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Paybooks
by Paybooks · Bengaluru, Karnataka · Since 2012
Payroll and HR software with compliance services.
- Starting price
- Price on request
- Software and outsourcing prices are not published
- Free trial / plan
- Free trial
- Offered on Xplore, Xpand and Xcelerate
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Web
- App Advisor rating
- 4.7
- transparency & India fit
What is Paybooks?
Paybooks is a Bengaluru payroll company, founded in 2012 and now part of the TransPerfect group, that sells the same India payroll engine three ways: as self-managed software, as a fully outsourced payroll service, and as an Employer of Record (EOR) for foreign firms hiring in India without a local entity. It says more than 3,000 Indian businesses use it. The office listed on its site is at UB Plaza, Vittal Mallya Road, Bengaluru.
The software comes in three tiers called Xplore, Xpand and Xcelerate. Every tier produces PF, ESI, PT, LWF, Form 24Q, Form 16 and NPS reports, and includes employee self-service for payslips, leave and investment declarations. Xpand adds expense claims, loans and advances, direct salary payment, flexi benefit plans, shift management and biometric integration. Xcelerate adds single sign-on and ERP integration as an add-on. Actual filing and deposit of PF, ESI, PT and TDS, labour compliance audits and a dedicated payroll SPOC are only part of the Outsourcing Services column, so a software-only buyer still files returns in-house.
The weak spot is buying transparency. The 2026 pricing page lists features plan by plan but shows no rupee price for any software tier, and the outsourcing plan is 'Talk to an Expert'. You get a free trial button on each software plan and an anniversary offer of up to six months of free software or up to 30% off managed payroll, subject to terms. The only published numbers are for EOR: from USD 199 per employee per month, plus USD 50 per hire and USD 50 per exit, and a security deposit equal to notice-period salary across the headcount.
Paybooks suits an Indian SME of roughly 20 to 500 staff whose finance team wants payroll and statutory work handed off, or a foreign company that needs to put a handful of people on an Indian payroll quickly. If you want performance reviews, hiring and engagement in the same box, Keka, greytHR or Zoho People cover more of core HR, and recruitment or performance at Paybooks are sold as add-ons.
What works well
- +Statutory reports for PF, ESI, PT, LWF, Form 24Q, Form 16 and NPS are included on every plan
- +One vendor offers software, fully managed payroll and an India EOR, so you can move between models
- +Managed payroll covers filings, compliance payments, a labour compliance audit and a named SPOC
- +EOR pricing is published openly: from USD 199 per employee per month with no minimum headcount
- +Over 12 years of Indian payroll outsourcing work and 3,000+ business customers, per the company
- +Free trial button on each of the Xplore, Xpand and Xcelerate software plans
What to watch out for
- −No INR price is published for any software or outsourcing plan, so every buyer needs a sales quote
- −Software plans generate compliance reports but do not file PF, ESI, PT or TDS returns for you
- −Geo-fenced and selfie web attendance is an add-on on Xpand and Xcelerate, not included
- −HRMS integration and ERP integration are paid add-ons even on the top Xcelerate plan
- −Recruitment, performance management and timesheets are add-ons, so it is thin as a full HRMS
Best suited for: Indian SMEs that want to outsource payroll processing and statutory filings entirely · Foreign companies hiring a few employees in India without setting up a local entity · Finance-led teams that care more about accurate payroll and compliance than HR engagement features
Paybooks at a glance
Analysing Paybooks — pricing, features, reviews and alternatives…
Generated by App Advisor's native engine from this listing's verified data — not a paid placement.
Paybooks features
Researched from Paybooks's official product pages · updated October 2026.
