Oyster alternatives for employer of record and global hiring
What Oyster charges, what the main alternatives charge, and how to tell which one fits your company. Every competitor figure comes from that provider's own pricing page.
Quick answers
What are the main alternatives to Oyster?
The providers most often compared with Oyster for employer of record services are Dryft Global, Deel, Remote, Multiplier and Rippling. They differ in price, contract term, country coverage and how much human support comes with the software.
How much does Oyster charge for EOR?
Oyster lists EOR at $699 per employee per month and contractors at $29 per contractor per month, with annual discounts available and a refundable deposit for EOR.
Is Dryft cheaper than Oyster?
On the listed fee, yes. Dryft starts at $599 per employee per month and Oyster lists $699. Compare the all-in cost for your country before deciding, because the fee is a small part of the total.
When should I stay with Oyster?
Stay if you qualify for its nonprofit, B Corp or startup pricing, or your team is built around its remote-first tooling. Switching EOR providers means new employment contracts in every country, so move for a clear reason, not a small price gap.
Oyster and its alternatives, side by side
Published starting prices and stated country coverage, checked November 12, 2026.
| Provider | EOR fee | Contractors | Contractor or agent of record | Countries stated | Also on the price list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oyster | $699 per employee per month | $29 per contractor per month | Not listed on pricing page | 120+ for EOR | HR advisory at $300 per hour |
| Dryft Global | From $599 per employee per month | From $49 per contractor per month | Agent of Record from $199 | 160+ | Recruiting, dedicated teams and BPO, entity setup, HR consulting, AI agents |
| Deel | From $599 per employee per month | From $49 per contractor per month | Contractor of Record from $325 | 130+ for EOR | US PEO from $125 per employee per month |
| Remote | From $599 per employee per month on annual contracts | From $29 per contractor per month | Contractor of Record from $325 | 90+ for EOR | Payroll for your own entities from $19, US PEO from $99 |
| Multiplier | $459 per person per month billed annually, $499 monthly (Core plan) | $40 per contractor per month | Contractor of Record from $400 | 150+ to 160+ depending on the page | Payroll for your own entities from $20 |
| Rippling | Not published. Quote only | Not published | Not published | Not stated on pricing page | HR, IT and finance software. Plans start at $8 per employee per month plus a base fee |
Which alternative fits which company
Dryft Global fits companies that want a named team instead of a ticket queue, and more than EOR from one partner. The same team that employs your people can recruit them, build a dedicated team or BPO operation, set up your entity when headcount justifies it, and move people from EOR onto that entity. Employment costs pass through at cost with the Dryft fee shown separately on the quote and the invoice. See why Dryft and starting prices.
Dryft is not the right pick for everyone. The company was founded in 2026, so it has a shorter public track record and fewer third-party reviews than the large platforms. If you want fully self-serve software with a large app marketplace and you never expect to need a person, a platform-first provider will suit you better.
Deel fits companies that want a large self-serve platform with month to month terms. Its price list also covers a US PEO, contractor of record and hiring tools, so one vendor can cover US and international staff.
Remote fits companies comfortable with an annual contract that also run payroll in countries where they own an entity. Its price list includes payroll for owned entities, a US PEO and tiered contractor products with indemnity.
Multiplier fits buyers led by the monthly fee. Its Core plan has the lowest published EOR price on this page when billed annually. Its pricing page notes that compliance add-ons and implementation fees are excluded and that some countries carry adjusted pricing.
Rippling fits companies that want HR, IT and finance software in one system and treat EOR as one module of it. It does not publish an EOR price, so you need a quote to compare.
Where Oyster itself fits
Oyster fits distributed, remote-first teams. Its pricing page lists discounts for nonprofits and B Corps, savings for startups, and hourly HR advisory. Its listed EOR fee is the highest of the providers on this page.
How to compare EOR quotes properly
The monthly fee is the smallest part of the bill. Ask every provider the same six questions and put the answers side by side.
- What is the all-in monthly cost for this person in this country? Salary, employer contributions, mandatory benefits and the fee, in one number. Use the cost calculator for a baseline.
- Is there a markup on pass-through costs or currency conversion? A low fee with an FX spread can cost more than a higher fee without one.
- What deposit is required, and when is it returned?
- What does offboarding cost? Termination handling, notice and severance funding differ by provider and by country.
- Who is the legal employer in this country? Ask whether the provider uses its own entity or a local partner, and who you call when something goes wrong.
- What is the contract term? Monthly, annual, or tied to the employee's notice period.
Switching EOR providers
Moving people from one EOR to another is routine, but it is an employment change in each country, not a software migration. Each person signs a new local contract with the new legal employer, with service continuity preserved wherever local law allows. Plan the move around payroll cut-off dates, accrued leave balances, benefit enrolment windows and any work permits tied to the current employer. Most transfers are planned one payroll cycle ahead.
Dryft handles the transfer country by country and tells you up front where a transfer needs employee consent, a notice step or a permit amendment. Ask us for a transfer plan.
More comparisons
All EOR provider comparisons · Deel alternatives · Remote alternatives · Oyster alternatives · Rippling alternatives · Deel vs Remote · Dryft vs Deel · Dryft vs Remote · EOR vs PEO vs entity
Competitor prices and country counts are starting figures from each provider's public pricing page, checked November 12, 2026: Oyster, Deel, Remote, Multiplier, Rippling. Prices change and quotes vary by country and headcount, so confirm on the provider's own site before you decide. Dryft Global is not affiliated with these companies, and their names are trademarks of their owners. Dryft fees are starting points and your written quote confirms the final amount. This page is general information, not legal or procurement advice.
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