The top payroll software in India for 2026 includes Zoho Payroll, greytHR, Keka, Kredily and RazorpayX Payroll, with Pocket HRMS, HROne and Zimyo as strong alternatives. For small teams, Zoho Payroll (free up to 10 employees) and Kredily (free plan with unlimited employees) cost nothing to start; for manufacturers with shifts and overtime, greytHR's Growth plan and Keka are the usual shortlist.
This guide gives you a working payroll software list, the prices each vendor publishes on its own website, and a separate section on what manufacturing payroll software must handle. Browse the full payroll software category for more options.
What payroll software in India must do
Indian payroll is mostly a compliance job. Before comparing features, confirm that any tool handles the basics well:
- Statutory deductions: EPF, ESI, Professional Tax (state-wise) and Labour Welfare Fund.
- Income tax: TDS computation under both regimes, investment declarations and proofs, and Form 16.
- Salary structures: CTC breakup, allowances, reimbursements, arrears and loans.
- Payouts: a bank file or direct transfer so you are not typing salaries into net banking.
- Payslips and self-service: employees should download payslips and tax sheets themselves.
- Reports: PF ECR, ESI returns and a clean salary register for your CA.
If a tool is weak on any of these, the monthly run will still depend on spreadsheets.
How to choose payroll software
1. Count employees today and in two years
Most Indian payroll tools charge a base fee that covers a set number of employees (often 25 or 50), then a per-employee fee. Model your cost at today's headcount and at your expected size, not just the entry price.
2. Decide payroll-only or full HRMS
If you only need salaries and compliance, a payroll-only tool such as Zoho Payroll or RazorpayX Payroll is simpler. If you also need leave, attendance, onboarding and appraisals, pick an HRMS with payroll built in, such as greytHR or Keka. Our HR and payroll software guide covers this decision in depth.
3. Check attendance-to-payroll flow
Loss of pay, overtime and shift allowances all come from attendance. If attendance sits in a separate biometric system, make sure it syncs into payroll without manual exports.
4. Ask about support during filing weeks
Payroll problems surface on salary day and around return deadlines. Ask what support channels your plan includes (email only, or phone).
5. Trial with a real month
Run one past month's salaries in the trial and match them against what you actually paid. Differences reveal configuration gaps quickly.
Payroll software list with pricing (2026)
Prices below come from each vendor's official pricing page at the time of writing and exclude GST unless stated.
| Software | Starting price | What the base covers | Free option | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho Payroll | ₹1,000/month billed annually (Standard) | 25 employees | Free plan up to 10 employees | Small firms, Zoho Books users |
| greytHR | ₹2,495/month (Essential) | 50 employees | 7-day trial, no free plan | SMEs and factories |
| Keka | ₹90 per additional employee (Foundation) | Base price shown at signup | Free trial | Growing companies wanting full HR |
| Kredily | ₹0 (Free Forever) | Unlimited employees | Yes | Very small budgets |
| RazorpayX Payroll | Price on request | Not published | Trial offer | Businesses wanting payouts plus payroll |
| Pocket HRMS | Price on request | Not verified | Check vendor | Mid-size, multi-location |
| HROne | Price on request | Not verified | Check vendor | HR-led mid-size firms |
| Zimyo | Price on request | Not verified | Check vendor | Startups and SMEs |
Zoho Payroll
Zoho Payroll's pricing page lists four plans. The Free plan covers up to 10 employees with payroll calculation, payslips and statutory compliance. Standard costs ₹1,250/month (₹1,000/month on annual billing) for 25 employees, with extra employees at ₹50/month (₹40 annually). Professional and Premium start at ₹3,750 and ₹5,000 a month for 50 employees. Premium adds leave and attendance. It pairs naturally with Zoho Books. Our Zoho Payroll pricing explainer breaks this down further.
greytHR
greytHR's pricing page shows Essential at ₹2,495/month for 50 employees (₹45 per extra employee) and Growth at ₹4,495/month for 50 employees (₹85 per extra employee). Growth adds advanced attendance, shift management, overtime and geo-fencing, which matters for factories. Premium is custom-priced. There is a 7-day free trial and no free plan.
