15 Best Tools to Pay International Contractors

Today, it’s incredibly easy to work with international contractors.  

But when it comes to paying them, things can get a little tricky without the right tools and methods.

Why? 

Because each country has its own currency, payment regulations, and contractor laws. 

While you can send money abroad directly from your bank account, the standard process is typically not meant for regular transfers.

If you work with freelancers and are looking for good payment solutions, here are the 15 best tools to pay international contractors. 

I have covered several types of platforms to give you flexible options.

Let’s explore them.

1. PayPal

PayPal is widely popular for overseas contractor payments. 

It’s one of the earliest companies to introduce borderless accounts, offering convenient methods to pay freelancers and other independent contractors.

The platform is mobile-friendly and available in over 200 countries. 

You can send money from one PayPal account to another in your local currency or use your credit card. PayPal accepts both ways.

You’ll also find a recurring payment feature.

If you pay your contractors regularly, you can ask them to set up a recurring billing option from their side to automate the transactions. Your PayPal account would automatically initiate the transactions each month.

Core Features

• Pay domestic and international contractors.
• Flexible payment methods.
• Recurring workflow.
• Personal and business account.
• Secure transactions.
• Currency conversion.
• Mobile app.
• Integration.

Price

You can create a free account. PayPal generates income from transaction fees.

2. Payoneer

Payoneer, like PayPal, is a borderless account. 

It’s specifically designed for the eastern market, allowing them to send and receive payments online with ease.

There are multiple ways you can pay contractors through Payoneer. You can transfer payment from your Payoneer balance, credit card, ACH, or direct bank. 

Some features may be limited to the US and the UK, but there are enough options available to process international transfers.

One thing more. You can send up to 150 transactions in bulk and automate recurring transactions. Each transaction is trackable to help you monitor your financial activities.

Core Features

• International contractor payment.
• Flexible money transfer methods.
• Contractor onboarding and management.
• Batch payments.
• Recurring billing.
• Currency conversion.
• Integration.
• Mobile app.

Price

You can sign up for Payoneer for free. It charges for the money transfer.

3. WISE

Next up is WISE. It’s a reputable platform that offers one of the best ways to pay international contractors.

Through WISE, you can set up a multi-currency account and send money in 160+ countries. 

You’ll have the flexibility to send payments to over 1000 people in one go and schedule the transactions to save time.

WISE also has onboarding and KYC capabilities to make the process secure.

Core Features

• Pay international contractors.
• Access to 160+ countries.
• Personal and business accounts.
• Currency conversion.
• Mass payouts.
• Protection.
• Team collaboration.
• API and integration.
• Mobile app.

Price

You can open an account on WISE for free. Its fee structure for personal and business accounts is different. 

Contact sales for details.

4. Stripe

Stripe is a PayPal subsidiary. It’s built specifically for e-commerce and service-based businesses.

You can use Stripe to send one-time and recurring payments to contractors. Plus, you can initiate a mass payout and send money to overseas accounts in 50+ countries.

Payment flexibility is also one of Stripe’s strong features. 

You can either onboard contractors and send payment to their Stripe accounts or send money directly to their banks in local currency. It’s up to you. 

The former feature is for small and growing businesses, while the latter is designed for established companies.

Core Features

• Pay contractors in 50+ countries.
• Flexible payment methods.
• Contractor onboarding.
• Mass payouts.
• One-time and recurring transactions.
• Automation.
• Fraud prevention.
• API and integration.
• Mobile app.

Price

Stripe charges 2.9% + 30¢ plus the conversion fee. You can sign up for free.

5. Skrill

Skrill is a digital wallet. It lets you store money in a separate online account and send funds to international contractors from there.

The platform provides flexible payment methods and offers access to 40 countries. 

You can send money to bank accounts, mobile wallets, and email and mobile numbers.

Mass payout feature is also built into the system. It’s a little more complicated than an individual transfer, but you can find the guide online.

Core Features

• Contractor payment.
• Access to 40+ countries.
• Flexible payment methods.
• Currency conversion.
• Mass payout.
• Tracking.
• API integration.
• Mobile app.

