Deel vs Oyster HR: Which EOR Fits Your Hiring?
Deel lists EOR at $599 a month with no commitment and Oyster at $699, and Deel reaches 130+ countries to Oyster’s 120+. Oyster answers with $29 contractors, in-house HR and legal experts and no setup or termination fees.
Deel
Global HR, payroll and EOR platform
Best for: teams that want the broadest coverage, month-to-month billing and payroll, EOR and contractors on one platform.
Oyster HR
Compliance-first EOR with in-house experts
Best for: mid-market teams that want in-house HR and legal experts and published terms for setup and terminations.
Deel4.0vsOyster HR3.8Deel Lists $100 Less. Oyster Is Cheaper on Contractors.
If you want the lower EOR rate and the larger platform, we would pick Deel. It lists $599 per employee a month against Oyster’s $699, bills month to month, reaches 130+ countries and scores 4.0 with us to Oyster’s 3.8. Its 2,000+ in-house experts and 24/7 support are listed on its pricing page.
Oyster is the better buy when contractors or exit costs matter. It lists contractors at $29 against Deel’s $49, adds Shell cover up to $500,000, and says setup, onboarding and terminations cost nothing extra. Both leave the deposit and FX terms out of their public pricing, so ask each for them in writing.
New to the model? Our guide to what an employer of record does covers the basics, and our best EOR providers list ranks both against the wider market.
DeelOyster HR- You want the lower EOR rate with no commitment
- You want payroll, EOR and contractors on one platform
- You hire in a market outside Oyster’s 120+
- You run many contractors beside employees
- You want setup and termination costs stated as free
- You want HR advisory available by the hour
How We Scored Deel and Oyster HR
We score every EOR on the same five factors, out of 5, and average them. The reasoning behind each score is in our Deel review and Oyster HR review, and the method is in our editorial guidelines.
Deel4.0Deel’s 4.8 public rating sits above our 4.0 because most of its 26,891 reviewers use it for payroll and contractors, not only EOR. Oyster’s 4.3 rests on 1,909 reviews, mostly from G2.
Deel vs Oyster HR Pricing
Both charge a monthly fee per employee on top of salary, employer taxes and benefits. Those employer costs often outweigh the fee, so check your countries in our employer cost by country tool.
Deel
Listed on Deel’s pricing page, billed month to month with no long-term commitment.
Ask for the deposit per hire and the FX markup in writing, since neither is on the pricing page.
Oyster HR
Listed on Oyster’s pricing page. Annual seat-based discounts exist, but the discounted rate is not shown.
Ask for the deposit per hire, the FX conversion fee and the annual seat price in writing.
For published rates across more providers, see our EOR Pricing Index.
Calculate the Fee Gap for Your Team
Move the slider to see what the list-price gap adds up to. It covers the EOR fee only, not salary, employer taxes, deposits or FX.
Deel$599 x 10 hires x 12 months
Oyster HR$699 x 10 hires x 12 months
Oyster’s annual seat discounts are not priced, so the real gap may be smaller. Deel’s fee is month to month.
Deel vs Oyster HR Features
What each provider lists on its own product, pricing and security pages. Deel also sells a US PEO, and our EOR vs PEO guide explains where that model fits.
DeelOyster HRWhere You Can Hire With Each
Deel lists about 10 more EOR countries. Deel says its EOR entities are owned, while Oyster mixes owned entities with partners and does not say where.
Deel
Deel runs EOR in 130+ countries through entities it owns. Its wider platform, including contractors, reaches 150+ countries, so use 130+ for employees.
Countries both providers list, with our hiring guides:
Oyster HR
Oyster runs EOR in 120+ countries through owned entities and vetted partners, and does not publish which markets use which. Its 180+ figure covers contractors, not employees.
Moving contractors onto payroll? Our guide on switching contractors to full-time EOR employees covers the steps.
Planning enough hires in one country to set up your own company? Compare the two routes in EOR vs entity setup.
Which One Fits Your Situation
Six situations we see most often from teams choosing between these two. For sector-specific needs, see how to choose an EOR for your industry.
You want the lower EOR rate
Deel lists $599 a month with no commitment. Oyster lists $699, with annual seat discounts it does not price.
DeelYou hire in a market outside Oyster’s 120+
Deel lists EOR in 130+ countries, about 10 more than Oyster. Check your country on both sites before you shortlist.
