Compare · India payroll
Best payroll software in India (2026)
Our pick is Peoplo.ai: a payroll check flags gaps before every run, PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS are designed to support every state, and prices start at ₹1,975 a month. Zoho Payroll is free up to 10 employees, greytHR is low on price, and RazorpayX pays salaries from business banking.
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: a check on every run
- Peoplo.ai
- Free up to 10 employees
- Zoho Payroll
- Low price for payroll and leave
- greytHR
- Salary payouts from banking
- RazorpayX Payroll
- Payroll anomaly flags
- Keka
- Low price from 50 employees
- Pocket HRMS
- Payroll run for you
- Quikchex
- Large enterprises
- Darwinbox
Payroll rules 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
- ESI covers employees earning up to ₹21,000 a month: 0.75% from the employee and 3.25% from the employer. Source
- 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
- 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
- West Bengal changed its professional tax slabs from 1 October 2026, and Karnataka and Maharashtra collect a higher amount in February. Payroll has to follow each state you employ people in. Source
At a glance
The fifteen payroll products side by side
| Product | Best for | AI | PF, ESI, PT, LWF, TDS | For 100 employees | Free trial | Entry price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Peoplo.ai | Companies that want a check on every payroll run, with HR, hiring and exits in the same product. | Payroll check agent before every run | Designed to support PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS | ₹7,900 (per employee) | Free trial | ₹79 per employee a month before GST, for at least 25 employees | 3 November 2026 |
| 2.Zoho Payroll | Small teams that want to start free, or already use Zoho apps, and want payroll on its own. | Zia or your own AI tool, within roles you set | EPF, ESI, state-wise PT, LWF and TDS | ₹4,000 (Standard, yearly) | 14 days; free up to 10 employees | Free up to 10; Standard ₹1,000 a month for 25 employees, billed yearly | 3 November 2026 |
| 3.greytHR | Price is the deciding factor and you mainly need Indian payroll, leave and attendance. | NAVOS, an "execution-first" assistant on all plans | PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS across 28 states | ₹4,745 (Essential) | 7 days | Essential ₹2,495 or Growth ₹4,495 a month for up to 50 employees | 22 October 2026 |
| 4.RazorpayX Payroll | Startups that want salary payouts and compliance payments from the same product as their business banking. | Not described on the pages we checked | "Compliance payments, calculation and filing" on all plans | Not worked out: Elite is shown at two prices | Not described | Prime ₹3,499 a month for up to 20 employees; 18% GST extra | 23 October 2026 |
| 5.Keka | Mid-size companies that want payroll anomaly flags and project billing in one HR platform. | Keka AI flags payroll anomalies | TDS, PF, ESI and PT across all states and union territories | Quoted by sales | Not described | Quoted by sales; a setup fee applies | 22 October 2026 |
| 6.HROne | Companies with frontline staff that want selfie attendance feeding payroll, and a WhatsApp assistant. | One AI: Employee, HR and Recruiter AI agents | Payroll included from Basic | ₹9,900 (Basic) | Not described | Basic ₹4,950 or Professional ₹6,500 a month for 50 users | 23 October 2026 |
| 7.Pocket HRMS | Companies of 50 or more employees that want a low per-employee price with PF, ESIC, PT and TDS automation. | smHRty chatbot, AI face recognition and fraud checks | PF, ESIC, PT and TDS automation, and eTDS | ₹5,995 (Standard) | Free demo | Standard ₹2,995 a month for 50 employees, billed yearly | 3 November 2026 |
| 8.Savvy HRMS | Companies that want PF, ESI, TDS, LWF and PT challans and minimum wages compliance in the entry plan. | AI face recognition and AI email triggers (add-ons) | PF, ESIC, TDS, LWF and PT challans | Not worked out from the page | Demo | Core ₹4,500 a month, from ₹90 per employee | 3 November 2026 |
| 9.Asanify | Teams that want per-employee prices, Form 24Q filing and an employer of record option. | "Agentic AI" on VIP, and a WhatsApp HR bot | TDS, EPF, ESI, PT in 28 states and LWF, per its FAQ | ₹9,900 (Essential) | 14 days | Essential ₹99 or VIP ₹199 per employee a month | 3 November 2026 |
