10 best contractor management software and solutions

According to the World Bank, there are approximately 1.57 billion self-employed people around the world in 2024—nearly half of the global workforce. In the US alone, freelancers account for 36% of the workforce. As businesses increasingly rely on flexible talent to innovate and adapt, managing a dynamic, diverse workforce has become a common—yet still critical—challenge. Whether you're a small startup tapping into global expertise, a mid-size company scaling operations, or a large enterprise coordinating hundreds of international contractors, the complexities of onboarding, compliance, payment processing, and data management still apply.

If you work with international contractors, having a global contractor management system can be a game changer. Imagine having a software solution that can help you manage contractor compliance around the world, streamline the process of onboarding contractors in different jurisdictions, and even handle your document management—from localizing contractor agreements to storing and updating documents when necessary. The best global contractor management software can help you pay contractors in their local currencies, send you notifications when you might be misclassifying workers, and more—all to make engaging with global contractors easier.

Different platforms have different capabilities, so it’s essential to do your research and find the software that’s the right fit for you and your team. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best contractor management software solutions for companies that work with global freelancers. Read on to learn more about what each one has to offer.

What is contractor management software?

Contractor management software is a specialized digital platform, often cloud-based, designed to streamline and automate the complexities of working with independent contractors, subcontractors, and freelancers. Unlike traditional employee management systems, contractor management software addresses the unique challenges that come with managing a flexible and often global workforce.

Contractor management systems can help streamline a number of key processes:

• Hiring: Simplify the process of sourcing and vetting contractors. The software may include features like integrations with job platforms, allowing you to connect with the right talent quickly.
• Onboarding: Automate onboarding workflows by digitally handling contracts, tax forms, and compliance documents. This ensures all necessary paperwork is completed accurately and efficiently.
• Tracking: Monitor contractor work hours, project timelines, progress, collaboration, and deliverables in real-time. Time-tracking tools and integrated project management features provide transparency and accountability.
• Payment processing: Automate invoicing and payments, often in multiple currencies and payment methods. This helps ensure contractors are paid accurately and on time, reducing financial errors and delays.
• Compliance management: Navigate the complexities of local and international labor laws. The software helps manage worker classification, contracts, and legal requirements to minimize the risk of contractor compliance issues.
• Risk management: Identify and mitigate risks associated with contractor work, such as data security and intellectual property concerns. Some platforms offer features to monitor and enforce compliance with company policies, as well.

Why is contractor management software essential?

Managing contractors, especially around the world, often involves a lot of administrative tasks that can be time-consuming and error-prone if handled manually. Because of this, contractor management software comes with many benefits, such as:

• More efficiency: Automate repetitive tasks and workflows to save time and reduce administrative overhead.
• Increased accuracy: Minimize errors in contracts, payments, and compliance documents.
• Compliance: Stay up-to-date with ever-changing labor laws and regulations, both domestically and internationally.
• Centralized data and document management: Keep all contractor information and documents organized in one place for easy access and better decision-making.
• Scalability: Easily scale your contractor workforce up or down without a proportional increase in administrative workload.

With these benefits, businesses of all sizes can benefit from using a contractor management system. Small businesses can automate their administrative tasks to focus on growth and core activities. Mid-sized businesses can improve their project efficiency and coordination among teams and contractors. And large enterprises can manage complex contractor networks with robust compliance and risk management features.

Whether you're collaborating with a handful of local freelancers or managing a global network of contractors, contractor management software provides the tools you need to streamline operations, reduce risks, and enhance productivity.

10 best global contractor management software

What should you look for in a contractor management software solution? At the very least, it should help streamline your global contractor management processes. Look for a platform that includes compliance features—especially if it can automate any part of staying compliant with international labor laws, since that can reduce both headache and administrative burden for your team. You’ll also want a platform that’s intuitive and user-friendly. Cloud-based platforms tend to be the most feature-rich and versatile. Beyond that, it’s really up to what you need for your business and team. Below, find 10 of the best options on the market right now.

1. Rippling

Rippling offers more visibility, more automation, and more customization than alternative tools, saving time and creating more efficiency for both contractors and their employers.

With Rippling, onboarding contractors in 185+ countries is fast and easy. Contractors can sign documents, complete KYC verification, enter payroll details, and get a company email address, all in one flow—and that ease of use is one of the reasons Rippling customers rate the platform so highly.