Price

Account opening on Skrill is free. It charges for money transfer.

6. Gusto

Gusto is perfect for those who keep a team of contractors on retainer. It offers not only international fund transfer but also provides payroll management tools.

Via Gusto, you can hire people, maintain time and attendance, handle administrative tasks, and pay contractors.

You can get started on Gusto for free and buy a contractor-only plan for your team if you don’t want the extra features. The package contains unlimited payments, direct deposits, and compliance management.

Gusto’s global reach is pretty extensive, and there’s no monthly subscription fee for contractors’ onboarding. You can hire people in 120+ countries and pay compensation in local currency.

Core Features

• Onboard international contractors.
• Access to 120+ countries.
• Global payment transfer.
• Compliance.
• Time and attendance.
• Talent management.
• Reporting.
• Integration.

Price

Gusto charges $6 per month for one contractor. 

7. Oyster

Oyster is a global HR and EOR (Employer of Record) platform. It lets you hire and pay international contractors legally.

You can generate compliance contracts, work with contractors from 180+ countries, and send money to local accounts. Oyster provides misclassification protection to shield you from financial penalties.

All the basic contractor management tools are available on Oyster. You can upload and verify documents, track invoices and expenses, handle time-off requests, and generate reports.  

Oyster can be integrated with HIRS platforms.

Core Features

• International contractors onboarding and payment.
• Access to 180+ countries.
• Payment in 200+ currencies.
• Contract generation.
• Misclassification protection.
• Time off, invoices, and expenses.
• Reporting.
• Integration.

Price

Oyster’s contractor package costs $29 per month. You can try it free for 30 days.

8. Deel

Deel is excellent for overseas contractors. Like Oyster, it’s a global HR platform that facilitates international fund transfer. 

Deel is built for companies that can’t establish a legal entity in other countries. You can hire contractors in 150+ countries legally and process payments in bulk.

You’ll get around 15 different payment options here and automatic invoice management. Dell also provides virtual cards that contractors can use as debit cards.

A digital portal is included in the package for day-to-day activities. You’ll be able to store documents, oversee time off and expenses, track payments, and more.

Core Features

• International contractor hiring and payment.
• Access to 150+ countries.
• Onboarding documentation.
• Contract generation.
• Verification and compliance.
• Miscalculation risk.
• Flexible payment methods.
• Virtual card.
• Payment tracking.
• Integration.

Price

Deel charges $49 per contractor. You can ask for a free demo.

9. Remote

Remote is another good option for contractor management. 

It offers a Contractor of Record service to hire freelancers and a payroll system to pay international workers.

You’ll receive a centralized platform to oversee administrative tasks and compliance tools to protect yourself from legal penalties. You can generate localized contracts, set up recurring invoices, and pay your workers in 200+ countries.

Flexible payment gateways are integrated into the system for your ease. You can send direct deposits, transfer money to digital wallets, and pay contractors in crypto.

What I loved about Remote is its cost-effective packages.

It uses AI to identify inactive contractors and remove them from the subscription package, ensuring you only pay for active workers.

Core Features

• International contractor hiring.
• Access to 200+ countries.
• Flexible payment methods.
• Contract generation.
• Recurring invoices.
• Miscalculation risk protection.
• AI-powered tools.
• Integration.
• Mobile app.

Price

Remote contractor plans cost $29 to $99 per month. You can book a demo.

10. Papaya

Papaya sells a range of global payment solutions to companies. You can use it to pay employees, contractors, vendors, and government agencies.

The platform offers both EOR (Employer of Record) and AOR (Agencies of Record) services. Meaning, you can recruit both permanent employees and overseas contractors legally and let Papaya cover the legal areas.

You can hire contractors in 160+ countries, generate country-specific contracts, create digital wallets for instant fund transfer, and automate the payment process. 

Via the self-service portals, your workers can submit invoices and manage their wallets.

Core Features

• International contractor hiring and payment.
• Access to 160+ countries.
• Contract generation.
• Digital wallet.
• Payment automation.
• Invoice management.
• Time and attendance.
• Liability coverage.
• Mobile app.

