Oyster payroll review: coverage, features & pricing
What is Oyster?
Oyster HR operates in 88 countries and accepts cryptocurrency payments, which is rare in the global payroll space. They've built a platform that combines payroll with employer of record services, letting you hire and pay international teams without setting up local entities.
Pricing is $25 per employee, which undercuts competitors like Deel ($29-49) and Remote ($29). They've earned a 4.5-star rating across 1,161 reviews, showing consistent performance at scale.
In this review, we'll break down their country coverage, pricing structure, key features like crypto payments, and who gets the most value from their platform.
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
- •Mid-sized companies (50-200 employees) looking for 24/7 support without enterprise-level pricing
- •Not ideal for US-only companies, where domestic providers like Gusto ($6-12/employee) offer better value
What makes Oyster unique
- •Accepts cryptocurrency payments in addition to standard bank transfers, PayPal, and Wise, giving companies flexibility in how they compensate international contractors and employees
- •Combines global payroll with employer of record services in one platform, eliminating the need to juggle multiple vendors for international hiring and payments
- •Offers on-demand pay functionality, allowing employees to access earned wages before scheduled pay periods, which is uncommon among international payroll providers
- •Provides 24/7 dedicated support across all time zones, important when managing payroll for teams spread across multiple continents
- •B Corp certified, appealing to companies prioritizing social responsibility and ethical business practices in their vendor selection
What countries does Oyster support?
Oyster operates in 146 countries with local compliance expertise.
- ARArgentina
- PLPoland
- MXMexico
- DZAlgeria
- MTMalta
- SKSlovakia
- GNGuinea
- SASaudi Arabia
- FRFrance
- DEGermany
- GHGhana
- ZMZambia
What is Oyster's payroll pricing?
- ✓multi-currency
- ✓automated-tax
- ✓tax-filing
- ✓payslip-generation
- ✓employee-portal
Note: Prices may vary based on country, employee volume, and contract terms. Contact Oyster for a custom quote tailored to your needs. Volume discounts may be available for larger teams.
What are Oyster's payroll features?
A look at Oyster's platform capabilities and tools.
Pay cycles
- •bi-weekly
- •semi-monthly
- •custom
Payment methods
- •bank-transfer
- •wise
- •paypal
- •crypto
What are the pros and cons of Oyster?
Pros
- +At $25 per employee, they're priced below Deel ($29-49) and Remote ($29) while offering similar country coverage and features
- +They cover 88 countries with full compliance management, which hits the sweet spot for most global companies without being overwhelming
- +Cryptocurrency payment support sets them apart. If you're paying contractors in crypto or want that flexibility, this is one of the few platforms that handles it natively
- +The 4.5-star average across 1,161 reviews shows they're delivering consistently. That's a lot of feedback pointing in the same positive direction
- +You get both payroll and EOR in one system. This means onboarding an employee in Brazil or Poland doesn't require coordinating between different vendors
- +Their mobile app and employee portal are well-reviewed, making it easier for distributed teams to access payslips and tax documents on their own
Cons
- –88 countries is solid but not exceptional. Competitors like Remote cover 186 countries, which matters if you're hiring in less common markets
- –Some reviews mention the compliance dashboard can be confusing for first-time users, with a learning curve to understand local tax requirements
- –Custom pay frequencies are available, but several reviews note that setup requires back-and-forth with support rather than self-service configuration
- –While they offer API access, some users report the documentation could be more detailed for companies building custom integrations
- –The $25/employee pricing is still 2-4x higher than US-focused providers if you don't actually need international coverage
What integrations does Oyster offer?
Native integrations available today.
Bamboo HR
Greenhouse
Hibob
Netsuite
Okta
Workday
XeroWhat currencies does Oyster support for payouts?
Oyster supports payroll payouts in 4 currencies, enabling you to pay employees in their local currency.
- CAD
- EUR
- GBP
- USD
What do users say about Oyster?
| Platform | Rating | Reviews | |
|---|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4.4/5 | 1,558 reviews | Read reviews ↗ |
| Capterra | 4.6/5 | 91 reviews | Read reviews ↗ |
| Trustpilot | 3.9/5 | 270 reviews | Read reviews ↗ |
About these ratings: Ratings are sourced directly from each platform, last verified July 2026. We do not collect ratings ourselves; the score above is an average of third-party platforms.
Frequently asked questions about Oyster
How many countries does Oyster cover?
Oyster supports global hiring across 146 countries. The platform includes built-in compliance tools with regular updates to help you stay on top of local employment laws.
What currencies does Oyster pay out in?
Oyster supports payouts in 4 currencies. If your team spans many regions, it is worth confirming that your specific currencies are covered before committing.
What payment methods does Oyster support?
Oyster pays workers via bank transfer, Wise, PayPal, and crypto. Having multiple payment options can be useful when paying contractors in markets where traditional bank transfers are slower or less accessible.
What pay frequencies does Oyster offer?
Oyster supports bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and custom pay frequencies. The custom option gives you some flexibility if your team or local regulations require a different schedule.
What is Oyster's pricing?
Oyster's employer of record service starts from USD 699 per month, and contractor management starts from USD 29 per month. Pricing is published openly, so you can compare plans without having to contact sales first.
What payroll features does Oyster include?
Oyster includes multi-currency payroll, automated tax calculation, tax filing, payslip generation, an employee portal, a compliance dashboard, API access, HRIS integration, on-demand pay, and a mobile app. That covers most of what a mid-sized team would need to run payroll without heavy manual work.
What support does Oyster offer?
Oyster provides 24/7 support, live chat, a dedicated customer success manager, and a knowledge base. Having a dedicated CSM is helpful if you are managing payroll across multiple countries and need a consistent point of contact.
How is Oyster rated by users?
Oyster holds a 4.4 out of 5 on G2 based on 1,552 reviews, a 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra from 91 reviews, and a 4 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 269 reviews. Ratings are generally positive, though the Trustpilot score is slightly lower, so it is worth reading reviews there for any recurring concerns.
What are people asking about Oyster?
Answers from other buyers and from the editorial team.
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What are the best alternatives to Oyster?
Other providers buyers shortlist alongside Oyster. View all alternatives →
Take it up with Oyster directly.
Pricing above is what Oyster publishes. Your quote depends on countries, headcount, and term, so get it from the source.
