Managing independent contractors across time zones, currencies, and tax rules shouldn’t feel like spinning plates. The best contractor management software pulls all the moving parts—onboarding, contracts, payments, compliance, and collaboration—into one organized flow so your team can move faster with fewer mistakes.
Below, we’ve ranked the top 10 tools for 2025. Whether you’re paying five local freelancers or orchestrating a global contractor network, you’ll find a platform that fits your stage, budget, and compliance needs.
1) TFY — Best for Global Contractor Onboarding, Compliance & Payouts
Ideal for: Scaling teams hiring contractors worldwide that want airtight compliance (AOR), multi-currency payouts, and tight ATS/HR integrations—without enterprise bloat.
Overview
TFY is more than payments—it’s your hub for global contractor management. With Agent of Record (AOR) coverage in 180+ locations, TFY streamlines contractor onboarding, KYC/KYB checks, document collection, e-signatures, compliant contracts, automated invoicing, approvals, and cross-border payouts. Layer on TFY’s AI-powered ATS, and you get one connected pipeline from sourcing to signed agreement to paid invoice—plus analytics to keep finance and HR in sync.
Key Features
- AOR in 180+ locations with localized contracts, KYC/KYB, and document workflows
- Global payouts to contractors in local currencies; expense & reimbursement management
- Automated invoicing & approvals (milestones, time-based, or fixed-fee)
- E-signature & digital document vault (agreements, NDAs, tax docs)
- AI-powered ATS + job distribution to 100+ boards; collaborative hiring; candidate pipelines
- Compliance tooling: audit trail, role-based access, GDPR alignment, data encryption
- Integrations: QuickBooks, Xero, BambooHR, Workday, SAP Fieldglass, Oracle, Slack (and more)
- Vendor management: manage contractors, agencies, and vendors in one place
Pros
- End-to-end flow from sourcing to compliant payouts (one platform)
- Strong global footprint with AOR + ATS in the same stack
- Automation reduces admin overhead for finance, legal, and HR
Pricing
- AOR / Contractors: from £5 per contractor / month
- ATS/HRMS modules: from £5 per seat / month
- EOR (if needed): from £499 per employee / month
- Final pricing varies by country, volume, and modules.
Verdict
If you want one system to onboard, contract, and pay contractors globally—with audit-ready compliance and an ATS that actually helps you hire—TFY is considered one of the best contractor management software and the most complete pick on this list.
2) Gusto — Best All-in-One for U.S.-Centric Teams
Ideal for: U.S. businesses that want simple contractor onboarding, tax forms, and payments in a friendly interface (with optional employee payroll later).
Overview
Gusto wraps contractor onboarding, W-9/1099 generation, and payments into a clean, approachable platform. It also offers global contractor payments and lifetime contractor self-service.
Key Features
Self-onboarding, W-9 and 1099 e-file
Global contractor payouts in 120+ countries
Direct deposit, check, or debit card options
Integrations with accounting tools; new-hire reporting
Pros
Transparent pricing, simple setup
Scales into full employee payroll & benefits
Cons
Contractor-only plan requires at least one U.S. contractor
Entry plans can have 4-day deposit timing
Pricing
Contractor-only: $35/mo + $6/contractor
Employee-inclusive plans: from $49/mo + $6/person
Free trial: pay nothing until first payroll
Verdict
A solid, approachable choice for U.S. teams that may grow into full payroll later.
3) Remote — Best for International Contractor Compliance
Ideal for: Distributed teams wanting owned legal entities and strong misclassification protection across countries.
Overview
Remote is built for cross-border hiring with localized contracts, classification risk checks, and owned entities (no third parties).
Key Features
Hire & pay in 200+ countries
Localized onboarding & compliance
Misclassification risk assessment
No FX conversion fees
Pros
Industry-leading compliance stance
Owned entities increase legal consistency
Cons
Fewer payment method options
Support can be email-first
Pricing
Contractors: $29/worker/mo
EOR: $599–$699/employee/mo
Free trial: 30 days
Verdict
For global compliance peace of mind, Remote is a top pick.
4) Deel — Best for Flexible International Payments
Ideal for: Teams prioritizing payment flexibility (Wise, PayPal, crypto, more) and fast global onboarding.
Overview
Deel stands out for supporting 15+ payment rails across 150+ countries with localized contracts and self-serve portals.
Key Features
100+ currencies; multiple payment options (incl. crypto)
Local tax compliance & localized contracts
Quick onboarding & HR tools for small teams
Pros
Payment flexibility is best-in-class
Easy to get up and running globally
Cons
Pricier at scale for contractors
Classification protections may require higher tiers
Pricing
Contractors: $49/worker/mo
EOR: $599/employee/mo
Free to explore until first hire
Verdict
If payout flexibility is your #1 priority, Deel is hard to beat.
5) ADP (WorkMarket) — Best for Scaling with Enterprise Reliability
Ideal for: Mid-market to enterprise teams needing integrated contractor + employee payments, with deep reporting.
