Best Vendors for Buying and Renting Laptops: A Practical Guide for Remote Teams [2026 Edition]

Equipping a distributed team sounds simple until you're coordinating laptop deliveries across twelve countries, chasing down devices from former employees in three time zones, and realizing your spreadsheet tracking system stopped working six months ago. What works for ten remote employees falls apart at fifty, and by the time you hit a hundred, IT spends more time on logistics than actual IT work.

This guide walks through how leading vendors handle buying, renting, delivering, retrieving, and managing laptops for remote teams—plus what separates platforms that actually scale from those that create more headaches than they solve.

Why IT asset management is mission-critical for distributed teams

Buying a laptop gives you long-term ownership and works well when your team is stable, while renting offers flexibility and lower upfront costs—especially helpful when headcount fluctuates or you're testing new markets. The right choice depends on how fast you're growing, where you're hiring, and whether you want to own assets or keep things flexible.

Here's what makes distributed teams tricky: every new hire in a different country needs a laptop that arrives on time, works out of the box, and meets your security standards—with remote workers using four device types on average, complexity multiplies quickly. When someone leaves, you've got to get that device back, wipe it clean, and figure out what to do with it next. If any step breaks down—delayed delivery, lost device, data sitting on an old laptop in someone's closet—you're dealing with security risks and wasted budget.

The problem gets bigger as you scale. Let's say you're hiring 150 people across Europe, Asia, and Latin America in one quarter. Now you're coordinating with vendors in different time zones, navigating customs rules you've never heard of, and tracking devices across spreadsheets that are outdated the moment you update them. IT teams end up spending hours on logistics instead of actual IT work, and finance has no clear view of what you own, where it is, or what it's worth.

Automation changes the game here. When your device management platform connects directly to your HRIS, new hires trigger device orders automatically, and offboarding kicks off retrieval without anyone lifting a finger—crucial since Glassdoor research shows strong onboarding improves retention by 82%. No more manual tracking, no more devices disappearing into the void, and no more former employees holding onto company hardware.

quipteams: global, frictionless IT asset management

quipteams eliminates the friction that slows down global IT teams. With no subscriptions, minimums, or exclusivity, you only pay for the devices you actually order. Local sourcing in 130+ countries means faster deliveries, no customs delays, and full visibility across procurement, delivery, retrieval, and storage—all through a single platform.

quipteams runs local operations in 130+ countries—procurement, delivery, retrieval, storage, and buyback—all through owned infrastructure, not third-party networks. That means you see transparent local pricing upfront, delivery happens in 2-4 days for 80% of orders, and there's no customs paperwork because everything sources and ships within the same country.

The platform handles the full lifecycle in one place. You order devices, track shipments in real time, schedule pickups when people leave, manage inventory across every location, and process buybacks when hardware reaches end-of-life. Pricing is itemized and local—no platform fees, no per-seat charges, no subscriptions, and no minimums.

HRIS integrations with BambooHR, Gusto, Deel, and Rippling automate everything. A new hire enters your system, and quipteams orders and ships their device automatically. Someone exits, and the platform schedules retrieval, arranges secure data wiping, and updates your inventory—all without IT involvement.

Companies like Mercor, Scale AI, X, Revolut, Ramp, Wise, and Webflow use quipteams, along with 350+ other companies managing distributed teams.

Meet Andy, our COO, and see how quipteams can help your distributed teams

How leading vendors compare

quipteams

quipteams handles procurement, delivery, retrieval, storage, and buyback across 130+ countries through local operations. The platform integrates with most HRIS systems to automate onboarding and offboarding, and pricing stays transparent with no hidden fees.

Key advantages:

• Direct local vendor network: 300+ local vendors and regional logistics partners across 130+ countries provide transparent local pricing and faster lead times without intermediaries—unlike most competitors who depend on third-party networks and middlemen that add markup and delays
• No subscriptions or minimums: Pay-as-you-go model with no ongoing commitments
• Fast local delivery: 80% of orders arrive in 2-4 days through local sourcing
• Full lifecycle management: From procurement through buyback and secure data destruction
• Deep HRIS integration: Automated workflows with BambooHR, Gusto, Deel, Rippling

Workwize

Workwize operates in 100+ countries with a subscription model that bundles laptops, monitors, and ergonomic furniture. The per-seat pricing simplifies budgeting if you want an all-in-one remote work setup, though costs accumulate quickly as headcount grows.

Delivery typically takes 5-10 days, and the platform includes retrieval services. Workwize handles setup and configuration, which reduces IT workload but requires more upfront coordination. The subscription structure works well for companies that prefer predictable monthly costs and don't mind per-seat fees that scale with team size.

Firstbase

Firstbase covers 95+ countries with a flat per-seat fee and strong automation features. The platform integrates deeply with HR systems to streamline onboarding, and delivery usually takes 7-14 days.

The catch: Firstbase requires exclusivity, meaning you commit to using them for all IT procurement—no mixing vendors based on region or need. Support can be limited during high-volume periods, and the exclusivity clause reduces flexibility if your needs change or you want to test other solutions.

