Best Contractor Payment Software With Self-Service Portals

Managing independent contractors at scale is far harder than it looks. As teams grow across countries and time zones, HR and People Ops teams face the same recurring friction: contractors need to update payment details, submit tax forms, upload compliance documents, and check payment status — and every request lands in someone’s inbox.

Self-service contractor portals solve this problem. Instead of relying on manual emails or spreadsheets, contractors can independently update banking information, upload tax forms, and track payments in real time. For global teams, this isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s essential infrastructure for accuracy, compliance, and operational sanity.

This guide explains what makes a great self-service contractor platform, how leading tools compare, and why Deel offers the most complete global solution for organizations managing contractors in many countries.

Why self-service portals matter when managing independent contractors

A self-service contractor portal is a secure online dashboard where contractors can independently manage:

• Their payment details
• Tax forms (W-9, W-8BEN, local equivalents)
• Compliance documentation
• Invoices or time entries
• Payment tracking and earnings history

Self-service matters because it reduces manual work, increases accuracy, and ensures contractors stay compliant without back-and-forth admin.

For HR and People Ops teams, this means:

• Fewer manual updates and data entry errors
• Cleaner audit trails
• More consistent tax and compliance workflows
• Less time answering “Did my payment go through?”

For contractors, it means autonomy, clarity, and instant access to what they need.

Modern contractor management platforms — especially those operating globally — now consider self-service the baseline for smooth workforce management.

See also: Best Contractor Management Software 2025: Efficiency, Compliance & Payments

Why Deel delivers the most complete self-service contractor experience

Deel is a global people platform built for teams hiring and paying contractors across 150+ countries. Its self-service portal gives contractors full ownership of their data, compliance, and payment experience — while keeping companies protected through automated global compliance.

Key capabilities of Deel’s contractor self-service portal

1. Update payment methods instantly (15+ options)

Contractors can choose how they want to be paid, including:

• Bank transfer
• PayPal
• Wise
• Revolut
• Coinbase (crypto)
• Payoneer
• Local payment rails in 150+ markets

All updates sync automatically with payroll runs.

2. Flexible payout tools

Contractors can access Deel Instant Card Transfer for faster withdrawals, use the Deel Card to spend earnings immediately, choose e-wallet withdrawals, or tap into Deel Advance to access a portion of upcoming payments early.

See also: A Contractor’s Guide to Deel’s Flexible Payment Terms

3. Upload and manage tax forms for any country

Deel collects the correct jurisdiction-specific forms (W-8BEN, W-9, local equivalents) and prompts contractors when something is missing or needs updating.

4. Manage contracts and compliance documents

Contractors can:

• Sign documents electronically
• Access localized contract templates
• Upload required compliance documents
• Receive alerts for missing or expiring documents

This removes bottlenecks for HR and reduces misclassification risk.

See also: Best Contractor System for Auto Contracts & E-Sign

5. Track payments and invoices in real time

Contractors can see:

• Completed payments
• Upcoming payment dates
• Any issues requiring attention

This eliminates the most common support requests finance teams receive.

6. On-demand tax guidance and support

Deel also gives contractors access to 24/7 support. Contractors can access localized tax guidance, FAQs, and support channels directly from their portal, reducing back-and-forth with HR teams and helping contractors stay compliant in their jurisdiction.

7. Use Deel from anywhere with the mobile app

Contractors can manage their profile, documents, and payments on the go — essential for distributed teams and remote freelancers.

8. Access to perks and benefits

Beyond payment and tax management, Deel gives contractors access to self-service perks and optional benefits directly from their portal. Contractors can explore discounts, wellness perks, and country-specific benefits programs—and enroll themselves without involving HR.

This improves the contractor experience, supports well-being for distributed teams, and reduces administrative work for People Ops by keeping all updates, documents, and elections in one place.

