Deel vs Rippling: Which Is Better for Contractors in 2025?
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Deel | Rippling | Better Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (10 contractors) | $490/mo | $8/user + base fee (~$180/mo) | $99/mo (Kontrable) |
| Payment flow | Through platform | Through platform | Direct (you control) |
| Best for | Global EOR + contractors | US HR + IT management | Contractors only |
Deel Overview
Deel is a global employment platform specializing in international hiring, offering EOR services in 150+ countries plus contractor management tools. Deel excels at helping companies hire employees and contractors worldwide with built-in compliance, payroll, and payment processing.
Strengths: Extensive global coverage, strong compliance tools, unified platform for employees and contractors, and deep expertise in international employment law.
Pricing: Contractor management starts at $49/contractor/month. For 10 contractors, that's $490/month, plus payment processing fees.
Rippling Overview
Rippling is a comprehensive workforce management platform that combines HR, IT, and finance tools. While Rippling offers global EOR services, its core strength is managing US-based employees with integrated payroll, benefits, device management, and app provisioning.
Strengths: Unified HR and IT management, strong US payroll and benefits, device and app management, workflow automation, and a modern, integrated platform.
Pricing: Starts at $8/user/month plus a base platform fee. For 10 contractors with basic features, expect around $180/month, but costs increase significantly with additional modules.
The Problem Both Platforms Share
Both Deel and Rippling are built primarily for employee management—whether that's global EOR services (Deel) or comprehensive HR/IT management (Rippling). This makes sense if you need:
- Payroll processing and tax withholding for employees
- Benefits administration (health insurance, 401k, etc.)
- IT device and app management for your team
- Employment law compliance and HR workflows
But if you're working with independent contractors who handle their own taxes, use their own devices, and already have payment accounts? You're paying for employee infrastructure you don't need. Contractors don't require payroll, benefits, IT management, or employment law coverage—they're running their own businesses.
A Different Approach: Kontrable
We built Kontrable specifically for businesses working with contractors (not employees):
- Direct payments: Pay contractors via your existing Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer accounts—no middleman, no custody of funds
- $99/month flat: Manage up to 25 contractors for one predictable price (vs $180-$490+ on employee platforms)
- Contractor-focused tools: Contracts, scopes of work, milestones, invoice approvals, and payment tracking
- Clean audit trail: Every contract, milestone, approval, payment proof, and contractor confirmation in one place
- No employee overhead: No payroll, benefits, IT management, or EOR fees—just clean contractor management
Kontrable doesn't try to be an employee management platform. We focus exclusively on making contractor management clean, compliant, and cost-effective—without the overhead of HR and IT infrastructure.
Who Should Choose What
Choose Deel if:
You need to hire full-time employees internationally in countries where you don't have a legal entity, require global payroll and compliance support, or want a unified platform for both international employees and contractors.
Choose Rippling if:
You're managing US-based employees and want a unified platform for HR, payroll, benefits, IT device management, and app provisioning. Rippling excels when you need comprehensive employee lifecycle management with strong IT integration.
Choose Kontrable if:
You're working with 5-25 independent contractors who handle their own taxes and use their own devices. You want to pay them directly via Wise/PayPal/Payoneer, keep a clean audit trail, and avoid paying for employee HR and IT infrastructure you don't need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Deel or Rippling for contractors only?
Yes, both platforms support contractor management. However, Deel charges $49/contractor/month, and Rippling charges per-user fees plus platform costs. You'll pay for employee-focused features (payroll, benefits, IT management) that contractors don't need.
How does Kontrable handle payments differently?
Kontrable doesn't process payments or hold funds. You pay contractors directly via your existing Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer accounts, then attach proof of payment to the milestone in Kontrable. This gives you full control, lower fees, and a clean audit trail without a middleman.
What if I have both employees and contractors?
Use Deel or Rippling for your employees (they're excellent for employee management), and use Kontrable for your contractors. This gives you the right tool for each type of worker without overpaying for contractor management on an employee-focused platform.
Does Kontrable offer IT management features?
No. Contractors use their own devices and tools. Kontrable focuses on contract management, milestones, payments, and audit trails—the essentials for managing independent contractors without the overhead of employee IT infrastructure.