Oyster HR vs Rippling: Best EOR for Businesses in 2024

Oyster HR and Rippling 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 remote 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 remote workforce and when you might want to consider alternative EOR services.

On the other hand, Rippling’s integrated approach—combining HR, IT, and Finance solutions—offers a highly versatile platform for managing a global workforce. While its extensive customization options can be a powerful asset, they may also be overwhelming for businesses with more straightforward needs.

Despite its ease of use and the comprehensive tools it provides, Rippling’s modular pricing could benefit from greater transparency, and there is a learning curve involved. In this review, I’ll delve into Rippling’s key features and potential drawbacks, particularly focusing on its EOR service. I’ll also recommend ideal use cases for Rippling and suggest alternatives for organizations with more limited HR requirements.

By comparing Oyster HR’s strengths and weaknesses with Rippling’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 Rippling

Oyster HR and Rippling are both designed to simplify global hiring, compliance, and HR management. Here’s a detailed comparison of their offerings:

Overview of Oyster HR

Oyster HR is a platform focused on enabling companies to hire, pay, and care for employees globally. It emphasizes compliance and ease of onboarding, making it a suitable choice for businesses expanding internationally.

• Global Coverage: Supports hiring in over 180 countries, providing extensive international reach.
• Compliance Focus: Offers tools and services to ensure local compliance with labor laws.
• Ease of Onboarding: Streamlined onboarding processes for new hires globally.
• User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive platform for managing HR tasks.

Oyster HR has raised $59 million in its latest Series D funding round, led by Silver Lake Waterman, bringing its valuation to $1.2 billion and total funding to $286 million. The company plans to use this capital to enhance its product offerings, reinforce compliance standards, and help businesses attract skilled professionals. Known for supporting borderless teams through services like global payroll and visa sponsorships, Oyster’s mission is to make global employment opportunities accessible to all. Over 40% of its workforce is in emerging markets, and it facilitates employment in over 180 countries.

You might be interested in our in-depth Oyster HR review.

Overview of Rippling

Rippling is a comprehensive HR platform that integrates various business functions, including payroll, benefits, and IT management, into a single system. It is designed for businesses looking for a unified solution to manage their workforce.

• Unified Platform: Combines HR, IT, and finance into one system.
• Automation: Automates HR tasks, reducing administrative burden.
• Scalability: Suitable for businesses of all sizes.
• Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly connects with numerous third-party applications.

You might be interested in our in-depth Rippling review.

Key Features of Oyster HR

Global Employment Services

Oyster HR excels in managing global teams with its Employer of Record (EOR) services, allowing businesses to hire and pay employees in over 180 countries without setting up local entities. This feature is particularly valuable for companies looking to expand internationally without the complexities of establishing legal entities in each country.

The platform ensures compliance with local employment laws and offers legal resources, making it ideal for companies navigating the intricacies of global expansion. Oyster HR’s global employment services streamline the hiring process, handling contracts, local labor law compliance, and payroll management across multiple jurisdictions.

Payroll Management

Oyster HR centralizes payroll processing with automated tax calculations, ensuring accurate and timely payments to employees worldwide. The platform supports multiple currencies and handles complex tax calculations, reducing the risk of non-compliance and simplifying global payroll management.

By automating payroll processes, Oyster HR helps businesses save time and reduce errors associated with manual payroll management. This feature is particularly beneficial for companies with employees in multiple countries, as it consolidates payroll operations into a single, manageable system.

Compliance Support

Compliance is a cornerstone of Oyster HR’s offerings. The platform provides robust tools and resources to ensure adherence to local labor laws, tax regulations, and employment standards across different countries. This feature is crucial for businesses operating in multiple jurisdictions, as it helps mitigate legal risks associated with international employment.

Oyster HR’s compliance support includes up-to-date information on local regulations, automated compliance checks, and assistance with creating compliant employment contracts. This comprehensive approach to compliance gives businesses peace of mind when managing a global workforce.

Benefits Administration

Oyster HR offers customizable benefits packages tailored to different regions, allowing businesses to provide competitive employee benefits while adhering to local standards and expectations. The platform simplifies the process of managing benefits across multiple countries, ensuring that employees receive appropriate and compliant benefits packages.

The benefits administration feature includes tools for managing health insurance, retirement plans, and other perks, adapting to the specific requirements of each country where employees are based. This flexibility helps businesses attract and retain talent in competitive global markets.

Customer Support

Oyster HR provides 24/7 assistance with dedicated account managers, ensuring that businesses have access to expert support whenever needed. This round-the-clock support is particularly valuable for companies operating across different time zones and dealing with time-sensitive HR issues.

The platform’s customer support team is well-versed in international HR practices and can provide guidance on complex global employment matters. This level of support helps businesses navigate the challenges of managing a global workforce with confidence.

Key Features of Rippling

HR and IT Integration

Rippling stands out for its comprehensive integration of HR and IT functions. This unified approach allows businesses to manage employee data, payroll, and IT resources from a single platform. The integration streamlines various processes, from onboarding new employees to managing their day-to-day IT needs.

