# 15 best HRMS for small business in India (2026) | Peoplo.ai

URL: https://peoplo.ai/in/en/best-hrms-for-small-business-india/

> Fifteen HR and payroll products for small Indian firms compared on cost for 25 and 50 staff, free plans, PF, ESI and TDS, and AI. 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 small business

# Best HRMS for small business in India (2026)

Our pick is Peoplo.ai: ₹1,975 a month for up to 25 employees, with HR, payroll, hiring and AI agents, and you can sign up without a demo. Zoho Payroll is free up to 10 employees, factoHR up to 20, and greytHR is ₹2,495 a month for up to 50.

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: one plan from 25 people**

Peoplo.ai

**Free up to 10 employees**

Zoho Payroll

**Free up to 20 employees**

factoHR

**Low price up to 50**

greytHR

**Salaries paid from banking**

RazorpayX Payroll

**Per-employee price**

Asanify

**Payroll run for you**

Quikchex

Rules that apply to small companies

PF applies once you have 20 employees. Employee and employer each pay 12% of PF wages, on a wage ceiling of ₹25,000 a month from 17 September 2026. [Source](https://www.staffnews.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/EPFO_Wage_Ceiling_FAQs.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)

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, whatever the size of the company. [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, with a standard deduction of ₹75,000. You still work out TDS for each employee. [Source](https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/documents/81799/11848482/memo-2026.pdf)

Professional tax depends on the state: Karnataka charges nothing below ₹25,000 a month, and West Bengal changed its slabs from 1 October 2026. [Source](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/compliance/professional-tax/)

At a glance

## The fifteen products side by side

| Product | Best for | AI | Statutory payroll | Hiring | Free trial | Price for a small team | Checked |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Peoplo.ai | Small companies that want HR, payroll, hiring and AI agents in one product and one plan, without a payroll specialist. | AI agents that prepare the work | Designed to support PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS | Included in the plan | Free trial | ₹1,975 a month for up to 25 employees | 3 November 2026 |
| 2. Zoho Payroll | Teams of up to 10 that want payroll free, or slightly larger teams that want the lowest paid price. | Zia or your own AI tool, within roles you set | EPF, ESI, state-wise PT, LWF and TDS | Not part of Zoho Payroll | 14 days; free up to 10 employees | Free up to 10; ₹1,000 a month for 25, billed yearly | 3 November 2026 |
| 3. factoHR | Teams of up to 20 that want a free plan with payslips, then field-staff attendance as they grow. | 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 | Free up to 20; Core ₹4,999 a month for up to 50 | 3 November 2026 |
| 4. greytHR | Small teams that want low published prices for payroll, leave and attendance, and a seven-day trial. | 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 | ₹2,495 a month for up to 50 employees | 22 October 2026 |
| 5. RazorpayX Payroll | Startups that bank with Razorpay and want salaries and compliance dues paid from the same place. | Not described on the pages we checked | "Compliance payments, calculation and filing" on all plans | Not described on the pricing page | Not described | ₹3,499 a month for up to 20 employees | 23 October 2026 |
| 6. Asanify | Small teams that want a per-employee price, a 14-day trial, or an employer of record before setting up an entity. | "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 | ₹2,475 a month for 25 (₹99 each) | 3 November 2026 |
| 7. sumHR | Small teams that want one simple per-employee price and the option to outsource payroll. | Not described on the page we checked | Salary structures and IT declarations; deductions not listed | Recruit module marked "coming soon" | Demo | ₹2,975 a month for 25 (₹1,428 a year each) | 3 November 2026 |
| 8. HROne | Small companies with frontline staff that want selfie attendance and a WhatsApp assistant. | One AI: Employee, HR and Recruiter AI agents | Payroll included from Basic | On Enterprise | Not described | ₹4,950 a month for 50 users | 23 October 2026 |
| 9. Zoho People | Small teams already on Zoho apps that want HR with a 30-day trial, and payroll from Zoho Payroll. | 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 |
| 10. Savvy HRMS | Small companies that want PF, ESI, TDS, LWF and PT challans and minimum wages compliance from the entry plan. | 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 |
| 11. Pocket HRMS | Companies that have reached 50 employees and want a low price with statutory automation. | smHRty chatbot, AI face recognition and fraud checks | PF, ESIC, PT and TDS automation, and eTDS | Not described on the pricing page we checked | Free demo | ₹2,995 a month for 50, billed yearly; 50 minimum | 3 November 2026 |
| 12. Zimyo | Companies that have reached 50 employees and want 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 | ₹4,000 a month for 50 (₹80 each); 50 minimum | 3 November 2026 |
| 13. Keka | Small services firms that bill clients for project time and expect to grow quickly. | 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 |
| 14. Quikchex | Small companies that would rather have payroll and labour compliance run for them. | 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 |
| 15. Odoo | Small companies that want invoicing, inventory and HR in one business suite. | 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 | One app free; more apps priced per user | 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. Prices are before GST.

