# 15 best HR software in India (2026), compared | Peoplo.ai

URL: https://peoplo.ai/in/en/best-hr-software-india/

> Fifteen HR and payroll products for Indian companies compared on AI, PF, ESI and TDS, hiring, prices and free trials, with sources. Peoplo.ai is our pick.

People, companies and figures in product examples on this page are sample data, not customers.

[Compare](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/compare/)

Compare · India

# Best HR software in India (2026)

Our pick is Peoplo.ai: AI agents prepare payroll, onboarding, exits and claims, changes to pay and money wait for a person, and prices start at ₹1,975 a month for up to 25 employees. Other good fits: greytHR on price, Keka for project billing, Zoho People if you already use Zoho, and Darwinbox for large enterprises.

Written by the Peoplo.ai team · Last updated 3 November 2026. Peoplo.ai wrote this page and lists its own product first. Facts about other products come from their public pages, with the date we checked them.

Quick picks

**Our pick: AI agents, published prices**

Peoplo.ai

**Low price for payroll and leave**

greytHR

**Project billing and timesheets**

Keka

**Already on Zoho apps**

Zoho People

**Large enterprises**

Darwinbox

**A free plan for small teams**

factoHR

**Per-employee price and a 14-day trial**

Asanify

**Payroll plus compliance services**

Quikchex

Key facts for 2026

The PF wage ceiling rose to ₹25,000 a month from 17 September 2026, up from ₹15,000. Employee and employer each contribute 12% of PF wages. [Source](https://www.staffnews.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/EPFO_Wage_Ceiling_FAQs.pdf)

Under the Code on Wages, in force since 21 November 2025, final wages must be paid within two working days of an employee's last day. [Source](https://www.livelaw.in/articles/two-working-days-code-wages-employee-final-settlement-552780)

For tax year 2026-27, the new regime has no tax on taxable income up to ₹12 lakh after the rebate, and salaried employees get a standard deduction of ₹75,000. [Source](https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/documents/81799/11848482/memo-2026.pdf)

Gratuity is 15 days' wages for each year of service (wages ÷ 26), after 5 years, or 1 year for fixed-term employees, up to ₹20 lakh. [Source](https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/16823/1/aA2020-36.pdf)

ESI covers employees earning up to ₹21,000 a month: 0.75% from the employee and 3.25% from the employer. [Source](https://www.esic.gov.in/coverage)

