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Our Verdict
Oyster HR Software emerges as a powerful solution for businesses seeking streamlined management of global and remote teams. Its standout feature lies in enabling companies to expand internationally without the logistical complexities of setting up local entities, making it ideal for startups and growing enterprises aiming to scale swiftly.
Oyster not only allows you to preview its platform, showcasing intuitive interfaces and powerful automation features, but also excels in ensuring compliance with diverse global labor laws. It offers comprehensive payroll management, benefits administration, and robust HR support across over 180 countries. This capability not only mitigates legal risks but also enhances operational efficiency through automated workflows and integrated tools for remote workforce management.
However, Oyster may not suit businesses with primarily domestic operations or very small enterprises constrained by budgetary limitations. Its broad approach to global HR solutions may also lack the deep industry-specific customization required by highly specialized sectors. Moreover, integration challenges with existing local HR systems and the platform’s enterprise-level scalability limitations could pose hurdles for large corporations seeking extensive customization and support.
Oyster HR Software excels as a versatile platform for managing dispersed teams and navigating international employment complexities. For organizations embracing global expansion, prioritizing compliance, and optimizing HR operations efficiently, Oyster offers a robust suite of tools and support. Potential users should carefully assess their specific needs and consider alternatives for highly specialized or budget-constrained environments.
Pros
- Offers a wide range of HR functionalities including payroll management, benefits administration, and compliance support across over 180 countries
- Provides an intuitive platform that is easy to navigate, making it accessible for HR teams
- Scales well from startups to large enterprises, accommodating varying organizational sizes and needs for managing global workforces
- Emphasizes fair treatment of global employees, offering compliant benefits packages and ensuring ethical employment practices
Cons
- May not offer deep industry-specific customization required by highly specialized sectors
- Pricing may be prohibitive for very small businesses or startups with limited budgets
Who Oyster HR Software Is Best For

Oyster HR software is a good fit for businesses who:
- Employ a significant number of remote workers or operate with a distributed team structure
- Are looking to scale their operations globally without the administrative overhead of setting up local entities
- Prioritize compliance with local employment regulations and want to mitigate legal risks associated with international hiring
- Are seeking to streamline HR processes, reduce administrative burdens, and improve operational efficiency across their global HR functions
- Appreciate and rely on advanced technology solutions for managing HR operations
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Who Oyster HR Software Isn’t Right For
Oyster HR software might not be a good choice for businesses who:
- Operate primarily within a single country or have minimal international operations
- Prioritize localized customer support, language-specific assistance, or deep knowledge of local cultures and business practices
- Have heavily invested in and are satisfied with their current local HR systems, payroll providers, or compliance solutions
What Oyster HR Software Offers

- Employer of Record (EOR)
- Global Contractors
- Global Payroll (BETA)
- Total Rewards
- Talent Mobility
- API Integration
Oyster HR Software Details
Details of each feature that Oyster offers related to global HR management:
Employer of Record (EOR)
Oyster’s Employer of Record (EOR) service allows businesses to expand internationally without the need to establish legal entities in each country. Oyster acts as the official employer for your international workforce, handling payroll processing, benefits administration, tax compliance, and ensuring adherence to local labor laws. This service simplifies the complexities of global expansion by centralizing HR management and mitigating legal risks associated with international employment.
Global Contractors
For businesses engaging independent contractors globally, Oyster provides tools to manage contracts, payments, and compliance across different countries. It ensures that engagements with global contractors adhere to local regulations, manages contract agreements efficiently, and simplifies the onboarding process. This feature is beneficial for companies seeking to leverage global talent without the administrative burdens of contractor management.
Global Payroll (BETA)
Oyster’s Global Payroll system is designed to handle payroll processing for employees in multiple countries. It ensures accurate and timely payments while complying with diverse local tax laws, social security contributions, and payroll regulations. This beta feature aims to streamline payroll administration across borders, reduce errors, and provide transparency into global payroll expenses, enhancing efficiency and compliance in managing international payroll.
