Compare/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.

Starting price

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 $599 per employee/month on annual contracts.

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

DetailOysterRemote
Starting price$699/employee/mo$29/employee/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trial30 day free trialNot on record
MCP server–No✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underEOR, HRISEOR, HRIS, Payroll
Capterra4.6 from 91 reviews4.3 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 $599 per employee/month, not $29. Contractor Management Plus is $99 and Contractor of Record $325. 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 $599/employee/mo is a high list rate
  • Contractor indemnity costs more on Plus or Contractor of Record
  • 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 4 Nov 2026

Remote

$29/employee/mo

Global Payroll starts at $29 per employee per month and Contractor Management at $29 per contractor per month. Contractor Management Plus starts at $99, Contractor of Record at $325 and US PEO at $99 per employee per month. Employer of Record starts at $599 per employee per month on annual contracts. There are no setup or onboarding fees. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 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.

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