How to hire and pay international contractors: methods and fees

Four ways to pay a contractor abroad

The four ways differ in two points: who signs the contract with the contractor, and what you pay.

With the first three ways, you sign the contract and pay the contractor's invoices. With a COR, the contractor signs with the COR and sends it the invoices.

Sources: Payoneer, pricing (1 Jan 2026), Wise, Business pricing, Deel, pricing, Deel, about Deel Premium, Multiplier, pricing, Papaya Global, pricing, Multiplier, Contractor of Record, Native Teams, pricing, Skuad, pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

The contractor prices of 13 providers

The prices that each provider publishes on its own pages, a month for each contractor. A "from" price is the lowest price. "None" means that the provider's pages show no such offer.

With a contractor plan, you stay the contracting party. With a contractor of record, the provider signs with the contractor.

Sources: Deel, pricing, Deel, about Deel Premium, G-P, pricing, Justworks, pricing, Multiplier, pricing, Native Teams, pricing, Oyster, pricing, Oyster, Oyster Shell, Papaya Global, pricing, Playroll, Contractor Management, RemoFirst, pricing, Remote, pricing, Rippling, pricing, Skuad, pricing, Rippling, Contractor of Record, Boundless, pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

Bank transfer

You pay each invoice from your business bank account. Your bank charges its own fee and sets the exchange rate.

An international (SWIFT) transfer can pass through intermediary banks. They can take fees from the amount, so the contractor can get less than you sent.

There is no fee a month for each contractor. But you do the work yourself: the contract, the invoices, the records and the check of the contractor's status.

Sources: Deel help centre, withdrawal feesChecked 15 Oct 2026

Payment services such as Wise and Payoneer

A payment service sends money abroad from a business account in your name. Its fees differ by currency, by country and by the way you pay.

Payoneer

A payment from your Payoneer balance to a contractor in another country costs up to 1%, plus up to US$4. From a US bank account by ACH, it costs 1%. The contractor pays US$1.50 to move the money to a bank in their own country, where Payoneer offers this.Payoneer, pricing (1 Jan 2026)Checked 15 Oct 2026

Wise

A Wise Business account is free to open. A transfer costs from 0.23%, and the fee varies by currency. Wise says that it does not inflate the mid-market exchange rate.Wise, Business pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

A payment service only moves the money. You still write the contract, collect the invoices and check the contractor's status.

Contractor platforms

A contractor platform keeps the contracts, collects the invoices and can pay each contractor in their own currency. You stay the contracting party.

The plans that each provider publishes on its own pages. A "from" price is the lowest price.

Deel: Contractors

US$49 a month for each contractor. Deel Premium, US$50 more, covers misclassification costs up to US$25,000 a contract.Deel, pricing, Deel, about Deel PremiumChecked 15 Oct 2026

G-P: G-P Contractor

From US$39 a month for each contractor, only in a month when you pay that contractor. G-P says that it can offer lower rates above 10 contractors a month.G-P, pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

Justworks: International Contractors

US$39 a month for each contractor that you pay in the month, in over 60 countries. It is an add-on to a Justworks Payroll, Basic or Plus plan.Justworks, pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

Multiplier: Contractors

US$49 a month for each contractor with monthly billing, or US$40 with yearly billing.Multiplier, pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

Native Teams: Contractor Pay

From US$19 a month for each contractor, with one free admin account.Native Teams, pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

Oyster: Global Contractors

US$29 a month for each contractor, after 30 free days. The Oyster Shell add-on, US$49 more, covers misclassification losses up to US$50,000 a claim.Oyster, pricing, Oyster, Oyster ShellChecked 15 Oct 2026

Papaya Global: Contractor solution

From US$5 a month for each contractor.Papaya Global, pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

Playroll: Contractor Management

US$35 a month for each contractor, with no minimum.Playroll, Contractor ManagementChecked 15 Oct 2026

RemoFirst: Premium Contractors

US$25 a month for each contractor, to process the payments. The free plan covers contracts and onboarding, but not the payments.RemoFirst, pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

Remote: Contractor Management

From US$29 a month for each contractor that you work with in the month. Contractor Management Plus, from US$99, covers penalties up to US$100,000 for each contractor.Remote, pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

Rippling: Global Contractors

Rippling gives quotes only.Rippling, pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

Skuad: Contractor Management System

From US$19 a month for each contractor.Skuad, pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

Contractor of record: the provider signs with the contractor

A contractor of record (COR) engages the contractor for your company, pays them and bills you. The published prices are US$99 to US$400 a month for each contractor, in US dollars.

