Table of Contents
ToggleIf you’re reading this, you’re probably exploring expanding your team globally or streamlining your international hiring process. You’ve heard about Employer of Record (EOR) services, and Oyster HR has caught your attention as a potential solution.
But you’re also probably uncertain about:
- How Oyster HR’s features compare to other EOR providers in the market
- Whether the platform can effectively handle compliance and payroll across multiple countries
- If Oyster HR’s pricing structure aligns with your budget and offers good value
- The quality of customer support and the user-friendliness of the platform
- Whether Oyster HR is the right fit for your specific business size and industry
If that sounds familiar, this comprehensive review will answer every one of your questions.
It’s a 10-minute read that could save you hours of research and potentially thousands in operational costs as you navigate global hiring.
The key to understanding Oyster HR’s value proposition is recognizing its comprehensive features, global reach, and user-friendly interface while being aware of its pricing considerations.
Here’s what you’ll learn – table of contents:
- Overview of Oyster HR (what it is and who it’s for)
- Key features and benefits (what sets Oyster HR apart)
- Pricing structure and value proposition (is it worth your investment?)
- User experience and platform interface (ease of use in real-world scenarios)
- Customer support quality (what to expect when you need help)
- Security and compliance measures (how Oyster HR protects your data)
- Comparisons with top competitors (how Oyster HR stacks up)
- Ideal use cases (who should consider Oyster HR)
- Potential limitations (when to look at alternatives)
Let’s explore whether Oyster HR is the right EOR solution to power your global workforce management strategy.

Pros
- User-Friendly Interface: Offers an intuitive platform that’s easy to navigate and use.
- Extensive Global Coverage: Operates in over 180 countries, providing broad international reach.
- Comprehensive Compliance Management: Strong focus on keeping businesses compliant with local regulations.
- Ethical Focus: Emphasizes ethical employment practices and social responsibility.
- Integrated Cost Calculator: Helps businesses estimate employment costs in different countries.
- Third-Party Integrations: Offers integrations with various HR and business tools.
Cons
- Premium Pricing: Can be expensive compared to some competitors, with EOR services starting at $599 per employee per month.
- Feature Limitations: Some features require additional purchases, potentially increasing costs.
- Limited Analytics: Reporting and analytics capabilities may be less comprehensive than some competitors.
- Potential Overkill for Small Teams: The comprehensive nature of the platform may be more than necessary for very small businesses.
What is Oyster HR?

Oyster HR is a platform that helps companies hire and manage employees globally. It acts as an Employer of Record (EOR), which means it handles the legal and administrative tasks for employing people in different countries. Oyster HR is also an international payroll service that allows you to pay salaries and benefits across the world without additional hassle.
Using Oyster HR, businesses can stay compliant with local laws and regulations. It offers onboarding, payroll, and benefits tools, making global employment simpler and more efficient. The platform provides a user-friendly experience to streamline HR tasks, ideal for companies expanding their workforce across borders.
Company Information
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California
- Founders: Tony Jamous and Jack Mardack
- Funding: Raised $286 million in multiple funding rounds
- Founding Date: 2020
What are the Key Features of Oyster HR?
Oyster HR offers 8 key features that set it apart.
These key features include:
- Global Hiring Platform: Simplifies hiring across borders, managing everything from job postings to employment contracts in over 180 countries.
- Compliance Management: Ensures adherence to local labor laws and regulations in each country, minimizing legal risks.
- Payroll Processing: Handles payroll calculations, payments, and tax withholdings in over 120 currencies.
- Benefits Administration: Offers locally aligned benefits packages with multiple tiers in most markets.
- Contractor Management: Allows management of both employees and contractors on the same platform, with easy conversion options.
- Global Payroll Solution: Recently introduced for companies with existing entities, expanding service offerings.
- Visa and Immigration Support: Assists with work visa and immigration processes for international hires.
- Oyster Academy: Provides a platform for upskilling employees, enhancing talent development.
What are the Benefits of Using Oyster HR?