How we chose

## Six things that matter to a small Indian company

We took fifteen products from our India HR and payroll rankings and read each one's pricing and product pages again for a company of up to about 50 people. We did not test competitors' software, and we do not take payment for a place on this list.

What 25 and 50 people cost

Worked out from each entry plan's published formula, before GST, where there is one.

Free to start

A free plan or trial you can use without a sales call.

Statutory payroll from month one

PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS in the same product as HR.

Help for a small team

Does AI do work a small team has no time for, such as checking payroll or reading receipts?

Hiring to exit

Hiring, onboarding and full and final in the same product, not an add-on.

Room to grow

Minimums, per-employee prices and any jump in price as you hire.

Peoplo.ai is first because it is our product, and we say so. The others follow in order of fit for a small company, from free plans and low published prices to products written for larger teams. The Price column shows each vendor's entry price for a small team.

The list

## The fifteen products, one by one

1 · Our pick

### Peoplo.ai

An agentic HRMS with one price per employee: Peoplo.ai is ₹1,975 a month for up to 25 employees, with payroll designed to support PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS, hiring, onboarding, exits, claims and AI agents. Self-serve sign-up and a parallel payroll run before you switch.

Best for: Small companies that want HR, payroll, hiring and AI agents in one product and one plan, without a payroll specialist.

What stands out

One price per employee: ₹79 per employee a month before GST, for at least 25 employees, with every agent included.

AI agents do the work a small team has no time for: the payroll check before every run, onboarding plans, full and final settlements, and receipts read into claims.

Sign up yourself with no demo. Peoplo.ai suggests your industry pack, and the Go-live hub walks you through a parallel payroll run.

Worth checking

You pay for at least 25 employees, even with fewer.

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

**Price for a small team**

₹1,975 a month for up to 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

### Zoho Payroll

Zoho's payroll product for India, free for up to 10 employees, with PF, ESI, LWF, state-wise PT and income tax, and Zia or your own AI tool for payroll tasks.

Best for: Teams of up to 10 that want payroll free, or slightly larger teams that want the lowest paid price.

What stands out

Free forever for up to 10 employees, with payroll calculation, payslips and 40+ reports.

Published prices billed yearly: Standard ₹1,000 for 25 employees plus ₹40 each, Professional ₹3,000 and Premium ₹4,000 for 50 plus ₹60 or ₹80 each.

Bank advice with partner banks, payslips over WhatsApp, and an employee app on iOS and Android.

Worth checking

Payroll only; HR is Zoho People, a separate product.

Form 16 and 24Q filing are not named on the pricing page; its product page lists Form 130 and Form 138.

**Price for a small team**

Free up to 10; ₹1,000 a month for 25, billed yearly

**Free trial**

14 days; free up to 10 employees

**Statutory payroll**

EPF, ESI, state-wise PT, LWF and TDS

**Hiring**

Not part of Zoho Payroll

[Zoho Payroll India pricing](https://www.zoho.com/in/payroll/pricing/) [Zoho Payroll India](https://www.zoho.com/in/payroll/) From Zoho Payroll's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.

3

### 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: Teams of up to 20 that want a free plan with payslips, then field-staff attendance as they grow.

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 for a small team**

Free up to 20; Core ₹4,999 a month for up to 50

**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.

4

### 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: Small teams that want low published prices for payroll, leave and attendance, and a seven-day trial.

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 for a small team**

₹2,495 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.

5

### RazorpayX Payroll

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

Best for: Startups that bank with Razorpay and want salaries and compliance dues paid from the same place.

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 for a small team**

₹3,499 a month for up to 20 employees

**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.

6

### Asanify

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

Best for: Small teams that want a per-employee price, a 14-day trial, or an employer of record before setting up an entity.

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 for a small team**

₹2,475 a month for 25 (₹99 each)

**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.

7

### 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 and the option to outsource payroll.

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 for a small team**

₹2,975 a month for 25 (₹1,428 a year each)

**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.

8

### 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: Small companies with frontline staff that want selfie attendance and a WhatsApp assistant.

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 for a small team**

₹4,950 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.

9

### 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: Small teams already on Zoho apps that want HR with a 30-day trial, and payroll from Zoho Payroll.

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 for a small team**

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.

10

### 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: Small companies that want PF, ESI, TDS, LWF and PT challans and minimum wages compliance from the entry plan.

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 for a small team**

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.

11

### Pocket HRMS

An Indian HRMS that calls itself "Agentic AI-powered", with Standard and Professional plans for a minimum of 50 employees and statutory compliance automation for PF, ESIC, PT and TDS.

Best for: Companies that have reached 50 employees and want a low price with statutory automation.

What stands out

Published prices billed yearly: Standard ₹2,995 and Professional ₹4,495 a month for 50 employees, then ₹60 or ₹90 per extra employee.

PF, ESIC, PT and TDS automation, eTDS generation, and payslips and Form 16 in the mobile app.

Selfie attendance with AI face recognition, and attendance fraud detection on Premium.

Worth checking

A minimum of 50 employees, and a one-time implementation fee with no amount given.

LWF is not mentioned on the pricing page we checked.

**Price for a small team**

₹2,995 a month for 50, billed yearly; 50 minimum

**Free trial**

Free demo

**Statutory payroll**

PF, ESIC, PT and TDS automation, and eTDS

**Hiring**

Not described on the pricing page we checked

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

12

### 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 that have reached 50 employees and want 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 for a small team**

₹4,000 a month for 50 (₹80 each); 50 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.

13

### 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: Small services firms that bill clients for project time and expect to grow quickly.

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 for a small team**

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.

14

### 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: Small companies that would rather have payroll and labour compliance run for them.

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 for a small team**

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.

15

### Odoo

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

Best for: Small companies that want invoicing, inventory and HR in one business suite.

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 for a small team**

One app free; more apps priced per user

**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

### 1 to 10 employees

Payroll may be all you need. Zoho Payroll is free up to 10 and factoHR up to 20. Check that PT for your state and TDS are worked out from the first run.

Shortlist

- Zoho Payroll
- factoHR
- Peoplo.ai
- sumHR

### 10 to 25 employees

Hiring, onboarding and leave start to take time. One product for HR and payroll saves keeping two in step. Peoplo.ai covers up to 25 for ₹1,975 a month.

Shortlist

- Peoplo.ai
- greytHR
- Asanify
- RazorpayX Payroll

### 20 employees

PF applies from 20 employees, and ESI from 10 in most states. Make sure the product registers and deducts both, and that the cost does not jump unexpectedly.

Shortlist

- Peoplo.ai
- greytHR
- Zoho Payroll
- Savvy HRMS

### 25 to 50 employees

Approvals, attendance and full and final within two working days start to matter. Products with a 50-employee minimum, such as Pocket HRMS and Zimyo, become an option.

Shortlist

- Peoplo.ai
- greytHR
- HROne
- Pocket HRMS
- Zimyo

Small-business checklist

## Indian rules that apply at any size

Eight things a small Indian company should check before it signs. Each one follows an Indian rule, with the source below.

- 1

PF

Does it register and deduct PF from 20 employees, on the ₹25,000 ceiling, with capped or full wages?

- 2

ESI

Does it cover employees up to ₹21,000 gross a month, at 0.75% and 3.25%?

- 3

Professional tax

Does it apply your state's slabs, including February top-ups and the West Bengal change from 1 October 2026?

- 4

TDS

Does it work out TDS under both regimes and collect declarations and proofs from employees?

- 5

Full and final

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

- 6

Gratuity

Does it use 15/26 of monthly wages per year, and one year's service for fixed-term staff?

- 7

Price at double your size

What does it cost at twice your headcount, and are there minimums or setup fees?

- 8

Leaving

Can you export your employee and payroll data if you switch later?

