Head to head

Oyster vs Remote

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

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

Remote

$29/employee/mo

Global EOR, payroll, and contractor platform on owned entities. Payroll and contractor seats start at $29 each; EOR is $699 per employee/month.

Where Remote fits

Companies hiring abroad without a local entity
Teams paying contractors in many countries
US PEO buyers who want one global vendor
Builders embedding employment via API or MCP

At a glance

Detail	Oyster	Remote
Starting price	$699/employee/mo	$29/employee/mo
Free tier	–No	–No
Free trial	30 day free trial	Not on record
MCP server	–No	✓Yes
Public API	✓Yes	✓Yes
Listed under	EOR, HRIS	EOR, HRIS, Payroll
Capterra	4.6 from 91 reviews	4.3 from 101 reviews

Where they pull apart

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

Remote

Stands out: Published USD prices plus a hosted MCP server at mcp.remote.com and a public employment API.

Watch out: EOR is $699 per employee/month, not $29. Payroll has implementation and delivery fees on top. FX uses Remote’s own rate.

Not the right fit for

Buyers hunting the cheapest EOR rate
Teams that only need US payroll at Gusto-like prices

Pros and cons

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

Remote

USD prices published for EOR, payroll, contractors
Hosted MCP plus REST API and CLI
Owns its local entities, not partner EORs

EOR at $699/employee/mo is a high list rate
Payroll adds implementation and delivery fees
FX conversion uses Remote’s own rate

What each one costs

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 19 Sep 2026

Remote

$29/employee/mo

Global Payroll and Contractor Management are $29 per person per month. Employer of Record is $699 per employee per month; Contractor of Record starts at $325, US PEO at $99 and Equity at $39/mo. Payroll adds implementation and delivery fees. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 18 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Oyster cheaper than Remote?

Remote starts lower, at $29/employee/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 Oyster or Remote for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Oyster offers a 30 day free trial.

Does Oyster or Remote have an MCP server?

Remote 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 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?