Price

Papaya shares prices on request. Contact sales for the quotes.

11. Multiplier

Multiplier is an EOR and contractor management platform. It provides global coverage in 150+ countries and allows multi-currency transactions.

The package contains legal contract generation, worker classification, invoice management, and global fund transfer. You can send payment in local currency, offer cryptocurrency options to contractors, and reimburse expenses.

Insurance is also supported by Multiplier. While EOR platforms like Multiplier include perks in their employee management packages only, Multiplier allows you to provide insurance coverage to contractors as well.

Core Features

• International contractor onboarding.
• Fund transfer in 150+ countries.
• Direct deposit and crypto options.
• Expense reimbursement.
• Insurance.
• Invoice management.
• Contract generation.
• A digital platform.

Price

Multiplier’s contractor package starts at $40 per month. You can book a demo.

12. Skuad

Skuad delivers contractor payment and AOR (Agent of Record) services. You can both hire and pay international contractors via this platform.

The package contains contracts, documentation, misclassification protection, payment disbursement, and administrative tasks. 

You can also offer perks and benefits to your workers, such as medical and time off.

Skuad supports bulk payment transfer in 70+ currencies.

Core Features

• International contractor hiring and onboarding.
• Global payment.
• Multi-currency support.
• Bulk transactions.
• Contract generation.
• Perks and benefits.
• Time sheets and invoice management.
• Compliance.
• Reports.
• Integration.

Price

Skuad prices start at $19 per month. You can request a demo.

13. Remofirst

Remofirst covers hiring, global payments, and benefits administration. You can hire permanent employees, work with international contractors, and run cross-border payments.

If you go for its contractor package, you’ll be able to onboard freelancers online and send money in 150+ countries. You’ll get access to a digital platform for free to onboard and verify contractors without any cost.

Remofirst also has integrated time-tracking tools to log billable hours and generate timesheets.

Core Features

• International contractor hiring and payment.
• Global coverage.
• Contract generation and compliance.
• Onboarding and background checks.
• Invoice creation.
• Time tracking and time off.
• Approval option.
• Reporting.
• Integration.

Price

Remofirst charges $25 per contractor. 

14. Revolut

Revolut provides digital banking services. It’s widely used in the UK region for its multi-currency accounts and smooth payments.

You can open both personal and business accounts and send money in 30+ currencies. You’ll get several payment options and virtual cards for contractors.

You can set up an approval workflow to control activities and apply a limit to spending. Your contractors can submit expense receipts to help you reconcile entries. 

Core Features

• Multi-currency account.
• Domestic and international fund transfer.
• Invoice generation.
• Flexible payment methods.
• Virtual and physical cards for expenses.
• Approval workflow and spend control.
• Automation.
• Analytics.
• Mobile app.

Price

Rovolut prices start at £10 per month.

15. Playroll

Playroll specializes in recruitment and payment. It offers both domestic and international payment solutions and a digital platform for contractor management.

You can generate compliant freelance agreements, handle onboarding paperwork, process bulk payments, and stay updated on contractor laws.

You’ll get a central dashboard to track paperwork, timesheets, payments, and expenses.

The packages are affordable and cover 180+ countries.

Core Features

• Domestic and international fund transfer.
• Pay contractors in 180+ countries.
• Compliant agreements.
• Payment scheduling.
• Misclassification protection.
• Expense reimbursement.
• Administration.
• Integration.

Price

Playroll’s contractor plan costs $35 per month. You can book a demo.

Conclusion

Paying international contractors isn’t that difficult.

You just need the right tools or services to send funds to overseas workers legally.

For example. Borderless accounts, like PayPal and Stripe, are the best options for startups and small businesses. They’re free to use and are hassle-free.

If you, however, need a more comprehensive tool to manage hiring, payment, and compliance, EOR platforms like Deel and Remote are ideal for you. 

They not only handle international fund transfers but also help with paperwork and legal matters.

Go ahead and try out some of the tools to make a better purchase decision. Good luck!