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Software · head to head

Oyster vs UKG Pro

Oyster logo

Oyster

Software

Hire globally, compliantly

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
UKG Pro logo

UKG Pro

Software

Our purpose is people

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Oyster has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Oyster employer of Record is $699 per employee per month, with the discount tied to annual billing; UKG Pro no access to super-user privileges or advanced database customization
  • They diverge on capability: Oyster covers Global Employment, UKG Pro covers HR Management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Oyster and UKG Pro actually diverge.

Attributes where Oyster and UKG Pro differ
AttributeOysterUKG Pro
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Mobile (iOS/Android), Cloud (Hosted)

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2020).

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 Oyster

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

Only in UKG Pro

  • HR Management
  • Benefits Administration
  • Talent Management
  • Workforce Management
  • Analytics
  • Salesforce
  • Microsoft 365
  • Google Workspace

Both cover

  • Payroll
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Oyster

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

UKG Pro

No use cases recorded yet. See the UKG Pro review.

Where each one falls short

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

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

UKG Pro

  • No access to super-user privileges or advanced database customization
  • Limited system procedure access for advanced administrative functions
  • No direct host access via SSH, Telnet, or remote desktop connectivity
  • Requires paid technical support subscription for assistance beyond standard support

Pricing, plan by plan

Oyster

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

UKG Pro

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the UKG Pro review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Oyster if

  • You need global employment.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want benefits.
Oyster review

Choose UKG Pro if

  • You need hr management.
  • You work on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android), Cloud (Hosted).
  • You also want benefits administration.
UKG Pro review

Questions people ask

Is Oyster or UKG Pro better?
Neither clearly leads. Oyster starts at Free and UKG Pro at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Oyster or UKG Pro?
Oyster has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Oyster and On request for UKG Pro.
Does Oyster or UKG Pro run on more platforms?
Oyster runs on Web, Ios, Android. UKG Pro runs on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android), Cloud (Hosted).
Can I use Oyster for free?
Yes. Oyster has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. UKG Pro starts at On request.
What is Oyster best used for?
Oyster is most often used for hiring employees abroad without setting up a local legal entity, onboarding and paying international contractors, getting country specific employment compliance advice for distributed teams. Of those, hiring employees abroad without setting up a local legal entity and onboarding and paying international contractors are not what UKG Pro is typically brought in for.
What can Oyster do that UKG Pro cannot?
Oyster covers Global Employment, Benefits, Compliance, Contractor Management. UKG Pro covers HR Management, Benefits Administration, Talent Management, Workforce Management. Both handle Payroll, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

UKG Pro: What databases does UKG Pro support?

UKG Pro is a cloud-based HCM platform that manages payroll, benefits, and HR across 160+ countries in a single integrated system.

Source
UKG Pro: Does UKG Pro handle multi-country payroll?

Yes. UKG Pro can manage global payroll complexity and ensure accurate, compliant payroll processing across 160+ countries, all in one seamless experience.

Source
UKG Pro: What features are included in time and attendance tracking?

Time and Attendance module monitors employee working hours, attendance, and related data to drive accurate payroll processing and compliance.

Source
UKG Pro: Does UKG Pro offer reporting and analytics?

Yes. UKG Pro provides customizable reporting and analytics for actionable workforce insights, enabling data-driven human capital decisions.

Source
UKG Pro: What is UKG Talk?

UKG Talk is a built-in collaboration platform within UKG Pro that enables real-time team communication and engagement features.

Source
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Related pages

More on Oyster

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