At a glance

## The fifteen products side by side

| Product | Best for | AI | Statutory payroll | Hiring | Free trial | Price | Checked |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Peoplo.ai | Companies that want AI agents to prepare HR and payroll work, and groups with Indian and UAE companies. | AI agents that prepare the work | Designed to support PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS | Included in the plan | Free trial | ₹79 per employee a month before GST, for at least 25 employees | 3 November 2026 |
| 2. greytHR | Price is the deciding factor and you mainly need Indian payroll and leave. | NAVOS, an "execution-first" assistant on all plans | PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS across 28 states | Recruit add-on, ₹2,500 per recruiter a month | 7 days | Essential ₹2,495 or Growth ₹4,495 a month for up to 50 employees | 22 October 2026 |
| 3. Keka | You bill clients for project time and want timesheets, resourcing and invoicing in your HR system. | Keka AI: answers, drafts workflow steps, flags payroll anomalies | TDS, PF, ESI and PT across all states and union territories | Separate hiring plans (Pro and Advanced) | Not described | Quoted by sales; a setup fee applies | 22 October 2026 |
| 4. Zoho People | You already run your company on Zoho apps and want HR in the same family. | Zia: answers questions, executes tasks, pulls reports | Through Zoho Payroll, a separate product | Through Zoho Recruit | 30 days | Per-user plans, published | 23 October 2026 |
| 5. Darwinbox | You are a large enterprise or multinational and want a broad, global HCM suite. | More than 30 agents and a Super Agent, reported | Part of its HCM suite; check states with Darwinbox | In the suite, with recruiting agents reported | Demo | Quoted by sales | 23 October 2026 |
| 6. RazorpayX Payroll | You mainly need payroll and want salary payouts from the same product as your business banking. | Not described on the pages we checked | "Compliance payments, calculation and filing" on all plans | Not described on the pricing page | Not described | Prime ₹3,499 a month for up to 20 employees; 18% GST extra | 23 October 2026 |
| 7. HROne | You want selfie and geo-fenced attendance and a WhatsApp assistant for frontline staff. | One AI: Employee, HR and Recruiter AI agents | Payroll included from Basic | On Enterprise | Not described | Basic ₹4,950 or Professional ₹6,500 a month for 50 users | 23 October 2026 |
| 8. Savvy HRMS | Companies that want PF, ESI, TDS, LWF and PT challans in the entry plan, with geo-fenced attendance. | AI face recognition and AI email triggers (add-ons) | PF, ESIC, TDS, LWF and PT challans | On the quoted Pulse and Quantum plans | Demo | Core ₹4,500 a month, from ₹90 per employee | 3 November 2026 |
| 9. Asanify | Teams that want per-employee prices, a 14-day free trial and an employer of record option in India. | "Agentic AI" on VIP, and a WhatsApp HR bot | TDS, EPF, ESI, PT in 28 states and LWF, per its FAQ | Career page and pre-onboarding on VIP | 14 days | Essential ₹99 or VIP ₹199 per employee a month | 3 November 2026 |
| 10. Zimyo | Companies of 50 or more employees that want per-user prices and AI agents for payroll and the helpdesk. | Zim AI, with payroll, helpdesk and onboarding AI agents | Payroll with compliance; deductions not listed | Recruit add-on, ₹4,000 per recruiter a month | 14 days, limited features | ₹80, ₹160 or ₹240 per user a month; 50-user minimum | 3 November 2026 |
| 11. factoHR | Small teams that want to start free, or companies with field staff who need geo-fencing and face recognition. | Fia chatbot (add-on), Factobot and AI face recognition | Statutory compliance from Core; deductions not listed | Recruitment add-on, $75 per recruiter a month | Free plan up to 20 employees | Core ₹4,999 a month for up to 50 employees, billed quarterly | 3 November 2026 |
| 12. sumHR | Small teams that want one simple per-employee price. | Not described on the page we checked | Salary structures and IT declarations; deductions not listed | Recruit module marked "coming soon" | Demo | ₹1,428 a year per employee (about ₹119 a month) | 3 November 2026 |
| 13. Quikchex | Companies that want payroll software with payroll outsourcing and labour compliance services from one provider. | Not described on the page we checked | Outsourcing includes TDS, PF, ESI, PT and LWF | Digital talent sourcing and onboarding | Demo | Not shown on the pages we checked | 3 November 2026 |
| 14. ZingHR | You run a large shift-based workforce and need heavy attendance and shift management. | AI chatbot, AI screening with "robotic interviews", analytics | "Zero-touch payroll" with taxes and full and final settlements | Applicant tracking, video eKYC and digital onboarding | Demo | Quoted by sales | 23 October 2026 |
| 15. Odoo | You want one ERP for accounting, inventory, sales and HR, and have a partner to set it up. | General-purpose AI agents across the suite | India localisation; Odoo 20 reported to add TDS, EPF and F&F reports | Recruitment app | Free trial; one app free | Per user for the whole suite, published | 23 October 2026 |

From each vendor's own public pages, on the date shown. "Not described" means we did not find it on the pages we checked, not that the product lacks it.

How we chose

## Six things that matter to an Indian HR team

We picked HR and payroll products that Indian companies often compare, and read each one's own product and pricing pages, or a dated news report where a vendor's own pages don't say. We did not test competitors' software, and we do not take payment for a place on this list.

Indian statutory payroll

PF, ESI, professional tax and LWF by state, and TDS under both regimes, as each vendor describes them.

AI that does real work

Does the AI prepare work, such as a payroll check or an exit settlement, and who approves the changes it proposes?

Prices you can see

Can you see what it costs before you talk to sales?

Hiring to exit in one place

Hiring, onboarding and exits in the same product, not a separate purchase.

Beyond HR

Claims, expenses and company assets on the same employee record.

More than one country

Entities outside India, such as the UAE, in the same account.

Peoplo.ai is first because it is our product, and we say so. The others follow, grouped by who they suit; we did not score them against each other. Each card says what that vendor's own pages show, and when we checked.

The list

## The fifteen products, one by one

1 · Our pick

### Peoplo.ai

An agentic HRMS. AI agents prepare payroll checks, onboarding plans, exit settlements and claims, and changes to pay, tax, people records and money always wait for a person. Designed to support PF, ESI, professional tax and LWF for every state, and TDS under both regimes.

Best for: Companies that want AI agents to prepare HR and payroll work, and groups with Indian and UAE companies.

What stands out

AI agents prepare payroll checks, onboarding plans, exit settlements and claims, and important changes are written to an audit log: who did what, and when.