| 10.factoHR | Small teams that want to start free, or companies with field staff on geo-fenced attendance. | Fia chatbot (add-on), Factobot and AI face recognition | Statutory compliance from Core; deductions not listed | ₹9,949 (Core) | Free plan up to 20 employees | Core ₹4,999 a month for up to 50 employees, billed quarterly | 3 November 2026 |
| 11.Zimyo | Companies of 50 or more employees that want a payroll AI agent and per-user prices. | Zim AI, with payroll, helpdesk and onboarding AI agents | Payroll with compliance; deductions not listed | ₹8,000 (Basic) | 14 days, limited features | ₹80, ₹160 or ₹240 per user a month; 50-user minimum | 3 November 2026 |
| 12.sumHR | Small teams that want one simple per-employee price, with payroll outsourcing on offer. | Not described on the page we checked | Salary structures and IT declarations; deductions not listed | ₹11,900 (₹1,428 a year each) | Demo | ₹1,428 a year per employee (about ₹119 a month) | 3 November 2026 |
| 13.Quikchex | Companies that want payroll run for them, with labour compliance and audits from the same provider. | Not described on the page we checked | Outsourcing includes TDS, PF, ESI, PT and LWF | Not shown on the pages we checked | Demo | Not shown on the pages we checked | 3 November 2026 |
| 14.ZingHR | Large shift-based workforces that want "zero-touch payroll" with heavy attendance rules. | AI chatbot, AI screening with "robotic interviews", analytics | "Zero-touch payroll" with taxes and full and final settlements | Quoted by sales | Demo | Quoted by sales | 23 October 2026 |
| 15.Darwinbox | Large enterprises and multinationals that want payroll inside a global HCM suite. | More than 30 agents and a Super Agent, reported | Part of its HCM suite; check states with Darwinbox | Quoted by sales | Demo | Quoted by sales | 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. Costs are before GST.
How we chose
Six things that matter in Indian payroll
We took the payroll products Indian companies compare most often, from our India HR software ranking plus Zoho Payroll and Pocket HRMS, and read each one's own payroll and pricing pages. We did not run competitors' payroll, and we do not take payment for a place on this list.
Statutory depth
PF, ESI, professional tax and LWF by state, and TDS under both regimes, as each vendor describes them.
A check before you pay
Does anything compare the run with last month and flag gaps before money moves, and who approves it?
Cost for 100 employees
Worked out from each entry plan's published formula, before GST, where there is one.
Declarations and filing
Tax declarations and proofs, challans and quarterly returns.
Full and final in two days
Can it prepare the settlement before the last day, as the Code on Wages now requires?
Payroll and HR together
Are joiners, attendance and exits in the same product as payroll, or a separate purchase?
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. The "For 100 employees" column uses each vendor's published formula on the date shown.
The list
The fifteen payroll products, one by one
1 · Our pick
Peoplo.ai
An agentic HRMS with payroll designed to support PF, ESI, professional tax and LWF for every state, and TDS under both regimes. The payroll check agent compares every payslip with the month before and flags gaps before anyone locks the run.
Best for: Companies that want a check on every payroll run, with HR, hiring and exits in the same product.
What stands out
- The payroll check reads salaries, components and revisions, checks PF, ESI, PT and TDS for each work state, compares every payslip with last month and flags anything unusual. It never locks or pays a run.
- Tax declarations and proofs, gratuity, and full and final settlements prepared by the exit agent for a person to approve.
- One published price per employee: ₹79 per employee a month before GST, for at least 25 employees, with AI agents, hiring and exits in the plan.
Worth checking
- Published prices go up to 2,000 employees; above that, talk to us.
- Salary payouts from a bank account are not part of the product; you pay through your own bank.
- A newer product, so there are fewer published customer stories than for long-established vendors.
- Entry price
- ₹79 per employee a month before GST, for at least 25 employees
- Free trial
- Free trial
- Statutory
- Designed to support PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS
- For 100 employees
- ₹7,900 (per employee)
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: Small teams that want to start free, or already use Zoho apps, and want payroll on its own.
