If you are evaluating solutions to manage hardware in remote teams, the decision matters more than it seems. It's not just about shipping laptops: it's inventory visibility, clear onboarding and offboarding processes, and knowing exactly who has what equipment in which country.
Added to that is another decisive factor: where your team is distributed. Managing hardware in LATAM is not the same as in Europe. Each region has its own rules of the game, and each provider's operating model defines who can really solve it.
At First Plug, we manage hardware for more than 100 companies in +170 countries, with our own operations throughout LATAM. This article compares Firstbase and First Plug on the three pillars that really determine which is best for your company: hardware model, coverage in LATAM, and the type of relationship with the provider.
Remote hardware management: The set of processes covering the acquisition, setup, delivery, support, inventory, and retrieval of devices in distributed teams. In companies with employees in multiple countries, the provider's operating model is the factor that impacts times, costs, and troubleshooting the most.
Who they are
Firstbase
Firstbase.io is a hardware management and equipment-as-a-service platform for remote teams, founded in 2020 in the United States. It was acquired by Remote.com in 2022, which turned it into the hardware module of a global EOR and payroll platform. Its strongest value proposition is for companies that already use Remote and want to also centralize hardware management on the same platform.
First Plug
It is a company specializing exclusively in hardware management for remote teams, with its own operations throughout LATAM. It manages procurement, configuration, delivery, support, and offboarding for more than 100 companies in over 170 countries. It is an official Apple Reseller in Argentina, works with direct purchasing - without a leasing model - and operates without relying on intermediaries in any country in the region.
The three questions that determine which one is right for you
1. Which hardware model suits you best: leasing or direct purchase?
Firstbase’s biggest differentiator is its equipment-as-a-service model: instead of buying the laptop, the company pays a monthly fee per device. Firstbase handles maintenance, replacement, and recovery at the end of the cycle.
The model makes sense in certain contexts — it reduces upfront spending and simplifies offboarding in some countries. But it has implications that are not always obvious: the total cost over 24-36 months of a leased machine typically exceeds the direct purchase price, and the equipment is never a company asset. If the relationship with Firstbase ends, the hardware is returned.
First Plug works exclusively with direct purchase. The company acquires the hardware, owns it from day one, and First Plug manages the entire life cycle: setup, delivery, support, inventory, and offboarding. No monthly fee per device, no dependency on a rental contract.
The key question: Do you want to own your team's hardware, or do you prefer to transfer that responsibility in exchange for a recurring monthly cost per device?
2. Where is the LATAM coverage really located?
Firstbase and First Plug operate globally. But "operating in a country" can mean having own infrastructure, local partners, outsourced logistics, or simply geographical availability on paper.
In LATAM, Firstbase relies on local partner networks in most countries. This translates into unpredictable timelines, lower resolution capacity when things go wrong, and a layer of intermediation that the client doesn't always see until the equipment doesn't arrive on the promised date.
First Plug has its own operations in LATAM. It does not delegate to partners who subcontract: it directly manages logistics in each country, with real knowledge of how customs, delivery times, and local vendors work. This difference isn't visible in the platform demo, but it is felt when the new hire in Bogotá or Buenos Aires doesn't receive their equipment on the day they start.
The key question: Does your provider have real operations in the countries where your team is located, or do they rely on third parties to get there?
3. Do you need to be in the Remote ecosystem, or do you prefer an independent partner?
Firstbase was acquired by Remote.com in 2022. Its strongest value proposition is for companies that already use Remote for EOR or payroll and want to also centralize hardware management on the same platform. If you are not a Remote client, that argument loses its strength.
Furthermore, being part of a massive platform like Remote.com has implications for support: the customer becomes just another user in a global operation. Support follows a ticketing logic and can take days in urgent cases.
First Plug does not require any change to your stack. It works as a hardware partner regardless of which platform the company uses for payroll, HR, or EOR. And with more than 100 active companies, the team knows its clients because they work with them on a day-to-day basis. For a startup that is equipping its first person in Chile or handling an urgent offboarding in Mexico, the difference between opening a ticket and talking to someone who already knows your operation is huge.
The key question: Will you use Remote.com as your central platform, or do you prefer a hardware partner that works independently of your stack?
When does each make the most sense?
