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Payroll · head to head

Clair vs Oyster

Clair logo

Clair

Payroll

On demand pay advances funded by a partner bank with no fee to the employee

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Oyster logo

Oyster

Payroll

Hire globally, compliantly

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Clair advance limits start around $100 per advance and roughly $200 between paydays, so it covers a shift level cash gap and not a genuine emergency.; Oyster employer of Record is $699 per employee per month, with the discount tied to annual billing
  • They diverge on capability: Clair covers Embedded enrolment, Oyster covers Global Employment.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Clair and Oyster actually diverge.

Attributes where Clair and Oyster differ
AttributeClairOyster
Starting priceOn request$29/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
FoundedUnknown2020

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Payroll).

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 Clair

  • Embedded enrolment
  • Bank issued advances
  • Clair spending account and card
  • Free standard delivery
  • Instant delivery option
  • Progressive limits
  • Automatic repayment
  • No interest or late fees

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.

Clair

  • A restaurant group already on 7shifts wanting on demand pay without adding another vendor contractnot Oyster
  • A small business on QuickBooks Payroll enabling early wage access inside its existing payroll productnot Oyster
  • An employer that wants a fee free option to be the default rather than a paid upgradenot Oyster
  • A shift based operator using early pay access as a shift fill incentive without changing payroll timingnot Oyster

Oyster

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

Where each one falls short

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

Clair

  • Advance limits start around $100 per advance and roughly $200 between paydays, so it covers a shift level cash gap and not a genuine emergency.
  • Instant delivery to an existing bank account costs the employee $4.99, so the free path in practice means opening a Clair account and card that the employee did not previously want.
  • The business depends on interchange from the Clair spending account, which means the design nudges workers to move their pay to a new account rather than keep their existing bank.
  • Availability is tied to payroll and scheduling partners, so an employer on an unsupported payroll system cannot buy Clair directly.
  • Advances are issued by Pathward, N.A. rather than Clair, so the terms and eligibility rules for the product ultimately sit with a bank that the employer has no contract with.

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

Clair

On request
  • Clair on demand pay$undefined/year
    • No published employer cost; delivered through payroll and scheduling partners
    • Standard one to three business day advances are free to the employee
    • Instant transfer to an external bank account costs $4.99

Oyster

$29/month
  • Global Contractors$29/month
    • Instant contracts in 180+ countries
    • Contractor payments in 120+ currencies
    • Identity verification
  • Employer of Record (EOR)$699/month
    • Compliant employment in 120+ countries
    • Multi-country payroll in 120+ currencies
    • Automated expenses, time-off, and reports

Which should you pick?

Choose Clair if

  • You need embedded enrolment.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want bank issued advances.
Clair review

Choose Oyster if

  • You need global employment.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want payroll.
Oyster review

Questions people ask

Is Clair or Oyster better?
Neither clearly leads. Clair starts at On request and Oyster at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clair or Oyster?
Clair starts at On request and Oyster at $29/month.
Does Clair or Oyster run on more platforms?
Clair runs on Web, iOS, Android. Oyster runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Clair best used for?
Clair is most often used for a restaurant group already on 7shifts wanting on demand pay without adding another vendor contract, a small business on quickbooks payroll enabling early wage access inside its existing payroll product, an employer that wants a fee free option to be the default rather than a paid upgrade, a shift based operator using early pay access as a shift fill incentive without changing payroll timing. Of those, a restaurant group already on 7shifts wanting on demand pay without adding another vendor contract and a small business on quickbooks payroll enabling early wage access inside its existing payroll product are not what Oyster is typically brought in for.
What can Clair do that Oyster cannot?
Clair covers Embedded enrolment, Bank issued advances, Clair spending account and card, Free standard delivery. Oyster covers Global Employment, Payroll, Benefits, Compliance.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Clair: Does the employee pay a fee?

Not for standard one to three business day advances, and not for instant access into the Clair spending account. Instant transfer to an outside bank account costs $4.99.

Oyster: How much does Oyster charge for Employer of Record services?

Oyster charges $699 per employee per month for EOR services, with annual discounts available. Setup, onboarding, and offboarding are included with no additional charges.

Source
Clair: How much can an employee advance?

Up to about $100 per advance and roughly $200 between paydays to start, with limits rising after consistent repayment.

Oyster: How much does Oyster charge for Global Contractors?

Oyster's Global Contractors tier costs $29 per contractor per month after a free 30-day trial. The plan covers instant contracts in 180+ countries, payments in 120+ currencies, and contractor management tools.

Source
Clair: Can I buy Clair if I do not use a partner payroll system?

Generally no. It is distributed through payroll and scheduling platforms such as Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll and 7shifts.

Oyster: What discounts does Oyster offer?

Oyster offers discounts for nonprofits and B-corps through its 'Oyster for Impact' program, startup savings of up to $1,200 on EOR subscriptions, and discounted or waived pricing for refugee support programs.

Source
Oyster: What payment methods does Oyster accept?

Oyster accepts payment by direct debit, wire transfer, and auto-withdrawal. The platform supports multiple currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, and CAD, with fees applied only when paying in a currency different from the contract currency.

Source
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