Render9 is an all-in-one, GST-ready business platform for Indian SMBs — CRM & leads, quotations, sales & invoicing, inventory, purchase orders, projects, accounting & GST filing, HR & payroll.
Made in IndiaGST ready
Starts at
Paid plans
HR & Payroll
Best Payroll software in India (2026)
Payroll software calculates salaries, deductions and statutory contributions, and generates the returns and challans you have to file. This is the least forgiving category in the catalogue — errors surface as compliance notices, not inconvenience.
188 products compared104 made in India25 with a free plan
Top rated here
1
greytHR
HR and payroll software with attendance, leave, statutory compliance and an employee self-service app.
From ₹2,495/mo (up to 50 employees)
Kredily
Free HR and payroll software for small businesses.
Free plan
Zoho Payroll
Indian payroll with statutory compliance, priced per organisation.
Free plan
Keka HR
Modern HRMS with payroll, attendance and performance for growing Indian companies.
₹6,999/mo
GreytHR Payroll
Payroll engine of greytHR.
Free plan
View
SuperManage is the all-in-one HRMS and payroll app trusted by 64,000+ businesses across 150+ countries. Track attendance, run payroll, manage expenses, and manage your entire team from one app.
Made in IndiaMobile app
Starts at
Paid plans
Now manage employee attendance, leaves, payroll, core HR processes and more.
Made in India
Starts at
Paid plans
All-in-one HRMS for India: payroll, leave, attendance, recruitment & compliance. 20+ modules, multi-tenant architecture, 14-day free trial.
NewMade in India
Starts at
Paid plans
Cloud accounting, inventory and payroll for SMEs.
Starts at
₹1,500/mo
US payroll and HR for small businesses.
Starts at
₹3,000/mo
Timesheets for payroll and billing.
Best value
Starts at
₹400/mo
HR, IT and finance platform with global payroll.
Starts at
₹700/mo
Global hiring, EOR and payroll.
Starts at
₹4,000/mo
Global EOR and payroll.
Starts at
₹2,400/mo
US payroll and HR.
Starts at
₹3,000/mo
Affordable US payroll.
Starts at
₹1,500/mo
US payroll inside QuickBooks.
Starts at
₹3,500/mo
Payroll for Xero customers in select countries.
Starts at
₹1,000/mo
Payroll and leave for Singapore and Malaysia.
Free plan
Starts at
Free plan
Payroll for small businesses in Canada and US.
Starts at
₹1,500/mo
Payroll and HR in Deskera.
Starts at
₹1,500/mo
Payroll for Square merchants.
Starts at
₹2,800/mo
Benefits administration software for brokers and HR teams covering enrolment, payroll integration and compliance
Free plan
Starts at
Free plan
Business software for accounting, POS, inventory and payroll in Nigeria
Free
Starts at
Free
Global payroll and contractor payments.
Starts at
₹2,400/mo
HR and payroll for Southeast Asia.
Best value
Starts at
₹300/mo
Builds offshore engineering teams in India, handling sourcing, payroll and compliance for clients.
Recommended
Starts at
Managed employment $299 per person per month
HCM with continuous payroll.
Starts at
On request
Global EOR and payroll with Indian founders.
Starts at
₹3,000/mo
Global hiring and payroll.
Starts at
₹3,000/mo
Payroll software for Malaysian businesses with automated payslips and statutory compliance; free for unlimited users. | payroll-software
Free plan
Starts at
Free plan
Tutoring management software for scheduling, billing, payroll and student records
Free plan
Starts at
Free plan
HR and payroll for mid-size companies.
Starts at
On request
US payroll and HR services.
Starts at
On request
HR, payroll and workforce management.
Starts at
On request
HR and payroll platform.
Starts at
On request
Benefits administration system for brokers and employers to manage enrolment, compliance and payroll sync
Free plan
Starts at
Free plan
Payroll and HR software for Canadian businesses with tax compliance and direct deposit
Free plan
Starts at
Free plan
Payroll outsourcing for Indian enterprises.
Enterprise ready
Starts at
On request
Global payroll and payments.
Starts at
On request
Employer of record, global payroll and contractor payments for hiring staff in 185+ countries.
