Finding the right Employer of Record (EOR) solution can make or break your global hiring strategy. While Oyster HR has established itself as a popular option, many businesses discover it doesn't perfectly align with their specific needs, budget constraints, or growth trajectory.
This guide examines the top Oyster HR alternatives based on extensive research into pricing structures, country coverage, onboarding efficiency, compliance frameworks, integration capabilities, and customer support quality. We've analyzed user reviews, platform features, and more to provide you with objective comparisons.
Why Explore Oyster HR Alternatives?
Oyster HR offers a solid global employment platform that helps companies hire and pay international employees. However, several limitations prompt businesses to seek alternatives:
- Cost concerns: Oyster's pricing structure includes significant markups on employee salaries and benefits, which can strain budgets for growing companies.
- Onboarding delays: Users sometimes reported extended wait times during employee onboarding, sometimes stretching to weeks rather than days.
- Limited payment flexibility: The platform requires pre-funding accounts before processing payroll, creating cash flow challenges for some businesses.
- Contract rigidity: Some users report difficulties with contract amendments and localization for specific countries.
These points, while not dealbreakers for every business, have led many organizations to explore more flexible, responsive, or cost-effective EOR solutions.
Best Oyster HR Alternatives at a Glance:
- Borderless AI
- Deel
- Multiplier
- Papaya Global
- Velocity Global
- Asanify
- GEOR
- Plane
- Omnipresent
- Safeguard Global
- Skuad
11 Top Oyster HR Competitors
Borderless AI – Best for AI-Driven Global Onboarding and Compliance

Borderless AI is an AI-native global employment (EOR) platform founded in 2022. It enables companies to hire, onboard, and pay international employees and contractors in 170+ countries. Unlike many EORs, Borderless built its platform around generative AI: for example, it generates fully compliant employment contracts in seconds and provides AI-driven HR assistants (“HRGPT”) to answer global HR questions instantly.
Contracts and compliance checks that once took weeks now happen in minutes with Borderless’s AI (and country-specific legal templates). The result is vastly faster time-to-hire and truly global payroll without any entity setup.
- Key Features: AI-powered contract generator (compliant in seconds); real-time compliance checks via AI agents; fully managed global payroll (170+ countries, no pre-funding required); ultra-fast onboarding; integrated contractor management with classification risk assessment; consolidated employee/contractor dashboard.
- Price: $579 per employee per month
- G2 Rating: 4.9/5 stars
- Country Coverage: 170+ countries (fully owned entities, global IP protection)
- Onboarding Speed: Contracts and agreements in minutes; employees can be hired and compliant within 24 hours.
- Legal & Compliance: Country-specific employment contracts with built-in compliance monitoring; SOC2 Type I and ISO 27001–aligned security (GDPR/ISO data protections), no deposit or pre-funding needed
- Integrations: Supports integrations with major HRIS/ATS systems and accounting tools; open API for custom workflows (built for tech stacks).
- Customer Support: Dedicated in-house North America–based support (24/7 chat and account manager); average response under 2 hours.
Why it’s a Good Oyster HR Alternative: While Oyster HR provides global EOR services in many markets, Borderless AI’s core focus on AI-driven automation gives it an edge in speed and simplicity. Borderless eliminates lengthy paperwork (contracts in minutes) and common pain points like payroll pre-funding. Its concierge-level support and compliance checks at hire-time mean companies can go live faster than with most traditional EORs.
Deel – Best for All-in-One Global Payroll and Compliance

