Deel costs $49/mo.
These cost $0.
4 free alternatives to Deel, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Deel vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $49/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frappe HR | open source | GPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 8.5k | Deel vs Frappe HR → |
| Horilla HR | open source | LGPL-2.1 | Self-host | ★ 1.4k | Deel vs Horilla HR → |
| OrangeHRM Starter | open source | GPL-3.0+ | Local or hosted | ★ 1.1k | Deel vs OrangeHRM Starter → |
| Connecteam Small Business Plan | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Deel vs Connecteam Small Business Plan → |
The picks
3 open source · 1 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
Frappe HR
open sourceGPL-3.0Self-host8.5kaug 2026A complete HR suite without the license bill; the server, backups and upgrades are now in your job description.
The catch vs DeelIt records HR data but cannot provide Deel's employer-of-record, localized contract, payroll and payment infrastructure.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Launch its Docker Compose stack, or install hrms and ERPNext into an existing Frappe Bench
- setup
- The full Frappe/ERPNext stack brings Docker, MariaDB, Redis, proxy/TLS and version-compatible app upgrades
- your data
- Each Frappe site has its own MariaDB database plus private/public files directories; backups are SQL dumps and file archives under the site
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 02
Horilla HR
open sourceLGPL-2.1Self-host1.4kjul 2026Hire-to-leave HR in Docker; free forever means you own the updates and backups.
The catch vs DeelIt has no employer-of-record, country compliance or money-movement service, and the HR server is yours to run.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone the stable 2.0 branch and run docker-compose up -d; a manual Django setup is also documented
- setup
- Docker and production configuration: database credentials, secret key, allowed hosts, HTTPS, backups and mail remain the operator's job
- your data
- HR records in PostgreSQL by default, with uploaded media on server storage or optional Google Cloud Storage
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 03
OrangeHRM Starter
open sourceGPL-3.0+Local or hosted1.1kjun 2026The old-school HR suite: records, leave, attendance and approvals, with a real server and no fashion budget.
The catch vs DeelIt tracks people and leave but does not replace Deel's legal entities, compliant contracts, payroll or international payments.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Use the free hosted Starter signup, or upload the release to an Apache/PHP/MySQL server and complete the web installer
- setup
- Self-hosting requires Apache, PHP and MySQL/MariaDB plus security and backups; the hosted path starts with a 30-day trial before conversion to lifetime-free Starter
- your data
- Hosted Starter keeps employee records in OrangeHRM's cloud; self-hosted Starter stores them in MySQL/MariaDB with uploaded files in application storage
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 04
Connecteam Small Business Plan
freeproprietary, freeHostedDirectory, documents, leave and onboarding for ten people; employee eleven is the business model.
The catch vs DeelIt can hold records for ten people but provides none of Deel's country-specific contracts, compliance, payroll or contractor payments.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup, then invite staff to the web and mobile apps
- your data
- Employee records, documents, schedules and time data in Connecteam's cloud; schedules and timesheets export to Excel, PDF, CSV or payroll-specific files
- checked
- 2026-08-11
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Deel open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Deel?+
The top free alternative to Deel is Frappe HR (open source, GPL-3.0). A complete HR suite without the license bill; the server, backups and upgrades are now in your job description. Other popular Deel replacements include Horilla HR, OrangeHRM Starter, Connecteam Small Business Plan.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Deel?+
Yes. Of the 4 free alternatives to Deel, 3 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Frappe HR (GPL-3.0), Horilla HR (LGPL-2.1), OrangeHRM Starter (GPL-3.0+).
How much does switching from Deel to a free alternative save?+
Deel starts at $49/month per seat ($588/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Frappe HR saves $2,940 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Deel clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Deel is NOT REALLY (use a free alternative, save the tokens). A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Deel, track contractor documents and approvals without employment, payroll, or payment services. The hard boundary is global employment entities, contracts, payroll, compliance, payments, and immigration, plus compliance, payroll, and regulated integrations.
What is the catch when switching from Deel to Frappe HR?+
It records HR data but cannot provide Deel's employer-of-record, localized contract, payroll and payment infrastructure.