Published prices from ₹1,975 a month for up to 25 employees, with AI agents, hiring, onboarding and exits in the plan.

Claims and bills, company expenses, IT assets and a shared password vault on the same employee record, and UAE companies in the same account.

Worth checking

Published prices go up to 2,000 employees; above that, talk to us.

A newer product, so there are fewer published customer stories than for long-established vendors.

Built for SOC 2 and GDPR, with no SOC 2 certificate yet.

**Price**

₹79 per employee a month before GST, for at least 25 employees

**Free trial**

Free trial

**Statutory payroll**

Designed to support PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS

**Hiring**

Included in the plan

[Request a demo](https://peoplo.ai/contact/) [See pricing](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/pricing/)

2

### greytHR

A long-running Indian HR and payroll product that describes itself as "AI-first full suite HRMS and payroll software for Indian businesses", used by 33,000+ companies.

Best for: Price is the deciding factor and you mainly need Indian payroll and leave.

What stands out

Low published prices: Essential ₹2,495 and Growth ₹4,495 a month for up to 50 employees, then ₹45 or ₹85 per extra employee.

NAVOS takes actions such as granting leave, pulling reports and updating records, within the user's permissions.

PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS across 28 states.

Worth checking

Hiring and expenses are paid add-ons.

Premium is quoted by sales.

**Price**

Essential ₹2,495 or Growth ₹4,495 a month for up to 50 employees

**Free trial**

7 days

**Statutory payroll**

PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS across 28 states

**Hiring**

Recruit add-on, ₹2,500 per recruiter a month

[greytHR vs Peoplo.ai](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/compare/peoplo-vs-greythr/) [greytHR pricing page](https://www.greythr.com/pricing/) [greytHR home page](https://www.greythr.com/) From greytHR's public pages, checked 22 October 2026.

3

### Keka

A large Indian HR and payroll platform that describes itself as a "modern people platform for growing enterprises" chosen by 12,500+ companies, with HR, payroll, hiring and project services plans.

Best for: You bill clients for project time and want timesheets, resourcing and invoicing in your HR system.

What stands out

A project services suite: timesheets, resource management, billing and invoicing.

Keka AI shows the record behind each number and flags payroll anomalies and attrition risk with a recommended action.

A large customer base in India, by its own account.

Worth checking

Prices are not published; plans are quoted and a setup fee applies.

Named AI agents are not described on the pages we checked.

**Price**

Quoted by sales; a setup fee applies

**Free trial**

Not described

**Statutory payroll**

TDS, PF, ESI and PT across all states and union territories

**Hiring**

Separate hiring plans (Pro and Advanced)

[Keka vs Peoplo.ai](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/compare/peoplo-vs-keka/) [Keka pricing page](https://www.keka.com/pricing) [Keka home page](https://www.keka.com/) From Keka's public pages, checked 22 October 2026.

4

### Zoho People

A widely used HR product from Zoho that calls itself "AI-first HR software for every business", used by 50K+ businesses in 165+ countries. Payroll and expenses are separate Zoho apps.

Best for: You already run your company on Zoho apps and want HR in the same family.

What stands out

Per-user prices on its pricing page and a 30-day free trial on all plans.

HR helpdesk, documents and learning in Zoho People.

Works with Zoho Payroll, Zoho Expense and the rest of the Zoho family.

Worth checking

Indian payroll needs a separate product, Zoho Payroll.

Agents are not described on its Zia page.

**Price**

Per-user plans, published

**Free trial**

30 days

**Statutory payroll**

Through Zoho Payroll, a separate product

**Hiring**

Through Zoho Recruit

[Zoho People vs Peoplo.ai](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/compare/peoplo-vs-zoho-people/) [Zoho People home page](https://zoho.com/people) [Zoho People: Zia](https://www.zoho.com/people/zia.html) From Zoho People's public pages, checked 23 October 2026.

5

### Darwinbox

An Indian HCM platform reported to serve around 1,000 enterprise customers and more than 4 million employees in about 130 countries, with a fast-growing set of AI agents.

Best for: You are a large enterprise or multinational and want a broad, global HCM suite.

What stands out

Super Agent takes plain-language requests across HR, IT and Finance.

Darwinbox Studio connects other systems, and an MCP server was announced in May 2025.

Built for large, multi-country workforces.

Worth checking

Prices are not published.

Statutory coverage by state is not listed on the pages we checked.