RecommendedTrending
Starts at
EOR from $199 per employee/month
UK payroll and HR software and managed payroll services. | payroll-software
Starts at
On request
HR and payroll software in a single database, including Beti automated payroll and employee self-service. | employee-self-service
Starts at
On request
HR and payroll platform for UK organisations with employee records, absence, performance and employee self-service. | employee-self-service
Starts at
Paid plans
Online payroll for small businesses and household employers with unlimited payroll runs. | payroll-software
Starts at
Paid plans
Global workforce platform for employing staff and paying contractors abroad through owned entities.
Recommended
Starts at
EOR from $599 per employee/month; contractors $199/month
Dealership management system covering sales, service, parts, accounting and payroll for franchise car dealers.
Starts at
On request
Payroll integrated with Bob.
Starts at
On request
Cloud payroll software for UK employers, priced from GBP 43 per month by payslip volume. | payroll-software
Starts at
Paid plans
Employee time tracking for project management, billing and payroll. | time-tracking
Starts at
Paid plans
Onboarding tool within Paycom's single-database HR and payroll software, alongside applicant tracking and E-Verify. | employee-onboarding
Starts at
On request
Payroll, HR, invoicing, accounting and reporting software for Dutch businesses and accountants. | payroll-software
Starts at
Paid plans
UK payroll software with managed payroll experts handling payslips, HMRC filings and reporting.
Starts at
On request
All-in-one HR, payroll and benefits platform for Canadian small and mid-size businesses. | payroll-software
Starts at
Paid plans
Ordered by App Advisor rating. Nothing here is paid placement — see how we rate software.
How to choose payroll software
Ask the vendor to run a live payroll for a sample employee in your state and show the PF, ESI and PT working. If they cannot, move on.
Check minimum billing. Many products price per employee with a floor of 25–100 employees, which changes the economics for small teams.
Look at how investment declarations, proofs and Form 16 are handled — that is the most painful month of the year for HR.
What to look for
- ✓ Salary structures and CTC templates
- ✓ PF, ESI, professional tax and LWF by state
- ✓ TDS computation with investment declarations
- ✓ Payslips and Form 16
- ✓ Reimbursements and arrears
- ✓ Bank transfer files and direct payouts
- ✓ Full and final settlement
- ✓ Attendance and leave integration
Get an instant demo
Let us arrange your demos, free
Payroll software — frequently asked questions
How much does payroll software cost in India?+
Typically ₹30–₹120 per employee per month, with many vendors setting a minimum monthly bill. Some offer a free tier for very small teams.
Does payroll software file PF and ESI returns?+
Most Indian payroll products generate the ECR and ESI files and challans; a few file directly through integrations. Global products almost never handle Indian statutory payroll natively.
Payroll software by industry
Payroll software — popular searches
Payroll software IndiaPayroll management softwareOnline payroll softwareCloud payroll softwarePayroll processing softwarePayroll automation softwareSalary management softwareSalary calculation softwareEmployee payroll softwarePayroll compliance softwarePF payroll softwareESIC payroll softwareTDS payroll softwareHR payroll softwarePayroll outsourcing softwareLabour Law Compliance SoftwarePF Management SoftwareESIC Management SoftwareProfessional Tax Software
Related categories
India buyer's guide
Payroll software in India: prices, free plans and how to choose
Payroll software turns attendance, salary structures and statutory rules into accurate payslips, bank transfer files and challans every month. In India that means computing PF, ESI, professional tax, labour welfare fund and TDS on salary correctly, handling arrears and loss-of-pay days, and producing Form 16, ECR files and returns without a weekend of spreadsheet work. It should also handle bonus and gratuity provisions.
Good payroll tools update statutory rates and slabs on time, show the logic behind every deduction, and let you reverse or re-run a month without breaking the books. Poor ones hide calculations, lag behind changes to tax regimes or wage ceilings, and push HR into manual adjustments that auditors later question. Accuracy and auditability matter more than dashboards here. Payslip transparency builds employee trust.