Total Rewards
Oyster enables businesses to manage comprehensive total rewards packages for global employees. This includes structuring competitive salary, bonuses, benefits (such as healthcare and retirement plans), and other incentives tailored to local market conditions. Managing total rewards centrally ensures consistency while adjusting benefits to meet regional preferences and regulatory requirements, enhancing employee satisfaction and retention.
Talent Mobility
Managing talent mobility, Oyster supports international assignments, transfers, and relocations. It simplifies visa processing, immigration compliance, and relocation logistics, ensuring a smooth transition for employees moving between global offices. This feature facilitates strategic workforce planning, improves employee mobility experiences, and ensures compliance with immigration laws across different jurisdictions.
API Integration
Oyster offers API integration capabilities to connect with other HR systems, financial software, or third-party applications. This integration facilitates seamless data synchronization, automates workflows, and enhances system interoperability. By leveraging APIs, businesses can customize HR processes, streamline operations, and gain deeper insights through integrated data analytics, supporting informed decision-making and operational efficiency.
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Oyster HR Software Pricings

Contractor Plan
This plan allows businesses to hire, pay, and manage contractors. It offers a 30-day free trial, followed by a charge of USD 29 per contractor per month.
Global Payroll Plan (Beta)
Designed for paying direct employees globally, this plan costs USD 50 per employee per month.
Employer of Record Plan (Most Popular)
Ideal for hiring, paying, and managing full-time employees globally. It starts at USD 599 per employee per month when billed annually, or USD 699 per employee per month when billed monthly.
Scale Plan
This plan offers custom pricing for businesses with five or more full-time employees annually.
Here are the add-ons available with Oyster HR Software
Benefits Packages
Description: Ensure your global team is rewarded compliantly and equitably with a selection of pre-designed local and global benefits packages. Simplify enrollment processes for your employees effortlessly.
Available with: Employer of Record (EOR) and Scale plans.
Salary Insights
Description: Gain access to comprehensive salary bands customized for global teams. Use this tool to create competitive and fair compensation packages using salary ranges spanning over 130 countries.
Available with: All plans.
Visa Sponsorship
Description: Assist your global candidates through the visa application and approval process with the support of immigration experts. Streamline the application process for a smoother experience.
Available with: Employer of Record (EOR) and Scale plans.
Oyster Shell
Description: Evaluate potential risks of misclassification with the Oyster Shell subscription, offering up to USD $500,000 in aggregate protection.
Available with: Contractor plan.
Where Oyster HR Software Stands Out
Oyster HR Software stands out in several strategic and operational aspects that go beyond just its features and advantages. Here are some areas where Oyster excels:
Global Talent Acquisition
Oyster provides companies with the ability to source talent from a vast pool across over 180 countries. This not only helps in filling positions with the best candidates but also fosters a diverse and inclusive work culture.
Speed of Deployment
Oyster allows businesses to quickly set up and manage global teams without the need to establish local entities. This rapid deployment capability can significantly shorten the time-to-hire and time-to-market for new projects.
User Experience
The platform is designed with an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easier for HR teams and employees to navigate and use the system efficiently. This focus on user experience can lead to higher adoption rates and satisfaction.
Customer Support and Service
Oyster is known for its robust customer support, offering personalized assistance to help companies navigate the complexities of international employment. Their support team is often praised for responsiveness and expertise.
Scalability and Flexibility
The platform is highly scalable, accommodating the needs of startups, SMEs, and large enterprises alike. Its flexibility allows companies to easily adjust their workforce size and structure as they grow or pivot.
Focus on Remote Work
Given the increasing trend towards remote work, Oyster’s specialization in managing remote teams positions it as a leader in the space. They provide tailored solutions to address the unique challenges of remote workforce management.
Where Oyster HR Software Falls Short
Niche Focus
Oyster’s primary focus is on global employment and remote workforce management. For organizations with predominantly local or domestic operations, the platform’s global-centric features might be more than what they need, potentially leading to underutilization of the platform.
Industry-Specific Customization
Oyster is designed to be a broad solution for global HR needs. Companies in highly specialized industries (like healthcare, manufacturing, or education) may find that the platform lacks certain industry-specific features or customizations that they require.
