The Best Freelancer Management Software to Streamline Your Workflow

Gigs are not just for musicians anymore. In today’s economy, freelancer management software has become indispensable for businesses looking to leverage the growing freelance workforce. As this demographic expands, the need for robust tools to manage freelancers grows. 

Effective freelancer management is essential for success in the modern workplace, from tracking time and payments to facilitating communication. From tracking time and payments to facilitating communication, effective freelancer management is essential for success in the modern workplace.

In this post, we’ll explore the top freelancer management software options available. You’ll also discover how these platforms can help you manage freelancers better, saving you time.

What is freelancer management software?

As the extended workforce continues to grow, freelancer management software helps companies streamline operations and keep everything on track.

These tools are designed to simplify managing freelancers. They integrate functionalities like onboarding, project management, time tracking, and payment processing into one platform.

Here are some of its key purposes:

• Centralize freelance management. Keep everything from contracts to communication in one place.
• Improve project tracking. Stay on top of project progress and deadlines.
• Simplify paying freelancers. Automated payment processing ensures freelancers are paid on time.
• Enhance collaboration. Tools for communication and file sharing make teamwork seamless.
• Boost productivity. By reducing administrative responsibilities, teams can focus more on core tasks.

For example, suppose a digital marketing agency manages a team of freelance writers, graphic designers, and SEO specialists. Freelancer management tools help them track progress and send timely payments, which leads to smoother project execution and better results.

Key features to look for

When selecting a freelance management system, it’s essential to look for features that address your specific needs. Here are some core features to consider:

• Dashboard. The dashboard is the central hub of most software. You can view all your projects, deadlines, and freelancer details.
  
• Time tracking. Time tracking features allow freelancers to keep track of their work hours and switch seamlessly between projects and devices. 
  
• Productivity tools. Productivity features help managers identify time-wasting apps and websites, spot trends, and maximize output and efficiency.
  
• Reporting. Dashboards often have real-time updates on employee time and performance — but they’re not the be-all-end-all of good software. Detailed analytics and reporting features help teams gain and visualize insights to plan better projects. 
  
• Payments. Automated invoicing and payment systems simplify payroll for freelancers. Make sure you have an app that can pay freelancers using their preferred payroll provider from one central location. 

Choosing the right freelance management software affects how effectively you manage your freelance workforce. With the right freelancer management software, your team can achieve seamless coordination and increased productivity right from the moment you hire freelancers.

Top freelancer management software in 2024

Hubstaff

Hubstaff is a leading freelancer management software known for its comprehensive suite of tools designed to streamline workforce management. It offers robust time tracking and productivity monitoring features that help businesses manage their freelance teams. 

With its user-friendly interface and extensive reporting capabilities, Hubstaff makes it easy to track work hours, monitor productivity, and handle payments for freelancers anywhere in the world. 

Key features

• Time tracking. Accurately track the time freelancers and independent contractors spend on tasks and projects, perfect for project managers.
  
• Productivity monitoring. Monitor activity levels and understand how freelance workers are spending their time to increase productivity.
  
• Automated payments. Simplify payroll by automating freelancer payments based on tracked hours, reducing manual calculations and errors.
  
• Online timesheets. Seamlessly convert freelancer hours into real-time, automated timesheets. Approve manual entries and time adjustments in just a few clicks. 
  
• Invoicing. Create and send invoices directly through Hubstaff. Then, expedite the process with custom branding and automated line items. 
  
• Analytics. See real-time analytics and gain insights into productivity, time usage, and project progress. Access engagement scores, balance meetings and focus time, and more with Hubstaff Insights. 
  
• Reporting. Access 20+ detailed reports for time and activity, payments, expenses, and more. 

Pricing

• Starter: $7 per user/month. Includes time tracking, online timesheets, activity levels, and one integration.
  
• Grow: $9 per user/month. Includes everything in Starter plus automated payments, invoicing, and more detailed reporting.
  
• Team: $12 per user/month. Includes everything in Grow plus advanced reporting and analytics, unlimited integrations, and priority support.
  
• Enterprise: Custom pricing. Includes everything in Team plus HIPAA and SOC-2 Type II compliance, enterprise deployment, and account provisioning.

Toggl Track

Toggl Track helps businesses efficiently manage freelancers and optimize spending. With its robust features and clean, simplistic interface, it simplifies contractor management and helps businesses pay freelancers accurately.

Key features

• Time tracking. Easily track the hours of your contingent workforce with simple, user-friendly timers.
  
• Reporting and analytics. Generate detailed reports to gain insights into productivity.
  
• Team management. Manage multiple freelancers and contractors, assign tasks, and monitor their progress.
  
• Integrations. Connect Toggl Track with 100+ other tools you use, enhancing its functionality and streamlining your workflow.

Pricing

• Free: $0 per month. Includes basic time tracking and reporting for up to 5 users.
  
• Starter: $10 per user/month. Includes advanced time tracking and integrations.
  
