Kontrable vs Thera: Contractor management with transparent vs custom pricing

Thera offers contractor management with custom pricing tailored to your specific needs and volume. Kontrable offers contractor management with transparent, predictable flat-rate pricing. These represent different philosophies about how pricing should work for small to medium-sized teams.

Understanding which approach fits your business determines whether you prefer the flexibility of custom pricing or the predictability of flat-rate pricing.

The core difference

Thera uses custom pricing based on your volume, features, and specific needs. You contact their sales team, discuss your requirements, and receive a custom quote. Pricing varies widely depending on contractor volume, features used, and support level.

Kontrable uses transparent, flat-rate pricing: $99/month for up to 25 contractors, regardless of how many you actually use. No custom quotes. No variables. Same price whether you have 3 contractors or 25.

These represent different business models. Thera optimizes for enterprise customers with complex needs. Kontrable optimizes for small to medium teams that want predictable costs.

When you might consider Thera

You might consider Thera if:

• You have very specific contractor management needs that require customization
• You want pricing tailored exactly to your usage patterns
• You have enterprise-scale contractor operations
• You need features beyond standard contractor management
• You're comfortable with a sales process to determine pricing
• You prefer negotiating custom contracts

Cost: Custom pricing. Varies by volume, features, and requirements. You'll need to contact sales for a quote.

When Kontrable works better

You're better served by Kontrable if:

• You need transparent, predictable pricing upfront
• You're managing 3-25 contractors
• You want to know exactly what you'll pay each month
• You don't want to go through a sales process
• You value simplicity and clarity over customization
• You want to get started immediately without quotes or negotiations
• You prefer flat-rate pricing that doesn't change with your team size

Cost: $99/month for up to 25 contractors. Fixed. No variables.

The financial reality

Thera cost: Unknown without a sales conversation and custom quote. Could be anywhere from $200/month to $1,000+/month depending on your specific situation.

Kontrable cost: $99/month flat. Same price for 3 contractors or 25 contractors.

The financial difference depends entirely on what Thera quotes you. But the key difference isn't the price—it's the predictability.

The real tradeoff

Thera's advantage: Custom pricing means you pay only for what you need. Large enterprises benefit from volume discounts and custom features. You get pricing optimized for your specific situation. Professional sales support.

Thera's cost: You need to go through a sales process to find out what you'll pay. Pricing is unpredictable. You don't know costs upfront. Negotiations required.

Kontrable's advantage: Transparent, predictable pricing. You know exactly what you'll pay before signing up. No sales process required. Flat rate means your costs don't increase as your contractor count grows. Simple, straightforward.

Kontrable's cost: You pay the same whether you use 3 contractors or 25. If you only use 3 contractors, you're overpaying relative to minimal usage. No customization for unique needs.

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.

Project and milestone tracking: Create projects with specific milestones, deliverables, and payment amounts. Track progress and pending items.

Payment management: Approve payments, record transaction IDs and proofs, track contractor confirmations. Complete audit trail.

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

Alerts and notifications: Get reminded of approaching deadlines, pending approvals, and contractor confirmations.

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

Who this is for

Small agencies, remote-first startups, and growing teams working with 3-15 independent contractors who:

• Already use Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer for payments
• Have contractors managing their own taxes
• Want transparent, predictable pricing upfront
• Don't want to go through a sales process
• Need organized contractor management without complexity
• Value simplicity and clarity

Who might choose Thera instead

Organizations that:

• Have very large contractor operations (50+ contractors)
• Have unique, specialized contractor management needs
• Want pricing optimized for their specific volume
• Prefer negotiating custom contracts
• Need enterprise-level features or support
• Are comfortable with a sales process and custom pricing discussions

The honest assessment

Thera's custom pricing works well for enterprise customers who need highly specialized solutions. If you're a large company with complex contractor operations, custom pricing makes sense.

But for small to medium teams (3-25 contractors), custom pricing creates uncertainty. You don't know what you'll pay. You need to go through a sales process. You can't compare costs easily with other options.

Kontrable's flat-rate pricing solves this problem. You know exactly what you'll pay. No surprises. No sales conversations. You can make a decision immediately.

The tradeoff is that flat-rate pricing isn't optimal for everyone. If you only have 2 contractors, $99/month might be more than you want to pay. If you have 100 contractors, a custom quote might be cheaper. But for the majority of small teams with 5-20 contractors, flat-rate pricing provides better value and certainty.

What you give up with Kontrable

Kontrable doesn't offer custom pricing based on your volume. If you're on the very low end (1-2 contractors), you're paying for more than you use. No custom features beyond what's built into the platform.

If you need highly specialized contractor management features not included in Kontrable, you won't find them. Kontrable is designed for standard contractor management, not enterprise customization.

What you give up with Thera

Custom pricing requires a sales conversation. You don't know what you'll pay until you talk to their team. Pricing could be higher or lower depending on what they quote. No transparency upfront.

You also depend on their sales team's interpretation of your needs. You might end up paying for features you don't actually need.

The choice

Choose Thera if: You have large-scale contractor operations (50+), need highly specialized features, or want custom pricing negotiated for your specific volume and needs. You're comfortable with a sales process.

Choose Kontrable if: You're managing 3-25 contractors, want transparent pricing upfront, and need straightforward contractor management. You prefer simplicity and predictability over customization.

Neither is universally better. Thera optimizes for enterprise complexity. Kontrable optimizes for small team simplicity.

The pricing philosophy difference

This comparison really comes down to different philosophies about how pricing should work.

Thera's philosophy: Pricing should be custom to your specific needs. Enterprise customers benefit from negotiated contracts.

Kontrable's philosophy: Pricing should be transparent and predictable. Small teams should know exactly what they'll pay before they sign up.

Both approaches have merit. It depends on whether you value optimization or predictability.

Get started

If you're managing independent contractors and want simple, organized management with transparent, predictable pricing, Kontrable is built for you.

Start organizing your contractor relationships today.