Deel is a comprehensive global HR platform (founded 2019) that allows companies to compliantly hire, onboard, and pay both full-time employees and contractors in 150+ countries. Deel’s strength is end-to-end global workforce management: it provides local-entity employment, payroll execution, taxes, benefits and even equity management, all through a single user-friendly system.
- Key Features: Dedicated support agent with 24/7 chat; contractor management (global invoicing and payments); local employment contracts vetted by in-house experts; robust global payroll (payroll in local currency with local compliance); API integrations and multi-currency capabilities.
- Price: $599 per employee per month
- G2 Rating: 4.8/5 stars
- Country Coverage: 150+ countries
- Onboarding Speed: 1 - 3 days
- Legal & Compliance: Local tax, social compliance, and benefits built into every hire; 200+ in-house legal/tax experts keeping contracts up-to-date; certified data security (ISO 27001, GDPR compliant)
- Integrations: 100+ native integrations with HRIS, ATS and payroll/accounting systems
- Customer Support: 24/7 support (dedicated agent + chat); enterprise accounts get dedicated account managers.
Why it’s a Good Oyster HR Alternative: Oyster HR and Deel both offer broad EOR services, but Deel’s larger customer base and feature set make it ideal for companies seeking a mature global HR suite. Deel combines EOR with payroll, compliance, and contractor tools in one platform. It also offers more flexible payment options (including equity support) than many EORs. One consideration: Deel’s immigration and visa support is more limited than some competitors, which may matter if you need relocation services.
Multiplier – Best for Budget-Friendly Global Hiring (Especially APAC)

Multiplier is a Singapore-based global EOR and payroll platform focused on simplicity and cost-efficiency. It supports hiring and paying talent in 150+ countries (with a strong focus on Asia-Pacific labor laws) and is known for its very competitive pricing. The platform is clean and streamlined, offering core hiring features without needless extras. Because of its affordability and local expertise in APAC markets, Multiplier is popular with smaller companies and startups expanding globally on a budget.
- Key Features: Specialized knowledge of APAC labor norms (e.g. insurance, benefits); simple, user-friendly UI designed for quick task completion; localized employment contracts for each country; multi-currency payroll in one click; automated contractor invoicing.
- Price: ~$400 per employee per month
- G2 Rating: 4.7/5 stars
- Country Coverage: 150+ countries
- Onboarding Speed: Typically 24–72 hours (1–3 days) in most countries
- Legal & Compliance: GDPR compliant with local country expertise in core markets. It provides local employment contracts and compliance support in 150+ jurisdictions.
- Integrations: Integrates with popular HR platforms like BambooHR; open APIs for custom needs
- Customer Support: 24/5 support via email and chat (no weekend support); multi-language assistance available
Why it’s a Good Oyster HR Alternative: Oyster HR has broad worldwide coverage but can be expensive. Multiplier offers a similar global EOR service at a lower cost, making it attractive if budget is a concern. Its particular strength in APAC markets (India, Southeast Asia) means it can be easier or cheaper to hire there than with Oyster. Smaller teams or companies focused on Asia/EMEA will find Multiplier’s plan simpler and more affordable, albeit with slightly smaller country coverage and less 24/7 support.
Papaya Global – Best for Fintech-Driven Payroll and Analytics

Papaya Global is a fintech-powered global workforce platform that handles payroll, EOR, and contractor payments in one system. It is often chosen by companies with complex global payroll needs or mixed entity/EOR setups. Papaya’s in-house payments infrastructure is a standout: it offers fast cross-border salary disbursements, local currency holding (treasury) and tax payments. Its dashboards provide detailed cost tracking and compliance reporting, making it a favorite for finance teams.
- Key Features: In-house global payments platform (fast salary payouts, local treasury and tax payments); detailed workforce cost reports and compliance analytics across countries; contractor hiring and automated invoice processing; easy conversion of contractors to employees.
- Price: Starts around $650 per employee per month for full EOR services
- G2 Rating: 4.5/5 stars
- Country Coverage: 160+ countries
- Onboarding Speed: 3–5 business days on average, depending on country
- Legal & Compliance: SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certified; stays up-to-date on local labor law and tax regulations
- Integrations: Integrates with major HRIS and financial systems (e.g. SAP, Workday); open API for custom connections
- Customer Support: 24/7 support for critical issues and a dedicated account manager for each client; in-country payroll experts available
Why it’s a Good Oyster HR Alternative: Like Oyster, Papaya offers full EOR services globally, but its fintech roots give it extra capabilities in payroll management. If Oyster’s basic payroll is insufficient, Papaya provides richer features (e.g., currency treasury, tax-savings) and better multi-entity handling. For companies whose biggest pain point with Oyster is payroll complexity or lack of financial visibility, Papaya’s advanced analytics and payment technology can be a better fit.
Velocity Global – Best for High-Touch Enterprise EOR