See also: Unlock Your Full Potential: 12 Great Deel Contractor Perks

9. Equipment selection

Contractors using Deel can also select and request equipment through the same portal. Businesses choose approved items, and contractors pick what they need— keeping procurement documented, compliant, and fully self-serve.

See also: IT Equipment Leasing With Deel IT: Everything You Need to Know

How other contractor payment platforms compare

Discover how other platforms compare on self-service, compliance, and global payment capabilities.

Gusto — good for US-based teams

Gusto offers basic contractor payment tools and an intuitive self-service portal for domestic teams. Contractors can update banking details, access W-9 and 1099 forms, and enroll in direct deposit.

It’s best for small US businesses but lacks global coverage, multi-currency support, or advanced compliance automation.

Eddy — simple payment updates with limited global use

Eddy allows contractors to update payment information and split payments across multiple bank accounts. It focuses on ease of use for domestic teams but does not offer international compliance features or multi-currency support.

OnPay — best for small US businesses needing tax automation

OnPay provides direct deposit updates, 1099 automation, and ITIN support. It has a clean contractor portal but limited global capabilities, basic reporting, and no compliance automation across borders.

Square Payroll — strong for hourly contractors inside the Square ecosystem

Square provides a simple portal for managing payment details and logging hours. It works well for shift-based businesses already using Square, but it is not designed for international contractors or multi-currency payroll.

Buddy Punch — time tracking with basic contractor payment tools

Buddy Punch offers a simple time tracking system with payment method updates and payment history access. Its portal is accessible but lacks compliance workflows, multi-currency support, and global tax tools.

Remote — compliance-focused global contractor management

Remote provides contractor onboarding tools, payment detail updates, localized compliance documents, and self-service tax information management. It's strong on compliance and global hiring but offers fewer payment method choices and less flexibility than Deel.

Justworks — all-in-one HR with contractor support

Justworks provides a contractor portal for tax forms, documents, and payments, but is primarily designed for US employee HR. International contractor support is limited and not as automation-heavy as Deel or Remote.

Transformify — freelancer marketplace with contractor payments

Transformify blends talent sourcing with contractor payments. Contractors can update payment details and upload documents, but the platform is geared toward crowdsourced freelancer pools, not long-term global contractor management.

Rippling — strong integrations, contractor portal included

Rippling allows contractors to update payment details and access documents through a customizable portal. It integrates well with IT and finance stacks but offers limited global compliance coverage compared to Deel.

How to choose contractor payment software with a self-service portal

Choosing the right platform starts with evaluating how well it solves your top challenges:

Integration capabilities

Do payment changes sync automatically with:

• HRIS
• Accounting systems
• Time tracking tools

Deel has a built-in HRIS and integrates with various tools, including NetSuite, QuickBooks, Xero, and more.

See also: A Buyer’s Guide to HRIS: How to Find an HRIS Built for the Future

Multi-currency and global payment options

If you pay contractors in multiple countries, check:

• Supported currencies
• Local payment rails
• FX fees

Deel supports 200+ currencies and global payouts.

Portal functionality

A strong portal should support:

• Payment detail updates
• Tax form uploads
• Contract signing
• Payment tracking
• Compliance notifications

Deel includes all of the above.

Compliance automation

Look for:

• Localized contract templates
• Misclassification checks
• Tax form automation

Deel includes a built-in classification engine to reduce risk.

See also: Unlock Continuous Compliance with Deel’s Compliance Hub

Scalability and pricing

Consider both cost and long-term functionality. Some platforms work for domestic teams but break down when you scale to other countries.

Pay and support contractors with Deel’s self-serve platform

Managing contractor payments and documentation doesn’t need to create extra work for your team. Deel gives contractors a secure, self-serve hub where they can update payment details, submit tax forms, access support, enroll in perks, and manage compliance documents—without relying on HR. The result: fewer errors, faster onboarding, and a smoother experience for everyone.

Get a personalized demo today to see how Deel transforms global contractor management.