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Software · head to head

HiBob vs Oyster

HiBob logo

HiBob

Software

Modern HR for modern businesses

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Oyster logo

Oyster

Software

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: HiBob pricing not publicly displayed; requires contacting sales for custom quote; Oyster employer of Record is $699 per employee per month, with the discount tied to annual billing
  • They diverge on capability: HiBob covers Core HR, Oyster covers Global Employment.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HiBob and Oyster actually diverge.

Attributes where HiBob and Oyster differ
AttributeHiBobOyster
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
Founded20152020

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 HiBob

  • Core HR
  • Onboarding
  • Time Off Management
  • Performance Management
  • Compensation
  • People Analytics
  • Engagement
  • Microsoft Teams

Only in Oyster

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

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Greenhouse
  • Lever
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

HiBob

  • Core HR system of record with automated workflowsnot Oyster
  • Performance management, learning and skills trackingnot Oyster
  • US and UK payroll, benefits and time trackingnot Oyster
  • Workforce planning and compensation review cyclesnot Oyster
  • Employee self-service for a distributed workforcenot Oyster

Oyster

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

Where each one falls short

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

HiBob

  • Pricing not publicly displayed; requires contacting sales for custom quote
  • Limited payroll functionality compared to dedicated payroll platforms
  • Smaller integration ecosystem compared to larger HR platforms

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

HiBob

On request
  • Bob$undefined/month
    • Core HR
    • Onboarding
    • Time Off

Oyster

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

Which should you pick?

Choose HiBob if

  • You need core hr.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want onboarding.
HiBob 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 HiBob or Oyster better?
Neither clearly leads. HiBob 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, HiBob or Oyster?
Oyster has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for HiBob and Free for Oyster.
Does HiBob or Oyster run on more platforms?
HiBob runs on Web, iOS, Android. 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. HiBob starts at On request.
What is HiBob best used for?
HiBob is most often used for core hr system of record with automated workflows, performance management, learning and skills tracking, us and uk payroll, benefits and time tracking, workforce planning and compensation review cycles. Of those, core hr system of record with automated workflows and performance management, learning and skills tracking are not what Oyster is typically brought in for.
What can HiBob do that Oyster cannot?
HiBob covers Core HR, Onboarding, Time Off Management, Performance Management. Oyster covers Global Employment, Payroll, Benefits, Compliance. Both handle Slack, Greenhouse, Lever, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

HiBob: What modules does HiBob include?

HiBob includes Core HR, Time & Attendance, Performance & Goals, Compensation Management, Global Operations, and Analytics modules that can be selected based on organizational needs.

Source
HiBob: How is HiBob pricing calculated?

HiBob pricing is customized based on company size (1-49, 50-199, 200-999, or 1,000+ employees) and the specific modules selected. Pricing is on a per-employee basis.

Source
HiBob: Does HiBob offer a mobile app?

Yes, HiBob includes mobile app access as part of all plans, allowing employees to manage their HR tasks on the go.

Source
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Related pages

More on HiBob

More on Oyster

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