Keka
Keka's pricing page lists Foundation, Strength and Growth plans with per-additional-employee rates of ₹90, ₹120 and ₹150 respectively. Keka combines payroll with core HR, performance and engagement, so it suits companies that want one system for everything. Confirm the base fee during signup.
Kredily
Kredily's pricing page offers a Free Forever plan with unlimited employees covering payroll, HR, attendance and leave with PF, ESI, PT and TDS calculations. Payroll OS costs ₹1,249/month up to 25 employees (₹50 per employee beyond), adding bank payouts, challans and Form 16. Professional is ₹1,749/month up to 25 employees (₹70 per employee beyond), adding selfie and GPS attendance.
RazorpayX Payroll
RazorpayX Payroll focuses on automated salary payouts and filing of TDS, PF, PT and ESIC, and supports contractors and interns. Plan prices are not listed on the page we checked, so treat it as price on request.
Manufacturing payroll software: what is different
Factories break the assumptions many payroll tools make. A manufacturing payroll software setup has to cope with:
- Shifts and rotating rosters, including night-shift allowances.
- Overtime calculated per the Factories Act rules you follow, often at double rate.
- Daily-wage and contract labour, sometimes paid weekly.
- Biometric or face-recognition attendance at the gate, feeding loss-of-pay.
- Heavy ESI and PF volumes, since many workers fall under ESI wage limits.
- Minimum wage revisions by state and skill category.
Manufacturing shortlist
| Need | Suitable options |
|---|---|
| Shifts, overtime, geo-fencing | greytHR Growth plan |
| All-in-one HR with payroll | Keka, HROne, Pocket HRMS |
| Tight budget, small unit | Kredily Free or Payroll OS |
| Payroll inside accounting | Tally payroll, Marg payroll |
| Payroll-only with Zoho stack | Zoho Payroll Premium (adds attendance) |
See our dedicated pages on payroll software for manufacturers, HRMS for manufacturing companies and shift, roster and overtime software. If you also need production planning, look at manufacturing software and the manufacturing industry hub.
Payroll for other business types
- IT companies: remote staff, reimbursements and flexible benefits. See payroll software for IT companies.
- Startups: low cost at ten people and room to grow. See payroll software for startups.
- Pure attendance needs: consider pairing payroll with attendance software.
Cost example
For a 60-employee company on annual billing, based on published rates:
- Zoho Payroll Standard: ₹1,000 + (35 × ₹40) = ₹2,400/month.
- greytHR Essential: ₹2,495 + (10 × ₹45) = ₹2,945/month.
- greytHR Growth: ₹2,495 is replaced by ₹4,495 + (10 × ₹85) = ₹5,345/month.
- Kredily Payroll OS: ₹1,249 + (35 × ₹50) = ₹2,999/month.
These are list prices before GST; confirm billing cycle rules with each vendor, as monthly and annual rates differ.
FAQ
Which is the best payroll software in India?
There is no single best. Zoho Payroll and Kredily are the cheapest starting points, greytHR is strong for SMEs and factories, and Keka suits companies that want payroll inside a full HRMS.
Is there free payroll software in India?
Yes. Zoho Payroll has a free plan for up to 10 employees, and Kredily's Free Forever plan covers unlimited employees, according to their official pricing pages.
What should manufacturing payroll software include?
Shift and roster management, overtime rules, biometric attendance integration, contract labour handling and bulk PF and ESI filings. greytHR's Growth plan explicitly lists shifts and overtime.
Does payroll software file PF and ESI returns?
Most tools generate the ECR and return files and challans. Some, such as RazorpayX Payroll, also automate payment and filing. Check whether filing is automatic or you upload files yourself.
Can I run payroll in Tally instead?
Yes, Tally has payroll features, which works if your accountant already uses it. Dedicated payroll tools usually offer better employee self-service and tax declaration workflows.
How much does payroll software cost for 50 employees?
On published list prices, roughly ₹2,000 to ₹4,500 a month before GST depending on the tool and plan, with free plans available for smaller teams.