Velocity Global (founded 2014) is a veteran provider known for its “concierge-level” service. It emphasizes very fast onboarding (often within 48 hours) and broad service offerings (including immigration, pension, equity management) to enterprise clients. Velocity’s strength is in combining speed with white-glove support: every client typically gets a dedicated team, and Velocity has in-country experts for payroll, benefits, and even visa/relocation services. This makes it ideal for companies needing both speed and depth in global employment.
- Key Features: Very fast onboarding (as quick as 2 business days in many countries); global benefits administration and assistance with equity programs; can run multi-country payroll (EOR or owned-entity); support for contractor-to-employee conversions and immigration assistance.
- Price: $599 per employee per month (flat rate EOR fee)
- G2 Rating: 4.5/5 stars
- Country Coverage: 185+ countries
- Onboarding Speed: Around 48 hours in most markets
- Legal & Compliance: Continuous compliance monitoring; specialized local experts ensure adherence to labor laws; SOC2-level data controls.
- Integrations: Integrates with major HRIS/ATS tools; also offers a public API for custom connections
- Customer Support: 24/7 “concierge” support (dedicated account team for each client) ; local support teams in major regions
Why it’s a Good Oyster HR Alternative: Velocity Global provides a more service-intensive model than Oyster’s tech-first approach. If Oyster feels too self-serve, Velocity’s hands-on model can be appealing. It also supports more specialized needs (e.g. global visa relocation, international equity plans, pensions) than many EORs. In short, Velocity is a strong choice if you want robust global coverage with maximum support and don’t mind a premium price.
Asanify – Best for Integrated HRMS and EOR for Startups/SMBs

Asanify is an India-founded HR platform (2019) that combines EOR services with a full HRMS. It positions itself as an all-in-one HR automation solution for small to mid-sized global teams. Asanify promises 24/7 support and a very fast setup (“just 1 day to start”) for onboarding employees across 100+ countries. In practice, it offers a comprehensive suite (HRMS, payroll, attendance, payroll compliance) with a base EOR fee starting around $199 per employee per month, significantly lower than many EOR peers. Its appeal is strongest for startups that want both payroll/EOR and built-in HR tools under one roof.
- Key Features: Built-in HRMS (recruiting, onboarding, attendance, performance, etc.); global EOR and payroll (100+ countries); contractor payments (200+ countries) ; automated payroll statutory compliance and payslips.
- Price: $199 per employee per month for EOR services (plus costs vary by country; email for exact pricing).
- G2 Rating: 4.9/5 stars
- Country Coverage: 100+ countries
- Onboarding Speed: “Just 1 day to get started” for any location (turns around employee in ~24 hours). Payroll distribution for contractors claims <24-hour turnaround.
- Legal & Compliance: 100% compliance on payroll & all statutory requirements (labor laws, taxes) in covered countries; in-house legal/tax automation.
- Integrations: Slack, MS Teams, WhatsApp and Google Suite (for HR process); many users note built-in Slack/Teams chat integration.
- Customer Support: Truly 24/7 support (as advertised) ; also provides employee training on the platform.
Why it’s a Good Oyster HR Alternative: Asanify’s emphasis on an integrated HRMS plus EOR gives it a different angle than Oyster HR. For teams wanting payroll and compliance plus in-app HR tools and communication (e.g. Slack integration), Asanify can replace Oyster plus separate HRIS. Its lower pricing and “startups-first” positioning also make it more appealing for SMBs. In essence, Asanify offers full EOR capabilities at startup-friendly prices with built-in analytics and HR workflows, which may be better for growing teams than Oyster’s more “pure EOR” approach.
GEOR (Global Employer Of Record) – Best for Tech Staffing and Compliance

