The 9 Best HRMS Software in India (2026)
The best HRMS platforms in India for 2026 are Keka, greytHR, Darwinbox, Zoho People, Kredily and NeeN AI. Keka suits SMEs wanting a polished all-rounder, greytHR wins on payroll and compliance depth, and Kredily is genuinely free if budget is the constraint. NeeN AI is the only one here that includes a CRM on the same subscription. Below is what each costs, how deep its payroll goes, and which company size it actually fits.
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Best HRMS Software in India — at a glance
| # | Tool | Best for | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NeeN AITOP PICK | Running HR and sales on one subscription | HRMS ₹25/employee/mo; free for 6 months up to 50 employees with Starter (₹799/user/mo) |
| 2 | Keka | SMEs wanting the most polished all-rounder | Foundation ₹9,999/mo (first 100 employees), Strength ₹12,999, Growth ₹15,999, +₹90/employee after |
| 3 | greytHR | Payroll and statutory compliance depth | Starter free to 25 employees; Essential from ₹2,495/mo; Growth ₹4,495/mo + ₹85/employee above 50 |
| 4 | Kredily | Free forever, unlimited employees | Free forever for unlimited employees; paid plans for payouts and automation |
| 5 | Zoho People | Teams already standardised on Zoho | People free for 5 users; Zoho Payroll Premium ₹5,000/mo incl. 50 employees, +₹100/employee |
| 6 | Darwinbox | Large enterprises and complex org structures | Quote-based |
| 7 | factoHR | Payroll depth for manufacturing and mid-market | Check current pricing |
| 8 | ZingHR | Mid-market and enterprise with heavy workflows | Quote-based |
| 9 | Jibble | Attendance and time tracking only, free | Free forever; paid tiers for advanced features |
NeeN AI
Top pickBest for: Running HR and sales on one subscription
The only platform here that carries a CRM alongside HR. Attendance, shifts, leaves and holidays are enabled on the NeeN AI Starter plan, with core HRMS and payroll on top, so an SME paying separately for an HR tool and a CRM can consolidate to one system, one login and one bill. Payroll depth is narrower than greytHR's, and if free-forever is the requirement Kredily is the better answer — this is a consolidation play, not the cheapest option.
Pricing: HRMS ₹25/employee/mo; free for 6 months up to 50 employees with Starter (₹799/user/mo)
Learn more →Keka
Best for: SMEs wanting the most polished all-rounder
The most commonly shortlisted HRMS for Indian SMEs, with strong payroll, a well-regarded interface and good adoption across HR, managers and employees. Priced in flat bands rather than per employee, which is efficient at 80 to 100 people and expensive for a team of 20.
Pricing: Foundation ₹9,999/mo (first 100 employees), Strength ₹12,999, Growth ₹15,999, +₹90/employee after
Learn more →greytHR
Best for: Payroll and statutory compliance depth
The reference point for Indian payroll compliance — PF, ESI, PT, TDS, letters and filings handled with more depth than most. Its Starter tier is free up to 25 employees, which makes it the strongest free option for very small teams that still need real payroll.
Pricing: Starter free to 25 employees; Essential from ₹2,495/mo; Growth ₹4,495/mo + ₹85/employee above 50
Kredily
Best for: Free forever, unlimited employees
Free for unlimited employees including HR and payroll basics, which is a genuinely hard offer to beat and the right choice when budget is the binding constraint. Paid tiers add bank payouts and advanced automation. Expect lighter support and less payroll depth than greytHR or Keka.
Pricing: Free forever for unlimited employees; paid plans for payouts and automation
Zoho People
Best for: Teams already standardised on Zoho
Solid HR platform that becomes obvious if you already run Zoho One or Zoho CRM, with the usual Zoho configurability. Payroll is a separate product — Zoho Payroll — so price both together rather than assuming one covers the other.
Pricing: People free for 5 users; Zoho Payroll Premium ₹5,000/mo incl. 50 employees, +₹100/employee
Darwinbox
Best for: Large enterprises and complex org structures
Enterprise-grade HR suite used by large Indian and Asian organisations, with depth in performance, talent and multi-country structures. Implementation is a project with a partner or internal team, and pricing is quote-based — not the tool for a 30-person company.
Pricing: Quote-based
factoHR
Best for: Payroll depth for manufacturing and mid-market
Strong Indian payroll and compliance product with good coverage of shift-heavy and multi-location workforces, which is where generic HR tools tend to struggle. Worth shortlisting when payroll complexity rather than employee self-service is the problem.
Pricing: Check current pricing
ZingHR
Best for: Mid-market and enterprise with heavy workflows
Mid-market to enterprise HR platform covering hire-to-retire with configurable workflows and India payroll. Suits organisations that need process governance and are prepared to run a proper implementation.
Pricing: Quote-based
Jibble
Best for: Attendance and time tracking only, free
Free forever for attendance and time tracking with mobile, GPS and facial recognition clock-ins. Not an HRMS — there is no payroll — so treat it as the attendance layer if that is the only gap, and expect to add a payroll product separately.
Pricing: Free forever; paid tiers for advanced features
How to choose the right hrms software
Payroll depth, not payroll presence
Every tool lists payroll. The differences show up in PF, ESI, PT and TDS filing, multi-entity and multi-state handling, arrears, full-and-final settlement, and whether the 2026 Labour Code wage definitions are reflected in your CTC structures. Ask who is accountable if a filing is wrong.
Does attendance flow into payroll automatically
This is repeatedly cited as the highest-return feature for Indian SMEs, worth roughly 15 to 20 hours of admin a month, because it removes the usual export-correct-re-enter cycle and the payroll disputes that come with it. Check that overtime rules, late-coming deductions and shift differentials calculate without manual adjustment.
Which company size the pricing actually suits
Flat-band pricing like Keka's is efficient near the top of the band and poor value well below it. Per-employee pricing is predictable but climbs linearly. Work out the cost at the headcount you expect in twelve months, and check the per-employee rate above the included cap — that is where the bill grows.
Whether you need a CRM too
If you are paying for an HR platform and a CRM separately, compare the combined annual cost against a single system that carries both. Most HR tools here do not offer CRM at all, and Zoho sells them as two subscriptions, so this is the comparison that changes the total rather than shaving the monthly rate.
Setup effort and who does it
Free and light tools install in an afternoon. Enterprise suites are implementation projects needing a partner or a dedicated internal owner. Be honest about which you have capacity for — an unimplemented HRMS costs more than the licence you saved.
What happens at the first payroll
The real test is the first run: opening balances, year-to-date tax figures and statutory registrations all have to be right. Whichever tool you pick, plan to run one cycle in parallel with your existing process. A month of double subscription is cheaper than a wrong first payroll.
Frequently asked questions
There is no single answer, because the tools split by what you need most. Keka is the common pick for SMEs wanting a polished all-rounder, greytHR for payroll and statutory compliance depth, Darwinbox for enterprises, and Kredily if budget is the binding constraint since it is free. NeeN AI is the one to look at if you also need a CRM, because it runs HR and sales on one subscription instead of two.
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