Hiring contractors in other countries sounds simple at first. You gain access to professionals with specialized skills and don’t need to make long-term hiring decisions right away.
Then reality kicks in. Every country plays by different rules. Contracts look different. Tax expectations change. Invoices pile up. Suddenly, paying people across borders isn’t as straightforward as clicking “send.” The more contractors you bring on, the easier it is for something to slip through the cracks.
That’s where global contractor management software comes in. These platforms combine onboarding, contracts, payments, and compliance in one place, sparing business owners the pain of juggling multiple tools, spreadsheets, and mind-spinning workarounds for ad hoc systems.
Key takeaways:
- Misclassifying contractors or running afoul of local labor laws can result in fines, back taxes, and legal disputes.
- Contractor management platforms can generate compliant contracts, support local currency payments, and simplify compliance.
- These software tools minimize the operational burden for growing companies by reducing the chance of errors occuring.
Common Mistakes Companies Make When Managing Global Contractors
Before looking at specific software solutions, it's worth understanding some of the issues companies run into when hiring international freelancers.
- Misclassifying contractors: If a contractor functions more like an employee, such as working set hours, using company equipment, or signing on for a long-term engagement, local authorities may reclassify them as such. Your company could then owe back taxes, benefits, and penalties.
- Overlooking local tax and labor rules: Contractor laws vary by country. Some require written contracts in the local language, while others enforce mandatory invoicing requirements. Not following country-specific labor laws can be a costly mistake.
- Underestimating payment complexity: Paying contractors in multiple currencies involves exchange rates and transfer fees. You also must consider the amount of time it takes for payments to move across borders. A payment that looks straightforward from your end might arrive in the contractor’s bank account late, for a lesser amount, or both.
- Relying on manual processes: Spreadsheets and email threads might work when you have a handful of contractors. However, tracking contracts, invoices, and payments manually can get messy fast. It also increases the chance of errors.
Contractor management software can help you avoid these common mistakes by centralizing compliance, contracts, and payments.
Here are some of the top options to consider.
RemoFirst
Pricing: $25 per contractor/month
RemoFirst is an Employer of Record (EOR) and global contractor platform. Companies can manage and pay contractors in 150+ countries and 110 currencies through a single dashboard.
The platform handles onboarding, localized contracts, and payment processing in the contractor’s local currency. Contracts are tailored to each country's requirements, which helps reduce the risk of misclassification. RemoFirst also offers a free version for companies that want to manage contractors without processing payments through the platform.
The platform has minimal integrations currently available, so it may not be the right solution for companies that need to connect to a larger HR or finance tech stack. However, RemoFirst is a good option for startups and scaling teams that need an affordable, simple way to pay contractors in multiple countries.
Multiplier
Pricing: Starting at $40 per contractor/month
Multiplier started out only offering EOR services, but has since added contractor capabilities. The platform supports contractor management in 150+ countries and 120+ currencies. You can also pay contractors in cryptocurrency.
As international contractor software, Multiplier generates contracts and can handle invoicing, expense tracking, and time tracking. It also includes a hiring assessment tool when you onboard a contractor to reduce the risk of misclassification.
Multiplier is particularly strong in Asia-Pacific, so it's worth considering if you're hiring extensively in that region. However, some users have complained about the lack of customization options and delays in receiving responses from the customer support team.
Oyster
Pricing: $29 per contractor/month
Oyster is a global employment platform built for distributed teams. In addition to Employer of Record services, Oyster offers contractor management in 180+ countries with payments in 120+ currencies.
Oyster handles contracts, invoices, expenses, and time tracking from a single dashboard. It also includes misclassification protection of up to USD $50,000 per claim.
Oyster makes it easy to convert contractors to full-time employees, so it’s a good fit for companies that want that flexibility. It’s built for teams that may be new to hiring global employees and contractors, so teams with more complex needs may find that it doesn't have all the features they need.
Papaya Global
Pricing: $35 per contractor/month or $3,000 per year for unlimited contractors
The Papaya Global platform automates much of the manual work of contractor management. Contractors can self-onboard through a portal and submit invoices directly in the system. Papaya also offers a pay-as-you-go option starting at USD 2.50 per transaction for companies that only need to send payments.