Integration with Local Systems
For companies that already have established local HR systems, integrating Oyster’s global platform with existing local HR, payroll, and compliance systems might present challenges. This can lead to a more complex implementation process.
Cultural and Language Support
While Oyster covers many countries, the depth of support for specific local cultures and languages might not be as comprehensive as local providers. This can impact employee experience in certain regions where localized support is crucial.
Scalability for Very Large Enterprises
Although Oyster is scalable, extremely large enterprises with very complex and diverse HR needs might find that the platform doesn’t offer the same depth of enterprise-level customization and support as some other global HR solutions tailored specifically for large corporations.
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Alternatives to Oyster HR Software

Deel
Deel provides a platform that parallels Oyster, focusing on facilitating compliant global hiring, payroll management, and benefits administration. It emphasizes user-friendly interfaces and seamless integration with existing HR systems. Deel’s approach is geared towards simplicity and efficiency, making it accessible for businesses looking to manage international teams without complex administrative burdens.
Globalization Partners
Globalization Partners specializes in global employer of record services, making it easier for companies to expand internationally. It manages payroll, compliance, and legal considerations across multiple countries, acting as the official employer for the client’s international workforce. This service ensures legal compliance and reduces administrative overhead for companies entering new markets.
Velocity Global
Velocity Global offers comprehensive global employment solutions, particularly through international PEO (Professional Employer Organization) services. This allows businesses to expand globally while simplifying compliance with local employment laws and regulations. Velocity Global focuses on scalability and operational efficiency, supporting companies in navigating the complexities of international expansion.
Remote Team Solutions
Remote Team Solutions provides tailored global employment services designed for remote and distributed teams. This includes robust payroll management, benefits administration, and compliance support across various jurisdictions. Their platform caters specifically to businesses managing remote workforces, offering solutions to streamline HR operations and ensure compliance with global employment standards.
Papaya Global
Papaya Global specializes in automating global payroll and compliance processes, offering scalability for managing international employees and contractors. The platform integrates advanced technology to simplify payroll management, tax calculations, and benefits administration across multiple countries. Papaya Global is ideal for businesses seeking efficiency and accuracy in managing global HR operations.
Customer Reviews
Oyster HR Software earns commendable ratings across various platforms. It boasts a strong 4.5 rating from 68 reviews on Capterra, reflecting its robust global HR management capabilities. On Trustpilot, it maintains a solid 4.4 out of 5 from 125 reviews, highlighting consistent customer satisfaction. G2 users also rate it highly with 4.4 stars from 529 reviews.
Customers appreciate Oyster for its comprehensive global HR features, intuitive interface, and responsive customer service. However, some limitations include potential integration challenges with existing systems and higher costs for very small businesses. Overall, Oyster stands out for its effectiveness in facilitating streamlined HR operations on a global scale.
Pro Tips
- Take advantage of Oyster’s training materials, webinars, and customer support
- Customize workflows, reports, and employee profiles to optimize efficiency and alignment with your business processes
- Regularly check for updates and new features released by Oyster
- Continuously assess the return on investment (ROI) from using Oyster
- Use features for communication, collaboration, and performance tracking to foster productivity and engagement.
- Monitor metrics such as time saved on HR tasks, compliance accuracy, and employee satisfaction to gauge the platform’s impact on your business
- Work closely with Oyster’s support team to integrate data seamlessly for payroll, benefits administration, and compliance management
Recap
Oyster HR Software revolutionizes global workforce management with its comprehensive suite of tools. From acting as an Employer of Record to managing global contractors and offering advanced payroll solutions, Oyster simplifies international expansion by ensuring compliance with local labor laws across over 180 countries.
It excels in optimizing HR operations with features like total rewards management, talent mobility support, and seamless API integrations. Oyster’s user-friendly interface and robust customer support further enhance its appeal, making it an indispensable choice for businesses aiming to streamline HR processes, mitigate risks, and foster growth in a globalized marketplace.