Softwr

Payroll · head to head

Namely vs Oyster

Namely logo

Namely

Payroll

The HR platform that employees love

From
$18/employee/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Oyster logo

Oyster

Payroll

Hire globally, compliantly

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Namely limited customization for complex HR processes: workflows and customization options are limited compared to enterprise solutions; Oyster employer of Record is $699 per employee per month, with the discount tied to annual billing
  • They diverge on capability: Namely covers HR Management, Oyster covers Global Employment.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Namely and Oyster actually diverge.

Attributes where Namely and Oyster differ
AttributeNamelyOyster
Starting price$18/employee/month$29/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20122020

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Payroll).

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 Namely

  • HR Management
  • Benefits Administration
  • Time Off Management
  • Performance Management
  • Onboarding
  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft 365
  • LinkedIn

Only in Oyster

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

Both cover

  • Payroll
  • Slack
  • Greenhouse
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Namely

  • Processing payroll for employees across multiple states with different tax rulesnot Oyster
  • Collecting 360-degree feedback and managing performance reviewsnot Oyster
  • Automating onboarding workflows and document e-signature collectionnot Oyster
  • Managing benefits enrollment and annual open enrollment periodsnot Oyster

Oyster

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

Where each one falls short

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

Namely

  • Limited customization for complex HR processes: workflows and customization options are limited compared to enterprise solutions
  • Payroll limitations: better served for less complex organizations and struggles with complex time-and-attendance or multi-FEIN scenarios
  • Missing ATS and surveys: lacks built-in applicant tracking system and pulse survey capabilities
  • Slow support response times: pod-based support model has led to slow response times for customers
  • Designed for specific market segment: best fit is mid-sized companies with 50-350 employees

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

Namely

$18/employee/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Namely review.

Oyster

$29/month
  • Global Contractors$29/month
    • Instant contracts in 180+ countries
    • Contractor payments in 120+ currencies
    • Identity verification
  • Employer of Record (EOR)$699/month
    • Compliant employment in 120+ countries
    • Multi-country payroll in 120+ currencies
    • Automated expenses, time-off, and reports

Which should you pick?

Choose Namely if

  • You need hr management.
  • You also want benefits administration.
Namely review

Choose Oyster if

  • You need global employment.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want benefits.
Oyster review

Questions people ask

Is Namely or Oyster better?
Neither clearly leads. Namely starts at $18/employee/month and Oyster at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Namely or Oyster?
Namely starts at $18/employee/month and Oyster at $29/month.
Does Namely or Oyster run on more platforms?
Namely runs on Web. Oyster runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Namely best used for?
Namely is most often used for processing payroll for employees across multiple states with different tax rules, collecting 360-degree feedback and managing performance reviews, automating onboarding workflows and document e-signature collection, managing benefits enrollment and annual open enrollment periods. Of those, processing payroll for employees across multiple states with different tax rules and collecting 360-degree feedback and managing performance reviews are not what Oyster is typically brought in for.
What can Namely do that Oyster cannot?
Namely covers HR Management, Benefits Administration, Time Off Management, Performance Management. Oyster covers Global Employment, Benefits, Compliance, Contractor Management. Both handle Payroll, Slack, Greenhouse, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Namely: Does Namely support global payroll?

Namely primarily focuses on mid-sized US-based companies with 50-350 employees. While it can handle complex payroll scenarios, it is better served for less complex organizations and does not have extensive global payroll capabilities compared to enterprise platforms.

Source
Oyster: How much does Oyster charge for Employer of Record services?

Oyster charges $699 per employee per month for EOR services, with annual discounts available. Setup, onboarding, and offboarding are included with no additional charges.

Source
Namely: What is included in Namely's Premium pricing?

Premium plans cost $18-24 per employee per month plus implementation fees of 10-25% of annual software costs. Plans include payroll, HR, benefits administration, time management, and talent management features.

Source
Oyster: How much does Oyster charge for Global Contractors?

Oyster's Global Contractors tier costs $29 per contractor per month after a free 30-day trial. The plan covers instant contracts in 180+ countries, payments in 120+ currencies, and contractor management tools.

Source
Namely: Does Namely include performance management features?

Yes, Namely offers customizable performance review modules enabling dynamic, ongoing feedback rather than traditional annual-only reviews. This is one of Namely's standout features.

Source
Oyster: What discounts does Oyster offer?

Oyster offers discounts for nonprofits and B-corps through its 'Oyster for Impact' program, startup savings of up to $1,200 on EOR subscriptions, and discounted or waived pricing for refugee support programs.

Source
Namely: How long does Namely implementation typically take?

Namely is designed for mid-sized companies and implementation timelines vary based on complexity. The platform includes implementation fees of 10-25% of annual software costs in addition to monthly per-employee pricing.

Source
Oyster: What payment methods does Oyster accept?

Oyster accepts payment by direct debit, wire transfer, and auto-withdrawal. The platform supports multiple currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, and CAD, with fees applied only when paying in a currency different from the contract currency.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Namely

More on Oyster

Keep looking

Other head to heads