Comparison
Deel is a global HR platform covering payroll, EOR, and immigration in 150+ countries. relokate is a Germany-only immigration and relocation specialist with a dedicated software platform and BIS partnership. Here's how they compare for German immigration.
Deel is built for global scale — they cover 150+ countries with EOR, payroll, and immigration as features within a broader HR platform. Their Germany immigration offering covers the basics (Blue Card, general work visa) but lacks depth on newer pathways like the Chancenkarte, Anerkennungspartnerschaft, or the nuances of the Skilled Immigration Act. relokate focuses exclusively on Germany: dedicated Relocation Partners who know every Ausländerbehörde, a BIS partnership at Berlin's LEA for faster processing, built-in attorney escalation, and full settling-in services (housing, Anmeldung, insurance, schools). If Germany is your only or primary hiring market, relokate offers deeper expertise. If you need a single global platform for 20+ countries, Deel may be the better fit.
| Feature | Deel | relokate |
|---|---|---|
| Core business | Global HR platform (payroll, EOR, compliance, immigration) | Germany immigration & relocation specialist |
| Geographic coverage | 150+ countries | Germany — all major cities, deep local expertise |
| Germany expertise depth | General — Blue Card, work visa basics | All German visa types: Blue Card, §18a/18b, Chancenkarte, ICT, Fast-Track, Anerkennungspartnerschaft |
| Dedicated case partner | Support team (rotating) | Named Relocation Partner per employee — knows your hire by name |
| Immigration authority relationships | Global network, no published German authority partnerships | Registered BIS partner at Berlin's LEA — dedicated English appointments, 2–6 week processing |
| Attorney escalation | Via Deel's legal network | Built-in, direct escalation with partner attorneys (§75 VwGO) |
| Employer of Record (EOR) | Yes — core product for 150+ countries | No — relokate is not an EOR. We focus on immigration and relocation. Can work alongside your EOR. |
| Settling-in services | Limited — primarily visa and work authorization | Full: housing search, Anmeldung, insurance, bank account, school/Kita research, city orientation |
| Family reunification | Basic — dependent visa support | End-to-end: spouse work authorization, child school enrollment, family Anmeldung, integration support |
| Technology platform | Comprehensive global HR dashboard | Germany-focused case management dashboard with real-time visa tracking |
| Pricing model | From $499/month per employee (EOR) or per-case immigration | Transparent pay-per-case — no monthly platform fees, no minimum commitment |
| Strategic HR sparring | Not typically included — self-service focused | Yes — founder comes from HR, offers strategic guidance on global mobility and compliance |
| Employer change support | Basic notification support | Full process: Blue Card switches, student→work permit conversions, purpose changes, with partner attorney guideline for grey-zone cases |
| Case takeover speed | Varies | 24-hour takeover guarantee |
| Data hosting | US-based (Deel HQ in San Francisco) | Germany — GDPR-compliant, hosted on German servers |
| Certifications | SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 | GDPR-compliant, Made in Germany |
Yes. Many companies use Deel as their global EOR and payroll platform while using relokate specifically for German immigration and relocation. Deel handles the employment contract and payroll; relokate handles the visa, Ausländerbehörde process, housing, registration, and settling-in. This is especially common for companies that use Deel globally but need deeper Germany expertise than Deel's immigration feature provides. relokate integrates into your existing workflow — we don't require you to switch away from any other tool.
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Book a demoThis page is published by relokate. We've aimed to give an honest, fair comparison. Deel is a market-leading global HR platform with comprehensive capabilities across 150+ countries. relokate is a Germany-focused immigration and relocation specialist. The right choice depends on your needs — and in many cases, the two platforms complement each other. We encourage you to evaluate both.