Kontrable vs PamGro: Contractor management alternative to EOR services

PamGro is built for companies hiring full-time remote employees with comprehensive EOR services: payroll processing, benefits administration, tax compliance, and local labor law management. Kontrable is a contractor management alternative for teams managing independent contractors who handle their own taxes and already have payment accounts.

These are fundamentally different services. Understanding which one you actually need determines whether you're hiring employees or managing contractors.

The core difference

PamGro is an Employer of Record platform. When you use PamGro, they become the legal employer. They handle payroll, benefits, tax withholding, and local employment compliance for your full-time employees. Your money flows through PamGro. They manage the entire employment relationship.

Kontrable is a contractor management platform and alternative to EOR systems for teams working with freelancers. You manage contractors directly. You pay them through your own Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer account. Kontrable organizes contracts, tracks milestones, stores documents, and creates audit trails. Your contractors handle their own taxes.

These solve completely different problems. PamGro is for hiring employees. Kontrable is for managing contractors.

When you need PamGro

You need PamGro if:

• You're hiring full-time remote employees (not contractors)
• You want PamGro to be the legal employer and handle all employment compliance
• You want integrated payroll, benefits, and tax withholding
• You're hiring in multiple countries and want centralized employment management
• You want someone else to bear the risk of employment law compliance
• You're building a traditional employee base, even if remote

Cost: From £100/month per employee.

Example: 10 employees on PamGro = £1,000/month minimum.

When Kontrable works better as a contractor management alternative

You're better served by Kontrable if:

• You're working with independent contractors (not employees)
• Your contractors already have their own payment accounts
• Your contractors handle their own taxes in their jurisdiction
• You want to pay contractors directly and maintain full control
• You need simple, organized contractor record-keeping
• You want to avoid per-person monthly fees
• You're looking for a simpler alternative to EOR platforms for contractor work

Cost: Starting at $49/month for up to 10 contractors. $99/month for up to 25 contractors.

The financial reality

PamGro cost for 10 employees: £1,000/month minimum (£100 × 10). This is for actual full-time employees with benefits and full employment compliance.

Your money flow: You → PamGro → Employee (processing delay + compliance overhead).

Kontrable cost for 10 contractors: $99/month (or $49/month if you only need up to 10). Flat rate.

Your money flow: You → Contractor directly via Wise/PayPal/Payoneer (no middleman).

The financial difference is enormous, but only if you're comparing the same thing. If you're hiring employees, PamGro handles a service Kontrable doesn't provide. If you're managing contractors, Kontrable is a superior alternative.

The fundamental distinction

This isn't a pricing comparison. It's a category difference.

PamGro manages employees. You hire someone as an employee. PamGro becomes their legal employer. They get benefits, payroll, tax compliance, and employment protections. PamGro charges £100+/month because they're bearing legal and compliance responsibility.

Kontrable manages contractors. You work with independent contractors. They manage their own taxes and benefits. You organize the relationship, track milestones, and maintain records. Kontrable is a contractor management alternative that costs $49-99/month because you're managing the relationship, not outsourcing it.

You don't choose between PamGro and Kontrable based on price. You choose based on whether you're hiring employees or working with contractors.

What Kontrable actually does

Contractor database: Store contractor information, payment details, and business information in one organized place instead of scattered emails and spreadsheets.

Contract and document management: Upload and organize contracts, statements of work, and compliance documents. Track signature status and document versions.

Project and milestone tracking: Create projects with specific milestones, deliverables, and payment amounts. Track progress and what's pending. Know exactly what needs to be delivered.

Payment management: Approve payments, record transaction IDs and proofs, track contractor confirmations. Complete audit trail showing approval flow and payment history.

Compliance organization: Centralize tax forms (W-9, W-8BEN), contractor status documentation, and other records needed for audits and compliance.

Alerts and notifications: Get reminded of approaching deadlines, pending approvals, and contractor confirmations. Stay on top without manual tracking.

Monthly reporting: Export contractor lists, payment records, and status summaries for finance and operations.

Kontrable as a contractor management alternative

If you're evaluating contractor management alternatives to traditional EOR platforms, Kontrable offers:

• Direct control: You maintain contractor relationships. Your money stays with you until payment.
• Predictable pricing: $49/month for up to 10 contractors, $99/month for up to 25. No scaling with headcount.
• Simplified operations: Focus on contractor relationship management, not employment compliance.
• Global support: Manage contractors worldwide with multi-currency support and local payment options.

Kontrable is purpose-built for contractor management—not as a stripped-down EOR alternative, but as a dedicated platform for freelancer operations.

Who this is for

Small agencies, remote-first startups, and growing teams working with 3-25 independent contractors who:

• Already use Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer for payments
• Have contractors managing their own taxes (as they should)
• Want transparent, predictable pricing for contractor management
• Need organized record-keeping without EOR complexity
• Value direct control over contractor relationships
• Are actively looking for a contractor management alternative

Who needs PamGro instead

Organizations that:

• Are hiring full-time remote employees (not contractors)
• Want centralized employment management across multiple countries
• Need integrated payroll, benefits, and tax withholding
• Want a vendor bearing employment compliance responsibility
• Are building a traditional employee base

The honest distinction

PamGro is expensive compared to Kontrable because they're solving a completely different problem. PamGro manages employment relationships. They're legally responsible for compliance, payroll, and benefits. That complexity costs £100+/month per employee.

Kontrable manages contractor relationships. You're responsible for the relationship. It costs $49-99/month regardless of contractor count.

The price difference reflects the service difference, not one being better than the other. It's like comparing the cost of hiring an employee versus contracting with a freelancer.

What you give up with Kontrable

Kontrable doesn't handle employment compliance, payroll processing, or benefits administration. This is fine if you're working with contractors—contractors handle all of that themselves.

But if you're hiring employees, Kontrable doesn't solve your problem. You need an employment solution like PamGro.

What you give up with PamGro

PamGro is built for employees. If you're working with contractors, you're paying for employee management infrastructure you don't need. PamGro charges £100+/month because they're taking on employment compliance responsibility. Contractors don't need that.

Choosing a contractor management alternative

When evaluating contractor management alternatives, consider:

What are you actually doing? Managing contractors or hiring employees? If contractors, Kontrable is simpler and cheaper than EOR platforms.

How many contractors? If 10 or fewer, Kontrable's $49/month tier works. If 25 or fewer, the $99/month plan scales efficiently.

Do your contractors handle their own setup? Independent contractors should already have payment accounts and tax systems. If they do, you don't need EOR services.

How much control do you want? EOR platforms provide outsourced management. Kontrable provides tools for direct management. Choose based on your preference.

The choice

Choose PamGro if: You're hiring full-time remote employees and want centralized employment management with payroll, benefits, and compliance handled.

Choose Kontrable if: You're managing independent contractors and need a simple contractor management alternative to EOR platforms. You want direct control, predictable pricing, and organized record-keeping.

These aren't competitors. They solve different problems for different hiring models. The question is whether you're building an employee workforce or managing a contractor network.

Get started

If you're managing independent contractors and need a contractor management alternative with transparent pricing and direct control, Kontrable is built for you.

Kontrable works as a better alternative to EOR platforms when your actual need is contractor management—not employee hiring. Keep it simple. Use the right tool for the job.

Start organizing your contractor relationships today.