AbroadWorks vs. Somewhere: Which Offshore Staffing Agency Is Right for Your Business?
Key Takeaways
- AbroadWorks offers fully managed offshore hiring with recruitment, payroll, HR, and ongoing support included.
- Somewhere provides both Direct Hire and Talent On-Demand models, giving businesses more flexibility based on their hiring needs.
- Somewhere is generally the faster option for candidate presentation, while AbroadWorks emphasizes customized recruiting for stronger long-term matches.
- AbroadWorks is ideal for businesses that want a hands-off hiring experience, while Somewhere suits companies with existing HR resources.
- Both agencies provide access to skilled offshore professionals, but their pricing models and post-hire support differ significantly.
- The best choice depends on whether you prefer a managed staffing partner or a direct-hire recruiting solution.
When you're looking for an offshore staffing agency, don't just focus on the cost. Think about the support your business needs, the specific positions you want to fill, whether you need a part-time or long-term hire, or just a one-time hire.
In this guide, we’re going to take a look at two options: AbroadWorks and Somewhere. We have compared their services, prices, hiring speed, and the support they provide so you can decide which agency might be the best fit for you.
Why Businesses Compare AbroadWorks and Somewhere
Both AbroadWorks and Somewhere have the same audience. They focus on helping small and medium-sized businesses hire skilled remote talent without the hassle of setting up international entities or handling compliance themselves.
But they take meaningfully different approaches. AbroadWorks acts as a full-service offshore staffing agency, handling everything from recruitment and onboarding to payroll and HR support. Somewhere works as a talent placement service with two main options: a direct-hire model where you take over once the hire is made, and a Talent On-Demand option that includes more ongoing support.
Understanding that difference upfront is the key to choosing the right one for your business.
How We Evaluated These Agencies
We assessed both agencies based on pricing transparency, quality of service, hiring scope, talent regions covered, and what both clients and employees have said about working with them. We reviewed feedback from Trustpilot, Clutch, Glassdoor, and Google Reviews, and looked beyond star ratings to identify recurring themes, both positive and critical, across real user experiences.
AbroadWorks
AbroadWorks works with small and medium-sized businesses to hire dedicated offshore talent from the Philippines, India, South Africa, and Latin America. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all virtual assistants, they match businesses with full-time professionals based on their custom hiring needs.
Core Service
AbroadWorks handles the full hiring process, from finding candidates and running assessments to onboarding, payroll, HR support, and performance tracking. Each role starts with a job description tailored to the client's needs, making it a good fit for specialized clients that many VA providers can't easily cover.
They focus on full-time hires who can work as part of your team, not short-term contractors. This makes it a strong option for businesses that want to build long-term offshore teams without managing HR internally.
Hiring Scope
Industries Supported: AbroadWorks works with a wide range of industries, with a focus on knowledge and operations roles, including Tech & SaaS, e-commerce, marketing and advertising, professional services, accounting and finance, customer support, and legal and compliance.
Roles They Hire: AbroadWorks hires a wide range of roles, including but not limited to Customer Support Representatives, Virtual Assistants, Bookkeepers & Accountants, Marketing Specialists, Operations Managers, HR & Admin Specialists, AI Prompt Engineers & AI Video Content Creators, and Paralegals & Legal Assistants.
Talent Vetting Process
Candidates go through several stages before they are shared with clients, including competency-based tests and culture fit interviews. This makes the candidates match the role better.
Time to Hire
AbroadWorks usually sends a candidate to a client within 1 to 3 weeks, depending on how niche the role is. Because each position is customized, the process may take slightly longer than other platforms, but it leads to a more accurate match.
Replacement Policy
AbroadWorks supports clients if a hire doesn't work out. Their team stays involved after hiring, monitors performance, and addresses issues early, helping reduce the need for replacements. If the employee is not meeting expectations, they will find a replacement for free.
Contract Flexibility
AbroadWorks focuses on hiring full-time and long-term employees. There are no locked-in contracts, but their business model is designed for businesses that want to build a lasting offshore team instead of short-term roles.
Communication & Account Management
One of AbroadWorks' most frequently praised strengths is its open communication. Clients consistently highlight that the relationship doesn't end after hiring; they have an account manager who gives them proactive updates during the hiring process, and they feel supported well after the hire is made. See actual client reviews on Clutch.
Talent Pool Size & Availability
AbroadWorks pulls the majority of their talents from the Philippines, India, South Africa, and Latin America, giving them a wide mix of skills across both knowledge and operations roles. Instead of working from a fixed pool, they run a fresh search for every client, so availability changes depending on the role. Since they hire globally, they're usually able to find strong candidates across the regions for most positions.
