Oyster HR vs Omnipresent: 2024 EOR Comparison

Oyster HR and Omnipresent are two leading platforms in the global payroll and hiring space, each offering distinct advantages as Employer of Record (EOR) providers. However, their strengths and limitations make them better suited to different types of businesses, depending on size, complexity, and specific needs.

Oyster HR is a robust global payroll and hiring platform that ranks among the best EOR providers I’ve used. Thanks to its ability to streamline global HR processes and provide essential legal resources, it is a top choice for companies looking to hire, pay, and manage international employees easily.

However, Oyster HR’s pricing may be prohibitive for smaller operations, and its capabilities might not scale adequately for very large organizations. In this review, I’ll share insights on when Oyster HR is the right choice for expanding or managing a global workforce and when you might want to consider alternative EOR services.

On the other hand, Omnipresent aims to deliver painless, compliance-first international hiring. With a network of local legal experts worldwide, Omnipresent allows companies to employ individuals without worrying about failing labor regulations.

Its streamlined onboarding and transparent new market expansion information are major strengths. However, some users have reported issues with payslips and slow support responses. In this review, I’ll delve into Omnipresent’s key features and potential drawbacks, particularly focusing on its EOR service.

By comparing Oyster HR’s strengths and weaknesses with Omnipresent’s, I aim to help you determine which platform best meets your business needs, whether you’re managing a small startup or a large enterprise with complex global operations.

Overview of Oyster HR and Omnipresent

I’ve chosen to compare Oyster HR and Omnipresent because they are both leading EOR providers that enable companies to hire and manage global teams compliantly.

While they share similar core functionalities, they have distinct features and approaches that suit different business needs.

Overview of Oyster HR

Oyster HR is a comprehensive global employment platform that enables companies to hire, pay, and manage employees in over 180 countries. It stands out for its user-friendly interface, extensive compliance support, and focus on providing competitive benefits packages across different regions.

One of Oyster HR’s core strengths is its ability to simplify complex international hiring processes. The platform offers automated contracts, localized payroll processing, and built-in compliance checks to ensure businesses can expand globally without legal headaches.

Additionally, Oyster HR provides valuable resources like salary benchmarking tools and country-specific hiring guides to help companies make informed decisions when entering new markets.

Here’s a summary of key features for Oyster HR:

Oyster HR has secured $59 million in Series D funding, with Silver Lake Waterman leading the round. This new capital elevates Oyster’s valuation to $1.2 billion and brings its total raised funds to $286 million. The company intends to use this investment to grow its product offerings, strengthen compliance measures, and assist businesses in recruiting top talent. Specializing in borderless teams through services like global payroll and visa sponsorships, Oyster aims to democratize global job access. With over 40% of its workforce in emerging markets, it operates across 180+ countries to streamline global employment.

Also, read our in-depth review of Oyster HR

Overview of Omnipresent

Omnipresent is a global employment solution that aims to break down barriers to international hiring. Founded in 2019, it has quickly grown to support hiring in over 160 countries.

Omnipresent’s platform is designed to handle the entire employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding, focusing on compliance and efficiency.

A key strength of Omnipresent is its emphasis on providing local expertise in each market it serves. The company leverages a network of in-country partners and legal experts to ensure that all employment contracts and practices are fully compliant with local laws.

Omnipresent also prides itself on its quick onboarding process and transparent pricing structure.

Here’s a summary of key features of Omnipresent:

Oyster HR vs Omnipresent At a Glance

To help you quickly compare these two EOR solutions, I’ve created a summary table that highlights how Oyster HR and Omnipresent compare key features and pricing. This overview will give you a clear picture of their strengths and differences at a glance.

Key Features of Oyster HR

Global Compliance Management

Oyster HR excels in managing global compliance across its 180+ supported countries. The platform automatically generates compliant employment contracts tailored to each jurisdiction, ensuring that businesses adhere to local labor laws and regulations.

This feature is particularly valuable for companies expanding into unfamiliar markets. Oyster HR’s team of legal experts continuously updates the platform to reflect changes in local employment laws, reducing the risk of non-compliance and potential legal issues.