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.
- Entry price
- Free up to 10; Standard ₹1,000 a month for 25 employees, billed yearly
- Free trial
- 14 days; free up to 10 employees
- Statutory
- EPF, ESI, state-wise PT, LWF and TDS
- For 100 employees
- ₹4,000 (Standard, yearly)
Zoho Payroll India pricingZoho Payroll IndiaFrom Zoho Payroll's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
3
greytHR
A long-running Indian payroll and HR product, used by 33,000+ companies by its own account, with PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS across 28 states.
Best for: Price is the deciding factor and you mainly need Indian payroll, leave and attendance.
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.
- PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS across 28 states.
- NAVOS, an assistant on all plans that takes actions such as pulling reports and updating records within the user's permissions.
Worth checking
- Hiring and expenses are paid add-ons.
- Premium is quoted by sales.
- Entry price
- Essential ₹2,495 or Growth ₹4,495 a month for up to 50 employees
- Free trial
- 7 days
- Statutory
- PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS across 28 states
- For 100 employees
- ₹4,745 (Essential)
greytHR vs Peoplo.ai greytHR pricing pagegreytHR home pageFrom greytHR's public pages, checked 22 October 2026.
4
RazorpayX Payroll
A payroll product from Razorpay with payslips, direct salary payment, and "compliance payments, calculation and filing" on all plans.
Best for: Startups that want salary payouts and compliance payments from the same product as their business banking.
What stands out
- Pays salaries and compliance dues directly, from the same product as Razorpay business banking.
- Published prices: Prime ₹3,499 a month for up to 20 employees, 18% GST extra.
- 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).
- Entry price
- Prime ₹3,499 a month for up to 20 employees; 18% GST extra
- Free trial
- Not described
- Statutory
- "Compliance payments, calculation and filing" on all plans
- For 100 employees
- Not worked out: Elite is shown at two prices
RazorpayX Payroll vs Peoplo.ai RazorpayX Payroll pricingRazorpayX Payroll plans (docs)From RazorpayX Payroll's public pages, checked 23 October 2026.
5
Keka
A large Indian HR and payroll platform, chosen by 12,500+ companies by its own account, with TDS, PF, ESI and PT across all states and union territories.
Best for: Mid-size companies that want payroll anomaly flags and project billing in one HR platform.
What stands out
- TDS, PF, ESI and PT across all states and union territories.
- Keka AI shows the record behind each number and flags payroll anomalies with a recommended action.
- Timesheets, resourcing and invoicing in its project services plans.
Worth checking
- Prices are not published; plans are quoted and a setup fee applies.
- LWF is not listed on the pages we checked.
- Entry price
- Quoted by sales; a setup fee applies
- Free trial
- Not described
- Statutory
- TDS, PF, ESI and PT across all states and union territories
- For 100 employees
- Quoted by sales
Keka vs Peoplo.ai Keka pricing pageKeka home pageFrom Keka's public pages, checked 22 October 2026.
6
HROne
An Indian HRMS that says 2,000+ HR teams use it, with payroll included from its Basic plan and One AI agents for employees, HR and recruiters.
Best for: Companies with frontline staff that want selfie attendance feeding payroll, and a WhatsApp assistant.
What stands out
- Published prices: Basic ₹4,950 and Professional ₹6,500 a month for 50 users, then ₹99 or ₹130 per extra user.
- Selfie and geo-fenced attendance into payroll.
- One AI agents, a receipt parser and a WhatsApp assistant.
Worth checking
- Which statutory deductions are covered is not listed on the pricing page we checked.
- Expense, asset and helpdesk modules need Enterprise.
- Entry price
- Basic ₹4,950 or Professional ₹6,500 a month for 50 users
- Free trial
- Not described
- Statutory
- Payroll included from Basic
- For 100 employees
- ₹9,900 (Basic)
HROne vs Peoplo.ai HROne plans and pricingHROne One AIFrom HROne's public pages, checked 23 October 2026.
7
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 of 50 or more employees that want a low per-employee price with PF, ESIC, PT and TDS 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.