Papaya Global processes payments through J.P. Morgan Chase and Citibank, and 95% of payments are paid same-day. The platform supports 180 countries and 130+ currencies. Contractors can choose their preferred currency, and you decide who covers the foreign exchange fees.
Papaya Global is a good option for mid-sized and enterprise companies with high contractor volumes that need a robust contractor payment software. Smaller teams or those with simpler needs may find the platform overly complex.
Plane
Pricing: $39 per contractor/month
Plane (formerly Pilot) focuses on simplicity. The platform lets you pay international contractors in 70+ countries and 130+ local currencies. You can choose to pay contractors in their local currency or USD.
The platform handles contracts, onboarding, expense management, and tax forms for U.S. companies (W-8BEN, W-9, 1099 filing). The platform includes an HRIS, which can be used for contractor management.
Plane is a good choice for U.S.-based companies, since it includes U.S. tax forms. Companies hiring contractors outside the U.S., however, may want a tool with more robust features and country support.
Remote
Pricing: Starts at $29 per contractor/month
Remote is an HR platform that offers contractor management services. Companies can onboard, manage, and pay international contractors in 180+ countries.
The platform centralizes contracts, invoices, expenses, and payments. Remote can create localized contracts and handle payments in contractors' local currencies.
For companies that want additional protection, Contractor Management Plus costs USD 99 per contractor per month and includes misclassification protection and indemnity coverage up to USD 100,000. Remote also offers Contractor of Record Services.
Remote is a good option for teams that want straightforward contractor workflows with localized contracts and invoice approvals. Some advanced features and add-ons require upgrading to higher-tier plans, which can increase your costs.
Rippling
Pricing: Rippling does not publish contractor-specific pricing
Rippling combines HR, IT, and finance tools into a single platform. Contractor management is one piece of a larger system that includes payroll, benefits, and device management.
The platform supports contractors in 185+ countries with payments in 50+ currencies. Rippling handles onboarding, creating compliant contracts, invoicing, and payments. The platform uses a modular structure, so you only pay for what you need, but costs can quickly mount as you add on services. You'll need to contact sales for a quote.
Rippling works well for mid-sized companies that want employees and contractors managed in the same system, especially those already using Rippling for HR or IT. Smaller teams may find the platform more complex and expensive than they need.
Lano
Pricing: Starting at €19 per contractor/month
Berlin-based Lano offers contractor management as a standalone option, which can be a good fit if you’re not ready to commit to a full EOR or payroll setup.
The contractor module covers 170+ countries with payments in 28 currencies. You get localized contract templates, global contractor compliance, and options to make bulk payments with one click. Contractors also get access to a free invoicing tool and digital wallet on their end.
Lano is particularly effective for teams expanding in Europe. Some users report a learning curve with the interface, so expect to spend a little more time onboarding.
How to Choose the Right Global Contractor Management Solution
The contractor management platforms we’ve covered vary in terms of pricing and functionality. Before you commit to one, it helps to be clear on what actually matters to your business so you get the features you need, and don’t pay extra for the ones you don’t.
Start by thinking through your contractors’ locations and how many you currently employ, and how many you anticipate bringing on in the future. For example, some platforms are better for high-volume global contractor payments, while others are built for smaller teams.
Here are some questions you should ask yourself while evaluating the contractor management options:
- Can you pay international contractors in their local currency?
- Are there restrictions on certain countries?
- Does the platform generate localized, legally compliant contracts?
- How does the platform help protect your intellectual property?
- What's included in the per-contractor fee?
- Are there hidden costs for processing payments or add-on services?
The right platform for your company depends on where you're hiring, how fast you're growing, and what level of compliance support you need.
Manage & Pay Your International Contractors With RemoFirst
RemoFirst offers one of the most affordable contractor management solutions on the market. Pricing starts at USD 25 per contractor per month, with no hidden fees. We handle localized contracts, onboarding, and payments in local currencies across 150+ countries.
If your needs expand, RemoFirst also provides EOR services in 185+ countries, plus visa support, background checks, and localized international health insurance through RemoHealth.
For startups and scaling companies that want compliance without complexity, RemoFirst keeps things simple.
Book a demo to learn more.