Automated Payroll Processing

Oyster HR’s automated payroll processing system simplifies global payroll management. The platform handles complex calculations for taxes, social contributions, and other deductions specific to each country.

This automation saves time and minimizes the risk of errors in payroll calculations. Oyster HR supports multiple currencies and provides detailed payslips that comply with local requirements, ensuring transparency for both employers and employees.

Competitive Benefits Management

One of Oyster HR’s standout features is its comprehensive benefits management system. Each country’s platform offers locally competitive benefits packages, including health insurance, pension plans, and other perks.

Oyster HR’s benefits offerings are designed to help companies attract and retain top talent globally. The platform also guides statutory benefits requirements in different countries, ensuring that employers meet their legal obligations while offering attractive packages to employees.

Salary Benchmarking Tools

Oyster HR offers robust salary benchmarking tools to help companies make informed decisions about compensation in different markets. These tools provide up-to-date data on salary ranges for various roles across different countries and industries.

This feature is particularly useful for businesses entering new markets or hiring for roles they haven’t previously filled in a particular country. It helps ensure that companies offer competitive salaries while also managing their budget effectively.

Detailed Country Guides

Oyster HR provides comprehensive country guides that offer valuable insights into the employment landscape of each supported country. These guides cover labor laws, tax regulations, cultural norms, and business practices.

These guides serve as invaluable resources for companies expanding into new markets. They help businesses understand the nuances of hiring and managing employees in different countries, reducing the learning curve and potential pitfalls of global expansion.

Key Features of Omnipresent

Streamlined Onboarding Process

Omnipresent offers a highly efficient onboarding process that can set up international employees in days. The platform automates much of the paperwork involved in hiring, including generating compliant employment contracts and collecting necessary documentation.

This streamlined approach saves time for both employers and employees, allowing new hires to start work quickly. The system also ensures that all necessary legal and compliance requirements are met during onboarding.

Transparent New Market Information

One of Omnipresent’s strengths is its commitment to transparency when expanding into new markets. Omnipresent provides comprehensive fact sheets detailing important information about hiring and employment obligations for each country it operates in.

These resources cover crucial details such as termination clauses, severance pay, annual leave entitlements, parental leave, sick leave, and public holidays. This level of detail helps businesses make informed decisions about entering new markets and managing their global workforce.

Global Mobility Support

Omnipresent offers robust support for global mobility, including assistance with work visa processes in various locations. This feature is particularly valuable for companies that need to relocate employees internationally or hire talent that requires visa sponsorship.

The platform’s expertise in navigating complex immigration procedures can significantly reduce the time and effort required to move employees between countries. This support extends to both short-term assignments and permanent relocations.

Flexible Employment Models

Omnipresent provides flexibility in how companies can engage talent globally. In addition to its core EOR services, the platform offers options for contractor management and even supports companies in setting up their legal entities in some countries.

This flexibility allows businesses to choose the most appropriate employment model for their needs in each location. Whether a company needs to hire full-time employees, engage contractors, or establish a local presence, Omnipresent can support these approaches.

Comprehensive Compliance Support

Like Oyster HR, Omnipresent emphasizes compliance. The platform leverages a network of local legal experts to ensure that all employment practices adhere to local laws and regulations in each country.

Omnipresent’s compliance support covers various aspects of employment, including contracts, payroll, benefits, and termination procedures. The platform also keeps track of changes in local labor laws and updates its practices accordingly to maintain compliance.

Pricing and Plans for Oyster HR

Oyster HR offers a transparent pricing structure with plans for various business needs. The platform’s pricing is designed to be flexible, allowing companies to scale their global hiring efforts efficiently.

For EOR services, Oyster HR’s monthly pricing starts at $599 per employee. This plan includes full employment services, payroll processing, and basic benefits administration.

For companies looking for more comprehensive services, Oyster HR offers custom pricing that can include additional features such as enhanced benefits packages and more advanced HR support.

Contractor management through Oyster HR costs $29 per contractor per month. This service includes compliant contracts, payments in local currency, and tax document collection.

Oyster HR also offers volume discounts for companies hiring multiple employees or contractors. Custom pricing is available for large-scale deployments or companies with specific needs.