- Entry price
- Standard ₹2,995 a month for 50 employees, billed yearly
- Free trial
- Free demo
- Statutory
- PF, ESIC, PT and TDS automation, and eTDS
- For 100 employees
- ₹5,995 (Standard)
Pocket HRMS pricingFrom Pocket HRMS's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
8
Savvy HRMS
An Indian HRMS that says it is trusted by 1,000+ clients, whose Core plan includes PF, ESIC, TDS, LWF and PT challans and UAN management.
Best for: Companies that want PF, ESI, TDS, LWF and PT challans and minimum wages compliance in 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 and selfie attendance on Edge.
Worth checking
- Implementation fees depend on scope and are not listed.
- AI is limited to face recognition and email triggers, as add-ons.
- Entry price
- Core ₹4,500 a month, from ₹90 per employee
- Free trial
- Demo
- Statutory
- PF, ESIC, TDS, LWF and PT challans
- For 100 employees
- Not worked out from the page
Savvy HRMS pricingFrom Savvy HRMS's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
9
Asanify
An Indian HRMS and employer of record provider whose FAQ lists TDS, EPF, ESI, PT in 28 states, LWF, bonus, gratuity and quarterly Form 24Q filing.
Best for: Teams that want per-employee prices, Form 24Q filing and an employer of record option.
What stands out
- Published per-employee prices: Essential ₹99 and VIP ₹199 a month, with two months free on annual plans.
- Its FAQ lists quarterly Form 24Q filing alongside TDS, EPF, ESI, PT and LWF.
- An employer of record service for paying people 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.
- Entry price
- Essential ₹99 or VIP ₹199 per employee a month
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Statutory
- TDS, EPF, ESI, PT in 28 states and LWF, per its FAQ
- For 100 employees
- ₹9,900 (Essential)
Asanify pricingFrom Asanify's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
10
factoHR
An Indian HR and payroll product that says it has helped 4,000+ businesses, with statutory compliance from its Core plan and a free plan for up to 20 employees.
Best for: Small teams that want to start free, or companies with field staff on geo-fenced attendance.
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 and face recognition in the higher plans.
Worth checking
- Its INR and USD plan cards differ on whether Core includes payroll.
- Which deductions are covered is not listed on the pricing page.
- Entry price
- Core ₹4,999 a month for up to 50 employees, billed quarterly
- Free trial
- Free plan up to 20 employees
- Statutory
- Statutory compliance from Core; deductions not listed
- For 100 employees
- ₹9,949 (Core)
factoHR pricingFrom factoHR's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
11
Zimyo
An Indian HR and payroll platform, "powered by Zim AI", with a named payroll AI agent and multi-entity, multi-country payroll on its Enterprise plan.
Best for: Companies of 50 or more employees that want a payroll AI agent and per-user prices.
What stands out
- A named AI agent for payroll, plus helpdesk and onboarding agents.
- Published per-user prices: Basic ₹80, Standard ₹160 and Enterprise ₹240 a month.
- 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.
- Entry price
- ₹80, ₹160 or ₹240 per user a month; 50-user minimum
- Free trial
- 14 days, limited features
- Statutory
- Payroll with compliance; deductions not listed
- For 100 employees
- ₹8,000 (Basic)
Zimyo pricingFrom Zimyo's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
12
sumHR
An Indian HRMS with one published price, ₹1,428 a year per employee, unlimited salary structures and IT declarations.
Best for: Small teams that want one simple per-employee price, with payroll outsourcing on offer.
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.
- AI is not described on the page we checked.
- Entry price
- ₹1,428 a year per employee (about ₹119 a month)
- Free trial
- Demo
- Statutory
- Salary structures and IT declarations; deductions not listed
- For 100 employees
- ₹11,900 (₹1,428 a year each)
sumHR pricingFrom sumHR's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
13
Quikchex
An Indian payroll and compliance provider whose payroll outsourcing includes TDS, PF, ESI, PT and LWF, with licences, registers and a monthly compliance audit report.
Best for: Companies that want payroll run for them, with labour compliance and audits from the same provider.
What stands out
- Payroll outsourcing that includes TDS, PF, ESI, PT and LWF.
- 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.
