Deel vs Multiplier: Which Is Better for Contractors in 2025?

Deel and Multiplier are two leading global employment platforms offering both EOR services and contractor management. Both have strong reputations and serve thousands of companies worldwide. But which one is better if you're working exclusively with independent contractors?

This comparison breaks down pricing, features, and the fundamental question: do you need an EOR platform at all for contractor management? We'll look at both platforms objectively, then show you a different approach built specifically for contractors.

Quick Comparison

Deel Overview

Deel is a comprehensive global employment platform that started with contractor payments and expanded into full EOR services. Today, Deel serves over 35,000 companies and processes billions in payments annually.

Contractor pricing: Deel charges $49/month per contractor for basic contractor management. This includes contracts, invoicing, and payment processing. For Contractor of Record services (where Deel becomes the legal employer), pricing jumps to $325/month per contractor.

Payment processing: Deel processes all payments through their platform. You fund your Deel account, they pay contractors, and they charge $5-15 per transfer depending on the payment method and destination. Contractors receive funds in their local currency.

Features: Deel offers automated contracts, invoicing, payment scheduling, compliance tools, and integration with accounting software. Their platform is polished and feature-rich, designed for companies managing both employees and contractors globally.

Strengths: Comprehensive platform, strong brand recognition, good for mixed teams (employees + contractors), extensive country coverage, robust compliance features.

Weaknesses: Expensive for contractor-only use ($490/month for 10 contractors), per-contractor pricing scales poorly, payment processing fees add up, overkill if you only work with contractors.

Multiplier Overview

Multiplier is a global employment platform focused on EOR services and contractor management. Founded in 2020, Multiplier has grown rapidly and now serves companies across 150+ countries with a focus on emerging markets.

Contractor pricing: Multiplier charges $40/month per contractor, making it slightly cheaper than Deel for contractor management. For 10 contractors, you'd pay $400/month. They also offer Contractor of Record services at higher pricing tiers.

Payment processing: Like Deel, Multiplier processes payments through their platform. You fund your account, they handle the transfers, and they charge $5-12 per payment depending on the method and destination. Contractors can receive payments in multiple currencies.

Features: Multiplier provides contract templates, automated invoicing, payment scheduling, compliance tools, and multi-currency support. Their platform emphasizes simplicity and strong coverage in Asia-Pacific and emerging markets.

Strengths: Lower per-contractor pricing than Deel, strong emerging market coverage, good compliance features, responsive support, clean interface.

Weaknesses: Still expensive for contractor-only use ($400/month for 10 contractors), per-contractor pricing model, payment processing fees, built primarily for EOR services.

The Problem Both Platforms Share

Both Deel and Multiplier are built for Employer of Record (EOR) services—hiring full-time employees internationally. This makes sense if you need:

• Local payroll compliance and tax withholding
• Benefits administration (health insurance, retirement, etc.)
• Employment law coverage and legal entity management
• HR support for full-time employees

But if you're working with independent contractors who handle their own taxes and already have Wise/PayPal/Payoneer accounts? You're paying for infrastructure you don't need.

The per-contractor pricing model makes sense for EOR services (where the platform handles payroll, taxes, and benefits for each person). But for contractors who are self-employed and manage their own compliance, paying $40-49 per contractor per month is expensive overhead.

Additionally, both platforms process payments through their systems. This means you're funding their accounts, they're moving money to contractors, and you're paying transfer fees on top of the monthly subscription. You lose direct control over payment timing and methods.

A Different Approach: Kontrable

We built Kontrable specifically for businesses working with contractors (not employees). The core difference: we don't process payments. You pay contractors directly via your existing Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer accounts. Kontrable organizes the work, tracks milestones, and documents payments—but the money flows directly from you to your contractors.

Pricing: $99/month flat for up to 25 contractors. No per-contractor fees, no transfer fees (you pay your provider's standard rates), no hidden costs. For 10 contractors, that's $99/month vs $400/month (Multiplier) or $490/month (Deel).

Direct payments: Keep using Wise, PayPal, or Payoneer. You control when and how you pay. Kontrable helps you track which payments are due, attach proof of payment, and get contractor confirmations—but you make the actual transfers.

Contractor-focused features: Contracts and scopes of work, milestone-based project tracking, invoice management and approvals, payment proof and contractor confirmations, clean audit trail for finance, monthly exports for reconciliation.

What we don't do: We don't handle payroll (your contractors aren't employees). We don't process payments (you pay directly). We don't offer benefits administration (contractors handle their own). We don't provide EOR services (you're hiring true independent contractors).

This focused approach means lower costs, more control, and features built specifically for contractor relationships—not adapted from employee management systems.

Who Should Choose What

Choose Deel if: You need to hire full-time employees internationally and want a comprehensive EOR platform. You're managing a mix of employees and contractors and want everything in one system. You have budget for $49/contractor/month and value Deel's brand and extensive features.

Choose Multiplier if: You need EOR services for international employees with strong emerging market coverage. You're managing both employees and contractors and want a clean interface. You prefer Multiplier's pricing ($40/contractor vs Deel's $49/contractor) and focus on Asia-Pacific markets.

Choose Kontrable if: You're working exclusively with independent contractors (not employees). You want to pay contractors directly via Wise/PayPal/Payoneer without a middleman. You need contractor management (contracts, milestones, payments, documentation) without EOR overhead. You're managing 5-25 contractors and want flat pricing instead of per-contractor fees.

The Bottom Line

Deel and Multiplier are excellent platforms for what they're designed to do: hire and manage full-time employees internationally through EOR services. Multiplier is slightly cheaper for contractors ($40/month vs Deel's $49/month), but both are expensive if you're only working with contractors.

If you're hiring employees, use an EOR platform. If you're working with independent contractors, consider whether you need EOR infrastructure at all. Kontrable offers a contractor-specific alternative: direct payments, flat pricing, and features built for contractor relationships—not adapted from employee systems.