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Software · head to head

Melio vs Oyster

Melio logo

Melio

Software

Simple business payments

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: Melio go (free) plan limited to one user only; Oyster employer of Record is $699 per employee per month, with the discount tied to annual billing
  • They diverge on capability: Melio covers Vendor payments, Oyster covers Global Employment.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Melio and Oyster actually diverge.

Attributes where Melio and Oyster differ
AttributeMelioOyster
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWeb, Mobile appWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20182020

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Melio

  • Vendor payments
  • Card to check
  • Payment scheduling
  • Approval workflows
  • QuickBooks sync
  • Xero
  • FreshBooks
  • SOC 2

Only in Oyster

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

Both cover

  • QuickBooks
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Melio

  • Accounts payable automationnot Oyster
  • Bill management and payment schedulingnot Oyster
  • Multi-vendor payment processingnot Oyster
  • Invoice receivables and payment collectionnot Oyster

Oyster

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

Where each one falls short

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

Melio

  • Go (free) plan limited to one user only
  • ACH charges £0.50 per transaction beyond monthly allowance (5-50 free depending on plan)
  • Card payment fees range from 2.9% to 2.9% plus £75 maximum
  • International payments limited to select currencies only
  • NetSuite integration only available in Unlimited plan (£80/month minimum)

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

Melio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Melio review.

Oyster

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Melio if

  • You need vendor payments.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app.
  • You also want card to check.
Melio 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 Melio or Oyster better?
Neither clearly leads. Melio 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, Melio or Oyster?
Melio starts at Free and Oyster at Free.
Does Melio or Oyster run on more platforms?
Melio runs on Web, Mobile app. Oyster runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Melio for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Melio best used for?
Melio is most often used for accounts payable automation, bill management and payment scheduling, multi-vendor payment processing, invoice receivables and payment collection. Of those, accounts payable automation and bill management and payment scheduling are not what Oyster is typically brought in for.
What can Melio do that Oyster cannot?
Melio covers Vendor payments, Card to check, Payment scheduling, Approval workflows. Oyster covers Global Employment, Payroll, Benefits, Compliance. Both handle QuickBooks, Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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