Deel is cheaper than Oyster at list price for Employer of Record: $599 per employee per month against Oyster's $699 in 2026. Oyster offers annual discounts on request. For contractors, Oyster is cheaper: $29 a month after a free 30 days, against Deel's $49.
If you're comparing Oyster vs Deel to hire in India, there's a third option to consider. StratEdge Global provides Employer of Record from $349 per employee per month, with group health insurance included, on month-to-month terms with no onboarding fee. That's less than both, and you get one partner and one platform from hiring to exit. Prices were checked on 12 October 2026.
Oyster vs Deel vs StratEdge Global at a glance
| Oyster | Deel | StratEdge Global | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EOR per employee/month | $699 | $599 | From $349 |
| EOR fees per employee/year | $8,388 | $7,188 | $4,188 |
| Annual discount | On request | Not published | Not needed: lowest price is month-to-month |
| Group health insurance | Ask Oyster | Check plan details | Included |
| Contractor payments | Free 30 days, then $29/month | $49/month | — (EOR focus) |
| Real-time cost and employee visibility | Platform dashboard | Platform dashboard | EmpleYor: live pay, fee, onboarding, leave and attendance per hire |
| Recruitment | Not part of EOR | Separate Hire tool | In-house team (HireEdge), one contract |
| Support | Support team; People Partner Services at $300/hour | Support team | One named contact |
Oyster vs Deel: EOR pricing compared
For a full-time employee in a country where you have no entity, Deel charges $599 a month and Oyster charges $699. That's $1,200 more per employee per year with Oyster at list price. StratEdge saves $3,000 a year against Deel and $4,200 a year against Oyster.
| Team size | Oyster ($699) | Deel ($599) | StratEdge Global (from $349) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 employee | $8,388 | $7,188 | $4,188 |
| 5 employees | $41,940 | $35,940 | $20,940 |
| 10 employees | $83,880 | $71,880 | $41,880 |
| 25 employees | $209,700 | $179,700 | $104,700 |
Oyster says annual discounts are available but doesn't publish the rate. StratEdge's lowest price needs no annual commitment.
Why companies choose StratEdge Global instead: one partner, one platform
Most EORs give you a contract and an invoice. StratEdge Global gives you an employee who works, and feels, like part of your own team. You get one partner and one platform from hiring to exit, and payroll, PF, ESI, TDS, gratuity and Labour Code compliance are handled by our own team. Our proprietary platform, EmpleYor, gives you and your employees real-time visibility, so nothing waits on an email or an invoice.
- Real-time cost, no surprises. EmpleYor shows you the actual pay and fee for each hire, line by line, as payroll runs. You never have to request a breakdown or wait for an invoice to see what a hire really costs.
- The hire is fully visible. Your manager sees live onboarding status, timesheets, leave, attendance and recognitions: the same view you'd have of a direct employee.
- Engaged employees, not just compliant ones. At no extra cost, every EOR employee gets group health insurance, learning credits and access to our recognition programme, so they grow and get recognised alongside your own team.
- No candidate yet? We find one. Our in-house recruitment team, HireEdge, sources the hire, and we employ them through our India employing entity, StratGrid Private Limited. One contract covers search, employment and HR.
- Simple terms. From $349 per employee per month, no onboarding fee, no salary markup, month-to-month with no lock-in. India hires are onboarded in 48 hours.
Book a free call or see StratEdge pricing.
Oyster vs Deel: contractor pricing
For independent contractors, Oyster is cheaper than Deel. Oyster's contractor payments are free for 30 days, then $29 per contractor per month, while Deel charges $49. Deel also lists Contractor of Record at $325 a month, where Deel takes on the risk of a contractor being treated as an employee.
In India, full-time "contractors" who work fixed hours and report to your managers can be treated as employees, which brings back-payment of PF and penalties. A compliant EOR employee through StratEdge costs from $349 a month with health insurance included, close to the price of Deel's Contractor of Record plan.
What every EOR invoice includes
With Oyster, Deel or StratEdge, your monthly invoice includes:
- The employee's gross salary
- Employer statutory contributions required by law, such as Provident Fund and gratuity in India
- The platform fee: $699 with Oyster, $599 with Deel, from $349 with StratEdge
Salary and statutory costs are the same with any EOR. The platform fee and what's bundled with it are where you save, and StratEdge includes health insurance and shows every line in real time on EmpleYor.
Hiring in India: what StratEdge handles in-house
- Provident Fund. The employer pays 12% of PF wages. The statutory ceiling rose to ₹25,000 a month from 17 September 2026.
- Gratuity. Commonly accrued at about 4.81% of basic salary a year.
- Labour Codes. Wages must be at least 50% of total pay. Our Labour Codes guide explains the changes.
- Health insurance. Most engineers in Indian cities expect private group cover, and it's included with StratEdge.
- Final settlement. Wages are due within two working days of exit.
Oyster, Deel or StratEdge Global: which should you choose?
- Choose Deel over Oyster if you want the lower published EOR price on a global platform.
- Choose Oyster over Deel if you mainly pay contractors and want the lower $29 monthly fee.
- Choose StratEdge Global if you're building a team in India and want to pay less than both. You get health insurance included, one partner and one platform from recruitment to exit, real-time visibility through EmpleYor, and one named contact.
See five providers side by side in the best Deel alternatives, or read the full Deel pricing breakdown.
Questions to ask before you choose
- What's the all-in monthly cost per employee, including insurance?
- Is there a security deposit, and when is it refunded?
- What currency-conversion margin applies?
- What's the minimum term, and what does ending the contract cost?
- Can I see each hire's cost and status in real time?
StratEdge answers each of these in writing before you sign. See our 12 questions to ask an EOR provider.
FAQ
Is Oyster cheaper than Deel?
Not for EOR at list price. Oyster lists $699 per employee per month and Deel lists $599, though Oyster offers annual discounts on request. For contractors, Oyster is cheaper. StratEdge Global costs less than both for EOR, from $349 with health insurance included.
Does Oyster offer annual discounts?
Yes. Oyster's pricing page says annual discounts are available, but it doesn't publish the rate. StratEdge's lowest price is month-to-month with no lock-in.
Which is better for hiring contractors, Oyster or Deel?
On price, Oyster: $29 per contractor per month after 30 days free, against Deel's $49. For full-time team members in India, a compliant EOR such as StratEdge Global from $349 avoids misclassification risk.
Which is better for hiring in India, Oyster or Deel?
Both cover India on global platforms. For an India-focused team, StratEdge Global costs less than either, from $349 per employee per month with health insurance included. It onboards India hires in 48 hours and handles Labour Code compliance in-house.
How much does Oyster cost per employee?
Oyster lists its Employer of Record plan at $699 per employee per month in 2026, with annual discounts available on request.
Sources
- Oyster pricing: oysterhr.com/pricing, checked 12 October 2026
- Deel pricing: deel.com/pricing, checked 12 October 2026