As the global contractor workforce continues to surge — with more than 76 million freelancers in the US alone and millions more worldwide — HR leaders and operations teams face increasing pressure to manage contractors efficiently, compliantly, and cost-effectively.
From onboarding and payments to time tracking, invoicing, and multi-country compliance, organizations today require more than spreadsheets and basic tools. They need specialized contractor management software that automates complexity, reduces risk, and accelerates global hiring.
This 2025 guide breaks down the best contractor management software platforms, starting with TFY — the leading global solution for contractor onboarding, payments, compliance, and workforce visibility.
What Is Contractor Management Software?
Contractor management software (CMS) is a cloud-based platform that enables companies to:
- Hire and onboard contractors
- Collect documentation and compliance records
- Manage contracts across multiple jurisdictions
- Process payments in multiple currencies
- Track time, invoices, deliverables, and expenses
- Reduce misclassification risk
- Maintain global workforce visibility
In 2025, the best CMS platforms go beyond simple tools. They offer all-in-one contractor lifecycle management, covering everything from onboarding to payments to compliance to reporting.
Benefits of Using Top-Tier Contractor Management Software
1. Access to Global Talent Without Local Entities
Hire contractors in 150+ countries without needing to set up local subsidiaries.
2. Automated, Compliant Onboarding
Structured workflows reduce admin time by up to 70% and ensure consistent documentation collection.
3. Faster Deployment of Talent
Prebuilt contractor templates, automated background checks, and instant onboarding accelerate productivity.
4. Centralized Global Workforce Visibility
Manage contractors and employees in one unified system with transparent dashboards and reporting.
5. Streamlined, Flexible Payments
Multi-currency, bulk payments with low fees and fast settlement.
6. Compliance & Misclassification Protection
Built-in compliance tools protect from fines, tax penalties, and employee reclassification.
7. Enhanced Financial Control
Budgeting, forecasting, approval workflows, and expense management provide tighter cost oversight.
8. Scalable Communication & Collaboration
Document sharing, real-time updates, and integrated messaging.
9. Contractor Benefits
Some platforms offer healthcare, financial services, or wellness benefits to attract quality contractors.
According to Upworks Freelance Forward Report - majority of the work freelancers are performing today is skilled work. Nearly half (47%) of all freelancers provide knowledge, or skilled, services such as computer programming, marketing, IT, and business consulting.
Top 5 Contractor Management Software Platforms in 2025
Below are the best platforms for managing contractors globally — starting with TFY, ranked #1 for compliance strength, cost efficiency, global coverage, and ease of use.
1. TFY — The #1 All-In-One Contractor Management Platform for Global Teams
TFY is a leading global workforce platform that helps businesses hire, onboard, pay and manage contractors across 184+ countries with unmatched compliance protection and operational simplicity.
Whether you're scaling your first international contractors or managing a large distributed team, TFY unifies onboarding, payments, document management, and compliance into one powerful platform.
Key Features of TFY Contractor Management
Compliant, Localized Contractor Onboarding
TFY automates onboarding with:
- Localized contractor agreements
- E-signatures
- Compliance document collection
- Identity verification
- Automated workflows
Onboarding that normally takes days can now be completed in hours.
Global Payments in Minutes
TFY enables fast, compliant, multi-currency contractor payments through:
- Local bank transfers
- Global wire transfer
- Virtual cards
- E-wallets
- Same-day payment capabilities
Bulk payments remove manual admin and ensure contractors get paid on time.
Built-In Compliance & Misclassification Protection
TFY’s compliance engine helps you:
- Correctly classify workers
- Generate compliant contracts
- Comply with regional labor laws
- Reduce misclassification risks
- Stay ahead of regulatory updates
This protects your organization from legal and financial exposure.
Time Tracking, Deliverables & Invoicing
Using TFY’s integrated tools, contractors can:
- Submit hours
- Track deliverables
- Upload invoices
- Request payments
- Log expenses
You get full transparency across projects and teams.
Global Workforce Visibility
TFY provides centralized dashboards covering:
- Contractors
- Employees
- Payments
- Documentation
- Compliance status
This dramatically improves operational oversight for HR leaders.
Cost-Effective at Scale
TFY offers enterprise-grade features at a more accessible price point compared to Deel and Remote, making it ideal for fast-growing teams.
Why TFY Ranks #1
- Strongest compliance technology in its category
- Competitive global payment options
- Affordable pricing
- Premium customer support
- Multi-country contractor coverage
- Seamless onboarding + payments
- Purpose-built for HR Directors & People teams
2. Deel
Deel is a popular global contractor management platform known for its wide coverage and compliance infrastructure.
Key Features
- Global onboarding
- Time tracking
- Compliance monitoring
- Automated payments
- Contractor benefits marketplace
- Payroll integrations
- Equipment management
- Contractor of Record (CoR) services
- Talent marketplace
Deel is a strong competitor, but higher costs and more complex workflows make TFY the simpler and more cost-effective option for many teams.
3. Time Doctor
Time Doctor is a time tracking and productivity tool ideal for teams needing detailed work-hour tracking.
Key Features
- Automated time tracking
- Productivity insights
- Payroll integrations
- Real-time dashboards
- Bulk timesheet exports
- Works best when combined with a contractor management platform like TFY.
4. Hubstaff
Hubstaff is a workforce tracking solution designed for remote teams.
Key Features
- Time tracking
- Activity monitoring
- GPS/geofencing
- Payroll integrations
- Project management tools
A good option for companies needing advanced monitoring for hourly contractors.
5. JazzHR
JazzHR is primarily a recruiting platform that adds value for companies hiring contractors frequently.
Key Features
- Job posting
- Applicant tracking
- Interview scheduling
- Offer management
- Analytics
Best used alongside your main contractor management software.
Key Features to Look for in Contractor Management Software
To manage global contractors effectively, ensure your platform offers:
1. Automated Contractor Onboarding
Self-service onboarding, e-signatures, localized contracts.
2. Compliance & Misclassification Protection
Classification tools, legal reviews, contract localization.
3. Global Payments & Currency Support
Bulk payouts, multi-currency options, low fees, fast settlement.
4. Automated Invoicing
Invoice generation based on time tracked or deliverables.
5. Time Tracking & Productivity Tools
Manual and automated tracking with reporting dashboards.
6. Tax Support
Document collection, 1099 support, region-specific tax guidance.
7. Contractor Benefits
A differentiator for attracting top talent.
A recent insight from Quantumrun Foresight reveals that the freelance platform market, valued at $7.65 billion in 2025, is on track to nearly double—projected to hit $16.54 billion by 2030, driven by a robust 16.66% CAGR.
Conclusion
Managing contractors globally requires tools that can handle compliance, payments, documentation, and workforce visibility at scale.
TFY leads the market in 2025 with an all-in-one contractor management software designed for HR Directors, People teams, and global operations leaders — offering unmatched compliance tools, automated onboarding, fast payments, and scalable global workforce insights.
Whether you're hiring one contractor or building a global distributed team, TFY delivers everything you need to manage contractors confidently and compliantly.