- Entry price
- Not shown on the pages we checked
- Free trial
- Demo
- Statutory
- Outsourcing includes TDS, PF, ESI, PT and LWF
- For 100 employees
- Not shown on the pages we checked
Quikchex home pageFrom Quikchex's public pages, checked 3 November 2026.
14
ZingHR
An Indian enterprise HRMS, trusted by 1,200+ enterprises by its own account, with "zero-touch payroll" including taxes and full and final settlements.
Best for: Large shift-based workforces that want "zero-touch payroll" with heavy attendance rules.
What stands out
- Payroll with taxes and full and final settlements for large, shift-based workforces.
- Strong attendance and shift management for BFSI, manufacturing, retail and logistics.
- Also sold in the Middle East.
Worth checking
- Prices are not published.
- Indian deductions are not listed on the pages we checked.
- Entry price
- Quoted by sales
- Free trial
- Demo
- Statutory
- "Zero-touch payroll" with taxes and full and final settlements
- For 100 employees
- Quoted by sales
ZingHR vs Peoplo.ai ZingHR: enterprise HRMS (Middle East)ZingHR: best HR softwareFrom ZingHR's public pages, checked 23 October 2026.
15
Darwinbox
An Indian HCM platform reported to serve around 1,000 enterprise customers in about 130 countries, with payroll as part of its suite and a growing set of AI agents.
Best for: Large enterprises and multinationals that want payroll inside a global HCM suite.
What stands out
- Payroll inside a broad HCM suite built for large, multi-country workforces.
- Super Agent takes plain-language requests across HR, IT and Finance.
- An MCP server announced in May 2025.
Worth checking
- Prices are not published.
- Statutory coverage by state is not listed on the pages we checked.
- Entry price
- Quoted by sales
- Free trial
- Demo
- Statutory
- Part of its HCM suite; check states with Darwinbox
- For 100 employees
- Quoted by sales
Darwinbox vs Peoplo.ai People Matters: Darwinbox launches Super Agent (18 Sep 2025)People Matters: Darwinbox MCP server (12 May 2025)From Darwinbox's public pages, checked 23 October 2026.
Buyer's guide
What to look for at your size
Under 20 employees
Start with a free plan or a low fixed price, and check PF, ESI and PT work from the first run. Zoho Payroll is free up to 10 employees and factoHR up to 20.
Shortlist
- Zoho Payroll
- factoHR
- Peoplo.ai
- RazorpayX Payroll
20 to 100 employees
Overtime, joiners and leavers make each run different. Check that the product flags changes against last month and settles exits within two working days. Peoplo.ai is ₹7,900 a month for 100.
Shortlist
- Peoplo.ai
- greytHR
- Zoho Payroll
- HROne
- Asanify
- sumHR
100 to 500 employees
Several states, PT and LWF in each, and attendance from more than one site. Ask for a parallel run with your own salary structure.
Shortlist
- Peoplo.ai
- Keka
- Pocket HRMS
- Zimyo
- Savvy HRMS
500+ employees
Large shift-based workforces, several entities and an implementation partner, or payroll run for you by a provider.
Shortlist
- Darwinbox
- ZingHR
- Keka
- Quikchex
Payroll checklist
Indian rules your payroll software should handle
Eight payroll 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))
- ESIC: coverage and the wage ceiling
- Peoplo.ai: professional tax by state, with each state's source
- Income Tax Department: Finance Bill 2026 memorandum (rates unchanged for tax year 2026-27)
- India Code: Code on Social Security, 2020 (gratuity, section 53)
- LiveLaw: two working days under the Code on Wages
- Income Tax Department: Notification 31/2023, ₹25 lakh limit for leave encashment
Month by month
What an Indian payroll run involves
The same steps apply whichever product you choose. Ask each vendor to show you every one with your own data.
1. Inputs
Joiners, leavers, revisions, attendance, loss of pay, overtime and reimbursements for the month.
2. Calculate
Gross pay, PF, ESI, professional tax and LWF for each work state, and TDS under each employee's regime.
3. Check
Compare every payslip with last month and look for people with no salary set, doubled overtime and PF that changed with the new ceiling.