**Price**

Quoted by sales

**Free trial**

Demo

**Statutory payroll**

Part of its HCM suite; check states with Darwinbox

**Hiring**

In the suite, with recruiting agents reported

[Darwinbox vs Peoplo.ai](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/compare/peoplo-vs-darwinbox/) [People Matters: Darwinbox launches Super Agent (18 Sep 2025)](https://www.peoplematters.in/article/hr-technology/darwinbox-launches-super-agent-a-personalized-ai-teammate-that-gets-work-done-for-every-employee-43648) [People Matters: Darwinbox MCP server (12 May 2025)](https://www.peoplematters.in/news/hr-technology/darwinbox-becomes-first-hr-tech-platform-to-launch-its-own-mcp-server-for-ai-integration-45528) From Darwinbox's public pages, checked 23 October 2026.

6

### RazorpayX Payroll

A payroll product from Razorpay, popular with Indian startups, covering payroll, payslips, direct salary payment, and compliance payments and filing.

Best for: You mainly need payroll and want salary payouts from the same product as your business banking.

What stands out

Salary payouts and compliance payments from the same product as Razorpay business banking.

Published prices: Prime ₹3,499 a month for up to 20 employees, and Elite for 50 employees, then ₹150 per extra employee.

Expense management, limited on Prime and Elite.

Worth checking

Which deductions are covered is not listed on the pages we checked.

Elite is shown at two prices on its pricing page (₹6,499 and ₹9,499 a month).

**Price**

Prime ₹3,499 a month for up to 20 employees; 18% GST extra

**Free trial**

Not described

**Statutory payroll**

"Compliance payments, calculation and filing" on all plans

**Hiring**

Not described on the pricing page

[RazorpayX Payroll vs Peoplo.ai](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/compare/peoplo-vs-razorpayx-payroll/) [RazorpayX Payroll pricing](https://razorpay.com/payroll/pricing) [RazorpayX Payroll plans (docs)](https://razorpay.com/docs/payroll/plans/) From RazorpayX Payroll's public pages, checked 23 October 2026.

7

### HROne

An Indian HRMS for growing companies that says 2,000+ HR teams use it, and markets AI agents under the name One AI.

Best for: You want selfie and geo-fenced attendance and a WhatsApp assistant for frontline staff.

What stands out

One AI, with an Employee AI Agent, HR AI Agent and Recruiter AI Agent, plus a receipt parser and job description writer.

Selfie and geo-fenced attendance and a WhatsApp assistant.

Published prices: Basic ₹4,950 and Professional ₹6,500 a month for 50 users, then ₹99 or ₹130 per extra user.

Worth checking

Recruitment, performance, expense, asset and helpdesk modules need Enterprise.

Enterprise prices are quoted by sales.

**Price**

Basic ₹4,950 or Professional ₹6,500 a month for 50 users

**Free trial**

Not described

**Statutory payroll**

Payroll included from Basic

**Hiring**

On Enterprise

[HROne vs Peoplo.ai](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/compare/peoplo-vs-hrone/) [HROne plans and pricing](https://content.hrone.cloud/?p=29601) [HROne One AI](https://hrone.cloud/one-ai) From HROne's public pages, checked 23 October 2026.

8

### Savvy HRMS

An Indian HRMS that says it is trusted by 1,000+ clients, with Core and Edge plans published and higher plans quoted.

Best for: Companies that want PF, ESI, TDS, LWF and PT challans in the entry plan, with geo-fenced attendance.

What stands out

Core includes minimum wages compliance, PF, ESIC and UAN management, and PF, ESIC, TDS, LWF and PT challans.

Published prices: Core ₹4,500 and Edge ₹6,000 a month, from ₹90 and ₹120 per employee.

Geo-fencing on Core, selfie attendance on Edge and face recognition on the higher plans.

Worth checking

Recruitment and performance need the quoted Pulse plan.

Implementation fees depend on scope and are not listed.

**Price**

Core ₹4,500 a month, from ₹90 per employee

**Free trial**

Demo

**Statutory payroll**

PF, ESIC, TDS, LWF and PT challans

**Hiring**

On the quoted Pulse and Quantum plans

[Savvy HRMS pricing](https://www.savvyhrms.com/pricing) From Savvy HRMS's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.

9

### Asanify

An Indian HRMS and employer of record (EOR) provider, with per-employee HRMS plans and a 14-day free trial.

Best for: Teams that want per-employee prices, a 14-day free trial and an employer of record option in India.

What stands out

Published per-employee prices: Essential ₹99 and VIP ₹199 a month, with two months free on annual plans.