Payroll
- Pay schedules and automated salary calculations
- Salary increments, bank statements and payroll MIS reports
- Expense management, loans and advances
- Flexi benefit plan and direct salary payment integration
- Year-end processing and payslip distribution
Statutory compliance
- Provident Fund and ESI reports
- Professional Tax and Labour Welfare Fund reports
- Form 24Q and Form 16 reports
- National Pension Scheme reports
- Filings and compliance payments (managed service), income tax proof verification as an add-on
Core HR and attendance
- Employee information management, forms and letters
- F&F settlement and document management
- Shift management and manual attendance
- Web attendance with geo-tagging, IP whitelisting, geo-fencing and selfie
- Biometric and access-control integration
Employee self-service
- Automatic payslip distribution and salary YTD
- Leave and comp-off requests
- Investment declaration with review and approval
- IT, YTD, loan and attendance reports
- Employee helpdesk and multi-factor authentication
Paybooks pricing (INR)
SourceEvery edition as published by the vendor · free trial: Free trial offered on Xplore, Xpand and Xcelerate (length not stated). Prices exclude GST unless stated. Full Paybooks pricing breakdown
Xplore
Not published
- Payroll processing, leave and comp-off, salary increments, bank statements
- PF, ESI, PT, LWF, Form 24Q, Form 16 and NPS reports
- Employee records, forms and letters, F&F settlement, manual attendance
- Employee self-service with payslips, investment declarations and MFA
Xpand
Not published
- Everything in Xplore
- Expense management, loans and advances, direct salary payment integration
- Flexi benefit plan, document management and shift management
- Employee helpdesk and biometric or access-control integration
Xcelerate
Not published
- Everything in Xpand
- Single sign-on
- ERP integration available as an add-on
- Web attendance with geo-fencing and selfie available as an add-on
Outsourcing Services
Quote (Talk to an Expert)
- Paybooks team runs payroll with two-level review, monthly sign-offs and parallel run
- PT, PF, ESI and TDS filings plus compliance payments
- Labour compliance audit and dedicated account manager or SPOC
- Onboarding, exit management and attendance regularisation included
Other pricing options & add-ons
Employer of Record (India)
Plus USD 50 one-time per hire and USD 50 per exit; security deposit equal to notice-period value times headcount
From USD 199 per employee per month
Add-ons
Advanced expense management, web attendance, HRMS/HCM and ERP integration, recruitment, performance, asset tracking, timesheets
Not published
- • The 2026 anniversary pricing page advertises up to 6 months of free payroll software and up to 30% off managed payroll services, subject to Paybooks' terms.
- • GST treatment is not stated on the pricing page.
- • Quotes are requested through a form or the sales team; support line +91 80 4710 7070.
Buying for a team? App Advisor can get you a volume quote and any partner discount available.
Implementing Paybooks
SourceWays to implement
- Guided setup with data migration support
- Dedicated onboarding team
- Fully managed payroll outsourcing
Paybooks says most teams run their first payroll within a few days of onboarding
- 1Guided configuration of pay structures and policies
- 2Employee and salary data migration
- 3First payroll run with the onboarding team
Need a certified partner in India to set up Paybooks?Implementation help
Integrations, security & India
Integrations
- Biometric devices and time clocks
- Access control systems
- HRMS / HCM systems (add-on)
- ERP systems (add-on)
- Direct salary payment
For Indian businesses
- Headquartered at UB Plaza, Vittal Mallya Road, Bengaluru 560001
- Reports cover PF, ESI, PT, LWF, Form 24Q, Form 16 and NPS
- Managed service offers labour compliance management as an add-on, covering the Factories Act and Shops & Establishments Act
- EOR lets overseas companies employ staff in India with no local entity and no minimum headcount
- Paybooks says 3,000+ businesses across India use it
Support, resources & partner network
Support & learning
- Phone +91 80 4710 7070
- Email support@paybooks.in
- Support portal at support.paybooks.in
- Dedicated SPOC on the outsourcing plan
Is Paybooks the best choice for you?
Best choice if you are…
- Indian SMEs that want to outsource payroll processing and statutory filings entirely
- Foreign companies hiring a few employees in India without setting up a local entity
- Finance-led teams that care more about accurate payroll and compliance than HR engagement features
Look elsewhere if you are…
- Buyers who want to compare published per-employee prices before talking to sales
- Companies wanting performance, hiring and engagement modules bundled into one HR suite
Still comparing? Get an unbiased shortlist and demos arranged for free.
Sources (5) · updated October 2026
Paybooks screenshots
Specifications
- Category
- HRMS software, Payroll software
- Vendor
- Paybooks
- Headquarters
- Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Founded
- 2012
- Pricing model
- Subscription
- Starting price
- Price on request · Software and outsourcing prices are not published
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Platforms
- Web
- Best for
- Small business, SMB, Mid-market
- Made in India
- Yes
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Paybooks — frequently asked questions
How much does Paybooks payroll software cost in India?+
Paybooks does not publish INR prices for its Xplore, Xpand or Xcelerate software plans, or for managed payroll. You request a quote from sales. In 2026 the pricing page advertises up to six months of free software or up to 30% off managed payroll, subject to terms, so ask for the offer to be written into your quote.