Using Oyster HR has several benefits that make managing a global workforce easier. I will list some key advantages of the platform below.
The benefits of using Oyster HR are:
- Simplified Global Expansion: Enables quick entry into new markets without establishing local entities.
- Compliance Assurance: Minimizes legal risks with continuous monitoring of local regulations across all operational countries.
- Time and Cost Efficiency: Speeds up the international hiring process and eliminates the need for setting up legal entities in each country.
- Scalability: Supports rapid business growth and expansion into new markets with flexible hiring solutions.
- Centralized Management: Unifies global workforce management in one platform, improving oversight and efficiency.
- Risk Mitigation: Handles complex international labor laws and regulations, reducing compliance risks.
- Ethical Employment Practices: Focuses on promoting fair and ethical employment globally.
- Comprehensive Resources: Provides country-specific hiring guides and educational resources for navigating global employment.
These features make Oyster HR an invaluable tool for managing a diverse, global workforce.
Working with Oyster HR
Working with Oyster HR gives businesses the tools to manage remote teams efficiently. Support options and flexibility through various integrations make it a practical choice for remote operations.
Customer and Technical Support
Oyster HR offers a solid level of customer and technical support, which is crucial for smooth operations. Their Customer Success team is available to assist you with any challenges. This includes help with setup, troubleshooting issues, and ongoing support queries. Many users also commend their professional communication.
Some users note that Oyster HR’s general support staff is not always equipped with the knowledge and insights to resolve support requests swiftly and accurately. Delays are common when support requests have to be escalated to customer service managers or other experts.
Support Channel | Available? |
---|---|
✓ | |
Phone | ✗ |
Live Chat | ✗ |
Overall Availability | Business Hours |
Integrations and Extensibility
Oyster HR is designed to work well with other tools. Integrations with popular platforms make it seamless to add automation to various tasks. This helps in managing different roles and workflows without much manual intervention.
They support various integrations, from payroll to performance management systems. This flexibility is essential for maintaining efficient operations in a remote working environment. Their platform’s extensibility allows businesses to tailor solutions to their specific needs, reducing the time spent on administrative tasks and increasing overall productivity.
Oyster HR Pricing
Oyster offers transparent, all-inclusive pricing for various global employment needs, ensuring compliance and competitiveness. Its structured pricing plans and the range of services included demonstrate cost-effectiveness and value.
Oyster’s pricing varies depending on the services chosen. Below is a breakdown of the main pricing plans:
Service | Price |
---|---|
Employer of Record (EOR) Pricing | $599 per employee/month |
Contractor Management Pricing | $29 per employee/month |
Payroll Pricing | $25 per employee/month |
Annual Discount | Available |
Contractor services allow onboarding and managing contractors for $29 monthly after an initial free trial. EOR starts at $599 per employee per month if paid annually. The Scale plan offers reduced rates for hiring more than five full-time employees. Each plan includes payroll, compliance, and onboarding tasks, adding value.
Add-ons
Oyster HR also offers various paid add-ons to users, including pre-created benefits packages, access to salary bands for 130+ countries, and visa sponsorship. While potentially useful, other major EOR providers don’t exclude such services from their standard packages. This undermines the platform’s claim to transparent pricing. Costs for these add-ons are only visible after subscribing to one of its services.
User Reviews and Platform Ratings
Understanding how users rate and review Oyster HR can provide valuable insights into real-world experiences with the platform. Review platforms offer a window into customer satisfaction levels, platform reliability, and potential areas for improvement. While ratings and review counts can fluctuate over time, they offer a helpful snapshot of user sentiment. Here’s a current overview of Oyster HR’s ratings across major review platforms:
Review Platform | Rating | Number of Reviews |
---|---|---|
G2 | 4.4 | 714 |
Trustpilot | 4.6 | 199 |
Capterra | 4.5 | 68 |
User Data Security and Compliance
When it comes to User Data Security, I prioritize safeguarding sensitive information. Oyster HR implements encrypted data storage to protect user data from unauthorized access.
