The 9 best contract management software for businesses of all sizes

Managing employee contracts manually can be slow, messy, and risky. For businesses that want to cut down on paperwork, reduce human error, and keep everything in one place, contract management software (or contract lifecycle management software) can be beneficial. This software can put contract creation, storage, and tracking on autopilot. It can also take a lot of the heavy lifting out of maintaining compliance. 

Essentially, contract management software can reduce the amount of work associated with managing employee and contractor agreements for HR managers and business owners. If you're onboarding new hires, renewing employment contracts, or just wanting to stay on top of compliance, a good contract management solution can help you stay organized and mitigate legal issues. 

In this article, we share the benefits of implementing this kind of software and list some of the best contract management software options in 2025 for businesses of all sizes. We also provide some tips on how to choose the right contract management solution for your business' needs.

Benefits of contract management software systems

Below are some of the major benefits of using a contract lifecycle management solution: 

Improved compliance and risk management

Full-time employee and contract employee agreements come with legal obligations. Missing deadlines, not following regulations, or losing track of contracts can lead to fines or legal quarrels. Contract management software can help businesses stay compliant by automatically sending reminders for upcoming contract renewals and storing important documents securely. It can also help them stick to contract policies. Innovative contract management software often has built-in compliance tracking. This can make meeting industry and labor law requirements a far easier feat for HR teams.

Centralized contractor data and documentation

Manually managing contracts through emails, shared drives, or paper files is inefficient and chaotic. A contract management system helps keep all agreements, contractor details, and legal documents neatly in one place. This can make it much easier to search, retrieve, and update records when needed. Having a centralized system also reduces duplication and avoids important files getting lost.

Enhanced workforce visibility and tracking

Businesses that work with contractors often grapple with visibility. Without proper tracking, it can be hard to know which contracts are active, expiring, or coming up for renewal. A contract lifecycle management tool provides a real-time view of contract statuses, project timelines, and worker details. This can help HR and management teams plan ahead, manage workforce availability, and avoid unnecessary disruptions.

Streamlined onboarding and offboarding

Bringing in new employees or contractors needn't be a long, complicated process. Although, it often is. Contract management software can speed up the onboarding process by automating contract creation, e-signatures, and approvals. Similarly, it can simplify offboarding by making sure teams close contracts properly, track final payments, and meet compliance requirements. This reduces administrative burden and keeps transitions smooth.

Cost control and budget optimization

If a business doesn't track contracts properly, it can risk overpaying for services, missing payment deadlines, or facing unexpected renewal costs. Contract management tools can help control spending by tracking contract terms, automating invoicing, and flagging cost overruns. Some systems even provide insights into contract performance. This can help companies negotiate better terms and cut unnecessary expenses.

9 best and easy-to-use contract management software tools

There are a lot of contract management solutions out there. Because of this, it can be tricky to know which one is the best fit for your unique business needs. Below, we detail some of the best contract management software available in 2025. Each tool has unique strengths and weaknesses, so we highlight key features, integration capabilities, and pros and cons to help you compare them with ease. 

1. Rippling

Rippling is an all-in-one workforce management platform that simplifies employee contract management from start to finish.

Key features

• Rippling automatically generates, sends, and tracks employment contracts for new hires and contractors.
• The platform includes built-in e-signature capabilities, enabling employees to sign contracts digitally without extra steps.
• Businesses can create and customize contract templates to align with their internal policies and legal requirements.
• Compliance tracking helps businesses make sure that all contracts meet labor laws and industry regulations.
• Rippling connects contract management with payroll and benefits administration for seamless execution.
• The platform stores all contracts in a centralized, searchable database with easy access for HR and legal teams.
• Automated reminders notify teams about contract renewals, expirations, and other important deadlines.

Integration capabilities

Rippling integrates with over 500+ apps. These extensive integrations help businesses align contract management with their broader workforce operations.