Best payroll software in India: verified comparison
Judge payroll software on correctness first. Run a past month through it and compare every payslip with what you actually paid, including PF on restricted wages, ESI eligibility, state-wise professional tax and TDS under both tax regimes. Then check the outputs: bank advice files in your bank's format, PF ECR upload file, ESI contribution file, and Form 24Q data. The best option explains each figure instead of just displaying it.
| Product | Lowest published price | Free plan | Free trial | Demo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| greytHRMade in India | ₹2,495 per month (50 employees included, ₹45/emp above 50) source | — | 7 days source | On request source |
| KredilyMade in India | ₹1,249 per month (up to 25 employees, ₹50/emp beyond) source | Yes source | — | On request source |
| Zoho PayrollMade in India | ₹1,000 per organization/month (includes 25 employees) source | Yes source | 14 days source | On request source |
| Keka HRMade in India | Not published | — | Yes source | On request source |
 TimelabsMade in India | ₹3,250 per month for 50 employees (+₹50/employee beyond 50) source | — | 7 days source | On request source |
 Zoho People PlusMade in India | ₹192 per user/month source | — | — | — |
 sumHRMade in India | ₹1,428 per employee/year source | — | — | On request source |
 PaybooksMade in India | Not published | — | Yes source | — |
 RazorpayX PayrollMade in India | ₹2,499 per month (starting) source | — | 30 days source | On request source |
 QandleMade in India | ₹2,450 per month source | — | Yes source | On request source |
 uKnowva HRMSMade in India | Not published | — | — | On request source |
 ZimyoMade in India | ₹80 per user/month (minimum billing 50 users) source | — | 14 days source | On request source |
 QuikChexMade in India | ₹4,500 per month + ₹45 per employee source | — | — | On request source |
 Saral PayPackMade in India | Not published | — | — | On request source |
Checked on each vendor's official website (September 2026). A dash means the vendor does not publish it or we could not verify it — not that the feature is missing. Prices exclude GST unless the source says otherwise. App Advisor publishes no user ratings.
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Tell us your team size, city and budget. An advisor sends a shortlist that fits and arranges demos; vendors quote you directly. Compare prices for your team size before you commit.
Choosing payroll software: top picks, Indian options and reviews
Top payroll software for small business in India
A small business running payroll for a modest team needs quick setup of salary structures, automatic PF, ESI and PT calculation, and payslips employees can download on their phone. Bank transfer file generation saves hours each month. Look for simple investment-declaration collection for TDS and ready Form 16. Complex approval workflows and cost-centre accounting can come later.
Indian payroll software
Payroll tools built in India are designed around statutory compliance: EPF and EPS splits, ESI wage ceilings, state professional tax slabs, labour welfare fund, gratuity and bonus calculations, and TDS under old and new regimes. They generate ECR files for the EPFO portal and data for Form 24Q. Vendors usually push rule updates when the budget or state notifications change, and support often understands statutory questions.
greytHRKredilyZoho PayrollKeka HRGreytHR PayrollTimelabsZoho People PlussumHR
Payroll software reviews in India
App Advisor publishes no user ratings. Payroll reviews often mention timing of statutory updates, support during month-end, and errors after rule changes — note these and test them. During your trial, run a parallel payroll for one or two months alongside your current method and reconcile every difference before trusting any review. Pay particular attention to how corrections are handled after bank upload. How App Advisor rates software.
Payroll software comparison in India
A payroll comparison should include: statutory coverage (PF, ESI, PT, LWF, TDS, gratuity, bonus), multi-state handling, salary structure flexibility, arrears and revision handling, reimbursements and flexible benefit plans, investment declaration and proof workflow, bank file formats, compliance outputs (ECR, ESI files, Form 16, 24Q), integration with attendance and accounting, and audit trail. Compare the vendor's track record on updating rules on time.
What payroll software costs in India
Payroll software price in India
Payroll software in India is commonly priced per employee per month, often with a minimum monthly charge. Some vendors bundle payroll with HRMS; others sell it standalone. Managed payroll services, where the vendor also files returns, are priced higher. A few desktop products still sell a one-time licence with an annual maintenance fee. Ask whether off-cycle runs for bonuses or settlements are billed separately.
- greytHR — from ₹2,495 per month (50 employees included, ₹45/emp above 50) (Essential) source
- Kredily — from ₹1,249 per month (up to 25 employees, ₹50/emp beyond) (Payroll OS) source
- Zoho Payroll — from ₹1,000 per organization/month (includes 25 employees) (Standard) source
- Timelabs — from ₹3,250 per month for 50 employees (+₹50/employee beyond 50) (Pulse (Core HR)) source
- Zoho People Plus — from ₹192 per user/month (Premium) source
- sumHR — from ₹1,428 per employee/year (HRMS subscription) source
Payroll software subscription cost in India
Payroll cost scales with headcount processed each month, so check whether exited employees still count until full and final settlement. Additional charges can apply for multiple legal entities, extra states, Form 16 generation, compliance filing support, or integrations with accounting. Annual billing usually reduces cost. GST at 18% applies on the subscription invoice and is claimable as input credit.
