Oyster and Remote are global HR software platforms that cater to hiring and paying remote and international employees. They specialize in employer-of-record (EoR) services and provide all-in-one solutions to help hire, pay, and manage global employees and contractors.
- Oyster: Best for small businesses that need global employee onboarding and contractor services
- Remote: Best for small businesses needing low-cost employer-of-record and HR services
Our comparison puts Remote as the clear leader for EoR services, popularity, and HR features. However, Oyster is a standout in payroll services and does offer a better price for hiring contractors. Below we compare the two side-by-side.
Oyster vs Remote: Compared
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
Monthly Pricing |
|
|
Free Trial | ✕, can explore the software for free | ✓, available for Contractor services only |
Countries Served | 180+ | 193 |
Access to Local Benefits | ✓, additional fee | ✓ |
Time Off Management | ✓ | ✓ |
Uses Third-party Legal Compliance | ✓ | ✕ |
Automated Payroll Based on Country Currency | ✓ | ✓ |
When to Use Oyster & Remote
Oyster is a leader in customer service with a dedicated representative to handle onboarding and hiring. Additionally, a single rep is allotted to each contractor or employee hired. If you plan to hire and pay contractors globally, Oyster offers the best services.
While its overall pricing is competitive with similar global HR providers, unlike Remote, it offers a free month when paying contractors before its price of $29 per contractor monthly sets in. With that, you are able to generate compliant agreements to hire global contractors, onboard contactors in minutes, process invoices and payments on time in 120+ currencies, and manage expenses, allowances, time-off, and reports.
Pros
- Automated hiring and onboarding process
- Employment cost calculator to determine salary before hire
- Dedicated legal team
- Payroll processing included in monthly plan
Cons
- Does not support single payment options for payroll
- Limited HR features
- Monthly fees for EoR services vary by country
Remote allows you to hire and pay employees in countries where you don’t have a legal entity by acting as the employer-of-record. This makes hiring internationally a breeze and legally compliant.
Remote will handle all local payroll, taxes, benefits, and onboarding—plus, you can use their employee cost calculator for free (also available on Oyster) to determine the cost to hire employees in a new country. Additionally, you can feel confident hiring and managing contractors in foreign countries with transparent pricing and easy payment options.
Pros
- Discounts for qualified start-ups and nonprofit organizations
- Competitive local benefits plans
- Integration with top HR software
- No third-party legal entities
Cons
- Lacks live customer support
- Limited payment details per region
- Dedicated support team only available with Enterprise solutions
Alternatives to Oyster & Remote
Oyster HR or Remote may not be the best HR software for your small business. If you’re looking for something else, consider the following alternatives.
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|---|---|---|---|
Best for | IT and tech-heavy companies that need global HR features and PEO services | Small businesses that plan to grow into a global company | Small businesses needing immigration services and work permits |
EoR Pricing | $599 per employee | Custom pricing | $650 per employee monthly |
Need US-based HR software provider options? Read our Best HR Software for Small Business and Best Free HR Software guides for our top recommendations. If you aren’t sure what HR features are suitable for your small business, visit our Types of HR Software ultimate guide.
Best for Pricing: Oyster
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|---|---|---|
Employee Monthly Pricing | $599 per employee ($499 if billed annually) | Starting at $599 per employee |
Contractor Monthly Pricing | $0 for the first month, then $29 per contractor | $29 per contractor |
Payroll Pricing | Included | $50 per employee monthly |
Advanced HR Features Pricing | Health Plans: starting at $82.30 per employee | HRIS: Free |
Deposit Required | 1 month of the new hire’s total cost of services | 1 month of the total cost of employment |
If you are looking to pay contractors, Oyster will deliver a better bang for your buck. Your first month for contractors is free, and then only $29 per contractor monthly after that. Additionally, if you need to hire and pay employees, Oyster offers a discounted rate of $499 per employee monthly if paid annually.
Oyster’s EoR prices vary by country, whereas Remote offers transparent pricing at $599 per employee monthly for their EoR services. However, with its payroll processing included and the first month of contractor services free, Oyster is the clear winner.
(Source: Oyster)
Remote’s pricing, however, is comparable to Oyster in most areas. Plus, a standout feature of Remote is its HRIS product, which is available free of charge with any plan. This service offers guided onboarding and offboarding, employee profile and document management, time and attendance (time off and tracking), expense management and reimbursement, and employee self-service on the platform and mobile app.
Need more info on onboarding your employees? Read our article on New Employee Onboarding Best Practices.
