If you’ve been using Bubty to manage your contingent workforce, you’ve likely heard the news: Bubty has been acquired by Upwork and is now part of a new enterprise offering called Lifted, an Upwork Company.
This shift has changed the landscape. What was once a versatile contractor management tool is now being integrated into a platform with a clear enterprise focus. This leaves many startups, SMBs, and scaling companies asking the same question: “What’s the right alternative for us now?”
You’re no longer just looking for a replacement; you’re looking for a partner that aligns with your company’s size, speed, and primary goals.
This guide will walk you through the best Bubty alternatives, breaking them down into two key categories: robust enterprise solutions and agile talent platforms. We’ll help you find the perfect fit to not only manage your contractors but to accelerate your growth.
3 key reasons former Bubty users are seeking alternatives
The acquisition is the main catalyst, but the reasons for seeking an alternative go deeper. The new direction of Lifted by Upwork has created a mismatch for many growing businesses.
1. A New focus on the enterprise
Lifted’s stated purpose is to become the global standard for how enterprises engage all types of contingent workers. The platform is now built to handle complex needs like agent-of-record (AOR), employer-of-record (EOR), and integrations with existing enterprise workforce programs. For a startup or SMB, these features can introduce unnecessary complexity and cost.
2. The need for a talent-first platform
Many businesses used Bubty not just for administration but to help organize the talent they were finding. The biggest challenge for a growing company isn’t always payroll—it’s finding the right people in the first place. An enterprise compliance suite solves an HR problem, but a talent-first platform solves a growth problem by connecting you with high-quality, vetted experts.
3. A desire for simplicity and speed
Scaling companies thrive on agility. You need platforms that are intuitive, fast, and eliminate friction, not add administrative layers. The move towards an all-in-one enterprise solution can mean more complex workflows and a less streamlined experience, which is the opposite of what a fast-moving business needs.
How to choose your Bubty alternative: key features to evaluate
As you explore your options, focus on the features that will have the biggest impact on your business.
- Talent sourcing & quality: Does the platform help you find new talent, or just manage people you already have? Look for solutions with a curated, vetted network to ensure quality.
- Workforce management & onboarding: The platform should offer a streamlined hiring, payment, and compliance process. Look for simple contract creation, automated invoicing, and clear dashboards to manage your flexible team.
- Payments & compliance: Ensure the platform can handle payments efficiently, including multi-currency support for international talent. Crucially, it should simplify compliance for your business size, not overcomplicate it with enterprise-level features you don’t need.
Top Bubty alternatives for 2025
The best alternative depends entirely on your primary goal. Below, we’ve broken down the top solutions based on who they serve best.
Comprehensive enterprise platforms
These platforms are ideal for large organizations where global compliance, risk management, and handling multiple worker classifications (EOR, AOR) are the top priorities.
- Deel:
A leader in global HR, offering everything from contractor payments to EOR services. It’s an all-in-one solution for companies managing a distributed global workforce with complex legal and payroll needs. - Remote:
Provides a robust infrastructure for global HR, with a strong focus on compliance and local labor laws. A safe choice for risk-averse enterprises hiring a mix of employees and contractors worldwide. - Papaya Global:
Another powerful player in the global workforce payments space, offering a full suite of payroll, EOR, and contractor management solutions designed for large, multinational companies. - Worksome:
A freelance management system built for large companies to streamline how they find, manage, and pay their external talent, with a focus on consolidating freelancers into one system for HR and procurement.
The best Bubty alternative for startups, agencies & SMBs: Quickly Hire
For many former Bubty users, the primary challenge isn’t enterprise-level compliance—it’s finding and hiring the right talent fast. While the platforms above focus on managing the workforce you already have, Quickly Hire is the talent-first platform designed to help you build the team you need to scale.
Quickly Hire is the perfect alternative for startups, SMBs, and marketing teams who need to add vetted, high-impact fractional talent without the friction of traditional hiring or the complexity of enterprise software.
Why Quickly Hire is the right fit:
- Access a vetted, high-quality network:
Unlike open marketplaces, we are a curated platform. Every professional is rigorously vetted for skill and reliability, so you can hire with confidence. - AI-powered Matching for mnmatched speed:
Our self-service platform uses intelligent search to connect you with the ideal fractional experts in minutes, not weeks. - Focus on fractional, long-term engagements:
We specialize in building committed, long-term relationships through clear quarter-time, half-time, and three-quarter-time models. - A platform built to build and manage:
We started by solving the hardest problem first—finding incredible talent. Our platform provides the tools to manage your engagements simply, and we are continuously expanding our capabilities to be the single place you build and manage your modern, flexible team.
Other specialized tools & platforms
- Bonsai:
An all-in-one product suite for self-employed workers. It’s an excellent tool for individual freelancers and small agencies to manage their own proposals, contracts, projects, and invoicing with their clients. - Fiverr Workspace (formerly AND.CO):
Similar to Bonsai, this is a business management tool designed for freelancers. It helps with proposals, time tracking, and getting paid, making it a strong choice for independent professionals organizing their own business.
| Platform | Best for | Key Differentiator |
| Lifted (formerly Bubty) | Large Enterprise | Unified global compliance & contingent workforce administration. |
| Deel/Remote | Global HR Departments | EOR services and managing a mix of employees & contractors worldwide. |
| Quickly Hire | Starups, Agencies, SMBs, & Scaling Companies | Finding, hiring, and managing elite, vetted fractional talent quickly. |
Future trends in contractor and fractional talent management
The shift from Bubty to Lifted is part of a larger evolution in how businesses manage flexible talent. Staying ahead of these trends is key to building a competitive advantage. Here’s what to expect next:
The rise of specialized, curated platforms
The era of the massive, one-size-fits-all freelance marketplace is ending. The future belongs to specialized platforms that curate talent for specific industries, skills, or engagement models. Businesses are realizing that quality and fit are more important than sheer quantity. Platforms that focus on a specific niche, like vetted fractional experts, provide a faster and more reliable way to find the right person without the noise of an open market.
AI and automation will become standard
Artificial intelligence is moving from a buzzword to a core feature in modern hiring platforms. AI-powered matching algorithms can analyze a job’s requirements and instantly surface the most relevant candidates from a network, drastically reducing hiring time. This automation extends to onboarding and management, simplifying administrative tasks and freeing up founders and managers to focus on strategic work.
Deeper integration with your workflow
The most effective talent platforms won’t exist in a silo. Expect to see deeper integrations with the tools your team already uses every day, like Slack, Asana, and Jira. This creates a seamless experience where a fractional team member feels like a part of the core team, with integrated communication, project tracking, and reporting.
The right choice for growth
The acquisition of Bubty by Upwork has created a clear dividing line in the market. The path you choose must align with your most pressing business need.
If you are a large enterprise grappling with global compliance, the new Lifted by Upwork or other enterprise-focused platforms are built for you.
But if you are a growing business where finding the right talent is the key to unlocking your next stage of growth, then a talent-first platform is the clear choice. We invite you to explore the Quickly Hire platform and see how our focus on quality, speed, and flexibility can help you build the team you need to win.
Explore the Quickly Hire platform and find your next expert today.
Frequently asked questions about Bubty alternatives
What is the main difference between Lifted by Upwork and Quickly Hire?
The primary difference is the target audience and core purpose. Lifted by Upwork is an enterprise-first platform designed to help large companies manage global compliance and payments for their entire existing contingent workforce. Quickly Hire is a talent-first platform designed for startups, agencies, and SMBs, focused on helping them find and hire elite, vetted fractional talent quickly to solve immediate business needs.
Can I pay international contractors with these alternatives?
Yes, most top alternatives, including enterprise solutions like Deel and Remote, have robust global payment systems. Platforms like Quickly Hire are also equipped to handle payments and compliance for a distributed workforce, simplifying the process of working with top talent regardless of location.
How quickly can I hire someone using a platform like Quickly Hire?
Speed is a core advantage. While traditional hiring can take months, talent-first platforms with a pre-vetted network and AI-powered matching can connect you with qualified candidates in days, sometimes even hours. The entire process, from search to onboarding, is streamlined for agility.
Can I manage my existing contractors on Quickly Hire?
Quickly Hire’s primary focus today is on helping you find and hire new experts from our vetted talent network. However, our mission is to become the single platform for building and managing your entire modern, flexible workforce. We started by solving the hardest part first—the talent gap—and are continuously expanding our platform’s management capabilities.