Pros

• Rippling automates the entire contract lifecycle, reducing manual effort for HR teams.
• The system connects contracts to payroll, IT provisioning, and compliance tools for a seamless workflow.
• Customizable contract workflows enable businesses to automate approvals and negotiations.
• The platform scales to support businesses of all sizes, from local startups to global enterprises.

2. DocuSign

DocuSign provides electronic signatures and contract lifecycle management for businesses that handle large volumes of agreements.

Key features

• DocuSign provides cloud-based contract storage for document management.
• The platform includes e-signature tools that enable digital contract signing.
• Businesses can use DocuSign's pre-built contract templates to standardize agreements.
• Workflow automation tools support contract routing and approval processes.
• DocuSign includes compliance tracking features for document completion.

Integration capabilities

DocuSign integrates with CRM, HR, and ERP systems, including Salesforce, Microsoft, and Oracle.

Pros

• DocuSign enables businesses to execute contracts digitally.
• The platform includes automation tools that enable businesses to route contracts through multi-step approval processes.

Cons

• DocuSign lacks workforce-specific contract management features, making it less suitable for HR contract workflows.
• The platform doesn't include payroll or workforce management integrations, limiting its use for employment agreements.
• Users report that DocuSign has corrupted and lost documents without offering any compensation for the issue.

3. PandaDoc

PandaDoc provides document automation for businesses that need to create, manage, and execute contracts. 

Key features

• PandaDoc includes a contract editor that enables users to create agreements using a drag-and-drop interface.
• The platform provides e-signature tools.
• Businesses can use document collaboration features that allow multiple users to edit and review contracts.
• Workflow automation tools help companies assign contracts to the correct approvers.
• The system includes contract analytics that track document views, approvals, and signatures.

Integration capabilities

PandaDoc integrates with CRM and sales platforms such as HubSpot, Salesforce, and Zoho.

Pros

• PandaDoc offers real-time document tracking, so users can see when a recipient opens, views, or signs a contract.
• Businesses can automate document routing for approvals within the system.

Cons

• The platform has a focus on sales contracts and lacks HR-specific contract management features.
• PandaDoc doesn't include compliance tracking for labor laws or industry regulations.
• The system doesn't provide contract renewal automation or workforce management tools.

4. BambooHR

BambooHR offers HR software that includes basic contract management tools for businesses managing employee agreements.

Key features

• BambooHR provides cloud-based storage that enables businesses to store and manage employee contracts digitally.
• The platform includes e-signature tools.
• Businesses can create employment agreements using standardized contract templates.
• The system logs contract history and tracks document completion.
• BambooHR includes compliance tracking tools.

Integration capabilities

BambooHR integrates with payroll and HR software but doesn't connect with legal or finance systems.

Pros

• Businesses can store and manage employee contracts digitally within the HR platform.
• The platform includes e-signature tools for executing employment agreements.

Cons

• BambooHR lacks automation features for contract creation, approval workflows, and renewal reminders
• The platform doesn't offer advanced contract management functionalities, which may require businesses to seek additional tools for comprehensive contract lifecycle management.
• Users can't reject a signed document. They need to send it back for revision instead of canceling it outright.

5. WorkMarket by ADP

WorkMarket is a contractor management platform with a focus on businesses that engage freelancers and independent contractors.

Key features

• WorkMarket includes tools that enable businesses to create and manage contractor agreements.
• The platform tracks contractor invoices and payments.
• Businesses can use workflow automation to assign contracts to the appropriate reviewers.
• The system includes tax classification tracking for independent contractors.
• Digital contract storage enables businesses to keep all freelancer agreements in one place.

Integration capabilities

WorkMarket integrates with ADP payroll but doesn't support many third-party integrations.

Pros

• Businesses can manage contractor payments and agreements and within the platform.
• The system includes tax classification tracking for independent contractors.

Cons

• WorkMarket requires ADP payroll for full functionality, limiting flexibility.
• The system doesn't include workforce analytics or contract lifecycle reporting.
• Many users find the system difficult to navigate and more complicated than necessary.