DeelYou run many contractors
Oyster lists $29 per contractor with 30 days free and Shell cover up to $500,000. Deel lists $49, with Contractor of Record at $325.
Oyster HRYou want setup and exit costs stated
Oyster says setup, onboarding and terminations cost nothing extra. Deel does not publish its setup fee or deposit.
Oyster HRYou want one platform for payroll, EOR and contractors
Deel covers EOR, global payroll, contractors and a US PEO in one account. Oyster adds HR advisory by the hour but a narrower product set.
DeelYou want support you can reach at any hour
Deel lists 24/7 support and 2,000+ in-house experts. Oyster includes HR and legal experts in the fee but does not list round-the-clock cover.
DeelContract and Exit Terms to Check
Neither publishes the deposit. Oyster states its setup and exit fees, and Deel states its month-to-month billing.
DeelOyster HREnding a contract abroad also triggers local rules, so check severance pay by country before you plan an exit.
What Users Say About Deel and Oyster HR
Ratings weighted by review count across G2, Trustpilot and Capterra, checked for this comparison.
Deel
Oyster HR
For how the wider EOR market rates on price, coverage and compliance, see our employer of record statistics.
Alternatives to Deel and Oyster HR
The three EORs buyers most often shortlist next to these two. For a longer list, see our roundup of Deel competitors.
Remote
- EOR price
- $599 annual
- Countries
- 90+
- Entities
- 100% owned
Matches Deel on list price, owns every entity and charges no standard deposit.
Read our Remote review →
Multiplier
- EOR price
- $459 annual, $499 monthly
- Countries
- 160+
- Extras
- Add-ons priced separately
Lower than both at list price, with add-ons and implementation fees on top.
Read our Multiplier review →
Pebl
- EOR price
- $399 /month
- Countries
- 185+
- Contract
- Billing terms not published
The lowest listed rate here and the widest country list, with terms to confirm in a quote.
Read our Pebl review →More comparisons
Deel vs RemoteRead comparison
Deel vs RipplingRead comparisonDeel vs MultiplierRead comparisonOyster HR vs RemoteRead comparisonRippling vs Oyster HRRead comparisonMultiplier vs Oyster HRRead comparisonSee every head-to-head on our EOR comparisons page.
Deel vs Oyster HR FAQ
Short answers from our research and both vendors’ published pages.
Is Deel cheaper than Oyster HR for EOR?
On list price, yes. Deel shows $599 per employee a month, billed month to month, and Oyster shows $699. Oyster offers seat-based annual discounts without printing the discounted rate, so compare both on a written quote.
Which covers more countries, Deel or Oyster HR?
Deel, with EOR in 130+ countries against Oyster's 120+. Deel's 150+ figure and Oyster's 180+ figure include contractor locations, so use the EOR numbers for employees.
Do Deel and Oyster HR own their entities?
Deel runs EOR through entities it owns. Oyster uses owned entities and vetted partners and does not say which countries run on which.
Do Deel and Oyster HR require a deposit?
Oyster requires a refundable deposit before each EOR engagement starts and does not publish the amount. Deel does not publish a deposit either, so ask for it before you sign.
Which has cheaper contractor management?
Oyster, at $29 per contractor a month with 30 days free and Shell cover up to $500,000. Deel lists $49 per contractor and Contractor of Record at $325.
Which has better support?
Deel lists 24/7 support, a dedicated onboarding manager and 2,000+ in-house experts. Oyster includes HR and legal experts in the EOR fee and sells advisory at $300 an hour. Reviewers of both report uneven escalations, so test each with a hard question.
Does Oyster HR charge for setup or termination?
No. Oyster says setup, onboarding, HR expert access and terminations are included in the subscription. Deel does not publish a setup fee. Local severance and notice costs still apply under both.
About the author
Dhiraj Das is Co-Founder of EmployerRecords.com, where he leads content, research and partnerships. He has worked in content and online publishing for more than 15 years, and before EmployerRecords he founded a number of successful content brands. For the past six years he has specialised in HR technology, Employer of Record services and global hiring. His background in digital marketing and search shapes how EmployerRecords researches and presents its provider reviews, country hiring guides and cost data, so employers can compare their options and hire abroad with clear, checked information.
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