Oyster HR Review

ByObeydul Haque Reading Time: 7 minutes

Oyster HR is a global employment platform that enables companies to hire, pay, and manage employees and contractors in over 180 countries. Launched in 2020, Oyster focuses on automating compliance with local labor laws, managing international payroll, and offering competitive benefits packages tailored to different regions. The platform is particularly appealing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups looking to expand globally without the burden of establishing legal entities in every country.

Oyster operates as an Employer of Record (EOR) service, meaning it acts as the legal employer for workers in countries where a business lacks a local entity. This allows companies to hire talent compliantly while Oyster handles tax filings, payroll, and other regulatory requirements. Additionally, Oyster supports contractor management, offering tools to streamline payments and ensure compliance with local regulations.

Key Features

1. Global Hiring and Employer of Record Services

Oyster’s flagship feature is its EOR service, which enables businesses to hire full-time employees in countries where they do not have a legal presence. The platform handles:

  • Local compliance: Ensures adherence to local labor laws, including contracts, taxes, and mandatory benefits.
  • Onboarding: Provides customizable employment contracts and streamlined onboarding processes.
  • Payroll management: Manages salary disbursements, tax withholdings, and statutory contributions in local currencies.

Oyster’s EOR services cover a wide range of countries, making it a versatile option for businesses targeting diverse talent pools.

2. Contractor Management

For businesses working with freelancers or contractors, Oyster offers tools to:

  • Classify contractors correctly to avoid misclassification risks.
  • Automate contractor agreements and payments.
  • Ensure compliance with local tax and labor regulations.
  • Pay contractors in their preferred currency with transparent fee structures.

This feature is particularly valuable for companies with hybrid workforces that include both employees and contractors.

3. Payroll Automation

Oyster’s payroll system integrates with its EOR and contractor management tools, allowing businesses to:

  • Process payroll for employees and contractors in multiple countries from a single platform.
  • Automate tax calculations and deductions.
  • Generate payslips and compliance reports.
  • Support multiple payment methods, including bank transfers and digital wallets.

4. Benefits Administration

Oyster provides access to localized benefits packages, such as health insurance, pensions, and other perks, tailored to the regulations and cultural expectations of each country. This ensures that employees receive competitive benefits while the employer remains compliant.

5. HR Integrations and Analytics

Oyster integrates with popular HR tools like BambooHR, Workday, and Slack, enabling seamless data flow between systems. It also offers analytics and reporting features to track workforce metrics, such as headcount, payroll costs, and compliance status.

6. Knowledge Base and Support

Oyster’s platform includes a comprehensive knowledge base with guides on international hiring, compliance, and payroll. Additionally, it offers dedicated customer support through email, chat, and account managers for enterprise clients.

Usability and User Experience

Oyster HR’s platform is designed with user-friendliness in mind. The interface is clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate, even for users with limited HR or compliance expertise. Key aspects of the user experience include:

  • Dashboard: A centralized dashboard provides an overview of workforce metrics, pending tasks, and compliance alerts.
  • Guided Workflows: Step-by-step guides simplify processes like employee onboarding, contract creation, and payroll setup.
  • Mobile Access: While Oyster does not currently offer a dedicated mobile app, the platform is mobile-optimized for use on browsers.
  • Localization: The platform supports multiple languages and currencies, making it accessible to global teams.

However, some users have reported that the onboarding process for new countries can be slow, particularly when dealing with complex regulatory environments. Additionally, while the platform is intuitive, businesses with highly customized HR workflows may find the system less flexible than enterprise-grade solutions like Rippling or Deel.

Pricing

Oyster HR operates on a subscription-based pricing model with three main plans:

  1. Contractor Plan: Starting at $29 per contractor per month, this plan includes contractor management, compliance tools, and payment processing.
  2. Employee Plan: Starting at $499 per employee per month (for EOR services), this plan covers full-time employee hiring, payroll, benefits, and compliance.
  3. Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for businesses with complex needs, including dedicated account managers and advanced integrations.

Oyster charges a one-time onboarding fee for new employees (typically $500-$1,000, depending on the country) and may apply additional fees for benefits administration or currency conversion. Compared to competitors like Deel or Remote, Oyster’s pricing is competitive, though some users note that the onboarding fees can add up for businesses hiring in multiple countries.

Oyster offers a free demo and transparent pricing on its website, allowing businesses to estimate costs before committing. However, the lack of a free tier or trial period may deter smaller companies from testing the platform.

