Introduction
Remote work isn’t a trend anymore — it’s a lasting shift. For millions of professionals, the idea of a stable, long-term career without a daily commute is no longer a fantasy but a reality, thanks to companies that have embraced “remote-first” or permanent work-from-home policies.
If you’re hunting for a company where remote work is baked into the culture (not just a temporary perk), this guide highlights the best employers in the U.S. that offer permanent remote roles, what makes them stand out, who they’re best for, and practical tips to increase your chances of landing a remote job.
Below we profile leading remote-first or permanently remote employers, explain each company’s remote approach and perks, and give you tactical advice for applying.
Why choose permanently remote companies?
Before jumping into names, a quick note on why picking a remote-first employer matters:
- Culture designed for distributed teams. Processes, communication norms, and collaboration tools are created with remote work in mind — fewer awkward meetings, clearer async documentation, and greater focus on outcomes over presenteeism.
- Broader talent pools and geographic flexibility. Many remote-first companies hire across states (and sometimes countries), making it easier to find roles without relocating.
- Better work/life fit for many. Eliminating commutes and offering flexible hours can dramatically improve work-life balance — especially for caregivers, people outside major city hubs, and those with health or mobility constraints.
Now, let’s look at specific companies that consistently show up on lists of remote-first and permanently remote employers.
Top companies that offer permanent remote work
1) Automattic — WordPress’ parent and a poster child for remote-first work
Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, and more) has operated as a distributed company for years. They hire globally, run largely asynchronous workflows, and fund regular in-person meetups for teams that want them. If you value autonomy, open-source sensibilities, and a culture that trusts people to get work done from wherever they are, Automattic is a great fit.
Best for: engineers, product managers, community and content roles who thrive in written communication and asynchronous collaboration.
Perks: remote-first culture, global hiring, discretionary budgets for meetups and home office support.
2) GitLab — documented processes and remote playbooks
GitLab is famous for publishing its entire playbook — processes, handbooks, and remote practices — publicly. The company is fully remote and prides itself on transparency and structured async workflows, making it easy for new hires to understand how the company operates from day one. If you like clearly documented expectations and self-directed work, GitLab stands out.
Best for: engineering, DevOps, documentation, and product roles.
Perks: thorough documentation, remote onboarding playbooks, strong tooling for distributed teams.
3) Zapier — asynchronous-first and very remote-friendly
Zapier (automation platform) has long championed remote-first operations and helps other companies understand remote work via its blog and resources. They hire for a wide range of roles and emphasize async communication to reduce meeting overhead. Zapier frequently appears on curated lists of fully remote employers.
Best for: customer-facing roles, product, engineering, marketing.
Perks: remote-first culture, emphasis on async work, flexibility across U.S. time zones for many roles.
4) Buffer — radical transparency, calm culture
Buffer is another veteran remote employer renowned for transparent policies, open salaries (historically), and a culture that prioritizes calm, sustainable work. They’ve been remote for years and are especially attractive if you want a smaller, mission-driven company that values wellbeing and clear written communication.
Best for: marketing, customer success, operations, content creation.
Perks: transparent culture, remote benefits/wellness focus.
5) Doist — remote-first with a focus on deep work
Doist (makers of Todoist and Twist) is built around the idea of deep, focused, asynchronous work. The company supports flexible schedules and minimal meetings, making it a strong fit for people who want quiet, concentrated time to produce work.
Best for: product, engineering, design, and people who prefer async collaboration.
Perks: emphasis on results, generous time-off policies at many remote-first firms.
6) Toptal — marketplace for remote freelance talent
Toptal is a network that connects top freelance talent in design, development, finance, and product with companies that need them. While it’s a platform rather than a traditional employer, many people build long-term remote careers through Toptal and similar marketplaces. It’s particularly strong for highly skilled freelancers and consultants.
Best for: senior freelance developers, designers, product managers, and finance experts.
Perks: high-quality clients, remote-first contracts, flexibility.
