Deel vs Oyster: global payroll compared
Deel and Oyster scored on the same fields: starting price, payroll countries, pay cycles, payout currencies, integrations and reviews. The verdict comes first, the evidence follows.
Should you choose Deel or Oyster for global payroll?
- Payroll countries. Deel runs payroll in 21 more countries.
- Payout currencies. Deel pays out in more currencies.
- Rating. Deel is rated higher across G2, Capterra and Trustpilot.
Pick Deel if
- +You want published pricing (from $29/mo) instead of a quote
- +You need payroll in more countries (153 vs 132)
- +You pay out in more currencies (27 vs 4)
Pick Oyster if
- +Companies hiring in 5+ countries who need both payroll processing and employer of record services bundled together
- +Businesses paying remote workers in cryptocurrency or wanting that option for international contractor payments
Pick neither if you pay people in one or two countries. At that footprint a local payroll bureau is usually cheaper and closer to the rules. Platforms like these start paying off around the third country.
Deel and Oyster both sell global payroll to companies paying staff in several countries. Deel publishes global payroll from $29 per employee per month. Oyster quotes per company. Deel runs payroll in 153 countries, Oyster in 132.
Below, the two are scored on the same fields in the same order: starting price, payroll countries, pay cycles, payout currencies, integrations and third-party ratings. Nothing is left blank to make one side look better.
Deel vs Oyster: which fields differ?
8 of 10 fields differ. Green marks the stronger figure where one is objectively better. Identical fields are folded below the table.
| Payroll field | Deel | Oyster |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll price | from $29/emp/mo | Quote only |
| Payroll countries | 153 | 132 |
| Payout currencies | 27 | 4 |
| GL & HRIS integrations | Ashby, BambooHR, Google Workspace | ADP, BambooHR, Factorial |
| Founded | 2019 | 2020 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, US | Charlotte, US |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.3 |
| Review volume | 21,441 | 1,988 |
Same on 2 fields: pay cycles, services
| Payroll field | Deel | Oyster |
|---|---|---|
| Pay cycles | bi-weekly, semi-monthly, custom | bi-weekly, semi-monthly, custom |
| Services | Employer of record, Global payroll, Contractors | Employer of record, Global payroll, Contractors |
Prices are the published starting rate. Ratings are averaged across G2, Capterra and Trustpilot; we do not collect ratings ourselves.
Deel vs Oyster: what does global payroll cost?
Deel publishes a starting price. Oyster quotes per company, so ask for both before comparing.
| Service | Deel | Oyster |
|---|---|---|
| Global payroll | $29/emp/mo | Quote only |
| Employer of record | $599/emp/mo | $699/emp/mo |
| Contractors | $49/mo | $29/mo |
Starting rates from each provider's published pricing page. Country, headcount and contract length change the final number, so get both quotes for the same scope.
Still between Deel and Oyster? Send your countries, headcount and pay cycles once. We route the requirements to both and the proposals come back to you, priced for the same scope.
Request proposals from bothWhere can Deel and Oyster actually run payroll?
Deel supports 21 more countries than Oyster. 122 countries are covered by both.
D = Deel · O = Oyster
Only Deel (31)
Only Oyster (10)
Which payroll features do Deel and Oyster offer?
Deel and Oyster list the same payroll features. The differences are in coverage and price, not the feature list.
| Feature | Deel | Oyster |
|---|---|---|
| Services | ||
| Global payroll | ||
| Employer of record | ||
| Contractor management | ||
| PEO | — | — |
| Payroll features | ||
| Payslip generation | ||
| Tax filing | ||
| Multi-currency payroll | ||
| HRIS integration | ||
Feature lists come from each provider's own product pages. A dash means the feature is not listed there, not that it is missing from the product.
What are the pros and cons of Deel vs Oyster for payroll?
Drawn from our full reviews of each provider. Read them for the reasoning behind every point.
Deel
Pros
- +Deel publishes its global payroll price, so you can model cost against headcount before talking to sales.
- +Payroll, employer of record and contractor of record sit on one platform, which helps if your team mixes all three.
- +A public API and webhooks let engineering teams sync payroll events into internal systems.
- +Round-the-clock support is stated on Deel's own site, useful when pay runs cross time zones.
- +Employees get a mobile app and their payslips on the platform, which cuts routine questions to the payroll team.
Cons
- −Deel charges a separate fee for each off-cycle payroll run, so corrections and bonus runs add to the bill.
- −If you only need payroll, you are buying into a platform built around employer of record and contractors as well.
Oyster
Pros
- +Oyster states on its own site that it charges no setup fee and no offboarding fee.
- +Oyster publishes its employer of record and contractor prices.
- +A public API and webhooks support integrations, and each customer gets an account manager.
- +Oyster holds register-verified entities in a number of countries.
Cons
- −A mobile app is not published on Oyster's site.
- −Contractor of record is not published on Oyster's site, so check how contractors are engaged if you hire them.
Frequently asked questions about Deel vs Oyster
Is Deel or Oyster cheaper?
Deel starts at $29/month per employee. Contact the providers directly for custom pricing based on your needs.
Which has more country coverage, Deel or Oyster?
Deel has broader country coverage. Deel supports 153+ countries, while Oyster supports 132+ countries.
Which is better rated, Deel or Oyster?
Deel has a higher average rating. Deel is rated 4.7/5 (21,441 reviews), while Oyster is rated 4.3/5 (1,988 reviews).
Is Deel or Oyster better for small businesses?
This depends on your specific needs. Deel is best for: Payroll teams adding a second or third country who need automated tax filing and a compliance dashboard without building a separate vendor relationship for each new jurisdiction, given Deel's published coverage across 153 countries., Organizations funding payroll in one currency but paying staff in multiple local currencies, because Deel's multi-currency disbursement handles the conversion within the pay run rather than outside it.. Oyster is best for: Companies hiring in 5+ countries who need both payroll processing and employer of record services bundled together, Businesses paying remote workers in cryptocurrency or wanting that option for international contractor payments. Consider factors like pricing, minimum employee requirements, and the countries you need coverage in.
Can I switch from Deel to Oyster (or vice versa)?
Yes, you can switch payroll providers. Most providers offer migration assistance to help transfer employee data and payroll history. The transition typically takes 30-60 days depending on complexity. Contact your target provider's sales team to discuss the migration process and timeline.
What services do Deel and Oyster offer?
Deel offers: Employer of Record (EOR), Global payroll, Contractor management. Oyster offers: Employer of Record (EOR), Global payroll, Contractor management. Both can handle global workforce management, but their specific service offerings differ.
Compare with other providers
Get the same quote from both.
Ask Deel and Oyster for pricing on the same countries and headcount. The starting rates above only tell part of the story.