Strengths

1. Comprehensive EOR Services

Oyster’s EOR capabilities are robust, covering a wide range of countries and handling complex compliance requirements. This makes it an excellent choice for businesses expanding into new markets.

2. Contractor Management

The platform’s contractor management tools are a standout feature, offering automation, compliance checks, and flexible payment options that cater to the gig economy.

3. User-Friendly Interface

Oyster’s intuitive design and guided workflows make it accessible to businesses without dedicated HR teams, reducing the learning curve.

4. Localized Benefits

The ability to offer competitive, region-specific benefits enhances employee satisfaction and helps businesses attract top talent.

5. Scalability

Oyster is suitable for businesses of all sizes, from startups hiring their first international employee to enterprises managing distributed teams.

Weaknesses

1. Onboarding Delays

Some users report delays in onboarding employees in certain countries, particularly those with stringent labor regulations. This can be a drawback for businesses needing to hire quickly.

2. Limited Customization

While Oyster is highly automated, it lacks the flexibility of some competitors for businesses with unique HR or payroll requirements.

3. Cost for Small Businesses

The onboarding fees and per-employee pricing may be prohibitive for startups or small businesses with limited budgets, especially when hiring in multiple countries.

4. No Mobile App

The absence of a dedicated mobile app may inconvenience users who prefer managing HR tasks on the go.

5. Learning Curve for Complex Features

While the platform is generally user-friendly, some advanced features, such as benefits administration in niche markets, may require additional training or support.

Comparison with Competitors

To provide context, let’s compare Oyster HR with two key competitors: Deel and Remote.

Oyster vs. Deel

  • Features: Deel offers similar EOR and contractor management services but has a broader range of integrations and supports equity management, which Oyster lacks.
  • Pricing: Deel’s EOR services start at $599 per employee per month, slightly higher than Oyster’s $499. However, Deel’s contractor plan is cheaper, starting at $19 per contractor.
  • Usability: Both platforms are user-friendly, but Oyster’s guided workflows are slightly more intuitive for beginners.
  • Best For: Deel is better for businesses with complex equity or stock option plans, while Oyster is ideal for those prioritizing contractor management and benefits.

Oyster vs. Remote

  • Features: Remote offers EOR, contractor management, and payroll services similar to Oyster but emphasizes transparency with its open-source compliance database.
  • Pricing: Remote’s EOR pricing starts at $599 per employee per month, and its contractor plan is free for basic features, making it more cost-effective for small teams.
  • Usability: Remote’s interface is clean but less automated than Oyster’s, requiring more manual input for some tasks.
  • Best For: Remote suits cost-conscious businesses, while Oyster is better for those needing robust automation and localized benefits.

Customer Feedback and Market Reception

Oyster HR has garnered positive reviews from users and industry analysts. On platforms like G2 and Capterra, it scores an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars, with users praising its ease of use, customer support, and compliance tools. Common complaints include high onboarding fees and occasional delays in certain countries.

Industry reports, such as those from Gartner and Forrester, highlight Oyster as a leader in the EOR space, particularly for its focus on automation and contractor management. However, some analysts note that Oyster faces stiff competition from Deel and Remote, which offer more flexible pricing or advanced features.

Who Should Use Oyster HR?

Oyster HR is best suited for:

  • SMEs and Startups: Businesses looking to hire globally without establishing legal entities.
  • Remote-First Companies: Organizations with distributed teams needing streamlined payroll and compliance.
  • Companies with Contractors: Firms relying on freelancers or gig workers for project-based work.
  • HR Teams with Limited Resources: Businesses seeking an automated, user-friendly platform to manage global workforce tasks.

It may not be the best fit for:

  • Large Enterprises with Complex Needs: Companies requiring highly customized HR workflows or equity management.
  • Budget-Constrained Startups: Small businesses unable to afford onboarding fees or per-employee pricing.

Conclusion

Oyster HR is a powerful and user-friendly platform that simplifies the complexities of global hiring, payroll, and compliance. Its robust EOR services, contractor management tools, and localized benefits make it a compelling choice for businesses expanding internationally. While it has some limitations, such as onboarding delays and high costs for small businesses, its strengths in automation and usability outweigh these drawbacks for most users.

For companies seeking a reliable, scalable solution to manage a global workforce, Oyster HR is a strong contender. Businesses considering Oyster should weigh its pricing against their budget and compare its features with competitors like Deel and Remote to ensure the best fit. Overall, Oyster HR delivers significant value for organizations navigating the challenges of distributed work in 2025.

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