By combining HR and IT management, Rippling enables businesses to automate tasks such as setting up new employee accounts, assigning hardware, and managing software licenses. This integration reduces administrative overhead and ensures consistency across HR and IT operations.

Automated Onboarding

Rippling’s automated onboarding feature significantly simplifies the process of bringing new employees into the organization. The platform automates various onboarding tasks, including paperwork completion, account setup, and equipment provisioning.

This automated approach not only saves time for HR teams but also provides a smoother experience for new hires. Rippling’s onboarding system can be customized to fit specific company processes, ensuring that all necessary steps are completed efficiently and consistently for each new employee.

Benefits Management

Rippling offers a comprehensive benefits management system that streamlines the administration of employee benefits. The platform supports a wide range of benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and other perks.

The benefits management feature allows for easy enrollment, changes, and renewals, reducing the administrative burden on HR teams. Rippling’s system also provides clear visibility into benefits costs and usage, helping businesses make informed decisions about their benefits offerings.

Payroll Processing

Rippling’s payroll processing feature handles payroll across multiple jurisdictions with ease. The system automates tax calculations, deductions, and payments, ensuring accuracy and compliance with local regulations.

The platform supports both domestic and international payroll, making it suitable for businesses with a global workforce. Rippling’s payroll system integrates seamlessly with its other HR and finance features, providing a holistic view of employee compensation and expenses.

Comprehensive Reporting

Rippling offers detailed analytics and reporting tools that provide valuable insights into various aspects of HR and workforce management. The platform generates customizable reports on topics such as employee demographics, payroll expenses, benefits utilization, and more.

These reporting capabilities enable businesses to make data-driven decisions about their workforce and HR strategies. The comprehensive nature of Rippling’s reporting feature allows for in-depth analysis and trend identification across different areas of HR management.

Pricing Structure of Oyster HR

Oyster HR offers a flexible pricing model that adapts to the size and needs of your business. Their pricing structure accommodates companies of various sizes, from startups to large enterprises. Here is a detailed breakdown:

• EOR Services: Oyster HR’s Employer of Record services start at $599 per monthly employee. This comprehensive package includes compliance with local laws, payroll processing, and benefits administration.
• Contractor Management: Oyster HR provides tools for managing contractors, including time tracking and expense management. Pricing for this service is not explicitly stated in the provided information.
• Custom Enterprise Solutions: Oyster HR offers custom pricing for larger organizations with more complex needs. This typically includes advanced features and dedicated support.
• Additional Services: Oyster HR may charge extra for paid add-ons such as benefits packages and visa sponsorship. These fees are typically quoted on a case-by-case basis.

Oyster HR’s pricing structure makes it a versatile option for businesses of all sizes looking to hire globally. Whether you’re a small startup hiring your first international employee or a large corporation managing a global workforce, Oyster HR’s pricing can scale to meet your needs.

Oyster HR offers a free trial to test their services. The platform’s pricing structure accounts for currency exchange rates, which is particularly relevant for businesses operating across multiple countries.

Pricing Structure of Rippling

Rippling offers a modular pricing approach that adapts to the size and needs of your business. Their pricing model allows companies to pay only for the features they need, making it suitable for businesses of various sizes. Here is a detailed breakdown:

• Core Platform (Unity): Rippling’s core platform, Unity, starts at $8 per person per month. This forms the foundation of their HR management system.
• EOR Services: For Employer of Record services, Rippling typically charges between $500-600 per employee per month. This comprehensive package includes compliance with local laws, payroll processing, and benefits administration.
• Additional Modules: Rippling offers various HR, IT, and Finance modules. Pricing for these modules is customized based on the specific features selected and the number of employees.
• Custom Enterprise Solutions: Rippling provides custom pricing for larger organizations with more complex needs. This typically includes advanced features, dedicated support, and volume discounts.
• PEO Services: Rippling supports Professional Employer Organization services, which may have different pricing structures.

Rippling’s modular pricing structure makes it a versatile option for businesses of all sizes looking for comprehensive HR and IT management solutions. Whether you’re a small startup or a large corporation, Rippling’s pricing can scale to meet your needs.

Rippling’s pricing model can be particularly cost-effective for growing businesses, as they can scale the services they use as their needs evolve. The platform offers competitive rates and aims to provide good value for money, especially for businesses that can benefit from its integrated HR and IT solutions.

Pros and Cons of Oyster HR

Pros and Cons of Rippling

Oyster HR vs. Rippling: At a Glance

Choosing between Oyster HR and Rippling isn’t just about features – it’s about finding the right fit for your global expansion strategy. I’ve put these platforms through their paces, and here’s what stands out:

Oyster HR shines in its global reach and compliance focus. It’s a solid choice for businesses looking to expand internationally without the complexities of setting up local entities. The user-friendly interface and strong customer support make it particularly attractive for companies new to global hiring.