6. Agiloft

Agiloft provides contract lifecycle management (CLM) tools with AI-powered contract analysis and approval workflows.

Key features

• Agiloft includes AI-powered contract analysis that helps businesses extract key contract terms.
• The platform offers customizable workflow automation for contract approvals.
• Businesses can store agreements in Agiloft's digital contract repository.
• The system includes a clause library that allows businesses to standardize contract language.
• Agiloft includes legal compliance tracking features.

Integration capabilities

Agiloft integrates with CRM and legal management platforms, including Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics.

Pros

• Businesses can use Agiloft's AI-powered tools to analyze contract terms and clauses.
• Agiloft provides customizable workflows for contract approvals.

Cons

• The system focuses on legal teams and doesn't include HR-specific contract management features.
• Agiloft doesn't include workforce compliance tracking or payroll integration.
• While the system offers flexibility, some users experience glitches that require waiting for the next update or upgrade to resolve.

7. ContractSafe

ContractSafe is a cloud-based contract storage platform that helps businesses organize and manage agreements.

Key features

• ContractSafe provides a centralized document repository for storing digital contracts.
• The platform includes optical character recognition (OCR) search functionality that enables users to search contract text for specific terms.
• Businesses can set up automated reminders for contract renewals and key deadlines.
• The system offers access control tools that enable businesses to restrict contract visibility.
• Basic workflow automation enables users to assign contracts to team members for review.

Integration capabilities

ContractSafe has limited integrations with HR, legal, or payroll systems.

Pros

• Businesses can use OCR search functionality to find contract terms quickly.
• The system includes automated contract renewal reminders.

Cons

• The platform doesn't provide workflow automation tools for contract negotiation or approvals.
• ContractSafe doesn't include compliance tracking or regulatory monitoring features.
• Users managing multiple active contract documents find it inconvenient to have only one visible on the main page while others are in the Related Docs section, requiring extra navigation.

8. Coupa Contract Lifecycle Management

Coupa CLM is a contract lifecycle management tool with a focus on procurement and vendor agreements.

Key features

• Coupa CLM includes vendor contract management tools for supplier agreements.
• The platform provides AI-powered contract analytics that extract key contract details.
• Businesses can automate contract approval workflows to reduce manual processing.
• Compliance tracking tools help businesses monitor regulatory and contractual obligations.
• The system includes contract performance reporting that tracks vendor performance.

Integration capabilities

Coupa integrates with procurement and finance systems, but doesn't support HR contract management.

Pros

• Businesses can use vendor contract tracking tools to manage supplier agreements.
• The platform includes contract analytics that extract key contract terms.

Cons

• Coupa doesn't integrate with HR or payroll systems, limiting its use for workforce contracts.

• The platform lacks a robust, cost-efficient, and customizable contract approval workflow, making it difficult to tailor to specific business needs.
• The initial setup and implementation require a significant time investment, which can slow down adoption for new users.

9. Workday

Workday is a cloud-based HR and financial management platform that includes contract management tools for supplier and vendor agreements.

Key features

• Workday provides a centralized repository where businesses can store and manage supplier contracts.
• The platform includes natural language processing (NLP) search functionality.
• Users can create and manage contract hierarchies to track relationships between agreements.
• The system includes pre-built contract templates that businesses can use for document creation.
• Automated workflows and notifications enable companies to track contract approvals and status updates.

Integration capabilities

Workday integrates with applications like Microsoft Office 365, DocuSign, and Adobe Sign.

Pros

• The Workday platform includes HR, payroll, and finance capabilities.
• The NLP search feature enables users to locate contracts efficiently by searching for keywords and phrases.

Cons

• When it comes to contract management, Workday primarily focuses on supplier and vendor contracts, making it less suited for the employee contract management process.

• The prebuilt reports lack flexibility, and creating custom reports can be challenging because of system limitations.
• The customer support team has slow response times, which can delay issue resolution.

