Compare/Head to head

Deel vs Oyster

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Deel

$49/contractor/mo

Global employer of record, payroll and contractor payments. EOR employees are $599 each per month and contractors $49; the $14 entry is the hiring module per worker.

Where Deel fits

  • Companies hiring in many countries without entities
  • Teams paying global contractors
  • HR organisations that also want a light hire module
  • Buyers who want MCP on employment data

Oyster

$699/employee/mo 30 day free trial

Global EOR, payroll, and contractor payments. EOR is $699/employee/mo. Contractors are free for 30 days, then $29/mo.

Where Oyster fits

  • Companies hiring full-time staff in 120-plus countries
  • Teams that want a contractor 30-day trial
  • People ops that need Workday or BambooHR sync
  • Buyers who want a public developer API

At a glance

DetailDeelOyster
Starting price$49/contractor/mo$699/employee/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trialNot on record30 day free trial
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underEOR, HRIS, PayrollEOR, HRIS
Capterra4.9 from 4,308 reviews4.6 from 91 reviews

Where they pull apart

Deel

Stands out: Hiring, contractors and employer of record in one global stack, with MCP and API.

Watch out: The $14 figure is the recruiting module, not the cost of employing someone abroad: employer of record is $599 per employee per month. Contractor of Record is listed at $325 and US PEO at $125.

Not the right fit for

  • US-only small-business payroll
  • Teams that need Deel to be the ATS of record

Oyster

Stands out: Public EOR and contractor prices, plus a documented developer API and HRIS connections.

Watch out: EOR is $699 per employee. People Services advisory is $300 per hour. Annual discounts apply on EOR.

Not the right fit for

  • Startups shopping for a sub-$200 EOR fee
  • Teams that only need US payroll

Pros and cons

Deel

  • Employer of record, payroll and contractors from one vendor
  • Published prices for contractors, EOR and US PEO
  • MCP and API available
  • The advertised entry price is not the employer-of-record cost
  • The $599 EOR fee sits on top of salary and benefits
  • Not an ATS

Oyster

  • Published EOR fee of $699/employee/mo
  • Contractors free 30 days, then $29
  • Public developer API
  • EOR is expensive vs low-cost rivals
  • People Services is $300/hour
  • EOR still starts with sales

What each one costs

Deel

$49/contractor/mo

Contractor management is $49 per contractor per month, or $325 with Contractor of Record. Employer of Record is $599 per employee per month and US PEO is $125 per employee per month. The hiring and applicant tracking product is $14 per worker per month. Pricing is month to month. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Oyster

$699/employee/mo

EOR is $699/employee/mo with annual discounts. Contractors are free for 30 days, then $29/contractor/mo. People Services is $300/hour. Global payroll is listed separately. The 30-day trial applies to contractors. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Deel cheaper than Oyster?
Deel starts lower, at $49/contractor/mo against $699/employee/mo for Oyster. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Deel or Oyster for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Oyster offers a 30 day free trial.
Does Deel or Oyster have an MCP server?
Deel ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?