4. Lock
A person locks the run. In Peoplo.ai, the payroll check prepares and flags; it never locks or pays.
5. Pay
A bank file or direct payout. RazorpayX pays from business banking; Zoho Payroll makes bank advice for partner banks.
6. Deposit dues
PF, ESI, professional tax and TDS paid by each due date, with challans kept for each.
7. Payslips
Payslips and tax worksheets for every employee, on the web or in an app.
8. Leavers
Final wages and leave encashment within two working days of the last day; gratuity within 30 days of becoming payable.
Worked examples
The deductions in numbers
Rates and ceilings from the Peoplo.ai India compliance guide, with official sources.
PF
Basic ₹30,000 a month on capped PF wages: 12% of ₹25,000 is ₹3,000 from the employee, and the same from the employer.
ESI
Gross ₹18,000: ₹135 from the employee (0.75%) and ₹585 from the employer (3.25%).
Gratuity
Wages ₹40,000 and 6 years: 15/26 of wages for each year gives ₹1,38,462.
Professional tax
Karnataka: nothing below ₹25,000 a month, ₹200 from ₹25,000 and ₹300 in February. Each state is different.
What it costs
Published prices for 100 employees
A month, before GST, from each entry plan's published formula. Features differ a lot, so compare what is included.
Zoho Payroll
₹4,000 a month for 100 employees.
greytHR
₹4,745 a month for 100 employees.
Pocket HRMS
₹5,995 a month for 100 employees.
Peoplo.ai
₹7,900 a month for 100 employees.
Zimyo
₹8,000 a month for 100 employees.
HROne
₹9,900 a month for 100 employees.
Asanify
₹9,900 a month for 100 employees.
factoHR
₹9,949 a month for 100 employees.
sumHR
₹11,900 a month for 100 employees.
Quoted by sales
Keka, Quikchex, ZingHR and Darwinbox. Savvy HRMS and RazorpayX publish prices, but not enough to work out 100 employees.
Payroll software or a full HRMS?
Payroll software works out salaries, deductions and payslips, and some products pay salaries too. A full HRMS adds the records payroll depends on: joiners, attendance, leave, declarations and exits. In India most payroll mistakes start there, such as a leaver still on the run or loss of pay not recorded.
Payroll on its own can be enough for a small team. Once you settle exits within two working days and run payroll across states, keeping HR and payroll in one system saves the work of keeping two in step.
More on payroll in India
See Peoplo.ai check an Indian payroll run
A 30-minute demo with your salary structure: the payroll check, PF, ESI, PT and TDS, and a full and final settlement, ready for your approval.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers for Indian companies choosing payroll software.
What is the best payroll software in India?
Our pick is Peoplo.ai: a payroll check compares every payslip with last month before the run, PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS are designed to support every state, and prices are published (₹79 per employee a month before GST, for at least 25 employees). Zoho Payroll is free up to 10 employees, greytHR is low on price, and RazorpayX pays salaries from business banking. Peoplo.ai wrote this answer.
How much does payroll software cost in India?
Published entry prices on the pages we checked: Zoho Payroll free up to 10, then from ₹1,000 a month; greytHR ₹2,495 for 50; Pocket HRMS ₹2,995 for 50; RazorpayX ₹3,499 for 20; Peoplo.ai ₹1,975 for 25; HROne ₹4,950 for 50; Asanify ₹99 per employee. Keka, Quikchex, ZingHR and Darwinbox quote. Before GST, checked 3 November 2026.
What does payroll software cost for 100 employees?
From each entry plan's published formula, a month before GST: Zoho Payroll ₹4,000, greytHR ₹4,745, Pocket HRMS ₹5,995, Peoplo.ai ₹7,900, Zimyo ₹8,000, HROne ₹9,900, Asanify ₹9,900, factoHR ₹9,949, sumHR ₹11,900. Features differ a lot, so compare what is included, such as HR, hiring and AI, not only the price.
Which payroll software handles PF, ESI, PT, LWF and TDS?