How to choose the best contract management software

Not all contract management software is the same. To find the right solution, businesses need to evaluate their needs and the features that matter most. Below are five key factors to consider when choosing software to assist with the employee contract management process: 

1. Identify your needs first

Before comparing software options, businesses should define their contract management requirements. Some may need automated compliance tracking, while others may prioritise workflow approvals and integrations with payroll systems. Identifying pain points, such as manual contract storage, slow approvals, or compliance risks, can help narrow down the right solution.

For example, a fast-growing company hiring contractors in multiple states may need software with automated tax classification tracking and state-specific contract templates. 

2. Consider user adoption and ease of use

A contract management system should be intuitive and easy for HR, legal, and finance teams to use. If the system is overly complex, employees may struggle with adoption, leading to errors, missed deadlines, or reliance on manual workarounds.

Businesses should look for a clean user interface, logical workflows, and minimal training requirements. A system that allows drag-and-drop contract creation, searchable storage, and automated reminders can reduce administrative burden and improve efficiency.

3. Request and analyze demos

Most contract management software providers offer free trials or live demos. Businesses should take advantage of these to test how well the platform meets their needs.

During a demo, key stakeholders, such as HR, legal, and finance teams, should walk through the full contract process, from creation and approvals to renewals and reporting. They should also check for hidden limitations, such as capped contract storage, integration gaps, or rigid workflows that don’t fit the organization’s structure.

4. Look for good customer support

When managing legal agreements, technical issues or platform downtime can create major disruptions. Strong customer support ensures businesses get fast help when needed.

Before committing to a platform, businesses should research user reviews on support response times. Some platforms only offer email support or require users to go through chatbots before reaching a live agent. A solution with 24/7 customer support, a dedicated account manager, or priority response times for urgent issues may be worth the investment.

5. Think long-term scalability

A contract management system should grow with the business. Some platforms work well for small teams managing a few contracts, but struggle when scaling to thousands of agreements.

Businesses should assess whether the software can handle increased contract volume, multiple approval levels, global compliance tracking, and integration with payroll, HR, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. A platform with customizable workflows and automation can remain useful as the company expands.

6 important features of contract management tools

Contract management software should simplify contract creation, storage, compliance, and analytics. The best solutions help businesses stay organized, reduce errors, and help with compliance. Below are six key features every business should look for in contract management software:

1. Contractor database and document management

A centralized contract database can make it easy to store, organize, and retrieve agreements without digging through emails, shared drives, or filing cabinets. A good system keeps all employment contracts, amendments, NDAs, and compliance documents in one place, ensuring quick access when needed.

Example: An HR manager hires contractors across multiple states. Instead of tracking agreements manually, they store all contracts in a secure, searchable system. When a contract is up for renewal, the HR team finds the document instantly and updates the terms without delays.

2. Automated compliance and risk management

Legal and compliance risks can lead to fines, penalties, or contract disputes. Good contract management software should include compliance tracking, automatic alerts for contract renewals, and built-in templates that align with labor laws. This can help businesses stay ahead of regulatory changes without manual tracking.

Example: A company hiring international contractors must ensure each agreement complies with local labor laws. The system automatically applies country-specific contract templates and sends renewal reminders before agreements expire, reducing legal risks.

3. Integration with other business systems

Contract management doesn’t operate in isolation. A solid system should seamlessly merge with payroll, HR, and finance tools. This eliminates duplicate data entry, improves workflow automation, and makes sure that contracts align with payroll processing and tax reporting.

Example: A business integrates its contract management tool with its HR and payroll system. When a new hire signs a contract, the platform automatically syncs the data with payroll, helping with accurate tax classification and onboarding.

4. Access control and security

Contracts contain sensitive financial and legal information. Good contract management software must offer role-based access control, ensuring only authorized employees can view or edit agreements. Additional encryption and audit trails can provide an extra layer of security.

