Softwr

Productivity · head to head

Bear vs Oyster

Bear logo

Bear

Productivity

Markdown notes for Apple devices

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Oyster logo

Oyster

Payroll & Benefits

Hire globally, compliantly

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Oyster has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bear built for Apple hardware only, with no Windows, Android or web client; Oyster employer of Record is $699 per employee per month, with the discount tied to annual billing

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bear and Oyster actually diverge.

Attributes where Bear and Oyster differ
AttributeBearOyster
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryProductivityPayroll & Benefits
FoundedUnknown2020

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Bear

Nothing recorded that Oyster does not also cover.

Only in Oyster

  • Global Employment
  • Payroll
  • Benefits
  • Compliance
  • Contractor Management
  • Time Off
  • Expenses
  • BambooHR

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bear

No use cases recorded yet. See the Bear review.

Oyster

  • Hiring employees abroad without setting up a local legal entitynot Bear
  • Onboarding and paying international contractorsnot Bear
  • Getting country specific employment compliance advice for distributed teamsnot Bear

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bear

  • Built for Apple hardware only, with no Windows, Android or web client
  • Free tier is limited to 3 themes, 1 app icon and restricted export formats; iCloud sync requires Bear Pro
  • Bear Pro is $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year after a 7 day free trial

Oyster

  • Employer of Record is $699 per employee per month, with the discount tied to annual billing
  • A refundable deposit is required before an EOR engagement starts
  • Contractor management is free for 30 days then $29 per contractor per month
  • HR advisory through People Partner Services is billed at $300 per hour on top of the subscription
  • A currency conversion fee applies when you pay Oyster in a currency other than the contract currency
  • Payments are accepted only by direct debit or wire in USD, EUR, GBP or CAD

Pricing, plan by plan

Bear

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Bear review.

Oyster

Free
  • Contractor$29/month
    • Contractor Payments
    • Compliant Contracts
    • Invoicing
  • Employee$599/month
    • Global Employment
    • Payroll
    • Benefits

Which should you pick?

Choose Bear if

Nothing in the data separates Bear from Oyster on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Bear review

Choose Oyster if

  • You need global employment.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want payroll.
Oyster review

Questions people ask

Is Bear or Oyster better?
Neither clearly leads. Bear starts at On request and Oyster at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bear or Oyster?
Oyster has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Bear and Free for Oyster.
Does Bear or Oyster run on more platforms?
Bear runs on Web. Oyster runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Oyster for free?
Yes. Oyster has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Bear starts at On request.
What can Bear do that Oyster cannot?
Oyster covers Global Employment, Payroll, Benefits, Compliance.
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