Quick answer: greytHR from Greytip Software is priced per employee per month in tiers, with a free plan for very small teams covering core HR and leave, and paid tiers adding payroll, statutory compliance, attendance, employee self-service and more advanced workflows. Its defining strength in India is payroll compliance — PF, ESI, professional tax, LWF, TDS and Form 16 — which is why it is one of the most shortlisted products for Indian SMEs that want payroll to be right rather than pretty.
How greytHR is sold
The model is per employee per month, usually with a minimum billable headcount, billed annually. That minimum is the thing to check first: a 12-person company priced on a 25-employee minimum is not paying the per-employee rate it was quoted. Ask explicitly.
There is a free tier for small teams. It is genuinely free rather than a trial, and covers core employee records and leave. Payroll — the reason most companies buy greytHR — is in the paid tiers.
What moving up the tiers typically brings
| Level | Adds |
|---|---|
| Free / entry | Employee records, leave management, basic ESS |
| Core paid | Full Indian payroll, statutory compliance, payslips, Form 16 |
| Mid | Attendance, shifts, biometric integration, expense claims |
| Higher | Advanced workflows, performance, deeper reporting and integrations |
Module placement changes between releases, so confirm that the specific capability you need — biometric device support, expense claims, performance reviews — is in the tier you are quoted, in writing.
Why Indian SMEs choose it
Statutory compliance depth. PF and EPS with ECR file generation, ESI, state-wise professional tax and labour welfare fund, TDS under section 192 with old and new regime handling, Form 16, gratuity and bonus. Greytip has been doing Indian payroll since the 1990s and it shows in the edge cases.
Payroll operations, not just payroll software. Salary revision with arrears, full-and-final settlement, loan and advance handling, reimbursements and flexible benefit plans. These are where payroll products quietly fail and where greytHR is solid.
It is not the flashiest product. Companies that prioritise employee experience, performance management and a polished mobile app often prefer Keka HR. Companies that prioritise payroll being correct on the 30th choose greytHR. Both are defensible; know which you are.
The costs beyond the licence
- Minimum billable headcount — the most common surprise.
- Implementation and data migration — opening balances, YTD figures, leave balances. Get it reconciled and signed off before your first live run.
- Biometric device integration — confirm your exact device model (eSSL, ZKTeco, Matrix) is supported by name.
- SMS or WhatsApp notification credits, if used.
- Add-on modules beyond your tier.
greytHR versus the alternatives
- Keka HR — better employee experience, performance and hiring; strong all-rounder for modern teams. See our Keka guide.
- Zoho People + Zoho Payroll — cheapest route if you already run Zoho; payroll is a separate subscription. See Zoho People vs Darwinbox.
- factoHR, Pocket HRMS, Kredily — value options with strong field and factory attendance. See factoHR vs Pocket HRMS vs Kredily.
- Darwinbox, ZingHR, PeopleStrong — enterprise scale.
Start from our HRMS buyer's hub or the list of HRMS software in India.
FAQs
Is greytHR free?
greytHR has a free plan for very small teams covering core employee records and leave management. It is genuinely free rather than a trial, but payroll and statutory compliance — the main reason companies buy greytHR — are in the paid tiers.
How much does greytHR cost?
It is priced per employee per month in tiers, usually billed annually and usually with a minimum billable headcount. That minimum is the most common surprise in quotes: a small team may effectively pay for more employees than it has. Ask for the minimum in writing, and see current pricing on the greytHR listing.
Does greytHR handle PF, ESI and TDS?
Yes, and this is its main strength. It covers PF and EPS with ECR generation, ESI, state-wise professional tax and labour welfare fund, TDS under section 192 with old and new regime handling, Form 16, gratuity and bonus, along with salary revision arrears and full-and-final settlements.
greytHR or Keka — which is better?
greytHR if your priority is Indian payroll and statutory compliance being correct, including the awkward cases. Keka if your priority is employee experience, performance management, hiring and a polished mobile app. Both handle the basics well; choose on which side of that line your actual pain sits.
Does greytHR integrate with biometric attendance devices?
Yes, with common Indian devices including eSSL, ZKTeco and Matrix — but confirm your exact model by name, ask whether data is pushed in real time or pulled on a schedule, and test that punches buffer and sync when the internet drops.
Next step: get a free matched HRMS shortlist for your headcount and compliance needs.
