Softwr

Communication & Collaboration · head to head

Grasshopper vs Oyster

Grasshopper logo

Grasshopper

Communication & Collaboration

The entrepreneur's phone system

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: Grasshopper available only in the USA and Canada; the site returns a not available in your region error outside those countries; 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 Grasshopper and Oyster actually diverge.

Attributes where Grasshopper and Oyster differ
AttributeGrasshopperOyster
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryCommunication & CollaborationPayroll & 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 Grasshopper

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.

Grasshopper

No use cases recorded yet. See the Grasshopper review.

Oyster

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

Where each one falls short

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

Grasshopper

  • Available only in the USA and Canada; the site returns a not available in your region error outside those countries
  • Plans start at $14/month only under a promotional discount of up to $75 off select plans, meaning the advertised entry price is not the standing rate

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

Grasshopper

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Grasshopper review.

Oyster

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Grasshopper if

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

Grasshopper 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 Grasshopper or Oyster better?
Neither clearly leads. Grasshopper 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, Grasshopper or Oyster?
Oyster has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Grasshopper and Free for Oyster.
Does Grasshopper or Oyster run on more platforms?
Grasshopper 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. Grasshopper starts at On request.
What can Grasshopper do that Oyster cannot?
Oyster covers Global Employment, Payroll, Benefits, Compliance.
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