Compliance is a major focus. Oyster HR strictly follows GDPR guidelines, ensuring all user data is handled according to European Union standards. This includes obtaining explicit consent, minimizing data, and giving users the right to access or delete their data.
Regarding security deposits, Oyster HR uses secure, compliant methods to handle employee and employer deposits. These methods are regularly updated to maintain high-security standards.
Intellectual property protection is another key area. Oyster HR has robust measures to ensure that all corporate data and proprietary information remain secure. These include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular security audits.
Compliance management is simplified through integrated tools that help monitor regulatory changes and updates. This ensures that all employees and processes adhere to the latest legal requirements.
Data security measures are:
- Encryption: Data is encrypted both in transit and at rest.
- Access Controls: Strict access protocols to prevent unauthorized access.
- Regular Audits: Frequent security checks and audits to identify and fix vulnerabilities.
These robust security measures ensure user data remains safe and compliant with global standards.
Comparison with Other EOR Providers
Comparing what each can offer is essential when looking for an Employer of Record (EOR) provider. Here’s a quick comparison of Deel and other major EOR providers:
Feature | Oyster HR | Deel | Multiplier | Remofirst | Remote | Rippling | Atlas HXM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best For | Scaling Companies Focused on Remote Team Success | Fast-Growing Companies Needing Global Hiring at Scale | Companies Looking for Same-Day Global Hiring & Payments | Cost-Conscious and Tight Budgets | Companies Prioritizing Risk-Free International Hiring | Companies Wanting One Platform for Global HR, IT & Finance | Enterprises Seeking Advanced HR Analytics & Talent Management |
EOR Pricing | $599 per employee/month | $599 per employee/month | $400 per employee/month | $199 per employee/month | $599 per employee/month | $500 per employee/month | Custom |
Contractor Pricing | $29 per employee/month | $49 per employee/month | $40 per employee/month | $25 per employee/month | $29 per employee/month | $25 per employee/month | Custom |
Country Coverage | 180+ | 150+ Countries | 150+ Countries | 180+ | 180+ Countries | 185+ | 160+ Countries |
Support Channels | Email, Phone, Live Chat | Email, Phone, Live Chat | Email, Live Chat | Email, Live Chat | Email, Phone, Live Chat | Email, Phone, Live Chat | |
Support Availability | Business Hours | 24/7 | Business Hours | 24/7 | 24/7 | Business Hours | 24/7 |
G2 Rating | 4.4/5 (714 reviews) | 4.85/5 (4630 reviews) | 4.7/5 (986 reviews) | 4.5/5 (109 reviews) | 4.6/5 (2068 reviews) | 4.8/5 (3227 reviews) | 4.5/5 (35 reviews) |
Capterra Rating | 4.5/5 (68 reviews) | 4.8/5 (1554 reviews) | 4.7/5 (40 reviews) | 5/5 (2 reviews) | 4.5/5 (46 reviews) | 4.9/5 (3073 reviews) | 5/5 (5 reviews) |
Trustpilot Rating | 4.6/5 (199 reviews) | 4.9/5 (5332 reviews) | 4.9/5 (832 reviews) | 3.1/5 (10 reviews) | 4.7/5 (1639 reviews) | 4.4/5 (1029 reviews) | No Reviews |
Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website |
Who do I Recommend Oyster HR to?
Oyster HR specializes in global employment solutions, fostering inclusive, diverse, and engaged distributed teams. The platform’s suitability varies based on a company’s commitment to remote work, global hiring strategies, and emphasis on employee experience. Let’s examine the ideal users for Oyster HR and situations where other options might be preferable.
Who do I recommend using Oyster HR to?
Oyster HR is particularly beneficial for remote-first companies, organizations committed to building diverse global teams, and businesses prioritizing employee wellbeing. Oyster HR excels in serving:
- Remote-First Organizations: Oyster HR’s platform is tailored for companies fully embracing the remote work model. Its features support the unique challenges of managing a distributed workforce, making it ideal for businesses committed to long-term remote operations.