Peoplo.ai is designed to support all five for every state. greytHR lists all five across 28 states, Zoho Payroll lists EPF, ESI, state-wise PT, LWF and TDS, Savvy HRMS lists challans for all five, and Asanify's FAQ lists them too. Pocket HRMS names PF, ESIC, PT and TDS. For others, ask which states are covered.
Is there free payroll software in India?
Zoho Payroll is free forever for up to 10 employees, and factoHR has a free plan for up to 20 employees. Zoho Payroll and Asanify offer 14-day trials, greytHR seven days, and Peoplo.ai a free trial.
What changed in Indian payroll in 2026?
The PF wage ceiling rose to ₹25,000 a month from 17 September 2026, West Bengal changed its professional tax slabs from 1 October 2026, and under the Code on Wages final wages must be paid within two working days of the last day. Tax rates are unchanged for tax year 2026-27.
How is PF worked out on the new ceiling?
Employee and employer each pay 12% of PF wages. If PF is capped, wages count up to ₹25,000, so the most each pays is ₹3,000 a month. Employers can also pay on full wages. Our PF calculator shows both.
Who has to pay ESI?
Employees earning up to ₹21,000 gross a month (₹25,000 for people with disabilities). The employee pays 0.75% and the employer 3.25%. Cover continues to the end of a contribution period even if pay goes above the ceiling.
How does payroll software handle professional tax across states?
It should apply each state's slabs to employees in that state, including Karnataka and Maharashtra's February amount and West Bengal's new slabs from 1 October 2026. Peoplo.ai checks PT for each work state in its payroll check. Our professional tax hub lists each state with its source.
Can payroll software settle full and final in two working days?
Only if the settlement is ready before the last day. Peoplo.ai's exit agent prepares the full and final with gratuity, leave encashment and asset returns as soon as a last day is set, for a person to approve. ZingHR also describes full and final settlements in payroll. Gratuity runs on its own clock: under the Code on Social Security it is due within 30 days of becoming payable.
How does AI help with Indian payroll?
The useful part is a check before you pay. Peoplo.ai's payroll check compares every payslip with last month and checks PF, ESI, PT and TDS for each work state. Keka AI flags payroll anomalies, Zimyo has a payroll AI agent, and Zoho Payroll lets Zia or your own AI tool work within the roles you set.
Who should approve a payroll run?
A person, and ideally not the same person who releases the money. In Peoplo.ai changes to pay, tax, people records and money always wait for a person, and important changes are written to an audit log: who did what, and when.
Which payroll software pays salaries directly?
RazorpayX Payroll pays salaries and compliance dues from Razorpay business banking. Zoho Payroll makes bank advice with partner banks. Most others, including Peoplo.ai, produce a file or report for your own bank.
Should I outsource payroll or use software?
Software is cheaper and keeps control in-house; outsourcing hands the monthly run to a provider. Quikchex and sumHR offer payroll outsourcing, and Asanify offers an employer of record service if you have no Indian entity.
Should I buy payroll on its own or a full HRMS?
Payroll on its own is cheaper, and Zoho Payroll is free up to 10 employees. A full HRMS keeps joiners, attendance, declarations and exits in the same system as payroll, which matters once you settle exits in two working days.
Which payroll software suits startups?
Zoho Payroll is free up to 10 employees, factoHR up to 20, RazorpayX pays salaries from business banking, and Peoplo.ai starts at ₹1,975 a month for 25 employees with HR and hiring included.
How long does it take to switch payroll software?
Plan a switch at the start of a quarter or tax year, and run one parallel month: run the new payroll alongside the old one, compare every payslip, then switch. Peoplo.ai's Go-live hub includes a parallel payroll run against your old payroll.
Can one payroll system cover Indian and UAE companies?
Yes. Peoplo.ai runs Indian and UAE companies in one account, each with its own payroll under its own rules: PF, ESI and TDS for India, WPS and end-of-service for the UAE. Zimyo describes multi-country payroll on Enterprise.
How did you choose these payroll products?
We started from our India HR software ranking, added Zoho Payroll and Pocket HRMS, and read each one's payroll and pricing pages for statutory depth, a check before you pay, cost for 100 employees, filing, full and final, and HR in the same product. Peoplo.ai is first because it is our product.