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HR · head to head

Oyster HR vs SmartHR

Oyster HR logo

Oyster HR

HR

Global employer of record and contractor payments

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SmartHR logo

SmartHR

HR

Japanese back-office cloud for labor management, payroll and talent management

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Oyster HR no published pricing for Benefits package add-on; SmartHR no specific pricing published on vendor website
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Oyster HR and SmartHR actually diverge.

Attributes where Oyster HR and SmartHR differ
AttributeOyster HRSmartHR
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (HR).

What people use each for

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

Oyster HR

  • Global employment compliancenot SmartHR
  • Multi-country contractor managementnot SmartHR
  • International payroll processingnot SmartHR

SmartHR

  • Reducing combined processing time by 88% across HR functionsnot Oyster HR
  • Centralizing employee information through onboarding to offboardingnot Oyster HR
  • Distributing payroll and salary statements via mobile appnot Oyster HR
  • Automating document distribution and employee communicationsnot Oyster HR
  • Integrating with 120+ external systems for extended functionalitynot Oyster HR

Where each one falls short

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

Oyster HR

  • No published pricing for Benefits package add-on
  • No published pricing for Visa sponsorship
  • No published pricing for Salary Insights tool or Oyster Shell subscription
  • Add-on features require separate quotes

SmartHR

  • No specific pricing published on vendor website
  • Requires direct quotation for customized pricing
  • Multiple plan options create complexity in pricing structure

Pricing, plan by plan

Oyster HR

On request
  • Employer of Record (EOR)$699/month
    • Per employee pricing
    • Compliant employment in 120+ countries
    • Multi-country payroll in 120+ currencies
  • Global Contractors$29/month
    • Per contractor pricing
    • First 30 days free
    • Instant contracts in 180+ countries
  • People Partner Services$300/hour
    • Project-based HR advisory
    • Support for EOR and own entities
    • Flexible scope from advice to full execution

SmartHR

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the SmartHR review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Oyster HR if

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

Oyster HR review

Choose SmartHR if

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

SmartHR review

Questions people ask

Is Oyster HR or SmartHR better?
Neither clearly leads. Oyster HR starts at On request and SmartHR at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Oyster HR or SmartHR?
Oyster HR starts at On request and SmartHR at On request.
Does Oyster HR or SmartHR run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Oyster HR best used for?
Oyster HR is most often used for global employment compliance, multi-country contractor management, international payroll processing. Of those, global employment compliance and multi-country contractor management are not what SmartHR is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Oyster HR: How much does Oyster EOR cost?

Oyster Employer of Record costs $699 per employee per month in USD. This includes compliant employment in 120+ countries, multi-country payroll, automated reporting, onboarding/offboarding, and local expert guidance. Annual discounts apply, and a refundable deposit is required.

Source
SmartHR: How much does SmartHR cost?

SmartHR pricing is customized per organization based on features and user count. The vendor does not publish standard pricing rates. Customers must use the estimation tool or contact the vendor directly to receive a personalized quote. No additional charges are assessed beyond monthly usage fees.

Source
Oyster HR: What is the cost of Oyster Global Contractors?

Oyster Global Contractors costs $29 per contractor per month after a free 30-day trial. Includes instant contracts in 180+ countries, multi-currency payments, identity verification, and invoice management. No minimum team size.

Source
SmartHR: What is SmartHR's free tier?

SmartHR offers a free plan (¥0プラン) for small businesses with up to 30 employees. This tier provides basic employee data management without additional charges, making it suitable for very small organizations or trials.

Source
Oyster HR: What currencies and payment methods does Oyster accept?

Oyster accepts USD, EUR, GBP, and CAD. Payment methods include direct debit and wire transfers. Currency conversion fees apply when paying in a currency different from the employment contract currency.

Source
SmartHR: What are SmartHR's plan options?

SmartHR provides multiple plans including HR Strategy Plan (labor and talent management), Essential Plan (labor management focus), Talent Management Plan (employee growth focus), and a specialized plan for companies with 50 or fewer employees. Optional add-ons including payroll, attendance tracking, and recruitment are available.

Source
Oyster HR: Does Oyster offer discounts for nonprofits or startups?

Oyster for Impact provides discounts for nonprofits and B-corps. Startups can save up to $1,200 on EOR subscription fees. Refugees receive no-cost or discounted access to employment services.

Source
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