Its FAQ lists TDS, EPF, ESI, professional tax in 28 states, LWF, bonus and gratuity, and quarterly Form 24Q filing.

An employer of record service for hiring in India without your own entity.

Worth checking

Its FAQ does not say whether compliance filing is part of the HRMS plans or only the EOR service.

Agentic AI is listed on VIP only.

**Price**

Essential ₹99 or VIP ₹199 per employee a month

**Free trial**

14 days

**Statutory payroll**

TDS, EPF, ESI, PT in 28 states and LWF, per its FAQ

**Hiring**

Career page and pre-onboarding on VIP

[Asanify pricing](https://www.asanify.com/pricing) From Asanify's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.

10

### Zimyo

An Indian HR and payroll platform that says it has 2,500+ customers in 40+ countries. Zimyo 3.0 is described as "powered by Zim AI".

Best for: Companies of 50 or more employees that want per-user prices and AI agents for payroll and the helpdesk.

What stands out

Published per-user prices: Basic ₹80, Standard ₹160 and Enterprise ₹240 a month.

Named AI agents for payroll, the helpdesk and onboarding.

Multi-entity, multi-country and multi-currency payroll on Enterprise.

Worth checking

Minimum billing of 50 users, and AI tokens are bought separately (₹20,000 for 10 million).

PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS are not listed by name on its pricing page.

**Price**

₹80, ₹160 or ₹240 per user a month; 50-user minimum

**Free trial**

14 days, limited features

**Statutory payroll**

Payroll with compliance; deductions not listed

**Hiring**

Recruit add-on, ₹4,000 per recruiter a month

[Zimyo pricing](https://www.zimyo.com/pricing) From Zimyo's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.

11

### factoHR

An Indian HR and payroll product that says it has helped 4,000+ businesses and has been in business for more than 20 years.

Best for: Small teams that want to start free, or companies with field staff who need geo-fencing and face recognition.

What stands out

A free plan for up to 20 employees, with employee data, letters and payslips.

Published prices: Core ₹4,999, Premium ₹5,999 and Ultimate ₹6,999 a month for up to 50 employees, billed quarterly.

Geo-fencing, face recognition, and travel and expense in the higher plans.

Worth checking

Its INR and USD plan cards differ on whether Core includes payroll.

AI agents are not described; Fia is a chatbot add-on.

**Price**

Core ₹4,999 a month for up to 50 employees, billed quarterly

**Free trial**

Free plan up to 20 employees

**Statutory payroll**

Statutory compliance from Core; deductions not listed

**Hiring**

Recruitment add-on, $75 per recruiter a month

[factoHR pricing](https://factohr.com/pricing/) From factoHR's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.

12

### sumHR

An Indian HRMS that publishes one price, ₹1,428 a year per employee, and says it has been awarded four years in a row.

Best for: Small teams that want one simple per-employee price.

What stands out

One published price: ₹1,428 a year per employee.

Unlimited salary structures, flexible benefits and IT declarations.

Payroll outsourcing is offered.

Worth checking

PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS are not listed by name on the page we checked.

Recruitment is marked as coming soon.

**Price**

₹1,428 a year per employee (about ₹119 a month)

**Free trial**

Demo

**Statutory payroll**

Salary structures and IT declarations; deductions not listed

**Hiring**

Recruit module marked "coming soon"

[sumHR pricing](https://sumhr.com/pricing/) From sumHR's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.

13

### Quikchex

An Indian payroll and compliance provider that says over 5,000 HR managers trust it, with payroll outsourcing, labour compliance and compliance audits.

Best for: Companies that want payroll software with payroll outsourcing and labour compliance services from one provider.

What stands out

Payroll outsourcing that includes TDS, PF, ESI, PT and LWF services.

Labour compliance: licences, registers and notices, plus a monthly compliance audit report.

State-specific tax calculations for multi-state payroll.

Worth checking

Prices were not shown on the pages we checked.

AI is not described on the page we checked.

**Price**

Not shown on the pages we checked

**Free trial**

Demo

**Statutory payroll**

Outsourcing includes TDS, PF, ESI, PT and LWF

**Hiring**

Digital talent sourcing and onboarding

[Quikchex home page](https://quikchex.in/) From Quikchex's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.

14

### ZingHR

An Indian enterprise HRMS that calls itself an "AI-Powered HRMS Built for Enterprise Accuracy" and says 1,200+ enterprises trust it, also sold in the Middle East.

Best for: You run a large shift-based workforce and need heavy attendance and shift management.

What stands out

Payroll and attendance for large, shift-based workforces in sectors such as BFSI, manufacturing, retail, pharma and logistics.

Talent acquisition with an applicant tracking system, video eKYC and digital onboarding.

Also sold in the Middle East.

Worth checking

Prices are not published.

Indian deductions are not listed on the pages we checked.

**Price**

Quoted by sales

**Free trial**

Demo

**Statutory payroll**

"Zero-touch payroll" with taxes and full and final settlements

**Hiring**

Applicant tracking, video eKYC and digital onboarding

[ZingHR vs Peoplo.ai](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/compare/peoplo-vs-zinghr/) [ZingHR: enterprise HRMS (Middle East)](https://www.zinghr.com/middle-east/enterprise-mea-ads) [ZingHR: best HR software](https://www.zinghr.com/hr-software/best-hr-software) From ZingHR's public pages, checked 23 October 2026.

15

### Odoo

A modular business suite with HR apps for employees, time off, recruitment, appraisals and payroll, including an India payroll localisation.

Best for: You want one ERP for accounting, inventory, sales and HR, and have a partner to set it up.

What stands out

A full ERP: accounting, sales, inventory, manufacturing and more.

One app is free for unlimited users.

Odoo 19 added AI agents and an assistant that can query the database and trigger actions.

Worth checking

Implementation is often done by a paid partner.

ESI and professional tax were not mentioned in the article on Odoo 20 we read.

**Price**

Per user for the whole suite, published

**Free trial**

Free trial; one app free

**Statutory payroll**

India localisation; Odoo 20 reported to add TDS, EPF and F&F reports

**Hiring**

Recruitment app

[Odoo vs Peoplo.ai](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/compare/peoplo-vs-odoo/) [Chittorgarh: Odoo 20 India compliance features (13 Oct 2026)](https://www.chittorgarh.com/article/odoo-20-strengthens-business-operations-with-deeper-india-specific-compliance-features/706/) [Ksolves: Odoo 19 guide](https://www.ksolves.com/guides/odoo-19) From Odoo's public pages, checked 23 October 2026.

Buyer's guide

## What to look for at your size

### Under 50 employees

Look for published prices, a free plan or trial, and PF, ESI and PT right from the first payroll. If you only need payroll, a payroll-only product can be enough; if you also hire and onboard, check those are included.

Shortlist

- Peoplo.ai
- factoHR
- greytHR
- RazorpayX Payroll
- Asanify
- sumHR

### 50 to 250 employees

Approvals, attendance and full and final settlement within two working days start to matter, along with PT and LWF in each state you employ people. Check which modules are add-ons.

Shortlist

- Peoplo.ai
- greytHR
- Keka
- HROne
- Zimyo
- Savvy HRMS

### 250 to 1,000 employees

Several states and entities, data migration and links to your accounting and attendance systems. Ask for a demo with your own salary structure. Peoplo.ai publishes prices up to 2,000 employees.

Shortlist

- Peoplo.ai
- Keka
- Zimyo
- ZingHR
- Quikchex

### 1,000+ employees

Large shift-based workforces, many entities and an implementation partner. Ask each vendor for references in your sector and for the statutory coverage by state.

Shortlist

- Darwinbox
- ZingHR
- Keka

Compliance checklist

## Indian rules your HR software should handle

Eight questions to ask any vendor before you sign. Each one follows an Indian rule, with the source below.

- 1

PF

Does it use the ₹25,000 wage ceiling from 17 September 2026, and let you choose capped or full PF wages?

- 2

ESI

Does it cover employees up to ₹21,000 gross a month, at 0.75% and 3.25%, and keep cover to the end of a contribution period?

- 3

Professional tax

Does it apply each state's slabs, including the February top-up in Karnataka and Maharashtra, and the new West Bengal slabs from 1 October 2026?

- 4

LWF

Does it deduct labour welfare fund at each state's rate and frequency?

- 5

TDS

Does it work out TDS under the new and old regimes, with the ₹75,000 standard deduction and the rebate up to ₹12 lakh, and collect declarations and proofs?

- 6

Gratuity

Does it use 15/26 of monthly wages per year, the one-year rule for fixed-term staff and the ₹20 lakh cap?

- 7

Full and final

Can it prepare the settlement before the last day, so final wages are paid within two working days?

- 8

Leave encashment

Does it apply the ₹25 lakh tax exemption on leave encashed at exit?