GEOR (Global Employer of Record) is a Virginia-based EOR and staffing firm founded in 2010. It specializes in tech recruiting and employment services, boasting 120+ country coverage with a focus on compliance and speed. GEOR emphasizes its AI-driven recruiting process (cutting hiring time by ~40%) and claims full local compliance in 120+ countries. Unlike typical EOR startups, GEOR is staffed more like a global employment agency: it offers EOR, staffing, and vendor management under one umbrella. This makes it a fit for companies (especially in tech) that want both talent sourcing and EOR handled by one partner.
- Key Features: Global EOR services with legal compliance in 120+ countries; workforce and vendor management (manage contractors and third-party providers); staff augmentation and temporary staffing options; AI-accelerated recruiting and onboarding; dedicated payroll and HR administration.
- Price: Custom (varies by country and service scope). Generally competitive; some sources cite EOR fees ~10-15% of salary or flat ~$600–$800 per employee
- G2 Rating: 4.9/5 stars
- Country Coverage: 120+ countries
- Onboarding Speed: Typical EOR onboarding in 2–5 days
- Legal & Compliance: Claims full local compliance support in each jurisdiction (employer of record handles all payroll/taxes). Maintains local legal entities in key markets (US, UK, PT, UAE)
- Integrations: Not a tech platform per se (no integrations noted); more of a full-service model.
- Customer Support: Dedicated account management and staffing consultants; global 24/5 support likely (GEOR mentions regional experts and AI support)
Why it’s a Good Oyster HR Alternative: GEOR can be seen as a more staffed/agency-style alternative. If Oyster provides a self-service EOR, GEOR adds value by also handling recruitment and temporary staffing. For tech companies needing both recruiters and EOR, GEOR combines them. Its focus on tech staffing and compliance may appeal to firms uncomfortable with self-managed hiring. (In short, GEOR is to tech hiring what Oyster is to EOR, so it’s an alternative when you want a bit more hand-holding in recruitment.)
Plane – Best for Unified US + Global Payroll (Contractors and Employees)

Plane (formerly Pilot) is a U.S.-based global payroll and HR platform geared toward startups with distributed teams. It unifies U.S. domestic (W2) payroll and international payroll/contractor payments in one system. Plane pays independent contractors in 240+ countries and can serve as an EOR in 100+ countries. In practice, it simplifies payroll for companies that hire both U.S. employees and global workers.
- Key Features: Global payroll system for all workers (US W-2 and international EOR/contractors); contractor payments in 240+ countries at fair exchange rates; IP protection via built-in two-step IP assignment; immigration and visa assistance for employees; guided onboarding checklists.
- Price: $499 per employee per month
- G2 Rating: 4.6/5 stars
- Country Coverage: 100+ countries
- Onboarding Speed: Hires international employees “in days” (1-3 days). Both employees and contractors can be set up in a day or two once ready.
- Legal & Compliance: Country-specific contracts and payroll compliance in covered EOR countries; U.S. tax filing for W-2 employees. Plane’s platform also helps classify hires (contractor vs. employee) to manage legal risk.
- Integrations: QuickBooks Online (accounting), Slack
- Customer Support: 24/5 support via email/chat/Slack; guided onboarding support and direct support to contractors and employees.
Why it’s a Good Oyster HR Alternative: Plane overlaps with Oyster by offering EOR services, but it also handles U.S. payroll and contractor payments in one place. For U.S.-based startups hiring globally, Plane’s unified platform can be simpler than Oyster (which focuses only on EOR). Plane’s transparent flat pricing and lack of hidden fees also make budgeting straightforward compared to Oyster’s model. In short, Plane is ideal if you want one system to run both U.S. and international payroll, especially with heavy contractor usage.
Omnipresent – Best for Comprehensive, Compliance-Focused Global EOR

