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Software · head to head

Remote vs Signal

Remote logo

Remote

Software

The new standard for global employment

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Signal logo

Signal

Software

Speak Freely

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Remote employer of Record costs $699 per employee per month, charged per head with no volume tier published; Signal signal must be installed on a phone before the desktop app can be used, so there is no phone-free desktop-only account
  • They diverge on capability: Remote covers Global Payroll, Signal covers End-to-end encryption.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Remote and Signal actually diverge.

Attributes where Remote and Signal differ
AttributeRemoteSignal
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android
Founded20192010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Remote

  • Global Payroll
  • EOR Services
  • Contractor Management
  • Compliance
  • Benefits
  • Equity Management
  • HRIS
  • BambooHR

Only in Signal

  • End-to-end encryption
  • Disappearing messages
  • Screen security
  • Group chats
  • Voice calls
  • Video calls
  • File sharing
  • No data collection

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Remote

  • Employing staff in countries where you have no legal entity through an employer of recordnot Signal
  • Paying and managing international contractors with compliant agreementsnot Signal
  • Running payroll and HR records for a distributed workforcenot Signal

Signal

  • Private messagingnot Remote
  • Secure group communicationnot Remote
  • Confidential conversationsnot Remote
  • Journalism communicationnot Remote
  • Family messagingnot Remote

Where each one falls short

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

Remote

  • Employer of Record costs $699 per employee per month, charged per head with no volume tier published
  • Global Payroll carries an implementation fee to set up entities plus a recurring payroll delivery fee on top of the $29 per employee per month rate
  • Contractor Management Plus is $99 per contractor per month against $29 for the standard tier
  • The Equity product is limited to Delaware C-Corps
  • The PEO product bills in USD only and requires a US bank account
  • Remote states it collects reserve payments in high risk circumstances, so an upfront deposit is possible

Signal

  • Signal must be installed on a phone before the desktop app can be used, so there is no phone-free desktop-only account

Pricing, plan by plan

Remote

Free
  • Contractor Management$29/month
    • Contractor Payments
    • Compliance
    • Contracts
  • Employer of Record$599/month
    • Global Employment
    • Payroll
    • Benefits

Signal

Free
  • FreeFree
    • End-to-end encrypted messaging
    • Voice and video calls
    • Group chats

Which should you pick?

Choose Remote if

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

Choose Signal if

  • You need end-to-end encryption.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
  • You also want disappearing messages.
Signal review

Questions people ask

Is Remote or Signal better?
Neither clearly leads. Remote starts at Free and Signal at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Remote or Signal?
Remote starts at Free and Signal at Free.
Does Remote or Signal run on more platforms?
Remote runs on Web, Ios, Android. Signal runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android.
Can I use Remote for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Remote best used for?
Remote is most often used for employing staff in countries where you have no legal entity through an employer of record, paying and managing international contractors with compliant agreements, running payroll and hr records for a distributed workforce. Of those, employing staff in countries where you have no legal entity through an employer of record and paying and managing international contractors with compliant agreements are not what Signal is typically brought in for.
What can Remote do that Signal cannot?
Remote covers Global Payroll, EOR Services, Contractor Management, Compliance. Signal covers End-to-end encryption, Disappearing messages, Screen security, Group chats. Both handle Ios support, Android support.
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