Free plans, free trials and demos
Free payroll software in India
Free payroll plans usually cap the number of employees, skip statutory filing outputs like ECR or Form 16, and offer no support during month-end. Some free tools only generate payslips without calculating tax. Treat them as a starting point for a very small team and verify statutory calculations manually. Loan recoveries and arrears are usually missing as well.
- Kredily — free plan: “Free Forever at ₹0 for unlimited employees — no credit card. *Subject to active usage poli” source
- Zoho Payroll — free plan: “FREE ₹0 ₹0 Free forever upto 10 employees” source
Payroll software free trial in India
Use the payroll trial to run a parallel payroll. Enter your salary structures, statutory registrations and one past month's attendance, then compare output with what you paid. Test an arrears case, a mid-month joiner, a resignation with notice recovery and an employee who opted for the new tax regime. Generate bank files and ECR and check they upload without errors.
- greytHR — 7-day trial source
- Zoho Payroll — 14-day trial source
- Keka HR — free trial source
- Timelabs — 7-day trial source
- Paybooks — free trial source
- RazorpayX Payroll — 30-day trial source
- Qandle — free trial source
- Zimyo — 14-day trial source
Payroll software demo in India
In a payroll demo, ask the vendor to show how PF is calculated when basic salary exceeds the wage ceiling, how ESI eligibility changes mid-year, and how professional tax differs across states. Ask how quickly they updated for the latest budget changes, how investment proofs are verified, and what happens if a processed payroll needs correction after bank transfer.
Demo on request (vendor site): greytHR source, Kredily source, Zoho Payroll source, Keka HR source, Timelabs source, sumHR source, RazorpayX Payroll source, Qandle source, uKnowva HRMS source, Zimyo source, QuikChex source, Saral PayPack source
Payroll software by type of business
Payroll software for startups in India
Startups need payroll software that handles compliance from the first hire, including PF registration thresholds, professional tax and TDS. Flexible benefit plans, reimbursements and ESOP-related payroll entries may matter as the team grows. Integration with accounting keeps salary entries clean for investor reporting. Pick a tool that can grow into multiple states if the team goes remote.
- Zoho Payroll — “Democratized payroll technology for startups and small businesses to run basic p” source
- Keka HR — “Small Business Growing businesses” source
- RazorpayX Payroll — “For Startups & SMEs” source
- uKnowva HRMS — “Lite Edition Best for Startups, Consultants, NGOs” source
Payroll software for MSMEs in India
MSMEs often run payroll for mixed workforces — monthly-salaried staff, daily-wage workers and piece-rate employees. The software should support these salary types, overtime rules, advances and loan recoveries. PF and ESI compliance must be accurate because penalties hurt small firms. Simple bank file generation and support in local languages help owners who manage payroll themselves.
- Zoho Payroll — “Democratized payroll technology for startups and small businesses to run basic p” source
- Keka HR — “Small Business Growing businesses” source
- RazorpayX Payroll — “For Startups & SMEs” source
- uKnowva HRMS — “Lite Edition Best for Startups, Consultants, NGOs” source
Payroll software for manufacturers in India
5 vendors say on their own websites that they serve this kind of business. The quotes, sources and prices are on the payroll software for manufacturers in india page.
Payroll software for retailers in India
Retailers need payroll that handles staff across many stores and states, each with its own professional tax and labour welfare fund rules. Sales incentives and commission payouts must flow into salary. High turnover means frequent full and final settlements, so check how quickly they are processed. Store-wise cost reports help compare labour cost against sales.
Payroll software for agencies in India
Agencies need payroll that manages variable pay, project bonuses and reimbursements alongside fixed salaries. Many also pay consultants, so separating contractor payments with TDS under the right section from salaried payroll is important. Integration with accounting and timesheet tools helps allocate salary costs to client projects. Notice-period buyouts and variable pay clawbacks should be supported too.
