Spending too much on recruitment, payroll or global HR?
Hiring the best Employer of Record, or EOR, for your business comes down to value, exceptional services, and affordability. And while an EOR certainly makes global expansion easier and more efficient, finding the right service provider for your business can be challenging. That’s because different EORs offer different solutions, costs, and features, so it’s important to understand how to find a reputable provider backed by experience, transparency, and accessibility. Fortunately, we’ve simplified this process by comparing two popular EOR service providers, Oyster HR and Remote.
While Oyster is well-recognized for its user-friendly platform and rapid global expansion services, Remote delivers comprehensive employment solutions, including tools for hiring, onboarding, and managing employees. Both EORs provide international scaling solutions, helping businesses hire employees without legal entities abroad.
In this guide, we compare the key features of Oyster HR and Remote’s EORs, such as compliance, pricing, and services, allowing you to make an informed decision for the growth and success of your business.
What is Oyster HR?
Oyster’s Employer of Record is a trusted employment platform with user-friendly features for hiring employees, processing payroll and benefits, and maintaining compliance with local labor laws. The service provider acts as the legal employer of your international workforce, enabling businesses to hire talent abroad without establishing a local entity.
Oyster HR was established in 2020 and has since assisted global companies with employing and managing staff through its EOR services. Oyster’s EOR services are based on a combination of entity ownership and local partnerships to help companies with global expansion.
Efficiency is at the core of Oyster HR’s EOR services, as it offers clients a user-friendly interface, built-in compliance, and the ability to manage teams on the platform. Oyster HR’s Employer of Record services are suited to small- to medium-sized companies.
You can explore more details in our in-depth Oyster HR review.
What is Remote?
Remote is an EOR service provider specializing in compliance, hiring employees, payroll, and HR. Because Remote owns all of its entities, the provider is directly involved in employing your workforce, eliminating the need for third-party services. Remote’s Employer of Record makes it possible to hire and manage international employees without having to register a legal entity. The service provider acts as the employer of your workforce while you maintain control over your employees’ daily performance.
Remote was founded in 2019 and has developed an integrated employment and HR system to easily, securely, and compliantly manage the employment life cycle. Remote’s EOR offers online tools and in-platform workflows to manage your employees in one place while reducing compliance risks.
Businesses from start-ups to established companies rely on Remote EOR to assess new market viability and expand their global workforce.
Learn how Remote compares to other providers in our guide to the best Remote alternatives.
Core Features of Oyster EOR vs Remote EOR
Understanding the services offered by your chosen EOR ensures that you receive the expertise you need. We break down the core features of Oyster HR and Remote’s EOR:
Oyster EOR Services
| Manages Compliance | Oyster HR maintains compliance with local labor laws in the selected countries of expansion to protect against legal risks. |
| Processes Payroll | The service provider calculates and pays wages and taxes in over 180 countries. It performs currency conversions, tax filing, issues payslips, and performs direct deposits. |
| Contractor Management | Oyster HR’s contract management services set it apart from Remote. The platform includes automated workflows, country-specific contracts, global payments, and invoice management. |
| Benefits Administration | Deducts mandatory and supplementary employee benefits. |
| Integrates with HR Systems | Integrates with HR and accounting software, including QuickBooks, HiBob, and Xero. |
| Visa Sponsorship | Oyster HR provides visa sponsorship in around 60 countries to develop international teams. |
| Virtual Assistant and Central Dashboard | An AI-powered virtual assistant and centralized dashboard help you hire and process payments on a single platform. |
Remote EOR Services
| Compliance Management | Acting as the legal employer of the workforce, Remote EOR ensures businesses adapt to changing regulations. |
| Processes Payroll | Much like Oyster HR, Remote’s EOR processes payroll by managing taxes and employee payments in the required currency. Invoice and payment automation are available in addition to an integrated tax calculator. |
| Benefits Administration | Tailored benefits packages are offered to employees in different countries. |
| Professional Support | 24/7 global support is provided by experienced HR and legal experts. |
| Background Checks | Pre-employment screening can be performed on an international scale and directly from the service provider’s platform. |
Oyster HR and Remote EOR Benefits
Whether you’re looking for faster onboarding solutions or labor law compliance, consider the following benefits provided by Oyster HR and Remote’s Employer of Records:
Oyster HR EOR Benefits
