HR & payroll
Best payroll software for small businesses in India
Payroll tools for Indian small businesses compared on price per month, employees included and free plans.
Updated 2 Oct 2026 · By the Software Today team · How we evaluate software
Payroll software earns its fee on the days salaries, PF, ESI and TDS are all due. The right choice depends mostly on how many people you pay.
| Tool | Starting price | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho Payroll | ₹1,000/mo | Yes | Small teams that want payroll free for up to 10 employees |
| Gappeo AI | Free | Yes | |
| greytHR | ₹2,495/mo | No | Businesses with around 50 employees that need HR records and payroll together |
| Pocket HRMS | ₹2,995/mo | No | Companies with 50 or more employees that want payroll, attendance and HR together |
| RazorpayX Payroll | ₹3,499/mo | No | Companies of up to about 20 people |
| HROne | ₹4,950/mo | No | Companies of 50 or more people that want payroll with attendance, leave and expenses |
| Keka | On request | No | Companies that have outgrown basic payroll tools |
Starting prices are monthly equivalents in rupees, before GST. Open a tool for plan details and the date we last checked.
How payroll pricing works
Most plans include a set number of employees and charge for each extra one. To compare two tools fairly, work out the cost at your own headcount, and at the headcount you expect next year.
What to check
- Statutory deductions. PF, ESI, professional tax and TDS calculated for you, with challans and returns ready.
- Attendance and leave flowing into salary without re-entry.
- Payslips that employees can download themselves.
- Bank payment. Some tools pay salaries directly; others give you a file to upload to your bank.
- Full and final settlement for people who leave.
If you have fewer than ten employees
Look at the free plans first. You may not need to pay at all until you grow.
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