Remote.com vs Oyster: Which Is Better for Contractors in 2025?
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Remote.com | Oyster | Kontrable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (10 contractors) | $290/mo | $299/mo | $99/mo |
| Payment flow | Through platform | Through platform | Direct (you control) |
| Best for | Employees + contractors | Employees + contractors | Contractors only |
| Setup time | 1-2 weeks | 1-2 weeks | Same day |
Remote.com Overview
Remote.com is a global HR platform offering EOR services, contractor management, and payroll solutions. They focus on providing compliant employment solutions across 70+ countries with a modern, developer-friendly interface.
Strengths: Clean user experience, transparent pricing, strong compliance infrastructure, and good API documentation for integrations.
Pricing: $29/month per contractor, with EOR services at $599/month per employee. Additional fees for payment processing and currency conversion.
Oyster Overview
Oyster is a global employment platform designed for distributed teams. They offer EOR services, contractor payments, and benefits administration with a focus on equity and inclusion in global hiring.
Strengths: User-friendly interface, strong focus on employee experience, comprehensive benefits packages, and good educational resources for global hiring.
Pricing: $29.99/month per contractor, with EOR services starting at $599/month per employee. Payment processing fees and currency conversion costs apply.
The Problem Both Platforms Share
Both Remote.com 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 and employment contracts
- Employment law coverage and HR support
- Visa sponsorship and immigration assistance
But if you're working with independent contractors who handle their own taxes and already have Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer accounts? You're paying $290-$299/month for infrastructure you don't need.
The contractor features in both platforms are add-ons to their core EOR business—which means you're subsidizing employee infrastructure even when you only work with contractors.
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 $290-$299+ on EOR platforms)
- Contractor-focused: Contracts, scopes of work, milestones, invoices, payment tracking, and audit trails
- No EOR fees: Because you're hiring true independent contractors who handle their own taxes and compliance
Instead of forcing contractor workflows into employee infrastructure, Kontrable gives you purpose-built tools for the way you actually work with independent talent.
Who Should Choose What
Choose Remote.com if:
- You need to hire full-time employees in countries where you don't have entities
- You value transparent pricing and modern user experience
- You want API integrations with your existing tools
- You have budget for $29+/month per contractor plus payment processing fees
Choose Oyster if:
- You're building a distributed team with full-time employees
- You want comprehensive benefits packages for global employees
- You value educational resources and support for global hiring
- You can commit to per-contractor monthly fees plus processing costs
Choose Kontrable if:
- You work with 5-25 independent contractors who handle their own taxes
- You want to pay contractors directly via Wise/PayPal/Payoneer (no middleman)
- You need clean contracts, milestones, and audit trails without EOR overhead
- You want predictable $99/month pricing instead of per-contractor fees