Best for HR Features: Remote
| | |
|---|---|---|
EoR Services | Included in pricing | Varies by country |
Contractor Management | Only pay for contractors you use | First month free |
Onboarding | Custom checklists and progress tracking | Fast onboarding with country-specific benefits packages |
Expense Management | Part of their free HRIS services | Expenses and payroll are part of their regular monthly pricing |
Employee Relocation Services | Cover compliance and paperwork | Uses third-party services and only available in a few countries |
Remote outshines Oyster with its collection of HR features offered. The following are the most notable.
- EoR Services: Remote’s most notable feature is its EoR services, which are included in its monthly pricing. You can hire contractors and employees in over 190 countries while Remote remains the only legal entity. Oyster also offers EoR services—however, pricing is customized and services are managed through third-party providers.
- Contractor Management: While Oyster offers a little bit better services when it comes to contractors with its first month free, with Remote, you only pay for contractors you actively work with, plus you can hire in 180+ countries. Remote also allows you to create, edit, and sign customized, compliant contracts and approve contractor invoices with one click.
- Onboarding: With Remote, each hire receives a custom onboarding checklist to complete their personal information and payment preferences. Additionally, employers have full visibility to track each new hire’s progress. Oyster offers automations and insights for reduced onboarding time.
- Expense Management: Employees can easily submit their own expenses for reimbursement on the Remote platform through its HRIS product, allowing for quick approval and timely payments. Alternatively, Oyster allows you to set up global payroll and manage expenses and allowances as part of their monthly pricing.
- Employee Relocation Services: Remote’s relocation services cover visa guidance, compliance, sponsorship, and more. Additionally, employees can travel letter requests, insurance, and relocation assistance. While Oyster also offers relocation assistance, it sends your employee’s information to third-party providers to handle the requests; and it is only available in a few countries.
(Source: Remote)
Best for Payroll: Oyster
| | |
|---|---|---|
Payroll Pricing | Included in monthly plan | $50 per employee monthly |
# of Currencies Available | 120+ | 160 |
Payroll Handled In-House | ✓ | ✕ |
With Oyster, you can manage payroll, generate reports, and deliver compliant, on-time international payments all in one platform—and, it’s included in its monthly payment. Remote, on the other hand, also provides payroll services, but at $50 per employee monthly.
If you are looking for alternative payroll providers, consider our Best Payroll Services for Small Businesses article.
(Source: Oyster)
Oyster’s payroll is housed in one platform with payout options in over 120 currencies, allowing you to pay employees and contractors in more countries. And, it will bill you with only one invoice for all your payroll. All you need to do is pay one lump sum to cover your entire team’s salaries, and the provider will make sure it’s divided and paid out in the preferred currency. While Remote offers more currencies, their payout options are handled through a third-party provider, Wise.
Learn more about how to pay independent contractors in our comprehensive guide.
Best for Popularity & Customer Satisfaction: Remote
| | |
|---|---|---|
User Feedback | Positive | Mostly Positive |
Average User Ratings* | 4.65 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 |
Number of Reviews* | 825 | 250 |
Dedicated Representative | ✓ | ✕ |
Live Support | ✓ | ✕ |
* Data collected from third-party sites (G2, Capterra) | ||
Both Remote and Oyster have high scores for popularity on sites like G2 and Capterra, with an average rating of 4.65 and 4.5 out of 5, respectively. With Remote, users like the quick and easy enrollment process and the use of a dedicated representative for onboarding. Meanwhile, Oyster users appreciate its value for the money and built-in documentation collection.
(Source: Remote)
Where Oyster fails with most users is its use of third-party providers to handle its EoR services and its lack of a dedicated representative. Additionally, it does not offer live customer service, only offering support by email—however, users do say response is fast. With Remote, on the other hand, users complain about its limited reporting capabilities and difficulty with contract documents.
Remote vs Oyster: How We Evaluated
When considering which HR software would work best for small businesses (Oyster vs Remote), we looked at the pricing of each software, best HR features, how each handles payroll, and overall popularity and customer satisfaction. We reviewed each provider’s software to determine which would be best to handle your specific HR needs and took a look at what users say they like and dislike about the software.
Bottom Line
Oyster and Remote are neck-and-neck when it comes to comparing the two. Which one you choose will come down to the type of HR services you need, payroll features, and EoR services. Based on those, we recommend Remote slightly over Oyster for hiring and paying global employees, whereas we recommend Oyster when it comes to hiring and paying global contractors.