GST and switching providers
Payroll software with GST support
Salaries paid to employees are outside GST, so payroll software does not file GST returns. Still, you need a proper tax invoice from the payroll vendor with its GSTIN, your GSTIN and the correct SAC to claim input tax credit on the 18% GST. If the payroll tool handles employee reimbursements, capturing supplier GSTINs on bills helps your accounts team claim eligible credit.
Payroll software alternatives in India
Consider switching payroll software when statutory updates arrive late, month-end support is slow, or you keep correcting calculations manually. Switch at the start of a financial year where possible, since carrying forward TDS and year-to-date figures mid-year adds risk. Export salary structures, YTD earnings and deductions, investment declarations and loan balances. Reconcile the first month carefully.
greytHR alternativesKredily alternativesZoho Payroll alternativesKeka HR alternativesGreytHR Payroll alternativesTimelabs alternatives
Partner, affiliate and reseller programs
Payroll software affiliate program in India
Payroll affiliate programmes usually reward referrals that become paid subscriptions. Check commission structure, recurring or one-time, attribution period, payout threshold, and TDS treatment. Content creators on compliance topics often join; make sure the programme allows clear disclosure and does not restrict honest comparisons. Check whether referrals from accountants are treated differently from general referrals. Payroll buyers compare carefully, so accurate content converts better.
Payroll software partner program in India
Payroll partner programmes typically target chartered accountants, compliance consultants and HR outsourcing firms who run payroll for multiple clients. Check whether a multi-client console is available, how billing works for client entities, training and certification needs, and whether the vendor supports your statutory filing workflow. Clarify liability if a calculation error causes a penalty. Ask whether the vendor offers a white-label payslip option.
Payroll software reseller program in India
Payroll resellers license the software and resell it, often bundled with compliance services. Check pricing freedom, who invoices the customer with GST, how renewals work, and support responsibilities during month-end. Understand liability clauses for errors and how statutory updates are communicated so you can inform clients in time. Also confirm whether you may bundle filing services under your own name.
- Zoho — Value-Added Reseller (reseller): Competitive product pricing, high profit margins , and a steady stream of recurr program page
- Zoho — Zoho Affiliate Program (affiliate): 15% Commission on every qualified sale for the first 12 months program page
- Zoho — Zoho Payroll partner program (partner) program page
- Razorpay — Razorpay Partner Program (partner) program page
- Razorpay — RazorpayX Partners (Accountants) (partner): Get a lifetime revenue share for every client you onboard program page
- greytHR — greytHR Partner Program (partner) program page
- Kredily — Kredily Partner Program (partner) program page
- Keka — Keka Referral partners (referral) program page
All verified programs across categories are in the software partner program directory. More India software guides: business software in India.
Payroll software in India: FAQs
Does payroll software handle both old and new tax regimes?+
Most Indian payroll software lets each employee choose a tax regime and computes TDS accordingly. Check whether employees can declare their choice in the self-service portal, whether projections update when they switch, and how the software handles a regime change when filing the final return.
Can payroll software file PF and ESI returns directly?+
Most tools generate the ECR file for PF and contribution data for ESI, which you upload on the respective portals. A few offer direct filing or assisted filing through their service team. Ask exactly which steps remain manual and who takes responsibility if a file is rejected.
How does payroll software deal with professional tax in different states?+
Good payroll tools store professional tax slabs for each state and apply them based on the employee's work location. Some states deduct monthly, others have different slabs by gender or month. Check that the software handles the state where your employees work and updates when slabs change.
Can we give employees salary advances and recover them through payroll?+
Yes, most payroll tools let you record loans and advances with a repayment schedule and deduct instalments automatically. Check whether interest-free loans above the exempt limit are treated as perquisites for TDS, and whether employees can see outstanding balances on their payslips.
What happens to payroll during a salary revision with arrears?+
Good payroll software lets you enter a revised salary with a back date and calculates arrears automatically, including the impact on PF, ESI and TDS. Check how arrears appear on the payslip and whether they are spread correctly for tax purposes.
Can payroll software generate Form 16 for all employees?+
Most Indian payroll tools produce Part B of Form 16 from salary data, and some can merge it with Part A downloaded from TRACES. Check whether employees can download Form 16 from the self-service portal and whether bulk digital signing is supported.
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