| Free Contractor Onboarding | Oyster’s EOR simplifies onboarding of global contractors by allowing clients to register a free Oyster account and access specific hiring tools. |
| User-Friendly Platform | Users find Oyster HR’s user interface easy to navigate. |
| Efficient Team Management | Team onboarding and offboarding are performed on the Oyster HR platform. |
| Saves Time Setting Up a Local Entity | As Oyster’s EOR becomes the employer of your workforce, it saves the time and costs involved in establishing a local entity. |
| Centralized Dashboard | Employees are managed and tracked in a single platform for convenience and efficiency. |
Remote EOR Benefits
| Pre-Employment Screening in a Single Platform | Remote EOR’s pre-employment screening saves time and costs by eliminating the need to hire vendors to assess candidate suitability. |
| Global Scalability Made Easy | Remote offers guidelines for expansion and employee management in each country. Round-the-clock support from financial and HR experts supports compliance with local labor laws. |
| Rapid Market Entry | Onboarding is completed in two days or less, supporting rapid entry into the international market. |
| Mobile Application Improves Usability | Remote EOR’s mobile app simplifies usability with quick and easy access while on the go. |
| Built-In Compliance Protection | Built-in compliance protections prevent failing to adhere to the law. |
Oyster HR and Remote EOR Price Comparison
Before you can decide on a suitable EOR, you must determine whether they satisfy your hiring budget. Check out the price differences between each provider:
- Oyster HR EOR: Plans start from $699 per employee per month. Contractor services start at $29 per month per contractor.
- Remote EOR: Remote’s EOR services start from $699 per month per employee.
The Pros and Cons of Oyster HR and Remote’s EOR Services
Partnering with the right EOR requires a close comparison of each provider’s strengths and possible limitations. It’s a good idea to summarize your professional goals and what you need in an EOR to achieve them. For example, both Oyster HR and Remote offer employment contract creation and management services; however, some companies find that Oyster HR only provides standard contract solutions that fail to address exceptions.
A quick comparison of the pros and cons of each provider can determine which service is better suited to your business.
Oyster HR Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Oyster HR remains a firm favorite among new businesses interested in global expansion. The service provider has gone the extra mile to assist clients with the introduction of a virtual assistant and good-quality customer support. | Despite Oyster’s easy-to-use platform, some argue that such basic features limit customization required by larger companies. |
| The EOR’s strength lies in its easy-to-use features and team management solutions. With Oyster HR’s EOR, companies can easily manage local and remote teams thanks to onboarding workflows and dedicated support. | The support team may lack the necessary in-depth knowledge concerning global tax and country-specific laws. |
| The service provider has no hidden costs. They offer custom pricing for clients who choose an annual plan of three or more EOR hires, making them flexible and willing to work with companies to maximize value. |
Remote Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Remote’s EOR is sought after for its network of financial, HR, and legal experts, assisting companies of all sizes with compliant expansion. | Users may find constraints in the platform’s configuration and delays in customer support services. |
| The provider’s mobile application streamlines administration, as employees can track payments and benefits or view payslips from their smartphones. | |
| Outsourced HR and centralized administration make expansion into international markets faster and easier. Companies save on the costs of employing an in-house HR department. | |
| The EOR significantly reduces risk through complete ownership of entities in various countries. This provides a greater level of control over legal requirements, as third-party vendors are not included. |
Which Is Better? Oyster HR EOR or Remote EOR
Both Oyster HR and Remote’s Employer of Record services offer strengths and limitations depending on what you are looking for. Many businesses choose Oyster HR’s EOR solutions for their simplicity and the ability to handle administrative tasks, such as payroll, benefits, and compliance. Alternatively, Remote’s EOR delivers more scalability with global workforce management solutions and a secure mobile application.
Choosing an EOR service provider should be based on the following factors:
- Their overall expertise in country-specific regulations.
- Is the EOR well-versed in cultural nuances?
- The platform must be easy to navigate and offer secure features for payment processing.
- Determine whether you can easily integrate your existing HR system with the provider.
- The service provider must have a positive track record in compliance.
If you want a simple platform for hiring and managing employees on a smaller scale, Oyster HR’s EOR could be a good choice. Remote’s EOR, on the other hand, is suited to businesses looking for secure and scalable solutions, from payment automation to country-specific compliance.
For expert guidance on choosing the right provider, get in touch with RemotePad’s EOR team.