two organisations’ systems, cultures, and processes creates transitional risk
Mid-Market Technology: While Links One is capable, it is not in the same league as platform-first EOR providers (Rippling, Oyster, Deel) for self-service user experience and automation
Revenue Scale: ~$32.8M annual revenue is modest compared to global EOR players (G-P at $700M+, Deel at $500M+), which may limit R&D investment relative to competitors
Recruitment-Heritage Bias: Links originated as a recruitment agency and added EOR/payroll services over time; some Glassdoor reviews suggest the recruitment division’s culture (commission-driven, high-pressure) may permeate the broader organisation
Who Is Links International Best For
This visual highlights where this provider performs best across common buyer dimensions, based on Employsome’s independent, data-driven analysis. It reflects typical real-world usage patterns rather than marketing positioning.
Our Final Verdict on Links International
Compare Links International with Others
Written by
Courtney Pocock is a Copywriter & EOR/PEO Researcher at Employsome with 15+ years of experience writing for the HR, corporate, and financial sectors. She has a strong interest in global business expansion and Employer of Record / PEO topics, focusing on news that matters to business owners and decision-makers. Courtney covers industry updates, regulatory changes, and practical guides to help leaders navigate international hiring with confidence.
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 business’s needs. Read our Editorial Guidelines for further information on how our content is created.