Rippling is a powerhouse for businesses that prioritize comprehensive support and are willing to invest in it. The higher price tag comes with perks like extensive customization, robust compliance management, and advanced reporting and analytics, which are crucial for navigating complex international markets.

Head-to-Head: How They Compare in Real-World Scenarios

Scenario 1: Rapid International Scaling

When a company needs to hire 50+ employees across multiple countries in just two months:

Oyster HR’s extensive global coverage (180+ countries) and strong compliance focus make it suitable for rapid global expansion. Its user-friendly interface could streamline the hiring process across multiple jurisdictions.

Rippling’s strong integration capabilities and comprehensive HR features make it ideal for companies managing complex workforce operations. However, its more limited global coverage (50+ countries) might be a constraint for very broad international hiring.

Scenario 2: Small Business Going Global

For a small e-commerce business dipping its toes into international waters:

Oyster HR could be ideal with its extensive global coverage and focus on compliance across multiple jurisdictions. Its user-friendly interface might be more approachable for small businesses new to international hiring.

While more expensive, Rippling could be a better fit if the business requires extensive HR and IT management features. Its advanced customization and workflow automation could be valuable as the business scales.

Scenario 3: Compliance in Challenging Markets

Both platforms have their strengths regarding compliance:

Oyster HR’s strong focus on global compliance and automatic updates could be particularly valuable for businesses expanding into diverse markets with complex regulatory environments.

Rippling’s advanced security measures and compliance across jurisdictions might be more suitable for businesses needing to navigate diverse regulatory environments across multiple continents, especially if they require deep integration with other business systems.

Who I Recommend Using Oyster HR To

Oyster HR is excellent for companies of any size that work heavily with international employees. If you’re looking to build a global workforce, Oyster HR’s platform streamlines the process of hiring and paying employees from around the globe.

Its extensive global coverage and strong compliance focus make Oyster HR particularly attractive for:

• Small to medium-sized businesses looking for cost-effective global expansion
• Companies requiring broad global coverage (180+ countries)
• Businesses prioritizing user-friendly interfaces and dedicated customer support
• Organizations focusing on strong compliance management across multiple jurisdictions

Who I Recommend Using Rippling To

Rippling is ideal for companies focused on comprehensive HR, IT, and finance management, especially those requiring extensive integrations. If you’re a medium to large business needing to scale internationally with advanced features, Rippling simplifies operations across different countries.

Rippling also excels for companies that manage salaries, benefits, and IT assets comprehensively without dealing with multiple local providers. Here’s a quick list of the types of businesses that will find Rippling useful:

• Medium to large-sized businesses requiring comprehensive HR and IT management
• Companies needing extensive app integrations (500+ options)
• Businesses requiring advanced customization and workflow automation
• Organizations prioritizing strong data security and compliance measures
• Companies needing advanced reporting and analytics capabilities

Both platforms offer robust solutions for managing global workforces, but they cater to different business needs and scales. Consider your specific requirements, budget, and growth plans when choosing between Oyster HR and Rippling.

Ratings and Reviews Comparison

When to Consider Other EOR Providers

While Oyster HR and Rippling offer robust solutions, they may not perfectly suit every business. Depending on your specific needs, budget, and global expansion goals, consider exploring other EOR providers. Here are some scenarios where you might explore other options:

• Specialized Industry Needs: Companies in niche industries with unique compliance requirements might need a provider like Papaya Global, which is known for its strong compliance focus.
• Extensive HR Software Integration: Firms requiring seamless integration with a wide range of HR tools might consider Deel, which offers extensive integration options.
• Region-Specific Expansion: Businesses focusing on a specific region might benefit from a provider like Oyster HR, which has a strong presence in Europe.
• Advanced Analytics Needs: Companies needing in-depth workforce analytics might prefer a provider like Remote, known for advanced data analysis tools.
• Comprehensive Features: Businesses looking for an all-in-one solution encompassing HR, IT, and finance might find Multiplier the best fit.
• Large-Scale Operations: Huge multinational corporations might consider ADP Global, specializing in large-scale global workforce management.

Oyster HR vs Rippling: Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Both Oyster HR and Rippling offer robust solutions for managing HR functions, but they cater to different business needs. Oyster HR excels in global hiring and compliance, making it a strong choice for companies with international operations or those planning to expand globally. Its user-friendly interface and strong customer support make it particularly attractive for businesses new to international hiring.

Rippling, with its unified platform integrating HR, IT, and finance functions, is ideal for businesses seeking a comprehensive solution to manage their entire workforce ecosystem. Its extensive automation capabilities and deep integrations make it particularly suitable for tech-savvy companies or those looking to streamline complex HR and IT processes.

When choosing between these platforms, consider your specific needs, budget, and business goals. If your primary focus is on global expansion and compliance, Oyster HR may be the better choice. However, if you’re looking for a all-in-one solution that combines HR with IT management and offers extensive customization options, Rippling might be more suitable.

Ultimately, both platforms offer powerful tools to simplify HR management, and the best choice will depend on your organization’s unique requirements and growth plans.

Frequently Asked Questions