Situation | Firstbase | First Plug |
|---|---|---|
You already use Remote.com for EOR/payroll | ✓ Centralizing makes sense | - |
You prefer direct hardware purchase | - | ✓ Direct purchase, no leasing |
Team concentrated in LATAM | Coverage via partners | ✓ Own operations in the region |
Global team in multiple regions | ✓ +150 countries | ✓ +170 countries |
You need an official Apple Reseller | ✘ Not an Apple Reseller | ✓ Official Apple Reseller in LATAM |
Variable headcount, frequent offboardings | Monthly fee per active device | ✓ No monthly fee per seat |
Independent of the Remote ecosystem | - | ✓ Works with any stack |
Quick response and close contact | Ticket support | ✓ Dedicated team, response in hours |
First Plug vs. Firstbase: which one to choose?
Choose Firstbase if…
You already use Remote.com for payroll or EOR and want to centralize hardware management on the same platform
Your team is mainly distributed in Europe or the United States, where Firstbase's coverage is more direct
The leasing model appeals to you: you prefer not to capitalize the hardware and transfer the responsibility of replacement to the supplier
Your headcount is stable and you can project the monthly cost per device without surprises
You have an internal IT team that can manage the platform and follow up on tickets
Choose First Plug if…
Your team is in LATAM and you need real operations in the region, not outsourced logistics
You prefer to own the hardware from day one, with no recurring monthly fee per device
You are equipping with MacBooks and want an official warranty, Apple Reseller prices, and direct support
Your headcount fluctuates or grows fast and you don't want a monthly fee per seat that scales with each hire
You don't use Remote.com and don't want to depend on a specific ecosystem to manage your hardware
You need a fast response: quote in 24 hours, delivery with tracking, without going through a ticket system
You want to manage the entire hardware lifecycle with a partner who knows your operation
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Firstbase work well if I don't use Remote.com?
A: It works independently, but its strongest value proposition is designed for companies within the Remote ecosystem. If you use Deel, Rippling, or another HR platform, the native integration loses relevance and the argument of centralizing everything in one place does not apply.
Q: Is Firstbase's leasing model more convenient than buying?
A: It depends on the time horizon and preference regarding hardware ownership. In general, the total cost of a leased device over 24-36 months exceeds the direct purchase price. Leasing makes sense when the company does not want to capitalize the hardware. For companies that prefer to own the hardware, direct purchase with a partner like First Plug is usually more convenient in the long run.
Q: Does Firstbase have real coverage in Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico?
A: Firstbase operates in more than 150 countries, but in LATAM coverage depends on local partners in most markets. If your team is concentrated in specific countries in the region, it is worth asking explicitly how it operates in each one before committing.
Q: Can I use First Plug if I already use Firstbase for part of the team?
A: Yes. First Plug does not require you to migrate any other part of the stack. It works as a hardware partner regardless of which platform the company uses for the rest of its operation. Some companies combine solutions based on the region where each collaborator is located.
Q: How long does it take for equipment to arrive in LATAM with each provider?
A: Times vary significantly by country and whether the provider operates directly or through local partners. Providers with their own operations in the region have more predictable times and better capacity to respond to unexpected events. It is always worth asking for a written SLA before committing.
Q: How can First Plug help me manage my remote team's hardware?
A: First Plug manages the entire hardware lifecycle: procurement as an official Apple Reseller, configuration with MDM prior to delivery, shipping with real-time tracking in over 170 countries, centralized inventory, and coordinated offboarding with secure erasure. Quote in less than 24 hours.
Conclusion
Firstbase is a good solution for companies within the Remote.com ecosystem that operate mainly in English-speaking or European markets and find value in the hardware leasing model.
First Plug makes more sense when the focus is on LATAM, when the company prefers to own the hardware without monthly fees, when Apple equipment with an official warranty is needed, or when looking for a partner that resolves issues in hours - not a platform that tickets in days.
The difference is not just in the platform. It is in who is on the other side when something goes wrong.
“In LATAM, having coverage on paper is not enough. You have to know every customs office, every local supplier, every country's particularity. That cannot be improvised - it is built by operating in the region every single day.”
- Matías Lerner, CEO of First Plug
The information about Firstbase mentioned in this article corresponds to public information available at the time of publication and may vary. Always verify directly with the provider before making a decision.
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