Lano vs Remote.com: Which Is Better for Contractors in 2025?
Compare Lano and Remote.com for contractor management. See pricing, features, and why Kontrable offers a better alternative for businesses working with independent contractors.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Lano | Remote.com | Better Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (10 contractors) | ~$390/mo | $290/mo | $99/mo (Kontrable) |
| Payment flow | Through platform | Through platform | Direct (you control) |
| Best for | Employees + contractors | Employees + contractors | Contractors only |
| Setup complexity | Medium | Medium | Simple |
Lano Overview
Lano is a global workforce management platform that offers EOR services, contractor management, and payroll solutions. The platform provides tools for hiring and paying both employees and contractors internationally, with a focus on compliance and streamlined payments.
Lano charges per-contractor fees (typically $39/month per contractor) plus payment processing fees. The platform handles contracts, invoicing, and payments through their system, which means funds flow through Lano before reaching your contractors.
Remote.com Overview
Remote.com is a comprehensive global employment platform that specializes in EOR services for full-time employees, with additional contractor management features. The platform offers payroll, benefits, compliance, and payment processing for international teams.
Remote.com charges $29 per contractor per month, with payments processed through their platform. Like Lano, this means your funds go through Remote.com's system before reaching contractors, and you're paying for infrastructure built primarily for employee management.
The Problem Both Platforms Share
Both Lano and Remote.com are built for Employer of Record (EOR) services—hiring full-time employees internationally. This makes sense if you need:
- Local payroll compliance
- Benefits administration
- Employment law coverage
But if you're working with independent contractors who handle their own taxes and already have Wise/PayPal accounts? You're paying $29-$39 per contractor per month for infrastructure you don't need.
With 10 contractors, that's $290-$390/month just to route payments through a middleman. With 25 contractors, you're looking at $725-$975/month in platform fees alone.
A Different Approach: Kontrable
We built Kontrable specifically for businesses working with contractors (not employees):
- Direct payments: Pay via your Wise/PayPal/Payoneer (no middleman)
- $99/month flat: Up to 25 contractors (vs $290-$975 on EOR platforms)
- Contractor-focused: Contracts, invoices, milestones, payment tracking
- No EOR fees: Because you're hiring true independent contractors
Instead of routing payments through a platform, you pay contractors directly via Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer—just like you would anyway. Kontrable keeps the source of truth: contracts, milestones, approvals, payment proofs, and contractor confirmations.
You get a clean audit trail for finance, contractors get paid faster, and you save hundreds per month in platform fees.
Who Should Choose What
Choose Lano if:
You need to hire full-time employees in countries where you don't have a legal entity, and you want an all-in-one platform that handles both EOR and contractor payments.
Choose Remote.com if:
You're primarily hiring international employees and need comprehensive EOR services with benefits administration, and contractor management is a secondary need.
Choose Kontrable if:
You're working with 5-25 independent contractors who handle their own taxes, you want to pay them directly via Wise/PayPal/Payoneer, and you need a clean system to track contracts, milestones, approvals, and payment confirmations—without paying $29-$39 per contractor per month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an EOR to pay contractors?
No. EORs are for employing staff on your behalf. Independent contractors handle their own taxes and can be paid directly via Wise, PayPal, Payoneer, or bank transfer. You just need solid contracts, clear scopes, and good records.
What's the real cost difference?
With 10 contractors: Lano costs ~$390/month, Remote.com costs $290/month, Kontrable costs $99/month. With 25 contractors: Lano costs ~$975/month, Remote.com costs $725/month, Kontrable still costs $99/month.
How do I prove I paid contractors?
Upload the transaction reference or PDF from Wise/PayPal/Payoneer to the milestone in Kontrable, then ask the contractor to confirm receipt. That becomes your audit trail—no need to route payments through a middleman.
Can I switch from Lano or Remote.com to Kontrable?
Yes. If you're only using these platforms for contractor payments (not EOR services), you can move to Kontrable, pay contractors directly, and save hundreds per month while maintaining a clean audit trail.