You can also automate contractor invoices and approvals so payment processing always happens on time. Send payments in 50+ currencies without worrying about the complexities of moving money internationally yourself, including currency conversions. 

And Rippling centralizes all the contractor management features you need—from time off to time tracking to license provisioning and more—all in one system, where all stakeholders can access them as needed.

When you need to manage a global workforce, Rippling has all the tools you need to do it effortlessly.

Key features:

• Onboard international independent contractors across 185+ countries and 50+ currencies in 90 seconds
• Pay contractors in their local currency in days, without handling transfers or currency conversions yourself
• Streamline and sync all HR data with payroll including expenses, time tracking, and more
• Use one GL integration for global spend, saving hours of reconciliation work each month with payroll and expense metrics that's automatically categorized and synced to your general ledger
• Automate nearly any international payroll process with custom workflows to notify people of important changes and automated administrative tasks—like triggering a reminder to pay a bonus
• Report on all your contractor data across the world in one place
• Manage Human Resources, IT, and Finance in one unified system for global workforce management
• 600+ available app integrations
• Real-time visibility into customer support status

2. Remote

Remote can be a good fit for buyers seeking a self-service-oriented, global contractor software, but buyers should be prepared for manual processes during payroll runs. Buyers should also be prepared to manage IT provisioning for contractors separately, as Remote cannot currently provide this functionality on their platform.

Key features:

• Self-service onboarding: Independent contractors can add their own worker info and complete their own identity verification documentation
• Pre-filled 1099-NEC tax forms
• Ability to assign signatories to contractor agreements
• Ability to create, manage, and sign country-specific contractor agreements
• Contractor payments can be automated for weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly schedules
• Contractor misclassification protection available as add-on

3. Deel

Deel may provide the most options for independent contractor payout methods, but it lacks core functionality like an in-house applicant tracking system (ATS) and a mobile app, creating a less streamlined experience compared to alternative contractor management solutions. 

Key features:

• Localized contractor agreement templates
• Contractor classification tools for worker classification
• Bulk contractor payment options available
• 15 contractor payout methods (depending on the country)
• Deel Shield available as an add-on for contractor misclassification protection
• Free HRIS
• Direct spending access to contractor balance via Deel Card
• Self-service onboarding workflows available

4. Multiplier

Multiplier provides a good point solution for global contractor payments, but lacks the HCM functionality that alternative contractor software tools can provide. This lack of broader HRIS/HCM functionality prevents the efficiency gains that come from consolidation of HR, IT, and Finance tools.

Key features:

• In-house ownership of global infrastructure: 104 registered legal entities worldwide
• Real-time visibility on independent contractor onboarding status
• Bulk contractor payments via single click available 
• 120+ available currencies for independent contractor payments
• Cryptocurrency payments available
• In-app expense management and reimbursements
• Project management software integrations available: ClickUp, Trello, Asana
• 24/7 human support available

5. OysterHR

OysterHR provides a low-cost, cloud-based point solution for global contractor management, but lacks important in-house functionality that you would expect from a global workforce management platform like time & attendance tracking, applicant tracking (ATS), and equipment provisioning.

Key features:

• 180+ countries and 140+ currencies available
• Customizable, country-specific independent contractor agreement templates simplify onboarding process
• Centralized dashboard for invoice and expense management
• Virtual hiring assistant for self-service compliance
• Oyster Shell available as add-on purchase for contractor misclassification protection
• Lower price point compared to marketplace alternatives

6. Papaya Global

Papaya Global offers a good point solution for paying global contractors but lacks the HCM/HRIS functionality that several marketplace alternative tools can provide. In order to get value out of Papaya Global’s independent contractor software, customers must also purchase and manage other global workforce management tools like HRIS and ERP solutions, leading to higher overall spend on their tech stack.

Key features:

• Global payroll funded in 14 currencies and paid out in 160+ local countries
• Ability to onboard 10,000+ independent contractors
• Real-time view of independent contractor payment status
• Automated journal entries for clients
• Mobile app for supported independent contractors means better mobile device UX
• Global immigration support available if converting independent contractors to employees
• Global workforce wallet for contractor direct deposits

7. Plane

Plane offers an easy-to-use independent contractor payments platform in 70+ currencies but is missing some features that buyers may expect to find in a global contractor software, like alternative payout methods and a mobile application. Plane may work well as a point solution, but buyers will need to be prepared to maintain a full stack of HRIS, ERP, and IT management tools in order to achieve full functionality.

