Oyster HR
Workable
| Feature | Oyster HR | Workable |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $29/mo | From $149/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | remote-first-startups, global-teams, hr-managers, scale-ups | growing-companies, hr-teams, recruiters, startups |
| Founded | 2020 | 2012 |
| Global Hiring | ✓ | ✗ |
| Payroll | ✓ | ✗ |
| Benefits | ✓ | ✗ |
| Compliance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Time Off Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Expense Management | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ats | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Sourcing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Job Posting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Interview Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Offer Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Reporting | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Oyster HR Pros
- Hire in 180+ countries with local compliance
- Beautiful and intuitive platform interface
- Automated employment agreements and onboarding
- Free plan for managing small contractor teams
✗ Oyster HR Cons
- EOR pricing on par with competitors ($599/mo)
- Limited customization for benefits packages
- Newer platform with less enterprise track record
✓ Workable Pros
- Great job board reach
- AI candidate sourcing
- Easy to use
- Good reporting
✗ Workable Cons
- Expensive
- Limited HR beyond recruiting
- Video interview extra
The Verdict
Oyster HR is built for remote first startups and global teams, with a focus on global-hiring and payroll. Workable targets growing companies and hr teams and leads with ats and ai-sourcing.
On pricing, Oyster HR is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $29/mo compared to $149/mo for Workable. That $120/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Oyster HR has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Workable requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Oyster HR offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Workable takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.