Overview
Through WorkMarket, ADP serves large, complex organizations that want one source for 1099 and W-2 payments plus integrations and modular add-ons.
Key Features
Contractor + employee payroll in one ecosystem
1099/W-2 generation; 700+ integrations
Contractor self-service & compliance tooling
Pros
Enterprise-grade stability and reporting
Scales with headcount and complexity
Cons
Often requires using the separate WorkMarket platform
Contractor-only scenarios aren’t its sweet spot
Pricing
Custom quotes; common baseline around $59/mo + $4/person
Verdict
A safe enterprise choice when you want a big-vendor backbone.
6) Rippling — Best for Automation Across HR, IT & Finance
Ideal for: Tech-forward companies that want to automate everything—from onboarding to device provisioning—and manage 1099 ↔ W-2 transitions.
Overview
Rippling centralizes HR, payroll, IT, and finance. For contractors, it’s all about automation at scale and tight integrations (500+ apps).
Key Features
Global contractor management
HR/payroll automations; device & app provisioning
500+ integrations; strong role/permission controls
Pros
Automates painful admin tasks
Great for complex, multi-system environments
Cons
No true standalone contractor product
Can be heavy for small teams
Pricing
Contractors: $20/worker/mo
Unity Core required: $35 base + $8/user
No free trial
Verdict
For automation-hungry teams, Rippling is a powerhouse.
7) OnPay — Best Budget-Friendly Contractor Solution
Ideal for: Small businesses that want straightforward contractor payments, tax forms, and compliance—without extras.
Overview
OnPay focuses on the essentials: pay contractors, generate 1099s, stay compliant. Clean UI, simple pricing.
Key Features
Flat-rate pricing across states
1099 prep and filing (mailing incurs small fee)
ITIN contractor support
Pros
Affordable and simple
No tier maze to navigate
Cons
Limited advanced HR features
Basic reporting
Pricing
$40/mo + $6/person
Free trial: 3 months
Verdict
Perfect when you want reliable basics at a fair price.
8) QuickBooks Payroll — Best Value for QuickBooks Users
Ideal for: Companies already in the Intuit ecosystem that want frictionless contractor payments and automated 1099s.
Overview
If your accounting lives in QuickBooks, this add-on keeps things tidy—next-day deposits and hands-off 1099 creation.
Key Features
Pay up to 20 contractors easily
1099 automation (e-file extra)
Next-day direct deposit; fast setup
Pros
Very low cost for small contractor sets
Familiar interface; tidy bookkeeping
Cons
Limited integrations outside Intuit
Reporting is basic
Pricing
Contractor-only: $15/mo
With accounting: from $45/mo
Free trial: 30 days (or promos)
Verdict
If you’re deep in QuickBooks already, this is a no-brainer.
9) Square Payroll — Best for POS-Driven Teams (Retail, F&B)
Ideal for: Businesses running on Square POS that need contractor payouts, tip handling, and shift-friendly workflows.
Overview
Square Payroll fits neatly into existing Square setups with contractor-only accounts and useful tools for hospitality and retail.
Key Features
Native Square POS connection
Tip pooling/reporting; multiple pay methods (incl. Cash App)
Free time tracking (up to 5 users)
Pros
Ultra easy for existing Square users
Built for shift-based operations
Cons
Limited compliance/reporting depth
No custom reports
Pricing
Contractor-only: $6/contractor/mo
Full plan: $35/mo + $6/person
Verdict
The smoothest path if your front-of-house already runs on Square.
10) Monday.com — Best for Project Visibility (Pair with a Payments Tool)
Ideal for: Teams that need project clarity, task tracking, and time tracking—then plug into TFY/Gusto/Deel for actual contractor payments.
Overview
monday.com isn’t payroll. But it’s outstanding for keeping contractor work organized: boards, timelines, dependencies, and automations that keep projects moving.
Key Features
Visual dashboards; time & task tracking
Custom automations; collaboration tools
Scales from freelancers to large teams
Pros
Excellent visibility and accountability
Flexible templates for different workflows
Cons
No payroll or compliance features
Some automation behind higher tiers
Pricing
Basic $9/user/mo, Standard $12, Pro $19
Free plan (2 users) + 14-day trial
Verdict
Use monday.com for project orchestration, and pair it with TFY (or another provider) for compliant onboarding and payouts.
Final Word
If you’re serious about finding the best contractor management software and scaling a contractor workforce—onboarding, compliance, contracts, and global payouts—a stitched-together toolset will only get you so far. TFY gives you the end-to-end control most teams wish they had: AOR coverage, local-currency payouts, automated invoicing, e-signatures, and an AI-powered ATS in the same platform. Add tight integrations and an audit-ready trail, and you’re set up to move fast without tripping compliance wires.
Ready to see TFY in action? Book a quick demo and we’ll tailor a setup for your contractor footprint and workflows.