Example: A company’s legal team needs full access to employment contracts, but HR managers only need visibility into onboarding agreements. The system assigns different access levels, ensuring data security while keeping workflows efficient.

5. Contract lifecycle management (CLM)

The contract management process goes beyond simply signing and storing agreements. A good system should automate the entire contract lifecycle, from creation and negotiation to execution, renewal, and expiration tracking. Automated workflows can reduce bottlenecks and keep contract management processes moving efficiently.

Example: A growing business has dozens of contractor agreements expiring each month. Instead of tracking them manually, the system sends automated reminders to HR and legal teams, so they can keep up with timely renewals and avoid service disruptions.

6. Analytics and reporting

Insights backed by real data can help businesses identify trends, track contract performance, and optimize spending. Good contract management software should include real-time dashboards, contract status reports, and compliance tracking to help HR and finance teams make informed decisions.

Example: An HR team reviews contract renewal reports for their workforce. The data reveals several employees working under outdated contracts with incorrect compensation details. By identifying these discrepancies early, the company updates agreements, improves payroll accuracy, and avoids compliance risks.

Automate contract management with Rippling

​Rippling is an all-in-one employee management software that streamlines HR processes, including contract management. 

Comprehensive workforce and onboarding management

Rippling's platform can help your business manage employee data effectively, automating tasks such as onboarding, benefits administration, and compliance tracking. It seamlessly integrates employee contracts into the broader HR ecosystem, reducing manual errors and administrative overhead.

Manages all stages of the employee lifecycle

From hiring to offboarding, Rippling supports every phase of the employee lifecycle. Its onboarding tools facilitate the e-signing and collection of necessary documentation, assignment of training materials, and setup of payroll and benefits, promoting a smooth transition for new hires. Throughout employment, Rippling maintains accurate records, supports performance management, and helps with compliance, culminating in efficient offboarding processes when necessary.

Unified system connecting HR, Payroll, IT, and Spend Management

Rippling connects HR, Payroll, IT, and Spend, all in one system and built on a single source of truth. This integration makes sure that changes in employee status reflect across all systems in real-time, enhancing accuracy and efficiency. ​

By consolidating these functions into a single platform, Rippling simplifies contract management and other HR processes, allowing you to focus on strategic initiatives rather than administrative tasks.

Best contract management software FAQs

How much does contract management software cost?

Contract management software pricing depends on features, contract volume, and integrations. Some platforms charge a flat monthly fee, while others use tiered pricing based on the number of users or contracts stored. Enterprise-level solutions often offer custom pricing based on specific business needs.

Businesses should evaluate pricing models carefully, considering surprise costs like implementation fees, data migration, and API access.

What is the difference between CRM and contract management?

A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system tracks customer interactions, sales, and communications. Contract management software focuses on the drafting, signing, storing, and tracking of legal agreements. 

What is CLM?

Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) refers to the process of managing contracts from creation and negotiation to execution, renewal, and expiration. A CLM solution automates workflows, centralizes contract storage, tracks key dates, and helps with compliance. Features like electronic signature support, audit trails, and automated workflows make sure businesses can manage contracts efficiently while reducing risk.

What is the best vendor management software?

The best vendor management software depends on business needs, such as contract volume, compliance requirements, and integration capabilities. Rippling is a strong option because it provides a centralized system for managing vendor payments, helping businesses track expenses, automate approvals, and stay compliant. Rippling’s bill pay software allows companies to pay vendors globally, while its spend management tools provide visibility into contract-related expenses.

What is the best software for contract management for small businesses?

The best contract management software for small businesses comes down to scalability, automation, and ease of use. Rippling is a great option because it combines contract compliance management, payroll, and other core HR functions in one system, making it easy for small businesses to grow without outgrowing their software. Its electronic signature function, automated workflows, and audit trails help businesses manage contracts efficiently while helping them with compliance at every stage.

This blog is based on information available to Rippling as of March 25, 2025.

Disclaimer: Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.