- Companies Prioritizing Global Diversity: With its emphasis on enabling hiring from a broad range of countries, Oyster HR is well-suited for organizations looking to build truly diverse, global teams. The platform’s accessibility in numerous markets facilitates tapping into varied talent pools worldwide.
- Businesses Focused on Employee Experience: Oyster HR significantly emphasizes employee engagement and well-being. Its comprehensive onboarding tools, benefits administration, and cultural integration features make it an excellent choice for companies that view employee satisfaction as a key driver of success in a remote environment.
When to consider Oyster HR alternatives?
Alternative solutions to Oyster HR might be more appropriate if you require specialized regional expertise, advanced payroll functionalities, or are primarily focused on domestic hiring. Consider alternatives to Oyster HR in these scenarios:
- Rippling: If you need a platform that offers more extensive IT management features alongside HR and payroll services, especially for US-based employees.
- Gusto: For US-centric small businesses primarily seeking domestic payroll and HR solutions without significant international hiring needs.
- Papaya Global: If your organization requires more advanced global payroll capabilities and workforce analytics for strategic decision-making.
- Multiplier: For companies specifically targeting expansion in the Asia-Pacific region and requiring specialized local support in those markets.
- Deel: For companies needing more extensive support for freelancer and contractor management, especially in tech and creative industries.
- Atlas XHM: For mid-sized to large companies seeking a more comprehensive global workforce management solution with robust risk management features.
While Oyster HR offers a robust solution for many businesses looking to expand globally, it’s always wise to explore multiple options before deciding. If you’re interested in seeing how Oyster HR stacks up against other top employers of record, check out our comprehensive comparison of the best employers of record. Below, we’ve compared Deel to other providers to show how it measures up to the competition.
- Deel vs Oyster HR
- Oyster HR vs Remote
- Oyster HR vs Rippling
- Oyster HR vs Remofirst
- Oyster HR vs Horizons
- Oyster HR vs Atlas HXM
- Oyster HR vs Omnipresent
- Oyster HR vs Multiplier
Conclusion
Oyster HR offers a comprehensive solution for global hiring, particularly suited to remote-first organizations and companies looking to build diverse, globally distributed teams. Its user-friendly platform, smooth payroll process, and emphasis on employee well-being make it a strong choice for businesses focused on scaling internationally.
However, its higher pricing and limited analytics might deter smaller businesses or those needing more in-depth reporting. For organizations that require advanced payroll functionalities or region-specific expertise, alternatives such as Rippling, Deel, or Papaya Global may offer more specialized features. Overall, Oyster HR stands out for its commitment to fostering inclusive remote teams, but companies with simpler domestic needs or tighter budgets might find better value elsewhere. Exploring these alternatives can help ensure the best fit for your hiring and HR management goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Easy Is It to Implement Oyster HR?
Setting up Oyster HR is straightforward and does not require much technical knowledge. The platform provides clear guidance and support throughout the process.
How does Oyster HR handle international payroll and benefits?
Oyster HR simplifies international payroll by offering automated solutions that comply with local regulations. They also manage employee benefits, ensuring consistency across different countries.
Can Oyster HR assist with employee onboarding in multiple countries?
Yes, Oyster HR has tools to streamline the onboarding process globally. Their services include document management, compliance checks, and orientation programs tailored to each country’s requirements.
What are users saying about the usability of Oyster HR’s platform?
Users find the Oyster HR platform user-friendly and intuitive. The interface is clean, and critical features are easy to access, which helps manage HR tasks efficiently.
What are the common challenges employers face when using Oyster HR services?
Some employers report initial setup challenges related to data integration. Customizing the platform to fit specific needs can also take time and effort.
How does Oyster HR compare to other global employment solutions in terms of cost-effectiveness?
Oyster HR is competitively priced. It offers a good balance between cost and the range of services provided, making it a popular choice for businesses looking to expand internationally.