It’s worth noting that Oyster HR occasionally offers promotional discounts, especially for startups and non-profits. Interested companies should contact Oyster HR directly for the most up-to-date pricing information and to discuss any potential discounts or custom pricing options.

Pricing and Plans for Omnipresent

Omnipresent takes a straightforward approach to pricing, focusing on transparency and flexibility. The company’s pricing structure accommodates businesses of various sizes and needs.

For EOR services, Omnipresent’s pricing starts at $499 per employee per month. This base plan includes core services such as compliant employment, payroll processing, and basic benefits administration. For companies requiring more comprehensive services or support in multiple countries, Omnipresent offers custom pricing plans.

While Omnipresent offers contractor management services, it does not publicly disclose a specific price for this service. Companies interested in contractor management should contact Omnipresent directly for a custom quote.

Omnipresent also provides additional services, such as global mobility support and entity setup assistance. The pricing for these services is typically customized based on each client’s specific needs.

Omnipresent offers volume discounts for companies hiring multiple employees across different countries. They also provide custom quotes for businesses with unique requirements or large-scale international hiring needs.

Pros and Cons of Oyster HR

Pros and Cons of Omnipresent

Simulated Real-World Scenarios:

Scenario 1: Rapid International Scaling (Winner: Oyster HR)

A fast-growing tech startup needs to hire employees in 15 countries across Europe, Asia, and South America within the next three months.

Oyster HR would be the better choice in this scenario due to its wider global coverage (180+ countries compared to Omnipresent’s 160+). This increased coverage reduces the likelihood of encountering unsupported countries during rapid expansion.

Oyster HR’s user-friendly interface and automated compliance management would also benefit quick onboarding across multiple countries. The platform’s detailed country guides and salary benchmarking tools would help the startup make informed decisions about compensation and benefits in each new market.

While Omnipresent also offers efficient onboarding, Oyster HR’s more extensive coverage and comprehensive resources give it an edge for rapid, multi-country expansion.

Key advantages for rapid scaling with Oyster HR:

• Wider global coverage
• Intuitive user interface for quick setup
• Automated compliance across all countries
• Detailed country guides for informed decision-making
• Salary benchmarking tools for competitive offers

Scenario 2: Small Business Going Global (Winner: Omnipresent)

A small e-commerce business with 20 employees is looking to hire its first five international team members in different European countries.

In this scenario, Omnipresent would likely be the more cost-effective choice. With a lower starting price of $499 per employee per month (compared to Oyster HR’s $599), Omnipresent would help the small business manage its budget more effectively as it begins its global expansion.

Omnipresent’s streamlined onboarding process would benefit a small business with limited HR resources. The platform’s transparent new market information would also help the e-commerce company understand the employment landscape in each European country it’s entering.

While Oyster HR offers valuable features, its higher price point and more extensive capabilities might be overkill for a small business just starting its international journey.

Key advantages for small business expansion with Omnipresent:

• Lower starting price for budget-conscious small businesses
• Streamlined onboarding process
• Transparent market information for new countries
• Flexible employment models for varied hiring needs
• Sufficient coverage for European expansion

Scenario 3: Compliance in Challenging Markets (Winner: Oyster HR)

A medium-sized consulting firm must hire employees in several countries known for complex labor laws and regulatory environments, including Brazil, France, and India.

Oyster HR would be advantageous in this scenario due to its strong focus on compliance management and detailed country-specific resources. The platform’s automated compliance checks and continuously updated legal information would be invaluable in navigating the complex regulatory landscapes of these challenging markets.

Oyster HR’s comprehensive country guides would provide deep insights into the nuances of employment laws in Brazil, France, and India. This information would help the consulting firm avoid potential compliance pitfalls and make informed hiring and employment practices decisions.

While Omnipresent also offers compliance support, Oyster HR’s more extensive resources and a stronger emphasis on compliance give it an edge in particularly challenging regulatory environments.

