Plane vs Oyster: Which Is Better for Contractors in 2025?
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Plane | Oyster | Kontrable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (10 contractors) | $390/mo | $290/mo | $99/mo |
| Payment flow | Through platform | Through platform | Direct (you control) |
| Best for | Employees + contractors | Employees + contractors | Contractors only |
Plane Overview
Plane is a global employment platform that provides Employer of Record (EOR) services for hiring full-time employees internationally. The platform handles payroll, benefits, compliance, and HR administration across multiple countries.
Plane charges per employee per month (typically $39-$49 per seat) and processes payments through their platform. They focus on making international employment compliant and straightforward for companies expanding globally.
Oyster Overview
Oyster is a global employment platform that offers EOR services, contractor management, and payroll solutions. They provide comprehensive HR tools, benefits administration, and compliance support for international teams.
Oyster charges per employee or contractor per month (typically $29-$35 per seat) and handles all payments through their platform. They emphasize distributed team management and global compliance.
The Problem Both Platforms Share
Both Plane and Oyster are built primarily for Employer of Record (EOR) services—hiring full-time employees internationally. This makes sense if you need:
- Local payroll compliance and tax withholding
- Benefits administration (health insurance, retirement)
- Employment law coverage and HR support
But if you're working with independent contractors who handle their own taxes and already have Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer accounts, you're paying $29-$49 per contractor per month for infrastructure you don't need.
A Different Approach: Kontrable
We built Kontrable specifically for businesses working with independent contractors (not employees):
- Direct payments: Pay contractors via your existing Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer accounts—no middleman, no per-transaction fees
- $99/month flat: Manage up to 25 contractors for one predictable price (vs $290-$390+ on EOR platforms)
- Contractor-focused tools: Contracts, scopes of work, milestone tracking, invoice management, and payment confirmations
- Clean audit trail: Every payment linked to milestones, with proof and contractor confirmation for finance
You keep control of your funds, pay contractors directly in their preferred currency, and maintain a complete audit trail—all without EOR fees or payment processing markups.
Who Should Choose What
Choose Plane if:
You need to hire full-time employees in countries where you don't have a legal entity, and you need comprehensive HR, benefits, and compliance support.
Choose Oyster if:
You're building a distributed team of employees and need EOR services with strong HR tools, benefits administration, and global compliance support.
Choose Kontrable if:
You're working with 5-25 independent contractors who handle their own taxes, and you want to pay them directly while maintaining clean records and audit trails—without paying $29-$49 per contractor per month.