Kontrable vs Remote.com: Contractor management for small teams

Remote.com is built for companies that need managed contractor services: handling payment processing, compliance documentation, and some employment-related protections across borders. Kontrable is built for teams managing independent contractors who handle their own taxes and already have payment accounts set up.

These serve different needs. Understanding which one fits your situation determines whether you're paying for unnecessary management or whether you actually need it.

The core difference

Remote.com is a managed contractor services platform. They handle payment processing, compliance documentation, and some tax/legal protections. Your money flows through Remote.com to your contractor. You get a managed service that handles many administrative details.

Kontrable is a contractor management platform. You manage contractors directly. You pay them through your own Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer account. Kontrable organizes contracts, tracks milestones, stores documents, and creates an audit trail. Your contractors handle their own taxes and payments.

These solve different problems. Remote.com provides managed services. Kontrable provides organization and tracking.

When you need Remote.com

You need Remote.com if:

• You want them to handle payment processing on your behalf
• You want compliance documentation and protections managed for you
• You prefer a vendor to manage contractor relationships and payment flows
• You want centralized management across many contractors in different countries
• You're willing to pay premium pricing for a managed service
• You want payment processing integrated into one platform

Cost: $29/month per contractor for basic management. Up to $99/month per contractor for more comprehensive services. Plus payment processing fees.

Example: 10 contractors at $29/month = $290/month minimum, every month.

When Kontrable works better

You're better served by Kontrable if:

• You're managing independent contractors who handle their own taxes
• Your contractors already have their own payment accounts
• You want to pay contractors directly and maintain full control of your money
• You need simple, organized record-keeping without a middleman
• You want to avoid per-contractor monthly fees scaling with your team size
• You value direct payment relationships with your contractors

Cost: $99/month for up to 25 contractors. No per-contractor fees. No payment processing charges.

The financial reality

Remote.com cost for 10 contractors: $290/month base ($29 × 10) + payment processing fees + any transfer fees = $300+/month minimum.

Your money flow: You → Remote.com → Contractor (processing delay + fees).

Kontrable cost for 10 contractors: $99/month. Flat rate. No per-contractor charges.

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

For small teams with 3-15 contractors already set up with payment accounts, the financial difference is significant. You're saving $200+/month in platform fees.

The real tradeoff

Remote.com's advantage: They handle payment processing, compliance documentation, and some administrative burden. One vendor manages the entire flow. You don't have to think about payment details, tax forms, or compliance timing. For teams that want a fully managed service, this is valuable.

Remote.com's cost: Premium pricing per contractor. Money flows through them first, which adds processing delays and fee layers. Your costs scale linearly with contractor count.

Kontrable's advantage: You maintain direct control. You use payment tools you already have. You keep your money until the exact moment you send it to the contractor. Flat pricing regardless of contractor count. Complete audit trail in one organized system.

Kontrable's cost: You manage some administrative work yourself. You handle tax forms. You initiate payments. You organize contracts. But if your contractors already handle this (which independent contractors should), most of this is just record-keeping and organization.

What Kontrable actually does

Contractor database: Store contractor information, contact details, business information, and payment preferences in one organized place. No more scattered email threads and spreadsheets.

Contract and document management: Upload contractor agreements, statements of work, and compliance documents. Track signatures and document status.

Project and milestone tracking: Create projects with specific milestones, deliverables, payment amounts, and due dates. Track what's been delivered and what's pending. See status at a glance.

Payment management: Approve payments, record transaction IDs and proofs, track confirmations from contractors. Complete audit trail showing who approved what, when, and who confirmed receipt.

Compliance organization: Centralize tax forms (W-9, W-8BEN), contractor status documentation, and other compliance records. Know exactly what's on file for audits.

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.

Who this is for

Small agencies, remote-first startups, and growing teams working with 2-15 independent contractors who:

• Already use Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer for payments
• Have contractors managing their own taxes (as independent contractors should)
• Want to reduce platform fees and manage contractors directly
• Need organized record-keeping and audit trails
• Value direct control over money and contractor relationships
• Don't need a managed payment processing service

Who needs Remote.com instead

Teams that:

• Want a vendor to handle payment processing and compliance management
• Prefer managed services over self-service tools
• Are willing to pay per-contractor monthly fees for this convenience
• Have many contractors across many countries and want centralized management
• Want compliance documentation and protections managed by a vendor
• Value having payment processing integrated into one platform

The honest assessment

Remote.com is expensive for independent contractors who are already set up to handle their own taxes and payments. Per-contractor monthly fees add up quickly. For 25 contractors, you're paying $725/month minimum ($29 × 25).

Kontrable costs $99/month regardless of whether you have 3 contractors or 25. If you're managing more than 3-4 contractors, Kontrable's flat pricing becomes significantly cheaper.

But Remote.com is the right choice if you want a vendor to manage payment processing, compliance, and administrative details for you. Some teams prefer outsourcing these responsibilities.

Kontrable is built for teams that want to manage contractors directly, keep full control of their money, and use simple tools for organization and tracking.

What you give up with Kontrable

Kontrable doesn't process payments for you. You use Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer directly. This means:

• You manage who gets paid and when (or you set up automated transfers)
• You keep your money in your accounts until you send it to contractors
• You're responsible for initiating transfers
• You handle tax form collection and renewal

None of this is complicated, but it does require you to be involved in the payment process. If you prefer outsourcing this entirely, Remote.com handles it.

What you give up with Remote.com

When you use Remote.com:

• Your money flows through them first
• You pay per-contractor monthly fees
• Payment processing adds 3-5 days of delay
• You're dependent on their platform for payment management
• You pay more as your contractor count grows

The choice

Choose Remote.com if: You want a fully managed service that handles payments, compliance, and documentation. You're willing to pay premium pricing and accept payment delays for convenience.

Choose Kontrable if: You want to manage contractors directly, maintain control of your money, and use simple tools to stay organized. You're comfortable handling some administrative tasks yourself.

Neither is universally better. They serve different preferences and different business models. The question is which matches your actual needs and how you prefer to operate.

Get started

If you're managing independent contractors and want simple, organized record-keeping without per-contractor fees or managed payment processing, Kontrable is built for you.

Start organizing your contractor relationships today.