8 Best Contractor Payroll Software In 2024

If you work with contractors, you know that efficient payroll management is a must. Choosing the right contractor payroll software can significantly impact your workflow, whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise. This article will explore the top 8 payroll services for contractors in 2024. We’ll compare features, consider important factors, and break down prices for a straightforward overview.

Here are the critical factors to consider when looking for payroll services for contractors:

• Since contractors work from various locations, mobile access is essential in contractor payroll software.
• Robust tax compliance features help you navigate complex tax regulations. This can help you adhere to laws and lower legal risks for contractors and businesses.
• You should consider a software that has employee time management features, like an integrated time clock. These features help you track projects and hourly billing so that you pay contractors correctly.
• Selecting contractor payroll software with these key features can streamline workflows, minimize errors, and improve your efficiency.

Table of contents

• Benefits and features to look for in contractor payroll software
• Contractor payroll software comparison table
• Top 8 payroll services for contractors
  • 1. When I Work
  • 2. Deel
  • 3. Eddy
  • 4. Justworks
  • 5. Gusto
  • 6. Paylocity
  • 7. Homebase
  • 8 Buddy Punch
• Streamline your contractor payroll services with When I Work

Benefits and features to look for in contractor payroll software

When you engage with contractors, you often need flexibility and agility in your payroll solutions to be sure that you pay them on time. Here are key benefits and features to consider when selecting contractor payroll software:

1. Mobile access

Contractors work in many environments, often working from different locations. Mobile access in payroll software allows contractors to manage tasks (such as hour submissions and payment reviews) on-the-go. As a result, mobile access helps you accurately process payroll in real time.

2. Tax compliance

Tax regulations can be confusing, and they are a common challenge for contractors. Payroll software with tax compliance features makes this process easier, ensuring adherence to tax laws. This saves time and minimizes the risk of legal complications and financial penalties.

3. Employee time management features

Incorporating additional features, such as an employee time clock, simplifies your contractor payroll process. For example, this allows for easy clocking in and out, which allows precise time tracking for projects with hourly billing. A reliable time clock reduces errors and disputes in payroll reports. This builds trust between contractors and your business. 

Contractor payroll software comparison table

Here’s a comparison chart to consider various aspects of different contractor payroll software:

Customer support	Price	Features	Benefits	Customersupport
When  I Work	• Essential: $2.50/user • Pro: $5.00/user • Premium: $8.00/user	Streamlined contractor payments, compliance with labor laws, and efficient time tracking	Seamless payment management and accurate insights	Prompt, responsive customer support
Deel	Starting at $49/month	Global payments, 15 payment methods, and compliance services	Efficient worldwide contractor payments and simplified international contracts	Adequate customer support – the team is effective in problem resolution
Eddy	$6 per person/month	Straightforward payroll, direct deposit options, and customized contractor payments	Easy  payroll processing and flexible contractor payment options	Quick and responsive customer support team
Justworks	Basic: $59/month per employee, Plus: $99/month per employee	Simplified and reliable payroll processing and seamless contractor management	Satisfactory customer service – users report quick resolution to their issues	Satisfactorycustomer service – users report quick resolution to their issues
Gusto	• Core: $39/month + $6/person • Complete: $39/month + $12/person • Concierge: $149/month + $12/person	Automated payroll tax filing, built-in benefits, and time tracking	User-friendly interface, comprehensive time tracking	Customer reviews vary, with some satisfied and others unhappy with the quality of service
Paylocity	Pricing available on request	Streamlined expense management and a comprehensive workforce platform	Quick responsive team	Run payroll as needed without extra charges and efficient overall payroll management
Homebase	• Basic: Free • Essentials: $20 • Plus: $48 • All-in-one: $80	Seamless timesheet conversion, multi-location payroll processing	Efficient hourly team payment management and streamlined operational processes	Helpful and timely service
Buddy Punch	• Standard: $3.99/user/month • Pro: $4.99/user/month • Premium: $6.99/user/month • Enterprise: Contact for pricing	Accurate and in-depth data insights, and automated payroll processes	Time and cost-efficient payroll management and quick import for easy payments	Satisfactory customer service especially for setup related queries

Top 8 payroll services for contractors

Here are the top 8 contractor payroll software to consider for seamless financial management:

1. When I Work

Rated 4.3/5 on G2, When I Work helps you manage contractor payrolls effectively. With When I Work payroll management software, there is no need for importing timesheets, estimations, time-consuming edits, or syncing from other systems. This makes it ideal for streamlined contractor payment management. 