Sources · checked 22 October 2026

- [EPFO wage ceiling FAQs (S.O. 5109(E))](https://www.staffnews.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/EPFO_Wage_Ceiling_FAQs.pdf)
- [ESIC: coverage and the wage ceiling](https://www.esic.gov.in/coverage)
- [Peoplo.ai: professional tax by state, with each state's source](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/compliance/professional-tax/)
- [Income Tax Department: Finance Bill 2026 memorandum (rates unchanged for tax year 2026-27)](https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/documents/81799/11848482/memo-2026.pdf)
- [India Code: Code on Social Security, 2020 (gratuity, section 53)](https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/16823/1/aA2020-36.pdf)
- [LiveLaw: two working days under the Code on Wages](https://www.livelaw.in/articles/two-working-days-code-wages-employee-final-settlement-552780)
- [Income Tax Department: Notification 31/2023, ₹25 lakh limit for leave encashment](https://wm.incometaxindia.gov.in/web/guest/w/notification-no.-31/2023-f.-no.-200/3/2023-ita-i-/-so-2276-e-)

## HR software, payroll software or HRMS: which do you need?

Payroll software works out salaries, deductions and payslips, and sometimes pays salaries. HR software keeps employee records, leave and documents. An HRMS puts both together, usually with attendance, hiring, onboarding, exits and employee self-service.

If you only run payroll for a small team, payroll software may be enough. Once you hire regularly, run approvals or settle exits within two working days, an HRMS saves the work of keeping two systems in step.

## More on HR and payroll in India

- [Best payroll software in India](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/best-payroll-software-india/)
- [Best AI HRMS software in India](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/best-ai-hrms-software-india/)
- [Best HRMS for small business in India](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/best-hrms-for-small-business-india/)
- [India compliance guide](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/compliance/)
- [Professional tax by state](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/compliance/professional-tax/)
- [Salary calculator](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/tools/salary-calculator/)
- [PF calculator](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/tools/pf-calculator/)
- [Income tax calculator](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/tools/income-tax-calculator/)
- [Gratuity calculator](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/tools/gratuity-calculator/)
- [Full and final settlement in two working days](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/blog/full-and-final-settlement-two-working-days/)
- [All comparisons](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/compare/)
- [Best HR software in the UAE](https://peoplo.ai/ae/en/best-hr-software-uae/)

## See Peoplo.ai prepare an Indian payroll run

A 30-minute demo with your salary structure: the payroll check, PF, ESI and PT, and a full and final settlement, ready for your approval.

[Request a demo](https://peoplo.ai/contact/) [See pricing](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/pricing/)

Questions

## Frequently asked questions

Straight answers for Indian companies choosing HR software.

### What is the best HR software in India?

Our pick is Peoplo.ai, an agentic HRMS where AI agents prepare payroll, onboarding, exits and claims, and changes to pay, tax, people records and money wait for a person, from ₹1,975 a month for up to 25 employees. Other good fits: greytHR on price, Keka for project billing, Zoho People if you already use Zoho apps, and Darwinbox for large enterprises. Peoplo.ai wrote this answer.

### How much does HR software cost in India?

Published entry prices on the pages we checked: Peoplo.ai ₹1,975 a month for up to 25 employees; greytHR Essential ₹2,495 a month for up to 50; RazorpayX Payroll Prime ₹3,499 for up to 20; HROne Basic ₹4,950 for 50 users; factoHR Core ₹4,999 for up to 50; Zimyo from ₹80 per user, with a 50-user minimum; Asanify ₹99 per employee; Savvy HRMS Core ₹4,500; sumHR ₹1,428 a year per employee. Keka, Darwinbox and ZingHR quote through sales. GST is extra.

### What does HR software cost for 100 employees?

On the entry plans with a published formula, before GST: greytHR Essential ₹4,745, Peoplo.ai ₹7,900, Zimyo Basic ₹8,000, HROne Basic ₹9,900, Asanify Essential ₹9,900, factoHR Core ₹9,949, sumHR ₹11,900 a month. Features differ a lot between these plans, so compare what is included, such as hiring, expenses and AI, not only the price. Checked on the dates shown on this page.

### Which HR software in India publishes its prices?

Peoplo.ai, greytHR, Zoho People, RazorpayX Payroll, HROne, Zimyo, factoHR, Savvy HRMS, Asanify, sumHR and Odoo publish prices or a pricing model. Keka, Darwinbox and ZingHR quote through sales, and Quikchex prices were not shown on the pages we checked.

