From Where We Started to Where We Are Now: Our Journey to G2 #1 Rankings

"Global work shouldn't be hard work. That was the conviction that started Native Teams."

It sounds straightforward now, but back then, the landscape was different. We were a small team facing a massive challenge: navigating complex global markets, solving the puzzle of cross-border compliance, and, most importantly, building trust from scratch. Fast forward to today, and the view is very different.

We are incredibly proud to announce that Native Teams has earned multiple #1 rankings in the G2 Winter 2026 Reports, securing top spots across our core Employer of Record (EOR), payroll, and contractor payments categories.

This isn’t just about badges; it’s about the journey we took to get here.

The early days, where we started

If you look back at our "version 1," you might not recognise us. We began with a singular vision and a tiny team wearing multiple hats (often at the same time).

• The vision: To democratise access to global work. We wanted to ensure that talent in emerging markets had the same financial freedom and security as those in major tech hubs.
• The product: Our early iterations were focused strictly on the basics, freelancer invoicing and payments and simple payroll solutions. We needed to prove that cross-border payments could be fast, transparent, and compliant.
• The challenges: We were the new kids on the block. We had to build global compliance networks one country at a time, figure out cross-border payout logistics, and convince early adopters to trust a startup with their livelihoods.
• Our first believers: We relied heavily on our early customer base: freelancers, digital nomads, and small localised businesses. They gave us the brutal, honest feedback we needed to survive, telling us precisely what worked and, more importantly, what didn't.

A look back at the original Native Teams dashboard.

The turning points

Growth didn't happen overnight. It happened in chapters, marked by key milestones that transformed us from a payment tool into a comprehensive global work platform.

• Expanding the suite: We moved beyond simple features to offer complete employment services and global work payments, allowing companies to hire, pay and manage full-time employees anywhere.
• Financial empowerment for workers: We didn't just want to be a payroll processor; we wanted to be a financial hub. We launched the Native Teams wallet and Native Teams card, giving workers instant access to their funds and the ability to spend globally, physically or virtually.
• Infrastructure & compliance upgrade: As we grew to support over 85+ countries, we invested heavily in our own infrastructure. We moved from relying on partners to building our own compliance frameworks, ensuring we could handle the complexities of local tax laws, social security, and benefits.
• The "all-in-one" evolution: We introduced solutions like Entity Management, allowing businesses not just to use us as an EOR, but to get help setting up their own hiring infrastructure.  We expanded our platform to support businesses working with every type of talent, from contractors and gig workers to full-time employees, providing a single, unified solution for local and global payments, automated payroll, flexible contracts, and total compliance.

The evolution at a glance:

Then	Now
1–2 core features	A complete global work platform (everything you need for global payments and employment)
Small, localised customer base	Global reach (supporting 85+ countries & 1500+ companies)
"Can we do this?"	"Here is how we do this."

 

Where we are now, powered by customer trust

All those years of renewal and listening have led to this moment. The G2 Winter 2026 reports are out, and the results speak for themselves. These awards are particularly special to us because they aren't based on marketing spend or board nominations. They are based entirely on verified user reviews.

Here is where Native Teams stands today:

🏅 #1 Relationship index for multi-country payroll (overall)

• Badges earned: Best relationship. Easiest doing business with. Quality of support.
• What this means: It proves we are providing a reliable, trusted payroll experience across borders. Payroll is personal, and our users trust us to get it right.

 

🏅 #1 Relationship index for Employer of Record (overall)

• Badges earned: Best relationship. Easiest doing business with. Quality of support.
• What this means: EOR services require a high degree of legal and human trust. This ranking confirms that our customers appreciate the relationships we build to support their global teams.

🏅 #1 Results index for multi-country contractor payroll (small business)

• Badges earned: Best results. Users most likely to recommend.
• What this means: This is clear evidence of real, positive business outcomes. SMBs are using our contractor payroll to save time, reduce admin, and grow their businesses.

🏅 #1 Relationship index for contractor payments (overall)

• Badges earned: Best support. Best relationship.
• What this means: Contractors experience smooth, well-supported, consistent payouts, no matter where they are located.

What these wins mean to us

Receiving these badges is a moment of celebration, but also a moment of deep validation for our philosophy.

• Proof of value at scale: These awards confirm that Native Teams delivers real value, not just for a handful of users, but for thousands of employees and companies worldwide.
• The power of "people-centric": We have always said we are "people-centric," and the "best relationship" badges prove that this isn't just a buzzword. It represents years of iterating based on your feedback.
• Support is our backbone: The "quality of support" badges are the ones we cherish most. They highlight the strength, empathy, and expertise of our customer success teams who work across time zones to solve problems.
• Roadmap validation: It shows us that our product roadmap is aligned with what the market actually needs; transparency, flexibility, and absolute compliance.

The people behind the product

Software doesn't build itself, and support tickets don't answer themselves. We have grown from a handful of founders to a team of 300+ employees globally.

These awards belong to the people behind the screen. From our engineering and product teams who turn complex compliance laws into simple code, to our operations and legal experts navigating local bureaucracies, and especially our customer support team, who are on the front lines every day helping businesses work.

This journey has been, and always will be, deeply human-centred.

What comes next

While we are incredibly proud of "where we are now," in the world of global work, standing still is the same as moving backwards. For us, these G2 badges aren't a finish line; they are the new baseline. 

We have a roadmap designed to tackle the next generation of employment challenges, ensuring that as your team grows, our platform evolves ahead of it.

• Enhanced solutions: We continually improve the tools you use and love every day based on user feedback, and we strive to incorporate more integrations into our products.
• AI enhancements: Global compliance is complex, but managing it shouldn't be. We’re working on new AI-powered features to simplify administrative burdens and practices for our users.
• Unlocking new markets: We currently support 85+ countries, but our mission is truly global. We are actively working on expanding our infrastructure into new, complex, and high-potential regions. We are opening doors to talent pools that were previously difficult to access, ensuring that you can hire the best person for the job.

And a focus that never changes: Each growth journey is unique, and wherever you are on this path, we power the essentials behind the scenes: Global employment. Simplified payments. Full compliance.

You lead the way. We’re the partner in the background, at every stage of your growth. 

A note to our community

To our community of businesses, global employers, and the teams behind them - thank you!

We couldn't have reached #1 without you.

Thank you for challenging us to be better, for your patience as we grew, and for championing us on G2. These badges are proof that when we listen to you, great things happen. Software is nothing without the people who use it. 

Every review you wrote and every piece of feedback you sent, has directly influenced the platform we have today. These G2 rankings aren't just a win for our team; they are validation that we are solving the correct problems for you.

We are just getting started. The best version of Native Teams is the one we are building for you tomorrow.

Ready to grow with us?

• Learn more about our global payroll services.
  
   
• Explore our award-winning EOR solutions.
  
   
• See our G2 profile.
  
   
• Follow us on LinkedIn for updates.