Key features:

• Localized contract generator for cross-border hiring
• Expense management with reimbursements in 1-2 business days
• Independent contractor payments in 70+ currencies
• Independent contractor classification guidance
• Global compensation benchmarking for independent contractors
• Easy to use platform
• No minimum charges for platform usage

8. Globalization Partners (G-P)

As a tenured global employer of record (EOR) provider, G-P has developed a network of cross-border infrastructure and partnerships, but still lacks the HCM/HRIS functionality that many global contractor software tools can deliver. G-P also admits that its payroll is not 100% accurate, raising concerns for buyers depending on consistent accuracy with independent contractor payments.

Key features:

• Independent contractor payments in 180+ countries, enabled via partnership with Wise
• Global tenure: in operation since 2012
• Batch payments available using multiple invoices
• Real-time payment status tracking
• Digital wallet available for a variety of contractor withdrawal methods
• Self-service workflows available

9. Skuad

Skuad delivers a low-cost global contractor management software, but as a relative newcomer (founded in 2019, and recently acquired by Payoneer) has received mixed reviews from its customers. As a point solution, Skuad also lacks HRIS and HCM functionality, so Skuad buyers should be prepared to maintain a full stack of other workforce management tools in order to achieve full functionality. 

Key features:

• Contractor payments available in 160+ countries
• Low price point
• 24x5 customer support available
• Automated billing workflows available
• Agent of record (AOR) solution available as add-on
• Real-time expense management & tracking
• 100+ global currencies available for contractor payments
• Global immigration and visa support

10. Remofirst 

Another relative newcomer to the global contractor management software space, Remofirst delivers on scale with 180+ countries available, but lacks some key features compared to marketplace alternative tools—like invoicing in more than five currencies, HRIS/HCM functions, and an applicant tracking solution.

Key features:

• Contractor payments available in 180+ countries
• Low price point
• Automated KYC checks
• Contractor classification support available
• Talent marketplace available for sourcing global contractor talent
• Fully managed onboarding experience
• Ability to convert contractors into employees via employer of record solution

4 key features of contractor management software

What should you look for in a contractor management software solution? At the very least, it should help streamline your global contractor management processes. You’ll also want a platform that’s intuitive and user-friendly. Beyond that, it’s really up to what you need for your business and team. Below, explore some of the key features you might want to consider when comparing global contractor management software.

1. Contractor compliance monitoring

Compliance monitoring is one of the most crucial features of independent contractor management software—it helps businesses make sure all their independent contractors meet legal and regulatory requirements, including adherence to labor laws, tax obligations, and industry-specific regulations.

The best global contractor management software should include compliance management features such as:

• Legal compliance: Automatically tracking and storing necessary legal documents like contracts, tax forms (e.g., W-9, 1099), and non-disclosure agreements
• Certification verification: Verifying and monitoring professional certifications and licenses to make sure contractors are qualified for their roles
• Automated alerts: Generating notifications for upcoming renewals or expirations of important documents, reducing the risk of non-compliance penalties
• Audit trails: Maintaining detailed records of all compliance-related activities for easy auditing and reporting

2. Easy onboarding

Onboarding sets the stage for a productive working relationship. Contractor management software helps streamline the onboarding process by automating administrative tasks and providing a seamless experience for both the contractor and the company.

Your contractor onboarding software should be able to:

• Generate customizable agreements contractors can sign electronically, speeding up the onboarding process.
• Simplify data collection by automating forms for personal information, banking details, and tax information.
• Create and follow onboarding checklists, and make sure all necessary steps are completed before a contractor begins work, which will help reduce oversight and errors.
• Provide access to company policies, project details, and essential resources in one centralized location.

3. Time tracking and scheduling

Accurate time tracking and efficient scheduling are vital for managing job costing and project timelines. These features help monitor contractor work hours, manage deadlines, and optimize resource allocation.

Some key features to look for in your contractor tracking software include:

• Time logs: Contractors should be able to record their work hours in the software, which project managers can review and approve.
• Project allocation: You should be able to assign contractors to specific tasks or projects and monitor their progress.
• Scheduling tools: Use contractor scheduling software to coordinate work schedules to avoid conflicts and manage workloads, timelines, and progress in one place.
• Integration with payroll: Automatically link approved hours to your payroll system to streamline invoicing and payments.

