Revelo markets itself as a simple way for U.S. companies to hire vetted Latin American engineers fast. The pitch is compelling: curated candidates, overlapping time zones, and a single partner that can also handle payroll, benefits, and compliance so you don’t have to assemble a dozen tools just to get someone started.
But if you’re building a budget (or answering to a CFO), the real question isn’t “can I hire with Revelo?”; it’s “what will this actually cost over 3, 6, and 12 months?”
This guide breaks down Revelo’s commercial model in simple words. We’ll cover how pricing is typically structured (hourly vs. longer-term arrangements), which variables move the number up or down (seniority, stack scarcity, country, notice periods), and the less-obvious items that can sneak into your run-rate (FX cushions, conversion fees, holiday coverage, ramp time).
By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of Revelo’s advantages, the trade-offs to weigh, and a checklist of questions to ask sales so your forecasts don’t blow up mid-quarter.
Revelo Pricing Overview
What Revelo publishes. Revelo’s site highlights transparent, flexible pricing with no hidden fees, no upfront contracts, cancel anytime, and a 14-day risk-free trial (“pay only if you’re happy”). It does not publish a public rate card; final numbers are quoted per role, stack, and seniority.
What third-party reviews commonly report. Multiple independent roundups and reviews cite developer rates in the ~$50–$70/hour range and mention a non-refundable ~$500 start/initiation fee.
Some also note conversion and buyout clauses if you later move the developer to your own payroll (e.g., paying remaining service fees up front). Treat these as directional until you confirm in your SOW.
Typical commercial shapes you’ll encounter
- Hourly staff augmentation. You’re quoted an hourly rate for a full-time contractor (usually 40 hrs/week). Billing is monthly and may include platform and service fees in addition to the developer’s pay.
- “All-in” operations (payroll, compliance, and benefits). Revelo positions itself as a one-partner solution that can handle payroll, taxes, and local compliance; convenience that’s priced into your agreement rather than a separate, public list price.
- Trial & pilot engagements. 14-day risk-free trial language is common across their role pages; confirm whether “pay nothing if not satisfied” applies to your exact role and start date.
Price movers to expect in quotes
- Seniority & scarcity (e.g., senior AI/infra > mid-level web).
- Country & currency dynamics (FX cushions, local benefits norms).
- Notice periods, holidays, and overlap hours (true U.S.-hours coverage can nudge rates).
- Blended services (if AM/QA/PM support is bundled, your effective coding rate may differ).
Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
Ramp time & knowledge transfer
Your meter runs while the engineer learns your stack, repos, infra, and processes. For complex systems, that can be 40–80+ hours before full velocity.
Notice periods & idle weeks
“Cancel anytime” often still means 2–4 weeks’ notice, plus paid regional holidays/PTO where work pauses but billing continues.
FX cushions & payment fees
You’re billed in USD, but talent is paid locally. Small FX buffers, wire fees, or currency swings can add a few percent to your run-rate.
Blended rates vs. pure build time
“Included” AM/QA/PM support is convenient, but it dilutes hands-on coding time at the same hourly rate.
Conversion/buyout clauses
If you later want to hire the contractor directly, a remaining-fees or lump-sum buyout may apply.
Tooling & licenses
Seats for Jira, GitHub, CI, design tools, security scanners, and VPN/MDM are not free, and some require enterprise tiers for external contractors.
Time-zone premiums
True U.S. hours, especially late PST coverage, can carry a premium versus standard LATAM working hours.
What You’d Really Pay by Hiring on Revelo (example scenarios)
Below are illustrative, math-first estimates to help you understand how the run rate is determined once you translate an hourly quote into a 12-month budget.
Scenario A — 1 Senior Full-Stack (midpoint rate)
Assumptions: $60/hr, full-time (2,080 hrs/year), reported $500 start fee, +3–5% cushion for FX/processing/overhead (varies by contract).
- Core labor: $60 × 2,080 = $124,800
- Fees/FX estimate (3–5%): +$3,744 to +$6,240
- Start/initiation fee: +$500
- Year-one range: $129,044 – $131,540
Scenario B — 1 Senior AI/ML Engineer (top of standard band)
Assumptions: $70/hr, 2,080 hrs/year, $500 start, +3–5% cushion.
- Core labor: $70 × 2,080 = $145,600
- Fees/FX estimate (3–5%): +$4,368 to +$7,280
- Start/initiation fee: +$500
- Year-one range: $150,468 – $153,380
Scenario C — 1 Mid-Level Full-Stack (lower band)
Assumptions: $55/hr, 2,080 hrs/year, $500 start, +3–5% cushion.