7) Shopify (Digital by Default) — mix of remote and flexible options
Shopify declared itself “digital by default” during the pandemic and shifted many roles to be permanently remote or flexible. While not every position is remote (and some roles have regional requirements), Shopify remains a major employer offering many remote opportunities and remote-friendly policies for U.S.-based roles. Levels.fyi and other trackers list Shopify among firms with strong remote programs.
Best for: e-commerce product roles, engineering, design, and marketing.
Perks: strong benefits, remote allowances, and plenty of learning opportunities.
8) Upwork / Remote platforms — remote work facilitators and employers
Companies that operate marketplaces for remote work (Upwork, Remote.com, and others) not only enable remote work for millions but also hire remotely themselves. If you want wide exposure to remote roles or to build a freelance career, these platforms are valuable places to look and sometimes hire core teams remotely.
Best for: freelancers, contractors, and those interested in platform or product roles.
Perks: access to many clients, remote-first operations.
9) Smaller remote-first companies and startups — Buffer, Help Scout, Hotjar, Doist, InVision, and many more
Beyond big names, dozens of smaller companies—often in SaaS, analytics, and developer tooling—are fully remote or remote-first. Curated lists from job sites like Zapier, NoDesk, We Work Remotely, and Built In collect hundreds of companies actively hiring remote roles across the U.S. These firms often offer strong cultures, meaningful equity upside at startups, and highly flexible arrangements.
Best for: people who want startup pace, equity upside, or to specialize in product niches.
Perks: close-knit distributed teams, potential for faster career growth.
What “permanent remote companies” actually means — watch the fine print
“Permanent remote” isn’t one-size-fits-all. Here are common models you’ll see:
- Fully remote, global hires: The company hires anywhere (subject to local regulations) and work is entirely distributed. (e.g., Automattic, GitLab).
- Remote-first, regionally restricted: The company is remote-first but hires from specific countries or time zones (many U.S.-based startups do this). Zapier and others sometimes hire within certain time-zone bands.
- Hybrid with permanent remote options: Some big companies (Shopify, Airbnb historically) allow employees to be remote permanently but may have office hubs and occasional in-person expectations. Check policy per role.
- Role-dependent remote: Even at remote-friendly companies, some roles (hardware, onsite customer support, or certain leadership positions) may require physical presence.
Always read the job listing and company remote policy carefully — many lists and articles flag whether a company hires globally or only within the U.S. or specific states. FlexJobs and Levels.fyi maintain up-to-date summaries of company policies that are worth consulting when you apply.
Perks & benefits common at remote-first companies
Remote-first firms often offer a combination of:
- Home office stipends or equipment budgets.
- Internet and co-working stipends.
- Flexible hours and generous PTO (some remote firms offer unlimited or large fixed leave).
- Asynchronous communication norms (less meetings, more written docs).
- Global hiring and support for distributed teams (visa assistance varies).
- Stipends for meetups, travel, or co-working space for occasional in-person collaboration.
Who should consider permanent remote employers?
- Parents and caregivers who need schedule flexibility.
- People living outside major metro areas who want to avoid relocation.
- Neurodivergent professionals who prefer predictable, low-stimulus work setups.
- Digital nomads (when companies allow global remote work).
- Anyone prioritizing outcome-based work over face-time.
How to find and apply to permanent remote jobs?
- Use specialized job boards. Start with remote-first job sites: We Work Remotely, Remote.co, Zapier’s job list, NoDesk, Built In (remote filter), and FlexJobs. These sites curate remote roles and often flag companies’ remote policies.
- Read company remote policy pages. Companies like GitLab and Automatics publish handbooks or pages explaining how they distribute work. That clarity is gold when preparing for interviews.
- Tailor your resume for remote work. Highlight a sync communication skills, independent project ownership, tools you’ve used (Slack, Notion, Git, ClickUp), and results delivered without daily supervision.
- Prepare for a sync interviews. Many remote companies use written tasks, take-home assignments, or a sync recorded interviews. Treat these like mini-work samples — do them thoughtfully and communicate your reasoning.
- Demonstrate strong written communication. Remote work relies heavily on clear, concise writing — show examples (blog posts, documentation, reports) in your application or portfolio.
