Oyster HR vs Gusto
Choose Oyster HR if your main need is hiring employees abroad through an employer of record; choose Gusto if your main need is U.S. payroll with tax filing, benefits, and HR tools. Both support international contractors, and Gusto also offers international employee hiring through its partnership with Remote. The deciding differences are how each handles global employment and how it charges for contractors.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Oyster HR | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| Primary offering | Global employer of record and contractor management | U.S. payroll, benefits, and HR |
| International employee hiring | Employer of record in 120+ countries | Employer of record through Remote |
| International contractor reach | Contracts in 180+ countries | Payments in 120+ countries |
| U.S. payroll tax filing | Not published | Federal, state, and local filings |
| Employer-of-record price | $699 per employee per month | Not available |
| U.S. payroll plans | Not published | Simple $49, Plus $80, Premium $180 monthly, plus per-person fees |
| International contractor pricing | First 30 days free, then $29 per contractor per month | No monthly per-contractor fee; per-payment service and exchange fees |
| Payroll run limit | Not published | Unlimited runs on every payroll plan |
| Platforms | Web-based platform | Web platform and iOS and Android app |
| Integrations | Slack, Zapier, and API | QuickBooks, Xero, and Expensify |
| Support | Local experts and onboarding specialists for EOR | Phone and chat during business hours; Premium account support |
| Benefits | Country-tailored EOR benefits packages | Health insurance administration and 401(k) integrations |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Oyster HR if
- Teams hiring full-time employees abroad without setting up local entities
- Buyers who want a published employer-of-record price
- Teams managing contractors across more than 180 countries
- Companies seeking country-specific contractor contracts
Choose Gusto if
- U.S. businesses needing payroll and payroll tax filings
- Teams needing multi-state payroll on Plus or Premium
- Businesses paying international contractors without a monthly per-contractor fee
- Teams wanting U.S. benefits administration alongside payroll
The verdict
Pick Oyster HR for a directly offered employer-of-record service with published coverage in more than 120 countries and a published per-employee price. Pick Gusto for U.S. payroll, including unlimited payroll runs and tax filings, with the option to pay international contractors or hire full-time employees abroad through Remote. If global hiring is the deciding factor, check the specific country and total cost before choosing.
Oyster HR vs Gusto: common questions
- Which should I use to hire an employee in another country?
- Oyster HR directly offers employer-of-record employment in more than 120 countries, starting at $699 per employee per month. Gusto offers international full-time employee hiring through its partner Remote; Gusto does not publish an employer-of-record price on its pricing page. Check coverage and total costs for the employee’s country.
- Does Gusto offer employer-of-record services?
- Yes. Gusto offers international employer-of-record hiring through Remote, which handles local compliance, payroll, and taxes. Gusto says this service is designed for full-time, salaried employees in countries where Remote operates.
- Which is a better fit for U.S. payroll?
- Gusto is the more direct fit for U.S. payroll: its published plans include payroll tax filings and unlimited payroll runs. Oyster HR’s published pricing focuses on global employment and contractors, not a comparable U.S. payroll plan.
- Can both products pay international contractors?
- Yes. Oyster HR publishes contractor contract support in more than 180 countries and payments in more than 120 currencies. Gusto publishes contractor payment support in more than 120 countries.
- How do international contractor charges differ?
- Oyster HR lists a free first 30 days followed by $29 per contractor per month. Gusto says it has no monthly per-contractor fee for global payments, but charges service and foreign-exchange fees per payment.
- Do I need to set up a local entity to hire abroad?
- Not for the employer-of-record services described by either vendor. Oyster HR offers hiring without local entity setup in supported countries; Gusto offers employer-of-record hiring through Remote in countries where Remote operates.
- Which products integrate with other software?
- Both publish integrations. Oyster HR lists Slack and Zapier and offers an API. Gusto lists integrations including QuickBooks, Xero, and Expensify. Confirm the connection you need before selecting a plan.
- Are the NachoNacho deals included in these prices?
- No. The prices compared here are vendors’ published prices, not prices adjusted for a NachoNacho offer. Confirm any marketplace promotion and its eligibility separately before purchasing.