Hiring globally used to be a big company thing. Now it’s how startups and small businesses grow.
Why? Local hiring is expensive, good candidates are hard to find, and when you need to scale fast, offshore talent isn’t a luxury; it’s often a necessity.
That’s where offshore staffing providers come in. They handle the hard parts of international hiring: finding people, dealing with compliance, running payroll, and sometimes even setting up offices. You just focus on your business.
Two names that come up a lot: Pavago and Outsourced. Both help you hire offshore, but they work very differently and serve different kinds of clients.
In this Pavago vs Outsourced comparison, we’ll break down how each one works, what clients and employees actually say, and help you figure out which one fits your business.
Who They Are
Outsourced
Outsourced is a Philippines-based outsourcing provider. They’ve been around for years, positioning themselves as a reliable partner for companies that want to offshore roles across IT, creative, back office, customer support, finance, and more.
They recruit candidates, become the legal employer, and manage payroll, compliance, and (if needed) office space. You manage your team’s day-to-day work, but Outsourced handles the operational side.
Pavago
Pavago is built differently. We’re not a call-center outsourcing company or a traditional BPO company. Instead, we combine global recruitment with HR infrastructure so that you can hire and manage offshore employees directly, rather than a team managed by a third party.
That means we interview and help you choose your people, then you manage them as part of your team while we handle the messy parts – payroll, compliance, onboarding, and even offer a lifetime replacement guarantee.
In short: Outsourced is a staffing provider that employs workers for you. Pavago is a partner that enables you to hire offshore staff as if you had your own global HR department.
Reviews and Reputation
Before signing with any partner, it’s smart to see what others are saying.
Outsourced Reviews
- Clutch: Outsourced scores well on Clutch with verified client reviews praising communication, professionalism, and cost-effectiveness.
- Glassdoor: Employees rate Outsourced highly (4.7/5), which suggests they treat staff decently — an important factor for retention.
Cautionary notes: Some third-party reviews mention issues with responsiveness, particularly if a project or hire doesn’t deliver. One review even cited problems with refund disputes. This suggests that while many clients are happy, there are cases where support may not be as proactive.
Pavago Reviews
- Client testimonials: Our clients highlight how fast and smooth the process is, and consistently call out our responsiveness.
- LinkedIn testimonials: Business owners have shared positive experiences about us helping them find the right people quickly.
- Independent reviews: As a relatively newer player, we don’t yet have hundreds of public reviews on Clutch or Glassdoor. But the consistent theme from current clients is transparency, reliability, and peace of mind from our replacement guarantee.
Takeaway: Outsourced has more reviews thanks to its size and age, but those reviews are mixed. Pavago has fewer reviews but overwhelmingly positive feedback from SMB owners.
Pavago vs Outsourced: Side-by-Side Comparison
Let’s look at how Pavago vs Outsourced stack up across key dimensions.
| Dimension | Outsourced | Pavago |
|---|---|---|
| Strong in IT, BPO, and customer support | Outsourcing/staff leasing: they are the legal employer; you direct the day-to-day | Recruitment + HR infrastructure: you choose, manage, and we handle compliance/payroll |
| Pricing Transparency | No fixed pricing on website; costs vary by role, setup, and markup | Fully transparent: $500/year membership + $329/month per hire |
| Hiring Control | You can interview, but employment is technically through Outsourced | You interview, select, and directly integrate hires into your team |
| Replacement Guarantee | Not prominently advertised | “Forever replacement” – if a hire doesn’t work out, we replace them at no extra cost |
| Flexibility | Offers remote, hybrid, and office-based setups | Optimized for remote-first teams across functions |
| Scope of Roles | Outsourcing/staff leasing: they are the legal employer, you direct the day-to-day | Broad, multi-functional: sales, marketing, finance, admin, engineering |
| Reputation | Established, large footprint, but some negative experiences reported | Newer, fast-growing, strong testimonials, startup-friendly |
| Retention | Claims >98% staff retention rate | Focused on long-term hires with built-in replacement safety net |
How the Models Impact You
This isn’t just semantics — the difference in models has real business implications.
Employment and Legal Risk
- With Outsourced, you’re not the legal employer. That can be convenient, but it also means your relationship with employees is mediated by a third party. If there are disputes, benefits questions, or performance issues, Outsourced is in the middle.
- With Pavago, we act as the compliance and payroll partner, but your relationship with your employee is direct. You have more control and fewer layers between you and your team.
Cost and Transparency
- Outsourced advertises “cost savings up to 75%” compared to local hires, but doesn’t publish exact pricing. That means you’ll need to request a custom quote and dig into the details — especially to check for markups.
- Pavago publishes pricing upfront. You know exactly what you’ll pay, with no surprises or hidden margins. For startups and SMBs where budgets matter, that level of clarity makes planning easier.
Risk of a Bad Hire
- With Outsourced, if a hire doesn’t work out, you’re likely back to square one — and may pay extra fees for replacements.
- With Pavago, our forever replacement guarantee means you’ll never be stuck with a bad fit. If things don’t work out, we’ll replace the hire at no cost, no questions asked.
Flexibility and Setup
- Outsourced has the ability to provide office-based staff in the Philippines, which may appeal to larger companies needing physical teams.
- Pavago is built for remote-first businesses — whether you need one marketing assistant, a finance analyst, or a full remote engineering team.
Pavago vs Outsourced: Who They Serve Best
Outsourced is best if:
- You’re a large enterprise needing dozens of staff in a central office.
- You want a provider to manage infrastructure, facilities, and benefits in a specific country.
- You don’t mind less transparency in exchange for a “done-for-you” outsourcing setup.
Pavago is best if:
- You’re a startup or SMB building a lean, remote-first team.
- You value cost transparency and control over your hires.
- You want peace of mind with a forever replacement guarantee.
- You need flexibility across roles — from sales to engineering.
Stop settling for outsourced teams and bloated fees. With Pavago, you keep control, cut waste, and scale fast — with zero hiring risk.
Questions to Ask Any Offshore Employees Provider
No matter which direction you go, here are the tough questions worth asking:
- What’s your exact pricing breakdown? Salary vs service fees vs markups.
- What happens if a hire fails? Replacement window, fees, and downtime costs.
- Who is the legal employer, and where? This impacts liability, benefits, and exit costs.
- What’s your retention rate, and how do you support employees long-term?
- How is intellectual property protected? Critical for technical and product roles.
- What notice periods apply if we want to exit? Flexibility matters.
The Bottom Line
Both Pavago and Outsourced can help you access offshore talent. Outsourced has been around longer and offers infrastructure-heavy setups, especially for companies that want office-based staff in the Philippines.
But for most startups and growing businesses, the Pavago model makes more sense in a Pavago vs Outsourced comparison. We give you:
- Transparent, predictable pricing
- Direct control over your hires
- A forever replacement guarantee
- Support across multiple functions
- An HR partner invested in your long-term success
With Pavago, you don’t just get offshore staff – you get a seamless way to scale your team globally, without losing control or burning budget on hidden fees.
If you’re ready to scale smarter, let’s talk.