Unduit

Unduit offers a freemium model with extensive integrations across HR, IT, and finance tools. The platform is powerful but has a steeper learning curve, especially for teams new to global IT asset management.

Coverage spans 80+ countries, though delivery can take 7-21 days depending on location. The freemium tier provides basic functionality, with transaction fees applying to orders. Unduit works well for companies that prioritize integration depth and are willing to invest time in platform setup.

Retriever

Retriever focuses exclusively on device retrieval and certified data wiping, operating primarily in the US, UK, and EU. If you already have procurement handled and need a reliable offboarding partner, Retriever offers per-retrieval pricing with no subscription.

The service includes secure packaging, logistics, and certified data destruction. However, Retriever doesn't handle procurement or delivery, so you'll need separate vendors for onboarding. Geographic coverage is also more limited compared to global platforms.

Esevel

Esevel serves APAC markets with pay-as-you-go pricing and no minimums. Delivery typically takes 5-10 days, and the platform covers buying, delivering, and retrieving devices.

Esevel is cost-effective for SMBs focused on Asia-Pacific, though integrations are limited and scaling to other regions requires additional vendors. The model works well if your team is concentrated in APAC and you want straightforward, regional procurement.

10 pro tips for seamless international device provisioning

1. Automate onboarding triggers before day one

Connect your HRIS to your device management platform so new hire entries automatically trigger device orders with enough lead time for local procurement and delivery. Devices arrive before or on the employee's start date without anyone placing manual orders or tracking deadlines across time zones.

2. Source locally to avoid customs delays

International shipping means customs clearance, which adds 7-14 days and often brings surprise duties or taxes. Local procurement within the employee's country skips customs entirely, delivers in 2-4 days instead of weeks, and gives you accurate local pricing upfront.

3. Standardize device configurations by role

Create device profiles for different roles—engineering, sales, operations—with pre-approved specs and software configurations. Ordering decisions get faster, teams stay consistent, and support gets easier when everyone in the same role has similar hardware.

4. Build retrieval into offboarding workflows

Automate device retrieval scheduling when employees exit your HRIS, including pre-paid return shipping labels and clear instructions. Fast retrieval reduces the risk of devices going missing and lets you redeploy or sell hardware while it still holds value.

5. Implement zero-touch deployment where possible

Use mobile device management (MDM) solutions that configure devices remotely as soon as they connect to the internet. IT doesn't touch each device manually, and employees start working immediately without technical assistance.

6. Track device assignments in real time

Maintain centralized visibility into which employee has which device, where it's located, and its current status—in use, in storage, or in transit. Real-time tracking prevents devices from disappearing and supports accurate financial reporting.

7. Plan for secure data wiping and storage

Establish protocols for wiping devices immediately upon retrieval, using certified data destruction methods that meet compliance requirements. Secure storage for wiped devices protects against data breaches and keeps inventory organized for redeployment.

8. Leverage buyback programs for end-of-life hardware

Instead of letting old devices accumulate in storage, use buyback programs that offer fair market value and handle secure data destruction. You recover capital, reduce storage costs, and ensure proper e-waste disposal.

9. Monitor lead times by country and vendor

Track actual delivery times by country and vendor to identify patterns and adjust ordering timelines. Some regions consistently deliver faster than others, and this data helps you set realistic expectations with hiring managers and new employees.

10. Integrate device spend with financial reporting

Connect device procurement data to your financial systems for accurate budget tracking, forecasting, and cost allocation by department or location. Finance gets visibility into IT asset spend, which helps with planning for growth and identifying optimization opportunities.

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FAQ

What's quipteams' biggest differentiator compared to competitors?

quipteams operates a direct network of 300+ local vendors and regional logistics partners across 130+ countries. This infrastructure provides transparent local pricing and faster lead times without intermediaries—unlike most competitors who depend on third-party networks and middlemen that add markup and delays. You get direct access to local procurement, which means better pricing, faster delivery, and no customs complications.

How fast can devices be delivered to new hires in different countries?

Delivery speed depends on whether devices source locally or ship internationally. Local procurement typically delivers in 2-4 days, while international shipping takes 10-14 days or more due to customs clearance. quipteams sources locally in 130+ countries, with 80% of deliveries arriving within 2-4 days.

What integrations are available for onboarding and offboarding automation?

HRIS platforms like BambooHR, Gusto, Deel, and Rippling integrate directly with device management platforms to trigger orders and retrievals automatically. These integrations sync employee data, start dates, locations, and exit dates to eliminate manual order placement and ensure devices arrive on time without IT involvement.

How does device retrieval and secure data wiping work?

When an employee offboards, the platform schedules a pickup with pre-paid return shipping, sends instructions to the employee, and tracks the device in transit. After retrieval, certified data wiping follows industry standards like NIST or DoD to ensure complete data destruction, and the device either gets redeployed, stored, or sold through buyback programs.

Are there any subscriptions, minimums, or exclusivity requirements with quipteams?

No. quipteams operates on a pay-as-you-go model with no subscriptions, no minimum order requirements, no platform fees, and no exclusivity agreements. You pay transparent local pricing for devices and services only when you use them, with no ongoing commitments or per-seat charges.

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