Geographic Compliance & EOR
AbroadWorks offers Employer of Record (EOR) services, handling local labor law compliance, benefits administration, and payroll across multiple countries. This is a significant advantage for businesses that want to hire internationally without setting up a local entity or managing cross-border employment law on their own.
Pricing
AbroadWorks’ pricing depends on the niche, experience, and location of the talent preferred by the clients. Entry-level virtual assistants usually start at around $9 per hour, and can go up depending on the complexity of the job description.
It's not a subscription model. You're paying for a fit-time dedicated employee, so your rice reflects the actual role and value you're hiring for. Many clients feel the quality of their service and long-term retention make the cost worth it over time.
Client Feedback
Clients often highlight AbroadWorks' responsiveness and the smooth, hassle-free hiring experience. Many describe the relationship as a partnership, noting the team's ongoing support even after a hire is made and their commitment to finding candidates who are the right long-term fit. See actual client reviews on Clutch.
Employee Benefits and Feedback
AbroadWorks employees get 5 paid vacation days, guaranteed 5% annual raises, paid breaks, and full healthcare coverage. Employees mention stability, professionalism, and fair management as reasons they stay, which also helps drive better client retention. See their 4.5-star Glassdoor rating here.
Best Use Case
Choose AbroadWorks if you want a simpler way to hire talent from other countries. They handle everything from sourcing candidates to managing HR and compliance, and also continue to provide support even after the hire is made.
It's great for small and medium-sized businesses looking to build long-term teams instead of simply filling roles as quickly as possible.
AbroadWorks is best for businesses that want a fully managed, long-term hiring partner, not just a staffing platform.
Somewhere
Somewhere (formerly Support Shepherd) is a remote staffing company that helps businesses hire full-time offshore talent from Latin America, South Africa, and the Philippines. With over 4,500 companies served and 8,000+ hires placed, they're one of the more established names in the direct-hire offshore space.
Somewhere offers two service models: Direct Hire, where they source and place candidates and the client manages them post-hire, and Talent On-Demand, a managed monthly model with more ongoing support. Both are zero-risk, and you only pay if you hire.
Core Service
Somewhere helps businesses that want to hire global talent quickly and affordably. Its Direct Hire model provides pre-screened candidates in as little as three days and uses a one-time fee instead of an ongoing subscription. That makes it a strong choice for companies that prefer to handle HR and employee management themselves after the hiring process is complete.
Their Talent On-Demand model offers a more managed experience, handling compliance, payroll, and ongoing support on a monthly basis, making it a closer equivalent to a full-service staffing model.
Hiring Scope
Industries Supported: Somewhere serves a broad range of industries, including E-commerce, Tech & SaaS, Marketing & Agencies, Real Estate, Customer Support, Finance & Accounting, and Professional Services.
Roles They Hire: Somewhere sources a wide variety of roles, including Virtual Assistants, Customer Support Representatives, Social Media Managers, Bookkeepers & Accountants, Sales Development Representatives (SDRs), Executive Assistants, Data Entry & Admin roles, Marketing Coordinators, Software Engineers, Graphic Designers, and more.
Talent Vetting Process
Somewhere has a large talent pool that is already pre-vetted. Candidates are screened based on their English proficiency, relevant experience, and their overall fit for the role before they get presented to the clients. This speeds up the process and qualified candidates are sent to the clients within 3 days after starting the search.
Time to Hire
Somewhere's Direct Hire model gets candidates in front of you in about 3 days, and most hires are done in 2 to 4 weeks. Talent On-Demand usually takes 10-20 days. The speed comes from their already vetted candidate pool, which is an advantage for businesses that need support as soon as possible.
Replacement Policy
Direct hires come with a six-month guarantee, which includes one free replacement if the hire doesn’t work out during that time. Talent On-Demand goes a step further, offering unlimited replacements throughout the contract, making it a stronger safety net for businesses that need ongoing flexibility.
Contract Flexibility
Somewhere has flexible pricing. Direct Hire is a one-time fee with no ongoing charges after you hire someone. Talent On-Demand is billed monthly and is better for ongoing hiring support without a long contract. Both options require a refundable $500 deposit.
Communication & Account Management
Somewhere provides account support during the search and placement process. Their team is described by clients as responsive and organized, and they were able to review candidates easily. After hiring, support is limited under the Direct Hire model since the daily operations, onboarding, and managing the employees' performance are transferred fully to the client. Read client reviews on Trustpilot.