Deel

Deel says that it legally hires contractors on the client's behalf and assumes the liability for misclassification claims.Deel, pricing, Deel, about Deel Contractor of Record, Deel, questions about Contractor of RecordChecked 15 Oct 2026

Rippling

Rippling says that it engages independent contractors on a customer's behalf, and takes the liability for misclassification claims.Rippling, Contractor of Record, Rippling, pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

Remote

Remote says that it engages and pays the contractor directly, with an uncapped indemnity.Remote, pricing, Remote, Contractor of RecordChecked 15 Oct 2026

Other providers do not say that they engage the contractor. Check who signs the contract with the contractor. Compare the contractor of record offers.

Sources: Multiplier, pricing, Multiplier, Contractor of Record, Native Teams, pricing, Skuad, pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

Exchange rates and transfer fees

When you pay in one currency and the contractor gets paid in another, the provider converts the money. Its exchange rate can include a margin.

Deel

Deel says that you avoid a conversion when you pay each invoice in its own currency. Otherwise, it converts at a forward rate from its banking partners. A bank transfer to Deel costs US$5. A card from the US or the EU costs 2.9% plus US$0.30. The contractor pays no Deel fee to withdraw to a local bank, and US$5 to US$10 by SWIFT.Deel help centre, exchange rates and fees, Deel help centre, withdrawal feesChecked 15 Oct 2026

Oyster

Oyster charges a conversion fee only when you pay in a currency other than the contract currency. Its pricing page states no percent.Oyster, pricingChecked 15 Oct 2026

Ask each provider: "Which exchange rate do you use, and who pays the transfer fees?" The hidden costs guide gives what each provider says about its exchange rate for EOR invoices. See the exchange rate margins of each provider.

Contractor or employee: check this first

In each of our countries, the law looks at how the work is done, not only at the contract. A person who works on your instructions and as part of your team can count as an employee. See the employee test in each of our countries.

The way that you pay does not change the test. An add-on such as Deel Premium or Oyster Shell pays some costs of a claim, up to a limit.

A contractor who habitually concludes contracts for your company can also create a taxable presence for it. Read about permanent establishment.

Sources: Deel, pricing, Deel, about Deel Premium, Oyster, pricing, Oyster, Oyster ShellChecked 15 Oct 2026

How to hire and pay an international contractor, step by step

1. Check the statusCheck that the person is really independent under the law of their country. If they work like an employee, use an employer of record (EOR).
2. Choose how to payChoose a bank transfer, a payment service, a contractor platform or a COR. Compare the fee a month and the fees for each transfer.
3. Sign a contractAgree the work, the rate, the currency, the invoice dates and who owns the work. With a COR, the COR signs the contract.
4. Collect the tax formsAsk for the forms that your tax authority needs. In the US, a foreign person gives Form W-8BEN to the payer, to show their foreign status.
5. Pay each invoicePay on the agreed date, in the agreed currency. Check the exchange rate and the transfer fees before you pay.
6. Keep the recordsKeep the contract, the invoices and the payments. The contractor pays their own tax and social contributions.

Sources: IRS, About Form W-8 BENChecked 15 Oct 2026

When a contractor of record or an EOR fits instead

• A payment service or a platform fits a person who is really independent, with other clients and their own hours.
• A contractor of record fits when you want the provider to sign the contract and to cover misclassification claims.
• An employer of record fits a person who works like an employee: set hours, your tools and your team.

An EOR employs the person and runs the payroll. In our 10 countries, EOR fees are US$197 to US$796 a month for each employee, plus the employer costs. Read how an employer of record works.

Your own company, an EOR and a contractor each have their own costs and duties. Compare the three ways to hire abroad.

Sources: Boundless pricing, Oyster pricing, European Central BankChecked 1 Oct 2026