### Is there free HR software in India?

factoHR has a free plan for up to 20 employees, and Odoo lets you use one app free for unlimited users. Most others offer a trial: Zoho People 30 days, Asanify 14 days, Zimyo 14 days with limited features, greytHR 7 days, and Peoplo.ai a free trial.

### Which HR software in India has AI agents?

Peoplo.ai has AI agents that prepare payroll checks, onboarding, exits and claims and wait for a person on pay and money. Darwinbox is reported to have more than 30 agents, HROne markets Employee, HR and Recruiter AI agents, Zimyo names payroll, helpdesk and onboarding agents, and Asanify lists agentic AI on its VIP plan. greytHR has the NAVOS assistant, Keka has Keka AI and Zoho People has Zia.

### What changed in Indian payroll in 2026?

The PF wage ceiling rose to ₹25,000 a month from 17 September 2026. The Code on Wages, in force since 21 November 2025, requires final wages within two working days of an exit. West Bengal changed its professional tax slabs from 1 October 2026. The India compliance guide has the details and sources.

### Which HR software handles PF, ESI, PT and TDS?

greytHR lists PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS across 28 states, and Keka lists TDS, PF, ESI and PT across all states and union territories. Peoplo.ai is designed to support PF, ESI, PT and LWF for every state and TDS under both regimes. For the others, ask which deductions and states are covered: their pages we checked don't list them all.

### What is the best HR and payroll software for startups and small businesses in India?

Peoplo.ai starts at ₹1,975 a month for up to 25 employees, with hiring, onboarding, exits and AI agents included. RazorpayX Payroll suits teams that mainly need payroll with salary payouts, and factoHR has a free plan for up to 20 employees.

### Keka or greytHR: which is better?

greytHR publishes lower prices and has the NAVOS assistant, and suits companies that mainly need payroll and leave. Keka quotes prices and adds a project services suite for timesheets and billing. Our Keka and greytHR comparison pages set out the details, with sources.

### Can one HR system cover Indian and UAE companies?

Yes. Peoplo.ai runs Indian and UAE companies in one account, each with its own payroll under its country's rules, and one sign-in to switch between them. Zimyo lists multi-country payroll on its Enterprise plan, and ZingHR is also sold in the Middle East.

### Can HR software do full and final settlement in two working days?

It can do most of the work before the last day: final salary, leave encashment, gratuity, recoveries and assets to collect. In Peoplo.ai the exit coordinator agent prepares the settlement for a person to approve. Ask other vendors how they prepare it in time. Gratuity runs on its own clock: under the Code on Social Security it is due within 30 days of becoming payable.

### What is the difference between HR software, payroll software and an HRMS?

Payroll software works out salaries, deductions and payslips. HR software keeps employee records, leave and documents. An HRMS combines both, usually with attendance, hiring, onboarding, exits and self-service.

### What is the best HRMS for 100 employees in India?

Our pick is Peoplo.ai, ₹7,900 a month for 100 employees, with AI agents, hiring, onboarding and exits included. On price alone, greytHR Essential works out lowest of the plans we could calculate; Keka and HROne suit teams that want project billing or frontline attendance. The cost question above shows each published plan at 100 employees.

### What are the best Keka alternatives in India?

Products Indian companies often weigh against Keka include greytHR (lower published prices), Zoho People (for Zoho users), HROne (frontline attendance and One AI), Zimyo (per-user pricing and AI agents), Darwinbox (large enterprises) and Peoplo.ai (AI agents with published prices). Our Keka vs Peoplo.ai page compares the two in detail.

### Which HR software includes compliance filing or payroll outsourcing?

Quikchex offers payroll outsourcing that includes TDS, PF, ESI, PT and LWF services. Savvy HRMS lists PF, ESIC, TDS, LWF and PT challans on its Core plan. Asanify's FAQ lists quarterly Form 24Q, monthly ECR and PT returns, though it does not say whether this is part of the HRMS plans. sumHR and HROne offer payroll outsourcing.

### Which HR software has a WhatsApp assistant?

HROne describes a WhatsApp assistant for frontline staff, and Asanify's FAQ mentions a WhatsApp HR bot. In Peoplo.ai, employees ask Kili in the app, and AI agents prepare the work for a person to approve.

### How did you choose and rank these products?

We picked products Indian companies often compare and checked each one's own pages against six criteria: Indian statutory payroll, AI that does real work, published prices, hiring to exit, operations beyond HR and more than one country. Peoplo.ai is first because it is our product. The others are grouped by who they suit, not scored, and each card shows the date we checked.