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Oyster suits startups and mid-size companies that want published pricing, a free contractor trial and an easy platform for hiring abroad without opening local entities. It is a legitimate, venture-backed employer of record run by Oyster HR, Inc., a certified B Corp founded in 2020 that has raised $288.2 million and publishes a SOC 2 Type II report. The tradeoffs: its $699 EOR fee is higher than Deel, Remote, G-P or Multiplier's listed prices, a refundable deposit is required for each EOR hire, and Trustpilot reviewers (3.8 out of 5) report late payments and slow help on complex or offboarding issues.
- Company
- Oyster HR, Inc., a fully distributed company founded in 2020; certified B Corp3
- Leadership
- Hadi Moussa became CEO on January 13, 2026; founder Tony Jamous moved to executive chairman6
- Funding
- $288.2 million raised; $150 million Series C in 2022 at a $1 billion+ valuation6
- EOR price
- $699 per employee a month billed monthly; annual seat-based discounts available, as listed October 20261
- Contractor price
- Free for 30 days, then $29 per contractor a month; contracts in 180+ countries1
- Coverage
- EOR employment in 120+ countries; payroll in 120+ currencies1
- Fees beyond the subscription
- No setup, onboarding or offboarding fees; refundable deposit per EOR hire; currency conversion fee if you pay in a different currency than the contract1
- Trustpilot
- 3.8 out of 5 from 271 reviews; 9% one star4
Pros
- Published pricing with no setup, onboarding or offboarding fees
- 30 days free for contractors, then $29 a month
- Free account; pay only for active workers
- Certified B Corp with a SOC 2 Type II report
- Discounts for startups, nonprofits and B Corps
Cons
- $699 EOR fee is above Deel, Remote, G-P and Multiplier's list prices
- Refundable deposit required for each EOR hire
- Currency conversion fee if you pay in another currency
- Few recent Trustpilot reviews and no replies to negative ones
- Reports of late payments and offboarding disputes
Best for: Startups and mid-size companies hiring a handful of employees or many contractors abroad who want published prices and a simple platform.
Skip it if: You're optimizing for the lowest EOR fee per head, or you need an EOR that owns its entity in every country you hire in.
Oyster vs. competitors
| Company | EOR price per employee a month | Contractor price | Minimum term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oyster | $699 billed monthly; annual discounts available | $29 a month after a 30-day free period | Not published |
| Deel | $599 | $49 a month | Month to month |
| Remote | From $599 | $29 a month | No minimum headcount |
| Multiplier | $459 to $499 | $40 a month | No minimum headcount or term |
| Globalization Partners (G-P) | From $599 | From $39 a month | No minimum for EOR |
Oyster pricing at a glance
Oyster pricing, as listed October 20261
| Product | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Employer of Record | $699 per employee a month | Hiring, payroll, benefits administration and compliance in 120+ countries; annual billing discounts available |
| Global Contractors | Free for 30 days, then $29 per contractor a month | Contracts in 180+ countries, payments in 120+ currencies, invoices and expenses |
| People Services | $300 per hour | HR advisory from Oyster's experts |
| Account | Free | You pay only once a contractor or employee is active |
Employer taxes, mandatory benefits and salaries are on top of the platform fee. EOR hires need a refundable deposit. Oyster lists discounts for nonprofits, B Corps and startups (up to $1,200 off EOR fees for startups). You can pay in USD, EUR, GBP or CAD by direct debit or wire.
Oyster, step by step
Create a free account
Sign up and explore the platform and its free tools, such as the employment cost calculator.
Add a hire
Choose employer of record for a full-time employee or Global Contractors for a freelancer, and enter the country, role and pay.
Pay the deposit and onboard
For EOR hires, pay the refundable deposit. Oyster issues a local contract and onboards the employee; contractors get an instant contract.
Run payroll and HR
Approve monthly invoices that combine salary, employer costs and Oyster's fee, and manage time off and expenses in the platform.
Offboard
Oyster handles terminations under local law at no extra fee; final pay and notice rules depend on the country.
Oyster legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Oyster HR, Inc. was founded in 2020 as a fully distributed company and became a unicorn after a $150 million Series C in 2022 at a valuation above $1 billion. HR Brew reports it has raised $288.2 million in total, from investors including ServiceNow Ventures and Georgian. On January 13, 2026, Hadi Moussa, formerly CEO of Coople, became CEO, and founder Tony Jamous moved to executive chairman. Oyster is a certified B Corp and says its latest SOC 2 Type II report is available to customers.
Older reviews describing Oyster as a New York company founded in 2019 with EOR in 180+ countries are off: its careers page gives 2020 as the founding year, and its pricing page lists EOR employment in 120+ countries, with contractor contracts in 180+.
Oyster cost
As listed in October 2026, Oyster’s employer of record service costs $699 per employee a month on monthly billing, with lower prices if you buy annual seats. Contractor management is free for 30 days, then $29 per contractor a month. HR advisory through People Services is $300 an hour. Creating an account is free, and you’re billed only for active team members.
