Softwr

Software · head to head

Deel vs Pilot

Deel logo

Deel

Software

Global payroll and compliance made easy

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pilot logo

Pilot

Software

Bookkeeping, CFO, and tax for startups

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Deel has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Deel contractor management starts at $49 per contractor per month, so cost scales linearly with every person engaged; Pilot the Essentials bookkeeping plan at $99 per month covers up to $100,000 in monthly expenses, and is cash-basis only using bank and credit card data
  • They diverge on capability: Deel covers Global Payroll, Pilot covers Bookkeeping.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Deel and Pilot actually diverge.

Attributes where Deel and Pilot differ
AttributeDeelPilot
Starting priceFree$29/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded20192017

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Deel

  • Global Payroll
  • EOR Services
  • Contractor Management
  • Compliance
  • Benefits Administration
  • Immigration Support
  • BambooHR
  • Greenhouse

Only in Pilot

  • Bookkeeping
  • CFO services
  • Tax preparation
  • R&D tax credits
  • Financial reporting
  • Stripe
  • Brex
  • Gusto

Both cover

  • QuickBooks
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Deel

  • Hiring and paying contractors across multiple countriesnot Pilot
  • Employing staff abroad without opening a local entitynot Pilot

Pilot

  • Outsourced monthly bookkeeping for startups and small businessesnot Deel
  • Federal, state and Delaware franchise tax filing for US companiesnot Deel
  • Fractional CFO support for financial planning and fundraisingnot Deel

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Deel

  • Contractor management starts at $49 per contractor per month, so cost scales linearly with every person engaged
  • Employer of Record starts at $599 per employee per month
  • Contractor of Record is $325 per contractor per month, far above plain contractor management
  • US PEO starts at $125 per employee per month
  • Payroll and HR support are not sold standalone and are bundled inside the EOR and PEO per person prices

Pilot

  • The Essentials bookkeeping plan at $99 per month covers up to $100,000 in monthly expenses, and is cash-basis only using bank and credit card data
  • A dedicated US-based bookkeeper, accrual-basis books and phone support require the Core plan, which is contact sales and billed annually
  • Core caps bill management at 10 vendor bills per month
  • Keeping an existing QuickBooks account with historical data requires the Custom plan
  • Accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll administration and CFO advisory are Custom plan only
  • Monthly reports arrive on the 10th business day on Core and the 6th business day only on Custom
  • Tax filing is sold separately, starting at $1,000 per year for single member LLCs and $2,000 per year for partnerships and S-Corps, billed annually
  • The tax service must be purchased together with Pilot Bookkeeping
  • Partnership and S-Corp tax filing includes up to 25 1099-NEC filings

Pricing, plan by plan

Deel

Free
  • Contractors$49/month
    • Contractor Management
    • Payments
    • Compliance
  • EOR$599/month
    • Employee Hiring
    • Global Payroll
    • Benefits

Pilot

$29/month
  • Core$599/month
    • Bookkeeping
    • Accrual basis
    • Monthly close
  • Plus$849/month
    • CFO support
    • Custom reporting
    • Board deck

Which should you pick?

Choose Deel if

  • You need global payroll.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want eor services.
Deel review

Choose Pilot if

  • You need bookkeeping.
  • You also want cfo services.
Pilot review

Questions people ask

Is Deel or Pilot better?
Neither clearly leads. Deel starts at Free and Pilot at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Deel or Pilot?
Deel has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Deel and $29/month for Pilot.
Does Deel or Pilot run on more platforms?
Deel runs on Web, Ios, Android. Pilot runs on Web.
Can I use Deel for free?
Yes. Deel has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Pilot starts at $29/month.
What is Deel best used for?
Deel is most often used for hiring and paying contractors across multiple countries, employing staff abroad without opening a local entity. Of those, hiring and paying contractors across multiple countries and employing staff abroad without opening a local entity are not what Pilot is typically brought in for.
What can Deel do that Pilot cannot?
Deel covers Global Payroll, EOR Services, Contractor Management, Compliance. Pilot covers Bookkeeping, CFO services, Tax preparation, R&D tax credits. Both handle QuickBooks, Web support.
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