• Premium: $20 per user/month. Includes everything in Starter plus detailed reporting and analytics, team management, and priority support.
  
• Enterprise: Custom pricing. Includes everything in Premium plus a dedicated success manager, priority support, and customizable solutions.

Timely

Timely is a good choice for smaller businesses looking to manage their contingent workers effectively. This freelancer management system simplifies tracking time and handling payments, making it easier for modern businesses to operate smoothly.

Key features

• Automatic time tracking. Timely tracks time spent on tasks automatically, ensuring accurate time logs without the need for manual time entry.
  
• Invoicing. Generate invoices based on tracked hours, making it easy to pay freelancers on time.
  
• Reporting and insights. Access detailed reports and insights to understand productivity and freelancer costs.
  
• Integrations. Connect Timely with other business tools to enhance its functionality and streamline your workflow.

Pricing

• Starter: $11 per user/month. Includes automatic time tracking and basic reporting.
  
• Premium: $20 per user/month. Includes everything in Starter plus advanced reporting and invoicing.
  
• Unlimited: $28 per user/month. Includes everything in Premium plus unlimited projects, priority support, and additional integrations.
  
• Enterprise: Custom pricing. Includes everything in Unlimited plus tailored onboarding, priority customer support, and early access to product developments.

TalentDesk

TalentDesk is a powerful tool for businesses looking to enhance their freelance management systems. From streamlining the hiring process to managing contracts and payments, TalentDesk provides a comprehensive solution for managing freelancers effectively.

Key features

• Onboarding process. TalentDesk’s onboarding feature separates it from any other tool on this list. It allows you to simplify the onboarding of new freelancers with automated workflows and easy-to-follow steps.
  
• Contract management. Manage contracts with freelancers seamlessly, ensuring all legal and compliance requirements are met.
  
• Project management. Organize and oversee projects with tools designed to keep tasks on track and ensure deadlines have been met.
  
• Time tracking. Accurately track hours worked to ensure precise billing and payments to freelancers.
  
• Payment processing. Simplify the process of paying freelancers with automated payment solutions.

Pricing

TalentDesk has three pricing plans, but you’ll need to contact their sales team for pricing details. 

• Starter: Includes basic onboarding process, contract management, and project management features. 
  
• Professional: Includes everything in Starter plus advanced time tracking, detailed reporting, and priority support. 
  
• Enterprise: Includes everything in Professional plus additional integrations, custom workflows, and dedicated account management. 

Worksuite

Worksuite is a versatile freelance management system that offers a comprehensive suite of tools to streamline the process of hiring freelancers. It is particularly beneficial for hiring managers and recruitment agencies looking to efficiently manage a large pool of qualified freelancers. Worksuite simplifies everything from vetting freelancers to automating payments, making it a solid choice.

Key features

• Vetting freelancers. Efficiently vet and onboard qualified freelancers to ensure they meet your project requirements.
  
• Project management. Organize projects, assign tasks, and monitor progress to keep everything on track.
  
• Automate payments. Streamline the payroll processes with automated solutions.
  
• Time tracking. Accurately track work hours to manage productivity and billing.
  
• Reporting and analytics. Gain insights into project performance and freelancer productivity with detailed reports.

Pricing

Like TalentDesk, Worksuite offers three pricing plans, but you’ll need to contact sales in order to come to terms on pricing.

• Core. Includes unlimited freelancers and vendors, centralized talent management, agreement templates, and SOC-2 compliance.
  
• Plus. Includes everything in Core plus recruitment tools, configurable dashboards, timesheets, and integrations via Zapier. 
  
• Enterprise. Includes everything in Plus plus enterprise account administration, dedicated account manager, enhanced security, and custom workflows.

Worksome

Worksome enables companies to effectively manage their external talent. Designed to streamline the entire process of hiring and managing external workers, Worksome helps businesses maintain a robust talent pool, onboard new freelance talent, and pay them efficiently. 

Key features

• Talent pool management. Easily manage external talent and always have the right skills for your projects.
  
• Onboarding. Streamline the onboarding process for external workers, ensuring a smooth transition into your projects.
  
• Compliance. Stay compliant with legal requirements when hiring and managing external talent.
  
• Automated payments. Simplify the payment process with automated solutions to ensure freelancers are paid on time. 
  
• Reporting and analytics. Gain insights into your talent pool and project performance with detailed reports.

Pricing

Worksome also utilizes a sales-driven pricing plan. Contact their sales team for more details on their pricing plans.

• Team. Unlimited contacts, global compliant contracting, and global payments.
  
• Enterprise. Includes everything in Team plus extensive background checks, misclassification indemnification, and stronger payment features. 

How to choose the right freelancer management software

Assess your needs

Determine the size of your freelance workforce and the types of projects you’ll be managing. Are you dealing with a large number of remote workers, or is your team relatively small? 

Consider the nature of your projects and the level of subject matter expertise required. Identify the key pain points in your current process, like manual time tracking or inefficient payment systems. 