The platform fee isn’t your full cost. You also pay the employee’s salary, employer taxes and mandatory benefits, which vary widely by country, plus a refundable deposit per EOR hire and a currency conversion fee if you pay in a currency other than the contract’s. Use Oyster’s employment cost calculator for each country before you commit. Older figures of $500 to $1,000 a month were estimates, not Oyster’s prices.
How Oyster's employer of record works
As an employer of record, Oyster or its local partner becomes the legal employer in the worker’s country. It issues a compliant contract, runs payroll in the local currency, withholds taxes, provides required benefits and handles terminations under local law, while you manage the person’s day-to-day work. For contractors, Oyster generates contracts, collects invoices and sends payments, and includes a misclassification analyzer to flag contractors who should be employees.
What customers say about Oyster
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Easy-to-use platform and clear onboarding
- Polite, patient support on routine questions
- On-time payroll for many employees and contractors
Common complaints
- Late salary or contractor payments, especially international transfers
- Slow answers on complex or time-sensitive issues
- Final pay and unused leave disputes after offboarding
- Questions about local labor law compliance in some countries
- Limited benefits on lower tiers
Oyster complaints and reviews
Most Trustpilot reviewers praise the platform’s ease of use and onboarding. The 9% who give one star mention late salary or contractor payments, slow answers on complex issues, final pay and leave disputes after offboarding and doubts about local labor law compliance in some countries. Only 16 of 271 reviews are from the last 12 months, and Trustpilot says Oyster hasn’t replied to negative reviews. The BBB shows one complaint in three years.
If you’re hiring through Oyster, ask how it employs people in each target country (its own entity or a partner), what the deposit is, and how final pay and unused leave are calculated at offboarding.
Contracts, deposits and ending service
Oyster’s pricing page doesn’t publish a minimum term or headcount for monthly billing. Annual billing buys seats you can reuse when a team member leaves. EOR hires require a refundable deposit to start and to keep payroll on time. Ending an employee’s engagement follows the local notice and severance rules of their country, which Oyster processes at no extra fee, but those costs still fall on you. Read your service agreement for deposit refund timing and notice to cancel.
Compliance risks an EOR doesn't remove
An EOR shifts payroll and employment paperwork to the provider, but your company still decides who to hire, how they work and how long they stay. Misclassifying employees as contractors can bring back taxes and penalties, and having staff abroad can sometimes create a taxable presence for your business. Get local legal and tax advice for countries where you plan to build a large team.
Alternatives to Oyster
- Multiplier Better if you only need a few EOR employees and want the lowest published platform fee. Read review
- Remote Lists EOR from $599 against Oyster's $699, the same $29 contractor price, and says it owns its entities in the countries it serves. Read review
- Deel Cheaper EOR at $599 and a wider product set, including US PEO, if you want one platform for everything. Read review
- Your own local entity If you'll employ many people in one country, a local entity plus local payroll can cost less long term; get local legal advice first.
Oyster reviews
Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.
No reader reviews yet. If you have used Oyster, yours will be the first.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Oyster HR legit?
Yes. Oyster HR, Inc. is a venture-backed employer of record founded in 2020, a certified B Corp, and has raised $288.2 million. It publishes a SOC 2 Type II report for customers.
How much does Oyster charge?
$699 per employee a month for employer of record on monthly billing, with annual discounts, and $29 per contractor a month after 30 free days, as listed October 2026.
Does Oyster have hidden fees?
Oyster says setup, onboarding and offboarding are included. It does require a refundable deposit per EOR hire and charges a currency conversion fee if you pay in a currency different from the contract.
How many countries does Oyster cover?
Its pricing page lists compliant employment in 120+ countries and contractor contracts in 180+ countries.
Who is Oyster's CEO?
Hadi Moussa became CEO on January 13, 2026. Founder Tony Jamous is now executive chairman.
Is Oyster cheaper than Deel?
Not for EOR: Oyster lists $699 against Deel's $599. For contractors Oyster is cheaper, $29 a month against Deel's $49.
Can I try Oyster for free?
Yes. The account is free, and contractor management is free for the first 30 days.
What do Oyster reviews say?
Trustpilot rates it 3.8 out of 5 from 271 reviews. Users praise the platform and onboarding; complaints mention late payments, slow help on complex cases and offboarding disputes.
Is Oyster a PEO?
No. It's an employer of record for workers in other countries plus a contractor payment platform. A PEO co-employs staff in your own country.
Does Oyster offer discounts?
Yes. It lists discounts for certified nonprofits and B Corps through Oyster for Impact, and up to $1,200 in EOR fee savings for startups.
Sources (7)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Oyster: Pricing (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Oyster: Security (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Oyster: Careers (company background) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Oyster reviews (accessed October 13, 2026)
- BBB: Oyster HR business profile (accessed October 13, 2026)
- HR Brew: Oyster appoints new CEO (January 13, 2026) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Oyster: Awards and press (accessed October 13, 2026)
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