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PayrollHRMSIndia2026

Best Payroll Software in India 2026 — Honest Review & Comparison

HR & Payroll10 min readMay 2026

We reviewed the top payroll software for Indian businesses: Keka, GreytHR, Darwinbox, Zimyo, and Proactiq. Here's what each actually costs and who each is best for.

Why payroll software selection matters in India

Running payroll manually in India is unusually complex. You're dealing with PF, ESIC, Professional Tax (which varies by state), TDS, LWF, and the Bonus Act — all with different due dates and different rules for different employee categories.

The wrong software forces your HR manager to spend 3-5 days every month on payroll. The right one cuts that to 20 minutes.

Here's an honest comparison of the best payroll software available in India in 2026.

The Top 5 Payroll Software Options

1. Keka HR

  • Price: ₹6,000–12,000/month (up to 100 employees)
  • Strengths: Strong payroll automation, good attendance module, solid compliance
  • Weaknesses: Expensive for small teams, HR-focused only (no CRM, finance, or projects)
  • Best for: Companies with 50-200 employees that want dedicated HR software
  • 2. GreytHR

  • Price: ₹3,495–8,900/month (up to 50 employees)
  • Strengths: Statutory compliance is excellent, EPFO integration works well
  • Weaknesses: Outdated UI, limited integration with other business software
  • Best for: Compliance-focused small businesses with 10-50 employees
  • 3. Darwinbox

  • Price: ₹20,000+/month (enterprise only)
  • Strengths: Enterprise-grade features, mobile app, advanced analytics
  • Weaknesses: Way too expensive for SMBs, complex implementation, 6+ month onboarding
  • Best for: Companies with 500+ employees
  • 4. Zimyo

  • Price: ₹2,990–5,990/month (up to 50 employees)
  • Strengths: Simple UI, quick setup, WhatsApp notifications
  • Weaknesses: Limited payroll analytics, weaker compliance module than Keka
  • Best for: Startups and very small teams
  • 5. Proactiq OS

  • Price: ₹2,999/month flat (15 users — no per-employee fee)
  • Strengths: Payroll + CRM + Finance + Projects in one; AI payroll assistant; PF, ESIC, PT auto-calculated; works alongside accounting
  • Weaknesses: Not HR-only (it's a full business OS, so there's more to set up)
  • Best for: Growing SMBs that want payroll AND CRM AND accounting in one platform
  • The hidden cost comparison

    If you only need payroll, Keka or GreytHR are excellent choices. If you want payroll plus CRM, finance, and projects — Proactiq at ₹2,999/month beats any combination.

    What to look for in Indian payroll software

    1. PF and ESIC accuracy — This is non-negotiable. The software must calculate both employee and employer contributions correctly, handle excluded employees, and generate ECR files for EPFO portal submission.

    2. State-specific Professional Tax — PT slabs differ across Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, etc. The software must handle all states where you have employees.

    3. TDS under Section 192 — Monthly TDS deduction based on projected annual income, investment declarations, and the correct tax slab. This changes when employees submit their investment proofs.

    4. Full-and-final settlement (FNFS) — When an employee leaves, calculate gratuity (for 5+ year employees), earned leave encashment, and notice period adjustments automatically.

    5. Payslip quality — Employees need to understand their payslip. A good payslip clearly shows CTC, gross, deductions, and net with each component labelled.

    Our recommendation by business size

  • Under 10 employees: Proactiq free plan covers basic payroll. Or use GreytHR Starter.
  • 10–50 employees: Proactiq OS at ₹2,999/month gives you payroll + full business OS.
  • 50–200 employees: Keka or GreytHR for payroll-only; Proactiq if you want everything integrated.
  • 200+ employees: Darwinbox or enterprise Keka. But for pure SMB, those are overkill.
  • [Try Proactiq payroll free for 14 days →](/payroll-software)

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