Omnipresent is a global EOR founded in 2019 that prides itself on simplifying international hiring with strong compliance. It serves companies of all sizes looking to employ talent in 160+ countries. Omnipresent’s platform (“OmniPlatform”) combines automation with a network of 160+ local entities, enabling fast onboarding and unified global management. Key features include guided onboarding assistance, multi-country payroll, benefits administration, and continuous tax and legal compliance. Omnipresent is often noted for its high customer satisfaction and dedicated local teams.
- Key Features: Employment contracts adapted to local laws; onboarding assistance and equipment provisioning; multi-currency payroll and benefits admin; automated compliance monitoring (labor law updates, tax filings); global benefits packages (custom country-by-country); dedicated local HR specialists.
- Price: Standard EOR is $399 per employee per month; Premium (with extra support) $599/mo;
- G2 Rating: 4.5/5 stars
- Country Coverage: 160+ countries
- Onboarding Speed: Typically a few days per hire (fully digital onboarding)
- Legal & Compliance: Local employment law expertise embedded; offers full compliance on payroll, taxation, and statutory benefits in every market
- Integrations: Integrates with 24 popular HR systems (BambooHR, Workday, HiBob, etc.); API for custom connections
- Customer Support: Dedicated account managers for clients; support in multiple languages; response SLA ~24 hours. High-touch model (local HR experts available)
Why it’s a Good Oyster HR Alternative: Omnipresent and Oyster share similar goals: simple global hiring with compliance. Omnipresent stands out for its breadth of services and entity network (160+ entities vs. Oyster’s ~180 partners) along with strong process automation. For companies that need local expertise at each step and don’t mind slightly higher fees, Omnipresent offers thorough support for complex compliance (e.g., tailored benefits, payroll taxes) which can be more comprehensive than Oyster’s basic model.
Safeguard Global – Best for Customizable Enterprise EOR and Talent Sourcing

Safeguard Global (est. 2008) is a long-running global employment services firm known for highly customizable solutions. It provides EOR, contractor, and multi-country payroll, plus even recruitment through its own talent arm. Safeguard’s platform centralizes employee data and can handle complex setups (own entities plus EOR) across 170+ countries. Its standout features include the ability to source and hire talent (recruiting service), and robust compliance templates accumulated over decades of experience.
- Key Features: International recruitment and EOR combined (own recruiting arm); integrated workforce management platform for all employee records and analytics; multi-country payroll (for both EOR and self-entity clients); decades of compliance templates and risk-mitigation processes.
- Price: From ~$499 per employee per month (starts, varies by contract)
- G2 Rating: 4.3/5 stars
- Country Coverage: 170+ countries
- Onboarding Speed: 2–5 business days on average.
- Legal & Compliance: Broad coverage (GDPR, CPRA, etc. compliance up-to-date); extensive local expertise from years of global payroll.
- Integrations: Limited off-the-shelf integrations; custom integrations available by request.
- Customer Support: Dedicated account managers and regional support teams for enterprise clients; local experts in 70+ owned entities.
Why it’s a Good Oyster HR Alternative: Safeguard is designed for enterprises with complex HR needs. If Oyster’s straightforward EOR isn’t enough, Safeguard offers more customization and services (even recruitment) in one contract. Companies that may eventually transition to their own entities often use Safeguard because it can support that growth path. In essence, Safeguard is to Oyster what a full-service HR outsourcing firm is to a tech startup: more options and legacy expertise, at the cost of more complexity.
Skuad – Best for Integrated Payoneer-Backed Global HR

