Software profile

Oyster

A global employment platform for hiring in 120+ countries, with contractor payments at $29 a month and Employer of Record at $699 per employee a month.

  • Per user, seat or unit
  • Cloud
  • Built for India
  • Independent sources

by Oyster HRHR & Payroll SoftwareEmployer of record and contractor platform

Visit official website (external) ↗Compare productsExplore alternatives
  • Verified 13 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this profile
  • 2 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
  • Independent third-party sourcesHow this profile was compiled
  • Not an endorsementStack18 has not tested this product
Quick answer

What is Oyster?

Oyster is a global employment platform that lets companies hire full-time employees through its Employer of Record service in 120+ countries and pay contractors in 180+ countries, with benefits, compliance and people services.

  • Best forDistributed startups
  • Team size fitSmall teams, Mid-size teams
  • PricingContractors $29; EOR $699 per employee a month.
  • Main limitationEOR higher than Remote’s new price.
  • AlternativesRemote, Deel, Papaya Global, Rippling · compare all

Reviewed by the Stack18 editorial team · Verified 13 Nov 2026 · 2 sources

Overview

Oyster overview: who it is for and what it does.

Oyster positions itself as a distributed-workforce platform for companies hiring talent worldwide, with a focus on employee experience and benefits.

A cost guide lists Global Contractors at $29 per contractor a month and Employer of Record at $699 per employee a month, with lower fees available on optional annual seat billing. There is no minimum team size.

The guide notes extra costs such as a refundable EOR deposit, currency conversion and people services at $300 an hour, and reviewers mention payroll delays among complaints. G2 rating 4.4 from 1,466 reviews.

Main problem it solves

Lets companies employ and pay global talent without foreign entities.

Typical customer segment

Startups and mid-size companies with distributed teams.

Target users

  • People operations
  • Finance teams
  • Founders

Primary use cases

  • Employer of record hiring
  • Contractor payments
  • Benefits
  • Compliance
  • Global onboarding

What makes it distinct

  • 180+ countries for contractors.
  • No minimum team size.
  • Benefits focus.
Key features

Oyster features explained.

Hiring

EOR
120+ countries.
Contractors
180+ countries.
Contracts
Localised.

Pay and benefits

Payroll via EOR
Vendor.
Benefits
Vendor.
Expenses
Vendor.

Services

People services
$300 per hour.
Compliance guidance
Vendor.
Onboarding
Vendor.
Pricing

Oyster pricing and plans.

Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 13 Nov 2026 against Costbench · Oyster.

Pricing model

Per employee or contractor per month.

Free plan

No

Free trial

Not applicable

Oyster plans and prices (USD)

  • Global Contractors

    $29 per contractor a month

    Monthly

  • Employer of Record

    $699 per employee a month

    Monthly or annual

    Lower with annual seats.

From a third-party cost guide; deposits, FX and employer costs extra.

Prices change. Confirm current plans and terms on the vendor's site before you decide.

Visit official website (external) ↗See alternatives
Integrations and compatibility

Oyster integrations, API and platforms.

Important integrations

  • HRIS tools (vendor)
  • Accounting tools (vendor)
  • Slack (vendor)

Supported platforms

  • Web

API

Not reviewed for this profile.

Data import and export

Not applicable.

Ask about deposits and FX fees.

Strengths, limitations and best fit

Oyster pros and cons.

Strengths, limitations and best fit. Each point cites a source; editorial summaries are not customer reviews.

Strengths

  • Wide country coverage. [1]
  • No minimum team size. [1]
  • Low contractor fee. [1]
  • Annual seat discount. [1]

Limitations

  • EOR higher than Remote’s new price. [1]
  • Deposits and FX fees. [1]
  • Payroll delays reported. [1]
  • People services billed hourly. [1]

Best for

  • Distributed startups
  • Companies hiring contractors globally
  • Teams wanting benefits support

May be less suited to

  • Companies needing local entity payroll only
  • Price-sensitive large EOR programmes
How it compares

Oyster compared with similar HR & payroll software.

Summaries come from each profile. This is a side-by-side aid, not a ranking.

ProductPricing modelFree planStarting priceBest for
OysterPer user, seat or unitNoContractors $29; EOR $699 per employee a month.Distributed startups
RemotePer user, seat or unitNoEOR $599 per employee a month; contractors $29.Startups hiring abroad
DeelPer user, seat or unitFree version for small teams (reported)Contractors $49 a month each; EOR $599 per employee a month; global payroll $29 per…Companies hiring contractors or employees in other countries
Papaya GlobalCustom quoteNoQuote; payroll reported from about $20 per employee a month.Multinationals with entities in many countries
RipplingCustom quoteNoReported from $8 per employee per month; modules and minimums quoted.Growing companies that want HR, payroll and IT on one platform
ADP Workforce NowCustom quoteNoQuote-based; reported median buyer spend about $16,000 a year.Mid-size US employers that want payroll, benefits and HR from one provider

Browse all HR & Payroll Software →

FAQ

Oyster questions and answers

What is Oyster used for?

Oyster is used for employer of record hiring, contractor payments, benefits and compliance.

Does Oyster have a free plan?

No. Oyster does not offer a permanent free plan in the sources reviewed. Free trial: Not applicable.

How much does Oyster cost?

Contractors $29; EOR $699 per employee a month. From a third-party cost guide; deposits, FX and employer costs extra.

What is the difference between Oyster Global Contractors and Employer of Record?

Global Contractors is listed at $29 per contractor a month. Employer of Record is listed at $699 per employee a month (Lower with annual seats). Confirm current plan contents with the vendor.

What are the main alternatives to Oyster?

The main alternatives to Oyster covered on Stack18 are Remote, Deel, Papaya Global and Rippling. Remote may suit startups hiring abroad. Deel may suit companies hiring contractors or employees in other countries. Papaya Global may suit multinationals with entities in many countries. See the Oyster alternatives guide for a side-by-side table.

What integrations does Oyster support?

Documented integrations include HRIS tools (vendor), Accounting tools (vendor) and Slack (vendor). API: Not reviewed for this profile.

What are the limitations of Oyster?

EOR higher than Remote’s new price. Deposits and FX fees. Payroll delays reported.

Which platforms does Oyster run on?

Oyster is documented as available on: Web.

Is Oyster available in India?

Yes. Oyster is built for or widely used in India, and pricing is available in INR where noted. Confirm GST and local terms with the vendor.

When was the Oyster profile last verified?

Sources for this profile were last reviewed on 13 Nov 2026. 2 sources are listed under Sources, and prices and plans can change, so confirm with the vendor.

Sources and freshness

Where this information comes from.

  1. Oyster vs Remote pricing Costbench Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
  2. Oyster pricing Oyster Official Accessed 13 Nov 2026

Mixed-source profile. Facts and prices come from the vendor’s own pages and independent third-party sources, as marked. Confirm with the vendor before buying.

Plan names, prices and features were checked against the sources listed on 13 Nov 2026. Capabilities were not tested.

Stack18 has not tested this product or received anything from the vendor for this profile. Editorial summaries of vendor information are not endorsements. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.

Next step

Evaluating Oyster?

Check the vendor's current pricing and terms, compare it with similar products, or read how others approach the decision. If off-the-shelf is not the answer, Stack18 builds around how your business works.

Visit official website (external) ↗Compare productsExplore alternativesTalk to Stack18

Logos provided by Logo.dev. Product names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners and appear for identification only; they do not imply endorsement.