Oyster HR vs Employment Hero
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Oyster HR
Oyster HR is a global employment platform that makes it easy for companies to hire, pay, and care for employees in 180+ countries. It handles employer of record services, global payroll, and locally compliant benefits. Oyster is known for its transparent pricing and user-friendly experience for both employers and employees.
Employment Hero
Employment Hero is an all-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits platform with a strong presence in Australia and New Zealand. It offers a free HR plan alongside paid payroll and benefits modules, making it accessible for businesses at any stage. Employment Hero also operates a job marketplace called Swag for employees.
Pros
- ✓Transparent, published pricing with no surprise fees
- ✓Easy-to-use platform for both HR teams and employees
- ✓Strong compliance coverage across 180+ countries
- ✓Equity and stock option management for global teams
Cons
- ✗HR features beyond global employment are limited
- ✗Not ideal for companies that only hire domestically
- ✗Support response times can vary for less common countries
Pros
- ✓Free HR plan available with core employee management features
- ✓Strong compliance tools for Australian and NZ employment law
- ✓All-in-one platform covering HR, payroll, and benefits
- ✓Employee benefits marketplace with discounts and perks
Cons
- ✗Payroll module costs extra and is best suited for AU/NZ companies
- ✗Limited support and compliance coverage outside Australia and New Zealand
- ✗Some users report the platform can feel complex to navigate
Oyster HR vs Employment Hero: Side by Side
| Factor | Oyster HR | Employment Hero |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | HR Software |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $29/contractor/mo | Free |
| Best For | Remote-first companies hiring internationally | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Oyster HR Features
- ✓EOR services
- ✓global payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓compliance
- ✓contractor management
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Oyster HR if remote-first companies hiring internationally. Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
Best For
Remote-first companies hiring internationally
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
How Oyster HR and Employment Hero Are Similar
- •Both are HR Software platforms designed for business teams
- •Both offer web-based access with no software installation required
- •Both provide customer support and onboarding resources
- •Both integrate with popular third-party business tools
- •Both offer a trial or demo to evaluate before purchasing
Also Consider
If neither Oyster HR nor Employment Hero is the right fit, Justworks is worth evaluating.
Justworks
Small businesses wanting Fortune 500 benefits
From $59/employee/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Oyster HR and Employment Hero?
Oyster HR is best for remote-first companies hiring internationally. Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
Which is better, Oyster HR or Employment Hero?
Choose Oyster HR if remote-first companies hiring internationally. Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite.
How much does Oyster HR cost?
Oyster HR starts at $29/contractor/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Oyster HR?
Remote-first companies hiring internationally
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite