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Software · head to head

Factorial vs Oyster

Factorial logo

Factorial

Software

HR software that employees love

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Oyster logo

Oyster

Software

Hire globally, compliantly

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Factorial beyond a $8 per user per month starting price the pricing page publishes no plan tiers and no rate card, directing buyers to request a tailored quote; Oyster employer of Record is $699 per employee per month, with the discount tied to annual billing
  • They diverge on capability: Factorial covers HR Management, Oyster covers Global Employment.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Factorial and Oyster actually diverge.

Attributes where Factorial and Oyster differ
AttributeFactorialOyster
Founded20162020

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Factorial

  • HR Management
  • Time Tracking
  • Documents
  • Performance
  • Recruiting
  • Shift Management
  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft 365

Only in Oyster

  • Global Employment
  • Benefits
  • Compliance
  • Contractor Management
  • Expenses
  • BambooHR
  • Greenhouse
  • Lever

Both cover

  • Time Off
  • Payroll
  • Slack
  • QuickBooks
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Factorial

  • Managing employee records, onboarding and offboardingnot Oyster
  • Tracking time off, attendance and shiftsnot Oyster
  • Running recruitment and performance reviews alongside HR datanot Oyster

Oyster

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

Where each one falls short

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

Factorial

  • Beyond a $8 per user per month starting price the pricing page publishes no plan tiers and no rate card, directing buyers to request a tailored quote
  • Time management, talent management, finance and IT management are sold as separate modules rather than included in the base product

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

Factorial

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic HR
    • Time Off
    • Documents
  • Business$5/month
    • All Free features
    • Payroll
    • Performance

Oyster

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Factorial if

  • You need hr management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want time tracking.
Factorial review

Choose Oyster if

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

Questions people ask

Is Factorial or Oyster better?
Neither clearly leads. Factorial starts at Free and Oyster at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Factorial or Oyster?
Factorial starts at Free and Oyster at Free.
Does Factorial or Oyster run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Factorial for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Factorial best used for?
Factorial is most often used for managing employee records, onboarding and offboarding, tracking time off, attendance and shifts, running recruitment and performance reviews alongside hr data. Of those, managing employee records, onboarding and offboarding and tracking time off, attendance and shifts are not what Oyster is typically brought in for.
What can Factorial do that Oyster cannot?
Factorial covers HR Management, Time Tracking, Documents, Performance. Oyster covers Global Employment, Benefits, Compliance, Contractor Management. Both handle Time Off, Payroll, Slack, QuickBooks.
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