Oyster HR vs Insightly
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.
Insightly
Insightly is a CRM and project management platform designed for growing businesses. It uniquely combines sales pipeline management with post-sale project delivery so teams can manage the full customer lifecycle in one place. Insightly is popular with professional services firms and companies that need to track complex projects alongside their sales pipeline.
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
- ✓Unique combination of CRM and project management in one tool
- ✓Good free plan for up to 2 users
- ✓Strong workflow automation on paid plans
- ✓Good fit for professional services businesses
Cons
- ✗Interface feels dated compared to modern CRM tools
- ✗Customer support can be slow on lower tiers
- ✗Mobile app is less polished than competitors
Oyster HR vs Insightly: Side by Side
| Factor | Oyster HR | Insightly |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | CRM Software |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $29/contractor/mo | Free |
| Best For | Remote-first companies hiring internationally | Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Oyster HR Features
- ✓EOR services
- ✓global payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓compliance
- ✓contractor management
Insightly Features
- ✓Contact and lead management
- ✓pipeline management
- ✓project management
- ✓workflow automation
- ✓email marketing
- ✓reporting
- ✓integrations
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Oyster HR if remote-first companies hiring internationally. Choose Insightly if growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform.
Best For
Remote-first companies hiring internationally
Best For
Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform
Also Consider
If neither Oyster HR nor Insightly 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 Insightly?
Oyster HR is best for remote-first companies hiring internationally. Insightly is best for growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform.
Which is better, Oyster HR or Insightly?
Choose Oyster HR if remote-first companies hiring internationally. Choose Insightly if growing businesses that need crm and project management in one platform.
How much does Oyster HR cost?
Oyster HR starts at $29/contractor/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Insightly cost?
Insightly starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Oyster HR?
Remote-first companies hiring internationally
Who should use Insightly?
Growing businesses that need CRM and project management in one platform