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)
- [LiveLaw: two working days under the Code on Wages](https://www.livelaw.in/articles/two-working-days-code-wages-employee-final-settlement-552780)
- [India Code: Code on Social Security, 2020 (gratuity, section 53)](https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/16823/1/aA2020-36.pdf)

What it costs

## Published prices for 25 and 50 employees

A month, before GST, from each entry plan's published formula. Features differ a lot, so compare what is included.

### Zoho Payroll

25 employees: ₹1,000. 50 employees: ₹2,000. Standard, billed yearly; free up to 10.

### greytHR

25 employees: ₹2,495. 50 employees: ₹2,495. Essential, up to 50.

### Pocket HRMS

25 employees: minimum not met. 50 employees: ₹2,995. Standard, 50-employee minimum.

### Peoplo.ai

25 employees: ₹1,975. 50 employees: ₹3,950. ₹79 per employee, at least 25.

### Zimyo

25 employees: minimum not met. 50 employees: ₹4,000. Basic, 50-user minimum.

### Asanify

25 employees: ₹2,475. 50 employees: ₹4,950. Essential, ₹99 each.

### HROne

25 employees: ₹4,950. 50 employees: ₹4,950. Basic, for 50 users.

### factoHR

25 employees: ₹4,999. 50 employees: ₹4,999. Core, billed quarterly; free up to 20.

### sumHR

25 employees: ₹2,975. 50 employees: ₹5,950. ₹1,428 a year each.

### Quoted by sales

Keka and Quikchex. RazorpayX starts at ₹3,499 for 20; Savvy HRMS at ₹4,500; Zoho People and Odoo publish per-user prices.

Getting started

## Your first month on new HR software

A small company can be live within a month. These are the steps, whichever product you pick.

### Week 1: set up

Your company, its states, departments, leave policy, holidays and working week.

### Week 1: people

Import employees with salary structure, joining date, PAN, UAN, bank account and tax regime.

### Week 2: payroll

Pay components, PF and ESI settings, PT for each state, and the TDS declarations window.

### Week 3: parallel run

Run the month alongside your old spreadsheet or payroll, and compare every payslip.

### Week 4: go live

Lock the first run, pay salaries, deposit dues, and invite employees to self-service for leave and payslips.

### With Peoplo.ai

Self-serve sign-up, an industry pack suggested for you, and a Go-live hub with Kili, a checklist and a parallel payroll run.

Spreadsheets or software?

## When a small company outgrows spreadsheets

### Your 10th hire

ESI applies from 10 employees in most states, with contribution periods to track.

### Your 20th hire

PF registration and monthly returns start, with the new wage ceiling.

### A second state

Professional tax and LWF differ by state, so one spreadsheet no longer fits.

### Your first leaver

Final wages and leave encashment within two working days; gratuity, where due, within 30 days.

## Do small Indian companies need an HRMS?

If you pay salaries every month, you need payslips, TDS and professional tax from day one, and PF and ESI as you grow. Payroll software covers that. An HRMS adds hiring, onboarding, leave, attendance and exits in the same place, which is where small teams lose time.

For a small company the price structure matters as much as the price. Per-employee prices grow with every hire, minimums can mean paying for 50 when you have 20, and a minimum you can reach soon costs less than one you never will.

## More for small Indian companies

- [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 HR software in India](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/best-hr-software-india/)
- [HRMS for startups](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/solutions/startups/)
- [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/)
- [Pricing](https://peoplo.ai/in/en/pricing/)

## Start with Peoplo.ai in an afternoon

Sign up yourself, add your company and people, and run a parallel payroll before you switch. Peoplo.ai is ₹1,975 a month for up to 25 employees.

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

Questions

## Frequently asked questions

Straight answers for small Indian companies choosing HR software.

### What is the best HRMS for a small business in India?

Our pick is Peoplo.ai: ₹1,975 a month for up to 25 employees, with HR, payroll designed to support PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS, hiring and AI agents, and you can sign up without a demo. Zoho Payroll is free up to 10 employees, factoHR up to 20, and greytHR is ₹2,495 a month for up to 50. Peoplo.ai wrote this answer.

### What is the cheapest HRMS for a small business in India?

For 25 employees, a month before GST, from published prices: Zoho Payroll ₹1,000 (payroll only), Peoplo.ai ₹1,975 with HR, hiring and AI agents, Asanify ₹2,475, greytHR ₹2,495, sumHR ₹2,975 and HROne ₹4,950. Zoho Payroll is free up to 10 and factoHR up to 20.