For instance, if you’re a hiring manager, think about the importance of automated onboarding and compliance features. Evaluating these factors will help you understand what you need from a freelance management system.

Compare features and pricing

Once you’ve assessed your needs, it’s time to compare the features and pricing of different software options. Look for tools that offer enhanced communication and collaboration features, as well as robust reporting capabilities. Consider the following questions:

• What features will make your job easier?
• How can new software streamline payments and invoicing?
• Are there compliance and legal management features?
• Can it support remote workers effectively?
• Does it integrate with your existing tools?

Price is also a critical factor. Make sure the tool fits within your budget without compromising on needed features. Some platforms offer tiered pricing plans, allowing you to choose a plan that best meets your needs and scales with your business.

Read reviews and testimonials

Reading reviews and testimonials is a non-negotiable process. Look for feedback from businesses similar to yours to gauge how well the software handles specific challenges.

Pay attention to comments about customer support. Good support can make a significant difference in your experience. Reviews on popular websites like G2 often highlight the strengths and weaknesses of a product.

Consider reaching out to peers in your industry for recommendations based on their experiences. Taking the experiences of others into account helps you choose a tool that aligns with your talent acquisition goals.

Benefits of using freelancer management software

Improved time management

Freelancer management software can significantly improve productivity by automating various time-consuming tasks.

With features like time tracking and automated invoicing, businesses can save valuable time that can be redirected towards more valuable activities. This helps reduce the unnecessary risk of errors in manual processes and keeps projects on schedule.

Enhanced project tracking

Freelancer management tools allow businesses to monitor progress across an array of projects in real time. With clear visibility into project timelines and milestones, managers can identify potential bottlenecks early and take corrective action. This improves productivity and leads to higher quality outcomes and timely project delivery.

Better collaboration and communication

Freelancer management software facilitates better collaboration and communication among team members, regardless of their location. Enhanced communication tools integrated into these platforms help bridge the gap between remote workers and in-house teams.

Tips for effective freelance management

Set clear goals and deadlines

Define specific tasks and expectations, and communicate these clearly to your freelance team. This helps align their efforts with your project objectives and enhances the overall communication process.

By having well-defined goals, you can better monitor progress and address any issues promptly.

Use time management techniques

Implementing time management techniques can significantly boost productivity. Consider these tried-and-tested methods:

• Pomodoro Technique. Break work into 25-minute intervals followed by short breaks to maintain focus and productivity.
  
• Eisenhower Matrix. Create a matrix and prioritize tasks by urgency and importance to tackle the most critical work first.
  
• Time Blocking. Allocate specific time slots for different tasks to structure your day and avoid multitasking.
  
• Getting Things Done (GTD). Capture all tasks in a trusted system, clarify next actions, and regularly review progress with the Getting Things Done method. 
  
• Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule). With the Pareto Principle, focus on the 20% of tasks that will produce 80% of the desired results.

Periodically review and adjust your workflow

Effective freelance management involves regularly reviewing and adjusting your workflow on an ongoing basis.

Continuously evaluate the performance of your freelancers and the overall project progress. Identify any bottlenecks or areas where specific skills are underutilized. Regular reviews help maintain a dynamic and adaptable work environment, which is essential for successful freelance management.

Common challenges and how to overcome them

Initial setup and learning curve

The learning curve can be particularly daunting during freelancer onboarding, especially if the platform isn’t user-friendly. To overcome this, choose a platform that offers comprehensive tutorials and customer support to help your team get up to speed in a timely manner.

A user-friendly platform with intuitive navigation can reduce the time required for the initial setup and guarantee a smoother transition.

Maintaining consistency in usage

Inconsistent use of the tool can lead to data gaps and inefficiencies, hindering project progress. Address this by establishing clear guidelines and best practices for using the software.

Regular training sessions and reminders can help get team members in sync, maximizing the benefits of the platform and keeping top freelancers engaged and productive.

Ensuring data security

Ensuring data security is a critical concern when using freelancer management software. Protecting sensitive information like freelancer contracts and payment details is essential for avoiding potential breaches.

To mitigate this risk, choose a platform with robust security features, including encryption and regular security updates. Additionally, implement strict access controls and regularly review your security protocols to safeguard your data. 

Conclusion

Remember when freelancing was seen as a side hustle, barely a stable profession? Fast forward to today, and it’s a cornerstone of the modern workforce.

With the right tools, managing freelancers is easier than it’s ever been. Imagine no more spreadsheet chaos or payment headaches — just smooth, efficient operations.

Now is the time to explore and choose the right software for your needs. Dive into the features, compare options, and read reviews to find what works best for your team. Take the leap and your freelance management game to the next level. Your future self will thank you.

Are you ready to elevate your remote team’s efficiency? Embrace seamless collaboration, enhanced productivity, and transparent work processes with Hubstaff – the leading employee tracking software! With Hubstaff, you can ensure your team stays aligned and productive!