4. Risk management

Risk management features help identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks associated with hiring and managing contractors. In your contractor management software, look for:

• Worker classification tools: These can assist in correctly classifying workers to avoid legal issues related to misclassification.
• Insurance and liability management: Track insurance certificates and make sure contractors have the necessary (and legally required) coverage.
• Performance monitoring: Evaluate contractor performance through metrics and feedback to identify areas of concern early on.
• Data security: Implement access controls and encryption to protect sensitive company information shared with contractors.

4 benefits of contractor management systems 

Managing contractors can be a complex and time-consuming task, especially as your workforce grows and projects become more intricate. Contractor management systems offer a range of benefits that streamline operations, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance overall productivity. Here are four key advantages of implementing contractor software in your business.

1. Automated payment processing

Handling payroll for multiple contractors, often across different regions and currencies, can be a logistical nightmare. With contractor management software, you can automate payroll for contractors. Automated payment processing comes with many benefits, not least of which is simplifying many of the logistics of paying a workforce that’s spread out across the globe. Automated payment processing can help your organization by:

1. Making sure contractors are paid promptly, which can help boost satisfaction and maintain good working relationships.
2. Automatically converting currencies and complying with local financial regulations.
3. Minimizing manual data entry mistakes, which can lead to payment discrepancies and legal issues.
4. Automatically generating and filing necessary tax documents (like 1099 forms) to comply with tax regulations and financial laws.

2. Improved project efficiency

A centralized contractor management system enhances collaboration and streamlines project management, leading to increased efficiency. This includes:

• Real-time tracking. With contractor software, you can monitor project progress and contractor performance, allowing for quick adjustments and decision-making.
• Optimized resource allocation. Allocate tasks effectively based on contractor availability and expertise, maximizing your team’s productivity.
• Better communication. Facilitate seamless communication between team members, reducing misunderstandings and delays.
• Improved deadline management. Set and track deadlines to help projects stay on schedule, improving your team’s workflows and client satisfaction.

3. Centralized data 

Contractor software gives you a single source of truth for all documents and data related to your independent contractors, whether you have a small team or hundreds of freelancers around the world. Having all contractor-related information in one place offers significant advantages for management and strategic planning:

• Easy access to information. Quickly retrieve contracts, payment history, compliance documents, and performance metrics.
• Data analytics. Leverage data insights to make informed decisions about contractor utilization, budgeting, and project planning.
• Better security. Protect sensitive contractor information with robust security measures, reducing the risk of data breaches.
• Scalable infrastructure. Easily add or remove contractors from the system as your business needs change, without losing historical data.

4. Cost savings

Lastly, the automation and streamlined workflows that come with a contractor management system can lead to significant financial benefits. With contractor software, your organization can realize:

• Reduced administrative costs. Lower the need for extensive HR staff by automating routine tasks.
• Fewer penalties. Stay compliant to avoid fines and penalties associated with non-compliance.
• Better budget management. Accurate tracking and forecasting help in making more efficient use of financial resources.

Compliantly pay contractors anywhere in the world with Rippling

All these contractor management systems bring different benefits to the table. But there’s only one that offers global contractor management integrated with all the other workforce management tools you need in a single platform: Rippling. With Rippling, you can pair EOR with HRIS, recruiting, performance management, and more—and manage all your global contractors and employees in a single system.

FAQs on contractor management software

Who typically uses contractor management software?

Businesses of all sizes use contractor management software. Small businesses adopt it to automate administrative tasks and concentrate on core activities. Mid-size companies use it to efficiently coordinate multiple contractors across various projects. Large enterprises rely on it to manage extensive contractor networks, ensuring compliance and mitigating risks. Industries like IT, marketing, construction, healthcare, and consulting commonly benefit from these systems.

How to manage multiple contractors?

To manage multiple contractors effectively, centralize all contractor information using a single system. Automate administrative tasks such as onboarding and payroll processing to save time. Maintain clear and consistent communication through integrated messaging tools and regular updates. Clearly define expectations by outlining tasks and deadlines from the outset. Regularly monitor compliance by keeping track of legal documents and certifications to avoid any legal issues.

How to manage contractors remotely?

Project management and time tracking tools can help businesses manage contractors remotely. Establish clear communication guidelines, including regular check-ins and response time expectations. Provide contractors with the necessary resources, such as access to required tools and training materials. Implement security measures to protect sensitive data through secure connections and controlled access. Additionally, be mindful of time zones and cultural differences to foster a collaborative and inclusive remote working environment.

This blog is based on information available to Rippling as of February 13, 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.