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Employer of Record (EOR)
Employer of Record (EOR)
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RemoFirst vs. Oyster [Simple EOR Comparison]

Rebecca Hosley
Updated date
November 25, 2024

International expansion is one way for businesses to manage growth. However, global hiring also means following employment regulations in other countries. And one way to ensure your company is compliant throughout the world is by working with an Employer of Record (EOR). 

EORs act as legal employers and handle onboarding, payroll, benefits, compliance, and more for employees located around the globe. 

RemoFirst and Oyster are both Employers of Record that help companies expand globally by managing all legal and administrative needs for employing international employees. Below, we'll take a simple and honest look at how we compare.

Key takeaways:

  • RemoFirst and Oyster enable businesses to employ employees and contractors in over 180 countries.
  • Oyster easily integrates with dozens of existing software programs, which can be useful for larger companies that want all of their systems to be connected. 
  • RemoFirst is ideal for start-ups and medium businesses because of its affordability and speed of onboarding. 

RemoFirst vs. Oyster 

RemoFirst and Oyster each provide EOR services and follow a similar core business model. However, they differ in a few key ways.

Here’s a quick comparison of some of their features, and how the two stack up against each other.


Remofirst Oyster
Best for Startups, small businesses, and cost-conscious businesses Medium to large companies
Global reach 180+ countries 180+ countries
Differentiator Low pricing and quick onboarding Full HR platform with diverse integrations
Employee pricing Starts at $199 per person/month Starting at $599
per employee/month billed annually, or $699/month billed monthly
Contractor pricing Starts at $25 per person per month $29 per person per month
Hidden fees None Unknown
Employee onboarding 1-5 days, but often under 24 hours As fast as 2 days, but varies
Global payroll processing Yes Yes
Payment options Bank transfers, digital wallets Bank transfer, peer-to-peer networks
Employee benefits RemoHealth Both global and local options
Customer support Dedicated account manager, 24/5 customer service, online chat, and knowledge base Knowledge base and 24/7 customer chat
Reporting A single dashboard tracks and displays team members’ hours, time off, holidays, bonuses, and commissions, Reports include employee payments, staff information, invoices, worker expenses, and basic tax reports
Background checks Yes Yes
Equipment Will ship to new hires Unknown

Remofirst is ideal for start-ups and small businesses.

RemoFirst Features  

RemoFirst’s attractive visuals and easy-to-use payroll interface make it easy to pay employees, no matter their country or currency.

Remofirst payroll.

Every client at RemoFirst receives a dedicated account manager to provide personalized attention and assist with any questions that pop up.

Remofirst Chat.

Manage all global employees, whether they’re full-time or contractors, from an all-in-one dashboard. 

Remofirst dashboard.

Oyster Features  

Oyster allows you to hire, pay, and manage your employees from one easy-to-use platform. 

Oyster’s integrations with a host of existing HR platforms (like HiBob and Bamboo HR) make it easy to plug in and start paying employees right away. It also integrates with other commonly-used tools, like Slack, Zapier, and QuickBooks.

Oyster offers free tools that help calculate business costs, such as the Employment Cost Calculator and the Equity Assessment Tool. 

RemoFirst Pricing  

RemoFirst’s pricing structure is clear and competitive with no hidden fees. For EOR services, RemoFirst starts at $199 a month per person per month, with no minimum.

To manage international contractors, RemoFirst offers a free contractor management tier, which includes onboarding, identity checks, and contract management. 

Pricing starts at $25 per person per month to pay contractors via the RemoFirst platform.

Oyster for larger businesses.

Oyster Pricing  

For EOR services, Oyster starts at $599 per employee per month when billed annually or $699 per month when billed monthly. Oyster also offers a custom yearly pricing structure for businesses with more than five full-time workers. 

For contractor management, Oyster is free for the first month and then $29 a month after that. Their global payroll option starts at $25 per month and is still in beta mode, so pricing may change in the future.

RemoFirst Customer Support 

RemoFirst offers 24/5 customer support. All RemoFirst customers also receive a dedicated account manager who provides personalized support when needed. 

Chat support is also available 24/5 via RemoFirst’s embedded chat option. And a detail knowledge base of articles on the product and services.

Oyster Customer Support  

Oyster has detailed customer support information in the form of a FAQ and online knowledge base. They also have 24/7 chat available. 

RemoFirst Contractors  

RemoFirst provides an all-in-one services for contractor management, including onboarding and invoicing. RemoFirst helps companies navigate local employment laws throughout the world, which is key to avoiding misclassification

RemoFirst also files the 1099-NEC form for U.S. contractors hired through the platform

Oyster Contractors  

Oyster automates the process of hiring, hiring, and onboarding global contractors using a centralized dashboard. 

Oyster offers Oyster Shell Protection, an optional add-on that protects businesses from misclassification penalties of up to $500,000 per claim.  

RemoFirst Visas and Work Permits  

RemoFirst’s RemoVisa simplifies the process of applying for visas and work permits in over 85 countries. 

Oyster Visas and Work Permits  

Oyster supports employees applying for visas and work permits in 60+ countries using a network of immigration experts and local HR pros. 

RemoFirst or Oyster: Which is Right for Your Business?  

The best EOR for you depends on your business needs, especially the size of your business, the speed with which you need to hire employees, and the level of customer support you desire.  

When weighing options for an EOR, consider your budget, your company’s current needs, future growth plans, and which features that are most important to you. 

Oyster has powerful tools that integrate across an established business. It’s a solid choice for larger businesses that already employ globally and plan to continue.

RemoFirst is best for price-conscious businesses that need flexibility and to avoid long-term contracts, including start-ups and small businesses.

Oyster

  • Extensive integrations: Oyster offers several integrations with popular HR and accounting tools, which makes it a good fit for businesses that want the ability to integrate with their existing software.
  • Cost calculation tools: Oyster’s employment cost calculator allows companies to calculate hiring costs based on salary and where the employee lives.
  • Additional financial protection: For businesses hiring a lot of contractors, Oyster Shell Protection offers extra protection from misclassification penalties.

RemoFirst

  • Best-in-class pricing: RemoFirst is a perfect choice for cost-conscious businesses that want the ability to employ staff as needed without getting locked into a contract.
  • Fast and dedicated customer service: Customer support is available 24/5, all customers receive a dedicated account manager, and knowledge base articles. 
  • Speed of hiring and onboarding: In some cases, RemoFirst’s onboarding process takes less than one day, allowing companies to scale up quickly. 

Ready to expand your team internationally? RemoFirst allows you to employ, pay, and manage global employees with ease.


About the author

Rebecca has more than 10 years of experience in B2B content development. She loves to travel, and is a firm believer in the benefits of remote work.