### What does an HRMS cost for 50 employees?

From published formulas, a month before GST: Zoho Payroll ₹2,000, greytHR ₹2,495, Pocket HRMS ₹2,995, Peoplo.ai ₹3,950, Zimyo ₹4,000, HROne ₹4,950, Asanify ₹4,950, factoHR ₹4,999 and sumHR ₹5,950. Compare what is included, not only the price.

### Is there free HR and payroll software in India?

Zoho Payroll is free forever for up to 10 employees, and factoHR has a free plan for up to 20. Odoo lets you use one app free. Trials: Zoho People 30 days, Zoho Payroll and Asanify 14 days, greytHR seven days, and Peoplo.ai a free trial.

### When does a small company need PF and ESI?

PF applies once you have 20 employees, and ESI from 10 in most states for employees earning up to ₹21,000 a month. PF is 12% from each side on wages up to ₹25,000 if capped; ESI is 0.75% and 3.25%.

### Do small businesses need to deduct TDS on salaries?

Yes, for any employee whose taxable income is above the limit. Under the new regime for 2026-27 there is no tax up to ₹12 lakh after the rebate, but you still work out TDS for each employee and collect declarations.

### How quickly can a small company go live on an HRMS?

Within a month for most small companies: a week to set up and import people, a week for payroll, a parallel run and then go live. Peoplo.ai has self-serve sign-up and a Go-live hub with a parallel payroll run.

### Should a small business buy payroll software or a full HRMS?

Payroll on its own is cheapest, and Zoho Payroll is free up to 10. A full HRMS adds hiring, onboarding, leave, attendance and exits, which is where small teams lose time, and settles exits within two working days.

### Per-employee or fixed-band pricing: which is better?

Per-employee prices, such as Peoplo.ai (at least 25 employees), Asanify, sumHR and Zimyo (some with 50-employee minimums), grow with each hire. Fixed bands, such as greytHR's 50-employee base, stay the same until you outgrow them.

### Which HRMS has no minimum number of employees?

Zoho Payroll, factoHR, greytHR, Asanify, sumHR and Peoplo.ai have no minimum on the pages we checked. Pocket HRMS and Zimyo have a 50-employee minimum.

### Which HRMS suits an early-stage startup?

Zoho Payroll and factoHR are free for the first 10 and 20 employees, RazorpayX pays salaries from business banking, Asanify offers an employer of record if you have no entity yet, and Peoplo.ai is ₹1,975 for up to 25 with hiring and onboarding included.

### Does small-business HR software include AI?

Peoplo.ai includes AI agents in its one plan. Zimyo describes Zim AI agents, HROne One AI agents, greytHR an assistant called NAVOS, and Zoho Payroll lets Zia or your own AI tool work within roles you set. Check what the AI does and who approves it.

### Can a small company use HR software on mobile?

Zoho Payroll has an employee app on iOS and Android, and Pocket HRMS lists payslips and Form 16 in its mobile app. Peoplo.ai works in the browser and installs as an app from it; there is no app-store app.

### How do I handle professional tax with staff in two states?

The product should apply each employee's work-state slabs. Karnataka charges nothing below ₹25,000 a month and ₹300 in February; West Bengal changed its slabs from 1 October 2026. Our professional tax hub lists each state with its source.

### Can I outsource payroll as a small business?

Yes. Quikchex and sumHR offer payroll outsourcing, and Asanify an employer of record service. Software is usually cheaper and keeps control in-house.

### What should a small business ask in an HRMS demo?

Ask for a payroll run and a full and final settlement from your own data, the price at your size today and at double your size, any minimum or setup fee, and who approves pay changes. If there is AI, ask what it does and what it never does.

### Can a small company with staff in India and the UAE use one system?

Yes. Peoplo.ai runs Indian and UAE companies in one account, each with its own payroll under its own rules, on the same plan structure.

### How did you choose these products?

We used fifteen products from our India HR and payroll rankings and read their pricing and product pages for a company of up to about 50 people: cost for 25 and 50, free to start, statutory payroll, AI, hiring to exit and room to grow. Peoplo.ai is first because it is our product.