- Network in remote communities. Participate in remote work Slack communities, Twitter/X threads, and LinkedIn groups where hiring managers sometimes post roles informally.
Interview tips for remote-first companies
Show you can be autonomous. Use examples where you planned, executed, and delivered without day-to-day oversight.
Emphasize a sync communication. Tell stories about documentation you wrote, decisions you captured in tickets, or collaborators you led across time zones.
Be explicit about your workspace and schedule. Hiring teams want reassurance you have a reliable internet connection, a dedicated workspace, and awareness of how your time zone aligns with the team.
Ask about collaboration rituals. Ask whether teams use a sync docs, weekly demos, or periodic meetups — this shows you care about fit and logistics.
Quick list: Where to start your search?
1. Best Job Tool
The Best Job Tool is an online job search and career platform that helps students, freshers, and professionals to find the right job for them.
It creates a bridge between job seekers and employers. Currently, the platform mainly provides job listings related to IT and software where candidates can explore opportunities according to their skills.
It is a best job tool to find relevant jobs according to your skills and interests. It is a dynamic job search platform dedicated to connecting talented individuals with leading employers across various industries.
Key features :
- Has user-friendly interface.
- Provide comprehensive resources to help job seekers find their ideal roles.
- Offer detailed job descriptions, including responsibilities, qualifications, and requirements.
- Ensure candidates have all the information they need to make informed career decisions.
Explore top job opportunities and advance your career with Best Job Tool.
2. We Work Remotely
One of the largest job boards dedicated to remote jobs. It features roles in design, programming, marketing, and more.
Key features:
- This platform is only for remote jobs; you will not find any office jobs. All jobs are 100% remote.
- You can work worldwide from anywhere.
- You don’t have to sign up or pay money to apply for any jobs.
- You can save any jobs to see later and to apply to later.
- Set up email alerts to get notified when new jobs in your field are posted.
3. RemoteOK
A simple and user-friendly site that lists tech-focused remote jobs, perfect for developers, designers, and digital marketers.
Key features:
- Remote ok is only for remote jobs – no office jobs.
- You can see all types of jobs: full-time, part-time, freelance, and contract.
- It is a perfect tool for developers, designers, and digital marketers.
- It’s a free platform. Job seekers do not have to log in or subscribe to use it.
- Jobs are checked manually on the platform to avoid scams.
4. FlexJobs
A trusted platform that offers hand-screened remote, part-time, and freelance jobs across various industries. It’s ideal for professionals looking for flexible work options.
Key features:
- All jobs get checked manually on FlexJobs – no scams, only trusted and genuine jobs.
- You can easily search for jobs according to location, type, schedule, and industry with the help of a filter.
- Here you can mostly find remote, hybrid, part-time, and freelance jobs.
- You can create your professional profile and resume. You will get suggestions to improve your resume.
- Skill tests, career coaching, guides, and webinars are also available.
5. LinkedIn
The first one is LinkedIn. It is a professional networking platform where people create their professional profiles to showcase their skills, experience, and achievements. This is the best platform for finding professional jobs.
Key features:
- You can connect with the industry experts, recruiters, and professionals.
- You can use your LinkedIn profile as a digital resume.
- You can see all the information about the company and its job openings by following them.
- You can improve your skills through LinkedIn learning courses.
- Find full-time, part-time, remote, and freelance jobs. Set up job alerts based on your interests and location.
Conclusion
Permanent remote work can be liberating, but the best experience comes from joining companies that have intentionally built remote cultures. Look for organizations that publish remote playbooks, describe concrete support for distributed employees, and have transparent hiring processes. Start with proven remote-first companies (Automattic, GitLab, Zapier, Buffer, Doist) and widen your search to niche remote startups listed on curated boards. If you prepare your resume and interview examples around autonomy, async communication, and outcome-focused work, you’ll stand out.
Remote-first companies vary in size, product, and expectations — but the common thread is respect for independent contributors and the tools/processes to make distributed work productive. If you value flexibility, geographic freedom, and work designed for remote life, these companies are a great place to build a long-term career.







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