Key advantages for compliance in challenging markets with Oyster HR:

• Strong focus on compliance management
• Detailed country-specific employment guides
• Automated compliance checks
• Continuous updates to reflect changing laws
• An extensive network of legal experts

When to Consider Other EOR Providers:

While Oyster HR and Omnipresent are excellent choices for many businesses, there are scenarios where other EOR providers might be more suitable. Here are some situations where you might want to consider alternatives:

Specialized Industry Needs

A provider with deep industry-specific compliance expertise might be preferable for businesses in highly regulated industries like finance or healthcare. Papaya Global could be a strong alternative due to its focus on complex compliance scenarios and industry-specific knowledge.

Extensive HR Software Integration

Companies with existing HR tech stacks might prioritize an EOR solution that offers seamless integration with a wide range of HR software. Rippling stands out in this category, offering extensive integration capabilities across HR, IT, and finance systems.

Budget-Conscious Small Businesses

For very small businesses or startups on a tight budget, a provider with lower entry-level pricing might be more suitable. Remofirst offers competitive pricing for small-scale international hiring, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious companies starting their global expansion.

Here’s a summary table of these alternatives and their key strengths:

Who I Recommend Oyster HR To:

Mid-sized to Large Companies with Diverse Global Hiring Needs

Oyster HR’s extensive global coverage (180+ countries) makes it an excellent choice for companies looking to hire across multiple regions. Its comprehensive compliance management and detailed country guides are valuable for businesses expanding into unfamiliar markets.

Organizations Prioritizing Compliance and Risk Management

Oyster HR’s strong focus on compliance, including automated checks and regularly updated legal information, makes it ideal for companies operating in industries or regions with complex regulatory environments. Its detailed country-specific resources can help businesses confidently navigate challenging labor laws.

Companies Seeking Robust HR Tools and Insights

Oyster HR’s salary benchmarking tools, detailed analytics, and comprehensive benefits management features make it a great fit for organizations that want to leverage data-driven insights for their global HR strategies. These tools can be particularly useful for companies looking to optimize their compensation and benefits packages across different markets.

Businesses Valuing User-Friendly Interfaces

Oyster HR’s intuitive platform is well-suited for companies that want to streamline their global HR processes without a steep learning curve. This can be especially beneficial for businesses without extensive in-house global HR expertise.

Who I Recommend Omnipresent To

Small to Medium-Sized Businesses Starting Global Expansion

Omnipresent’s competitive pricing and streamlined onboarding process make it an excellent choice for smaller companies taking their first steps into international hiring. Its transparent market information can help these businesses navigate unfamiliar employment landscapes.

Businesses Requiring Flexible Employment Models

Omnipresent’s ability to support various employment models, including full-time employees and contractors, and even assistance with entity setup makes it a good fit for companies that need flexibility in engaging global talent. This can be especially valuable for businesses with diverse hiring needs across different markets.

Organizations Needing Strong Global Mobility Support: Omnipresent’s robust global mobility services, including assistance with work visa processes, make it an excellent choice for companies that frequently relocate employees internationally or hire talent requiring visa sponsorship.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

After thoroughly comparing Oyster HR and Omnipresent, it’s clear that both platforms offer robust solutions for global hiring and workforce management. Still, each has its strengths that make it more suitable for different business needs.

Oyster HR stands out for its extensive global coverage, comprehensive compliance management, and robust HR tools, such as salary benchmarking and detailed country guides.

These features make it an excellent choice for mid-sized to large companies with diverse global hiring needs, especially those prioritizing compliance and data-driven HR strategies. Oyster HR’s user-friendly interface also makes it accessible for companies without extensive in-house global HR expertise.

On the other hand, Omnipresent shines with its competitive pricing, streamlined onboarding process, and flexible employment models. These attributes make it particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses starting their global expansion journey. Omnipresent’s strong global mobility support also makes it an attractive option for companies that frequently relocate employees internationally.

Businesses should consider their needs, budget, and growth plans when choosing between Oyster HR and Omnipresent.

Oyster HR might be better for companies requiring extensive global coverage and advanced HR insights. At the same time, Omnipresent could be more suitable for businesses prioritizing a streamlined onboarding process, transparent market information, and strong global mobility support.

Ultimately, Oyster HR and Omnipresent are powerful tools in the global EOR space, each offering unique advantages. By carefully evaluating your company’s requirements against the strengths of each platform, you can make an informed decision that best supports your global workforce management needs.

Oyster HR vs Omnipresent FAQs