Key features:

• When I Work offers a full service payroll software – no importing or closing periods required.
• Payroll is always ready to run with a single click. 
• You can seamlessly integrate your timesheets without any syncing hassle.
• The real-time insights feature gives instant visibility into your employee payroll expenses to empower you to budget effectively and control labor costs.

• The software simplifies workforce scheduling and internal communication with a user-friendly interface, streamlining your operations.
• Keep track of working hours effortlessly with the time clock feature, making time management a breeze.

Pricing:
The Essential plan is priced at $2.50 per user, the Pro plan at $5.00 per user, and the Premium plan at $8.00 per user.

2. Deel

Deel offers payroll and compliance services, catering to companies engaging international employees and contractors.

Key features:

• This contractor payment software supports payments worldwide, ensuring contracts align with local regulations.
• Allows worldwide contractor payments with 15 payment methods, reducing fees and simplifying the payment process.
• On the downside, Deel might lack the flexibility for businesses with highly specific compliance, payroll, or reporting requirements. If you have specific payroll needs, you might be limited in your ability to customize.

Pricing:
Pricing options for contractor payments start at $49/ month. 

3. Eddy

Eddy offers a straightforward full-service payroll solution designed for small businesses.

Key features:

• Eddy allows payment straight to contractors’ bank accounts, offering the flexibility to split their checks into up to 7 accounts.
• You can refine payroll processes to ensure precision and compliance.
• Eddy might have limitations in features and a less smooth interface, potentially requiring you to do more behind-the-scenes work.

Pricing:
Starting at $6 per person per month, Eddy allows you to pick customized payment services for contractors based on your requirements.

4. Justworks

Justworks Payroll offers a flexible solution with straightforward features for simplified and reliable payroll processing.

Key features:

• With its payroll feature, Justworks saves you time by automating payments, tax calculations, and withholdings.

• An easy and comprehensive time-tracking system, especially beneficial for companies with diverse employee schedules, freelancers or contractors.
• Some users share that reporting capabilities may be limited, lacking sophistication, and offering no option for ready-made reports.

Pricing:
The Basic plan costs $59 per month per employee, while the Plus plan costs $99. 

5. Gusto

Gusto offers a straightforward payroll solution, allowing you to run payroll as often as needed without extra charges.

Key features:

• Gusto takes care of your payroll taxes automatically, so you don’t have to file them on your own.
• You can get the convenience of built-in benefits and time-tracking features, adding efficiency to your overall payroll management.
• Gusto may have fewer options for customizing the software.

Pricing:
The Core plan is $39 per month with an additional $6 per person, the Complete plan is also $39 per month with an additional $12 per person, and the Concierge plan is $149 per month with an extra $12 per person.

6. Paylocity

Paylocity positions itself as a modern payroll solution with automated processes to make your job easier.

Key features:

• You can simplify expense tracking with Paylocity’s user-friendly solution, eliminating the need for spreadsheets and manual calculations.
• Paylocity ensures appropriate shift coverage, minimizing unplanned costs for better workforce management.
• Paylocity may have usability challenges, being perceived as not user-friendly and having slower responsiveness.

Pricing:
Available on request

7. Homebase

Homebase offers flexibility for hourly team payments, making it suitable for contractor payments.

Key features:

• You can convert timesheets into hours and wages for payroll processing, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
• It allows you to run payroll for multiple locations with just a few clicks.
• On the downside, a lack of advanced customization options may limit the tool’s adaptability to specific business needs.

Pricing:
The Basic plan is free, Essentials is $20, Plus is $48, and the All-in-one plan costs $80.

8. Buddy Punch

Buddy Punch offers a pain-free payroll system to save you time and money.

Key features:

• Buddy Punch Payroll provides accurate and in-depth data, giving you the insights you need.
• You can automate your payroll with Buddy Punch. A quick import lets you pay your employees and contractors within a few clicks, saving time and reducing manual efforts.
• Some users express dissatisfaction with the manual and restrictive nature of Buddy Punch’s time card and time punch system.

Pricing:
The Standard plan costs $3.99 per user per month, the Pro plan is $4.99 per user per month, and the Premium plan is $6.99 per user per month, with Enterprise options available upon request. 

Streamline your contractor payroll services with When I Work

With so many options to choose from, it can be daunting to pick the best contractor payroll software for your business. 

For unparalleled efficiency and user-friendly features, elevate your payroll services for contractors with When I Work. Equipped with timesheet integrations and real-time insights, experience a seamless payroll management solution that stands out from the rest. 

Ready to transform your operations? Check out pricing details now and witness the difference firsthand.