Talent Pool Size & Availability
Somewhere has built a significant candidate network and can source talent across Latin America, South Africa, and the Philippines. Their long track record, which spans back to 2009 and their earlier brand as Support Shepherd, has given them deep roots in the LATAM and Philippine talent markets in particular. The variety of roles they can source is wide, from administrative and ops roles all the way through software engineering, finance, and creative niches.
Geographic Compliance & EOR
Somewhere offers Somewhere EOR, an all-in-one payroll and benefits platform for global teams. They partnered with Multiplier and Deel to offer their clients access to discounted EOR services. This is an advantage for businesses that need to be compliant with overseas employment but don't have the resources to do it on their own.
Pricing
Somewhere's Direct Hire pricing includes a fully refundable $500 deposit to kick off the search, and once an offer is signed, clients pay a one-time fee of 25-35% of the hire's first year's salary.
There are no subscriptions, retainers, or hidden fees. The Talent On-Demand model uses custom monthly pricing based on the role and experience level, with all costs shared during the consultation. See pricing details here.
Client Feedback
Clients on Trustpilot often mention the speed, quality of candidates, and how easy the process is. Many share positive feedback, especially for sales, operations, and executive assistant roles in LATAM. Some reviewers note that candidate quality can vary depending on the role or region, and that post-hiring support is more limited under the Direct Hire model.
Employee Benefits and Feedback
Because Somewhere places workers as direct hires under the client's payroll (or through EOR), benefits depend on what the client company offers. Somewhere does not guarantee standard benefits packages for placed employees under the Direct Hire clients. Under the Talent On-Demand model, compliance and payroll are managed through the EOR partnership, which includes benefits as part of the package. Read employee reviews on Glassdoor.
Best Use Case
Somewhere is great if you already have internal HR support and want to hire global talent without ongoing agency fees. You just pay for the placement.
Direct Hire is best for permanent operational roles, while Talent On-Demand is better for teams that want more hands-on support as they scale.
Somewhere is best for businesses that want a fast, cost-efficient way to hire offshore talent and are ready to manage the employee directly after placement.
AbroadWorks vs. Somewhere: Side-by-Side Comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the main difference between AbroadWorks and Somewhere? AbroadWorks is a full-service offshore staffing agency that handles the entire hiring process for you, including recruiting, onboarding, payroll, HR, and performance management. Somewhere offers two options: Direct Hire, where you manage the employee after placement, and Talent On-Demand, which includes ongoing monthly support with EOR services. The best choice depends on how much you want to manage in-house after hiring.
- Which is more affordable, AbroadWorks or Somewhere? Somewhere’s Direct Hire costs 25-35% of the hire’s first-year salary. AbroadWorks is priced per role and includes ongoing HR and support, so it usually costs more than Somewhere.
- Does Somewhere offer EOR services? Yes. Somewhere EOR is powered by Multiplier and Deel, offering global payroll and compliance support at discounted rates for Somewhere clients. AbroadWorks also offers its own native EOR services.
- How long does it take to hire through each agency? Somewhere can present candidates in about 3 days, with most hires completed in 2-4 weeks. AbroadWorks usually makes a hire in 1-3 weeks, depending on how complex the role is.
- What happens if a hire doesn't work out? Somewhere's Direct Hire model includes a 6-month perfect-hire guarantee with one free replacement. Their Talent On-Demand model offers unlimited replacements within the contract period. AbroadWorks will find a replacement for free. If the client doesn't want to replace the hire, all work hours to date will be deducted from the security deposit, and the remainder will be refunded.
- Can I hire part-time workers through either agency? Both agencies mainly focus on full-time hires. For part-time or task-based support, subscription VA services like Magic or Wing are usually a better fit.
- Which agency is better for specialized roles? AbroadWorks creates a custom job description and runs a targeted search for each role, making it a better fit for specialized or non-standard positions. Somewhere uses a pre-built talent pool, which works well for more common operational roles. The right choice depends on the business’s needs.
Final Thoughts
AbroadWorks and Somewhere both help businesses hire global talent, but they serve different needs.
If you want a full-service offshore staffing partner that handles recruiting, onboarding, payroll, and ongoing HR support, AbroadWorks is the best fit. Their business model takes the HR work off your plate so you can focus on running and growing your business.
If you already have an internal HR structure, want direct control over your hire from day one, and prefer a flat fee rather than an ongoing management cost, Somewhere offers a fast and cost-efficient path to placement. Their Talent On-Demand model is also worth considering for teams that want more infrastructure support as they scale.
Remember, the best agency isn't the cheapest one, it's the one that fits how your team actually operates and how much you're set up to handle in the long term.