Skuad (now part of Payoneer) is a global employment platform for companies building distributed teams. It enables hiring contractors and full-time employees in 160+ countries. Skuad emphasizes an all-in-one experience: onboarding in minutes, one-click global payroll, and management of benefits, timesheets, and compliance on a single platform. Its contractor service starts at $19/month and full-time employee EOR starts at $199/month, making it cost-competitive.
- Key Features: Global hiring in 160+ countries; onboard new hires in minutes; one-click payroll in 100+ currencies; full legal and tax compliance built-in (with local employment contracts); benefits administration, work permit support, timesheets.
- Price: $199 per employee/month
- G2 Rating: 4.6/5 stars
- Country Coverage: 160+ countries
- Onboarding Speed: Employees and contractors can be onboarded in minutes (automated workflows)
- Legal & Compliance: 100% compliance with local laws (contracts vetted by local experts, IP and invoicing handled). Complies with GDPR/others as needed.
- Integrations: Integrates with Darvinbox and Omnipresent (via G2 listing) and other HRIS systems; API available.
- Customer Support: Live chat support and dedicated account managers; global support hours (24x5)
Why it’s a Good Oyster HR Alternative: Skuad offers a similar EOR service to Oyster but with Payoneer’s payments backbone, enabling very flexible payout options (100+ currencies, crypto, etc.). Its pricing is competitive and transparent, making it a good choice if Oyster’s base price is high. For companies already using Payoneer or wanting very flexible contractor payments, Skuad can be a seamless alternative.
Our Picks for the Best Oyster HR Alternatives
Selection Criteria and Review Methodology
To choose the top Oyster HR alternatives in the global Employer of Record space, we conducted a comprehensive review of leading platforms. Our selection was guided by the following criteria to ensure quality, relevance, and practical alignment with businesses scaling across borders:
- High User Satisfaction: Only platforms with a G2 rating of 4.3 or above were considered, reflecting strong customer endorsement and consistently reliable service delivery.
- Extensive Global Reach: We prioritized providers with broad international coverage, capable of hiring both employees and contractors across 100+ countries with full compliance support.
- Clear and Honest Pricing: We favored EOR services that offer transparent pricing models, whether through published flat rates or detailed custom quotes - excluding those with vague or hidden cost structures.
- Verified Compliance Frameworks: Inclusion required recognized data security or legal certifications such as SOC 2, GDPR, or ISO 27001, as well as access to regional legal experts or dedicated compliance teams.
- Robust Support Infrastructure: Platforms needed to offer responsive customer support, with preference given to those providing dedicated customer success managers, live chat, and global support availability.
This evaluation framework ensures that all Oyster HR competitors we recommend meet high operational standards and are capable of supporting complex international employment needs at scale.
How to Choose the Best Oyster HR Alternative for EOR
Selecting the right EOR platform requires careful consideration of your specific business needs:
- Assess your geographic priorities: If you're focusing on specific regions (like APAC with Multiplier or Europe with GEOR), choose a provider with deep expertise in those areas.
- Consider your tech stack: For companies with complex systems, integration capabilities become crucial. Plane and Borderless AI offer stronger API options for technical teams.
- Evaluate your support needs: If you require high-touch guidance, platforms like Safeguard Global and Omnipresent offer more comprehensive advisory services.
- Analyze your workforce composition: Companies with mixed employee/contractor needs should prioritize platforms like Deel or Borderless AI that excel at both.
- Calculate total costs: Look beyond base fees to understand currency conversion costs, benefits markups, and implementation fees that affect your total investment.
- Prioritize compliance requirements: For highly regulated industries, platforms with stronger compliance frameworks like Papaya Global or Safeguard Global may be worth the premium pricing.
- Consider growth trajectory: Startups planning rapid expansion should prioritize platforms with quick onboarding and flexible scaling like Borderless AI or Skuad.
- The best choice ultimately depends on aligning platform strengths with your specific global employment strategy, budget constraints, and operational requirements.
Why Choose Borderless AI for Your Global Employment Needs
Borderless AI stands out among Oyster HR alternatives by addressing key pain points that global employers face:
- Faster onboarding: While Oyster users often report weeks-long onboarding processes, Borderless AI's AI-native architecture reduces this to days or even hours, allowing you to secure talent before competitors.
- No pre-funding requirements: Borderless AI processes payroll without advance deposits, improving your cash flow management.
- Real-time compliance guidance: Borderless AI's HRGPT agents provide instant answers to compliance questions across 170+ countries, reducing risk and accelerating decision-making.
- Transparent pricing: Borderless AI's flat fee structure eliminates the surprise costs and salary markups that Oyster users frequently cite as pain points.
For companies prioritizing speed, efficiency, and modern technology in their global employment strategy, Borderless AI offers a compelling alternative to Oyster HR's traditional approach.