Does Paybooks offer a free trial or free plan?+
Paybooks shows a Start Free Trial button on each of its three software plans, Xplore, Xpand and Xcelerate, though the trial length is not stated. There is no permanent free plan. The outsourcing service has no trial; it starts with a conversation with a Paybooks payroll expert.
Is GST included in Paybooks pricing?+
The Paybooks pricing page does not mention GST and shows no rupee prices, so you cannot tell from the site. As a Bengaluru company billing Indian businesses, expect GST to be added on the invoice, and confirm in writing whether quoted per-employee rates are inclusive or exclusive of 18% GST before signing.
Does Paybooks file PF, ESI and TDS returns for me?+
Only on the Outsourcing Services plan. All Paybooks software tiers generate PF, ESI, PT, LWF, Form 24Q, Form 16 and NPS reports, but compliance filings, compliance payments and labour compliance audits are listed only under managed payroll. With the software alone, your team or CA still files the returns.
What is the Paybooks Employer of Record service and its price?+
Paybooks EOR makes Paybooks the legal employer of your staff in India, covering payroll, statutory compliance, contracts and benefits, while you direct the work. It starts at USD 199 per employee per month, plus USD 50 per hire and USD 50 per exit, and an upfront deposit equal to notice-period value across your headcount. No minimum headcount applies.
Paybooks vs greytHR: which should I pick?+
Pick Paybooks if you want payroll and statutory filings handed to an outside team, because its managed service and EOR are central to the business. greytHR publishes its plan prices and leans towards self-service HR software with wider core HR. If you will run payroll in-house and want clear pricing up front, greytHR is easier to evaluate.
How long does it take to set up Paybooks?+
Paybooks says most customers complete their first payroll run within a few days of onboarding. Setup includes guided configuration, data migration support and a dedicated onboarding team. Allow extra time if you need biometric, HRMS or ERP integrations, since the latter two are add-ons on the higher plans.
Does Paybooks support attendance and biometric devices?+
Yes. Paybooks integrates with biometric devices, time clocks and access-control systems on the Xpand plan and above. Web-based attendance with geo-tagging, IP whitelisting, geo-fencing and selfie capture is an add-on on Xpand and Xcelerate and is included in the Outsourcing Services plan. Xplore only has manual attendance.
Who owns Paybooks and where is it based?+
Paybooks was founded in 2012 and is based at UB Plaza on Vittal Mallya Road in Bengaluru. Its website says it is now part of TransPerfect, the global language and business services group. The company reports more than 3,000 business customers across India and over 12 years of payroll outsourcing experience.
How do I contact Paybooks support?+
Paybooks lists a support phone line, +91 80 4710 7070, the email support@paybooks.in and a ticketing portal at support.paybooks.in. Customers on the Outsourcing Services plan also get a dedicated account manager who acts as the single point of contact for every payroll cycle.
What is Paybooks?+
Paybooks is hrms software by Paybooks, an Indian company from Bengaluru. Payroll and HR software with compliance services.
How much does Paybooks cost?+
Paybooks publishes: Price on request · Software and outsourcing prices are not published. Confirm current plans and taxes on the official pricing page.
Does Paybooks offer a free trial or free plan?+
App Advisor's listing records a free trial for Paybooks. Confirm the current trial terms on Paybooks's official site.
Is Paybooks made in India?+
Yes. Paybooks is built by Paybooks, headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Who is Paybooks best suited for?+
Paybooks suits small business, smb, mid-market buyers looking for hrms software with payroll software.
What are the best alternatives to Paybooks?+
Popular alternatives in hrms software include greytHR, Zoho People, Kredily. Use App Advisor's compare tool to see them side by side.
How is Paybooks deployed?+
Paybooks is available as a cloud (SaaS) product, with web access.
About Paybooks
Paybooks · Bengaluru, Karnataka · Founded 2012 · 2 products in our catalogue · Indian company
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