- Core labor: $55 × 2,080 = $114,400
- Fees/FX estimate (3–5%): +$3,432 to +$5,720
- Start/initiation fee: +$500
- Year-one range: $118,332 – $120,620
Scenario D — Small Pod (3 hires)
Assumptions: Senior ($60/hr) + Mid ($55/hr) + QA ($50/hr), 2,080 hrs each, $500 start once, +3–5% cushion.
- Core labor: ($60 + $55 + $50) × 2,080 = $343,200
- Fees/FX estimate (3–5%): +$10,296 to +$17,160
- Start/initiation fee: +$500
- Year-one range: $353,996 – $360,860
Advantages of Hiring on Revelo
Time-zone alignment with the U.S.
LATAM engineers overlap U.S. business hours, enabling real-time collaboration and faster feedback loops.
All-in operations
Revelo can act like an EOR layer, so you don’t need a local entity or multiple vendors.
Trial and flexibility
“Risk-free” 14-day trial, cancel anytime, and no upfront contracts; useful for piloting roles without long commitments.
Large vetted talent network (incl. AI skills)
Revelo markets 400k+ pre-vetted engineers and has seen rising demand tied to LLM/AI work.
LATAM expertise by country
Country guides and hub articles recommend familiarity with local labor laws and talent pools (e.g., Chile, Mexico, and Brazil).
Disadvantages of Hiring on Revelo
No public rate card
You’ll get custom quotes rather than list pricing, which makes apples-to-apples comparisons harder until you collect proposals.
Reported upfront/initiation fee & possible conversion costs
Several independent reviews note a non-refundable ~$500 start fee and buyout-style terms if you later hire the developer directly.
Blended time vs. pure build time
If account management/QA/PM support is “included,” not every billed hour is hands-on coding; clarify allocations so velocity matches what you’re paying for. (Common with managed staffing models.)
Policy headlines need fine print
“No hidden fees,” “cancel anytime,” and “risk-free 14-day trial” appear in marketing, but you should still verify notice windows, holiday/PTO handling, and what “risk-free” covers for your role/start date.
Potential rate premiums for strict U.S. hours
True overlap, especially late PST coverage, can price higher than standard local schedules.
Transparent Pricing: South vs. Revelo
Scaling shouldn’t require a magnifying glass. South uses a clear, no-surprises model that keeps your budget under control.
What you won’t see: deposits, subscriptions, or percentage mark-ups.
What you will see: one flat monthly fee that covers everything your remote hire needs to stay effective.
How it works:
- A single consolidated invoice each month; our service fee is already included.
- No hidden add-ons and no end-of-cycle surprises.
- Steady, predictable costs so you can forecast, compare candidates, and scale with confidence.
From day one, you get full cost visibility, exactly what goes to talent and what covers our support.
South acts as your hiring partner, not just a vendor: we benchmark compensation, surface standout candidates, and clarify market expectations.
Explore salary benchmarks for remote LATAM talent by role and industry, or book a complimentary consultation for a tailored quote. The call is free, and you only pay a fee if you decide to hire.
The Takeaway
Revelo can work if you want quick access to vetted LATAM developers and you’re fine with navigating plan details and any add-ons to get the final price. If your priority is predictable, line-item clarity, and time-zone–aligned talent without surprises, it’s worth benchmarking against a flat, transparent model.
South offers pre-vetted LATAM talent on a simple flat monthly fee; no deposits, no fuzzy markups, just clear costs you can forecast.
Schedule a call with us to get a role-specific cost comparison and different profiles tailored to your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does hiring through Revelo typically cost?
Revelo doesn’t publish a universal rate card; marketing emphasizes “transparent, flexible pricing.” Third-party roundups report ~$45–$100+/hour depending on stack and seniority.
Is there an upfront deposit or setup fee?
Some reviewers report a $500 non-refundable upfront fee; another recent comparison says Revelo removed that policy.
Is there a free trial or guarantee?
Revelo’s pricing page advertises a risk-free, 2-week trial: “pay only if you’re happy.” Ask what’s covered (refund vs. replacement, billable hours) in your agreement.
Does Revelo handle payroll/EOR, and how is it priced?
Yes. Revelo offers payroll/EOR solutions with multiple plan options, but list pricing isn’t consistently public; expect to speak with sales for a quote.
What savings or reach does Revelo claim?
Revelo markets 30–50%+ cost savings vs. U.S. talent and highlights access to a large LATAM developer network (time-zone aligned).
