Both Rafiki and Deel help global teams work across borders, but they solve different problems. Deel is designed for employers who hire and manage full-time or contract workers.Rafiki, on the other hand, is built for agencies, micro-agencies, and flexible teams who collaborate on shared projects, subcontract work, and need to split invoices and payments between multiple contributors.
If Deel is the HR and compliance stack for hiring, Rafiki is the collaboration and payments OS for doing the work.
Why choose Rafiki?
1. Purpose-built for multi-party projects: One client invoice can be automatically split across freelancers, subcontractors, and micro-agencies.
2. Faster, fairer payments: Wallet-to-wallet settlements in stablecoin or fiat reduce cost and delay.
3. Works with your existing network: Bring your own collaborators and manage joint projects without marketplace fees.
4. Embedded compliance: Contractor-of-Record, KYC, and KYB built in for freelancers and SMBs.
5. Community advantage: Access a verified network of senior talent and agencies across Africa, UK, and Europe.
Why choose Deel?
Deel is a strong fit if:
– You’re a large company hiring full-time staff and need extra insurance and compliance products.
– You want a managed payroll system rather than collaboration and shared invoicing.
Conclusion
Rafiki and Deel both serve the global workforce, but from opposite ends of the spectrum. Deel built the compliance infrastructure for global hiring.Rafiki is building the collaboration and financial infrastructure for flexible work.
Together, they represent two sides of the same future, where teams are borderless, payments are instant, and work is fluid.
