Somewhere: ranked #7 of 8

Somewhere offers direct hire for a percentage fee and Talent On-Demand at one monthly rate quoted per role, plus an employer-of-record service.

Verdict (61/100): Wide regional reach and published direct-hire fees, but the six-month minimum and 30% buy-out make it a commitment.

Best forCompanies that want to hire in many regions, including Eastern Europe and South Asia, and can commit to at least six months.

Wrong forAnyone testing remote hiring for the first time, or who may need to end an engagement early or hire the person directly.

Key facts

What it costs	Direct hire: one-time fee of 25% to 35% of first-year salary. Talent On-Demand: one all-inclusive monthly fee quoted per role. A refundable deposit starts the search.
Pricing models	Direct hire (25 to 35% fee); Talent On-Demand (monthly); Employer of record; Local hiring
Minimum term	Talent On-Demand: six months, with a buy-out fee of 30% of annual salary
Replacement	Direct hire: one free replacement within six months. On-Demand: unlimited within the contract period
Regions	18+ countries, including Latin America, Eastern Europe, South Africa, Egypt, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka
Roles	Not listed by name on the pages checked
Website	somewhere.com

61/100

Pricing transparency (25%)4/5
Direct hire: "a one-time fee of 25–35% of your new hire's first-year salary". Talent On-Demand: "one all-inclusive monthly fee" covering salary and "Somewhere service margin", quoted per role.
Source: Somewhere direct hire, Somewhere Talent On-Demand
Vetting depth (20%)3/5
Sources five candidates, you interview up to three, with at most two interviews each. How candidates are tested is not described beyond a "top 1%" claim.
Source: Somewhere Talent On-Demand, Somewhere pricing
Compliance and payroll handling (20%)3/5
On-Demand: "We manage all compliance, payroll, and HR logistics." The legal arrangement is not stated; on direct hire, you manage payroll.
Source: Somewhere Talent On-Demand
Contract flexibility (15%)1/5
"Minimum engagement = 6 months… Buy-out fee: 30% of the contractor's annual salary", and a refundable deposit starts the search.
Source: Somewhere Talent On-Demand, Somewhere pricing
Replacement terms (10%)4/5
"Unlimited replacements within contract period" on On-Demand; "6 Months Perfect Hire Guarantee, One free replacement" on direct hire.
Source: Somewhere pricing
Role and region coverage (10%)3/5
"Placed talent in 18+ countries" across Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and South and Southeast Asia. The roles it fills are not listed by name on the pages checked, so it can't show most business functions and scores 3, not 4.
Source: Somewhere direct hire

Has placed talent in 18+ countries across Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia.
Direct-hire fee range published.
Unlimited replacements during an On-Demand contract.

Ask for these in writing before you sign. Our questions to ask cover how.