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iCIMS vs Oyster

iCIMS logo

iCIMS

Software

Talent cloud for transformative hiring

From
$14500/year
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: iCIMS difficult customer support requiring escalation for resolution; Oyster employer of Record is $699 per employee per month, with the discount tied to annual billing
  • They diverge on capability: iCIMS covers Applicant Tracking, Oyster covers Global Employment.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which iCIMS and Oyster actually diverge.

Attributes where iCIMS and Oyster differ
AttributeiCIMSOyster
Starting price$14500/yearFree
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierNoYes
Founded19992020

Identical on both: 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 iCIMS

  • Applicant Tracking
  • CRM
  • Career Sites
  • Text Recruiting
  • Video Interviewing
  • AI Matching
  • Analytics
  • LinkedIn

Only in Oyster

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

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

iCIMS

  • Enterprise applicant tracking with configurable hiring workflowsnot Oyster
  • High volume hiring in retail, hospitality and healthcarenot Oyster
  • Candidate relationship management and automated campaignsnot Oyster
  • Career site and employer branding managementnot Oyster
  • Employee onboarding after offer acceptancenot Oyster

Oyster

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

Where each one falls short

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

iCIMS

  • Difficult customer support requiring escalation for resolution
  • Complex and dated user interface compared to modern cloud recruiting tools
  • CRM, ATS, and Text engagement systems do not sync well and require separate logins
  • Custom reporting is difficult to create without IT expertise

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

iCIMS

$14500/year

No published plan breakdown. See the iCIMS review.

Oyster

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

Which should you pick?

Choose iCIMS if

  • You need applicant tracking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want crm.
iCIMS 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 iCIMS or Oyster better?
Neither clearly leads. iCIMS starts at $14500/year and Oyster at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, iCIMS or Oyster?
Oyster has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $14500/year for iCIMS and Free for Oyster.
Does iCIMS 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 Oyster for free?
Yes. Oyster has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. iCIMS starts at $14500/year.
What is iCIMS best used for?
iCIMS is most often used for enterprise applicant tracking with configurable hiring workflows, high volume hiring in retail, hospitality and healthcare, candidate relationship management and automated campaigns, career site and employer branding management. Of those, enterprise applicant tracking with configurable hiring workflows and high volume hiring in retail, hospitality and healthcare are not what Oyster is typically brought in for.
What can iCIMS do that Oyster cannot?
iCIMS covers Applicant Tracking, CRM, Career Sites, Text Recruiting. Oyster covers Global Employment, Payroll, Benefits, Compliance. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

iCIMS: How much does iCIMS cost?

iCIMS pricing varies from $14,500 to $635,000 annually depending on organization size and modules. Mid-market companies typically pay $15,000-$35,000 annually, with larger enterprises exceeding $100,000 plus implementation fees.

Source
iCIMS: What companies use iCIMS?

iCIMS serves more than 4,400 companies across 200 countries, including a quarter of Fortune 500 companies, particularly in retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and finance sectors.

Source
iCIMS: Does iCIMS integrate with other HR systems?

Yes, iCIMS connects with more than 800 partner technologies including job boards, background check services, HR systems, and social platforms.

Source
iCIMS: How long does iCIMS implementation take?

iCIMS implementation is typically lengthy and complex, with setup time varying based on workflow complexity, integrations, and organizational requirements. The process requires professional services and can involve extended ramp-up periods for configuration and training.

Source
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Related pages

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