1. Paybooks
Paybooks · Bengaluru · HRMS software · 4.7/5
Payroll and HR software with compliance services.
₹1,800/mo
Free trial
Compared with Xero Payroll
- Starts ₹800/mo higher (₹1,800/mo vs ₹1,000/mo)
- Built in India (Bengaluru)
HRMS software · Alternatives
Best Xero Payroll alternatives in India (2026)
Xero Payroll is a hrms software product from Xero, Wellington, priced at ₹1,000/mo. We compared 20 alternatives on published price, free plan, platforms and made-in-India support: 0 have a free plan, 6 are built in India, and 4 start cheaper or free.
Quick answer
The closest alternatives to Xero Payroll are Paybooks (₹1,800/mo), Rippling (₹700/mo), Paybooks Payroll (₹1,800/mo), Zoho People Plus (₹300/mo) and Patriot Payroll (₹1,500/mo). Published prices in this list start at ₹100/month.
Why businesses look for a Xero Payroll alternative
Cost
Xero Payroll starts at ₹1,000/mo. 4 alternatives start lower or have a free plan.
Indian support and GST
Xero Payroll is built in New Zealand. 6 alternatives are made in India, where GST, TDS and UPI are usually handled natively and support runs on IST.
Xero Payroll alternatives compared
Ranked by how closely each product matches Xero Payroll's category, pricing model, platforms and business size, then by rating. Prices exclude GST.
| # | Software | Starting price | Free plan | Platforms | Made in India | Rating | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Xero Payroll (current) | ₹1,000/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | — |
| 1 | Paybooks | ₹1,800/mo | No | Web | Yes | 4.7/5 | |
| 2 |  Rippling | ₹700/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 3 |  Paybooks Payroll | ₹1,800/mo | No | Web | Yes | 4.5/5 | |
| 4 |  Zoho People Plus | ₹300/mo | No | Web | Yes | 4.7/5 | |
| 5 |  Patriot Payroll | ₹1,500/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 6 |  Wagepoint | ₹1,500/mo | No | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 7 |  Payroll by Deskera | ₹1,500/mo | No | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 8 |  Remote | ₹2,400/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 9 |  Gusto | ₹3,000/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 10 |  OnPay | ₹3,000/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 11 |  Plane (Pilot) | ₹2,400/mo | No | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 12 |  Deel | ₹4,000/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 13 |  Square Payroll | ₹2,800/mo | No | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 14 |  Marg Payroll | ₹5,400/mo | No | Web | Yes | 4.6/5 | |
| 15 |  Saral PayPack | ₹6,000/mo | No | Web | Yes | 4.6/5 | |
| 16 |  QuickBooks Payroll | ₹3,500/mo | No | Web | No | 4.4/5 | |
| 17 |  Multiplier | ₹3,000/mo | No | Web | No | 4.2/5 | |
| 18 |  Panther | ₹3,000/mo | No | Web | No | 4.2/5 | |
| 19 |  Swingvy | ₹300/mo | No | Web | No | 4.3/5 | |
| 20 |  uKnowva HRMS | ₹100/mo | No | Web | Yes | 4.6/5 |
Top 10 Xero Payroll alternatives in detail
2. Rippling
Rippling · San Francisco · HRMS software · 4.4/5
HR, IT and finance platform with global payroll.
₹700/mo
Free trial
Compared with Xero Payroll
- Starts ₹300/mo cheaper (₹700/mo vs ₹1,000/mo)
Key features
- Global HRIS with records localised by work country (Rippling states the HRIS is localised for 85+ countries)
- Onboarding and offboarding workflows
- Time and attendance, leave and scheduling
- Headcount and workforce reporting across countries
- Global payroll for companies employing through their own local entities
3. Paybooks Payroll
Paybooks · Bengaluru · HRMS software · 4.5/5
Payroll software plus managed payroll services.
₹1,800/mo
Free trial
Compared with Xero Payroll
- Starts ₹800/mo higher (₹1,800/mo vs ₹1,000/mo)
- Built in India (Bengaluru)
4. Zoho People Plus
Zoho Corporation · Chennai · HRMS software · 4.7/5
Bundled HR suite with recruit, payroll and expense.
₹300/mo
Free trial
Compared with Xero Payroll
- Starts ₹700/mo cheaper (₹300/mo vs ₹1,000/mo)
- Built in India (Chennai)
Key features
- Job requisitions
- Candidate management
- Recruitment automation and analytics (Enterprise)
- Employee records
- Onboarding and offboarding
₹1,500/mo
Free trial
Compared with Xero Payroll
- Starts ₹500/mo higher (₹1,500/mo vs ₹1,000/mo)
6. Wagepoint
Wagepoint · Toronto · HRMS software · 4.3/5
Payroll for small businesses in Canada and US.
₹1,500/mo
Free trial
Compared with Xero Payroll
- Starts ₹500/mo higher (₹1,500/mo vs ₹1,000/mo)
₹1,500/mo
Free trial
Compared with Xero Payroll
- Starts ₹500/mo higher (₹1,500/mo vs ₹1,000/mo)
Compared with Xero Payroll
- Starts ₹1,400/mo higher (₹2,400/mo vs ₹1,000/mo)
₹3,000/mo
Free trial
Compared with Xero Payroll
- Starts ₹2,000/mo higher (₹3,000/mo vs ₹1,000/mo)
Key features
- Unlimited payroll runs per month with no charge for off-cycle payrolls
- Federal, state and local tax filings and payments
- Payroll on AutoPilot for recurring runs
- Multiple pay rates and pay schedules
- Direct deposit or printable checks
Compared with Xero Payroll
- Starts ₹2,000/mo higher (₹3,000/mo vs ₹1,000/mo)
Xero Payroll alternatives by what you need
Cheaper than Xero Payroll
Indian alternatives to Xero Payroll
How to choose a Xero Payroll alternative
- Start with payroll. If the statutory side is wrong, nothing else matters — ask the vendor to run a live payroll for a sample employee in your state and show you the PF, ESI and PT calculations.
- Next, check how attendance actually reaches the system. Biometric device integration, geo-tagged mobile check-in and shift rostering are three very different problems, and most vendors are strong at one and weak at the others.
- Finally, look at what happens at scale. Many Indian HRMS products are priced per employee per month with a floor of fifty or a hundred employees, which makes them expensive for a twenty-person team and cheap for a five-hundred-person one.
Xero Payroll alternatives — FAQs
What is the best alternative to Xero Payroll in 2026?+
The closest matches to Xero Payroll on App Advisor are Paybooks (₹1,800/mo), Rippling (₹700/mo), Paybooks Payroll (₹1,800/mo). They are ranked by how closely their category, pricing model, platforms and target business size match Xero Payroll, then by rating. The best choice depends on your team size and budget.
Is there a free alternative to Xero Payroll?+
None of the 20 closest alternatives to Xero Payroll has a free plan. Most offer a free trial instead, so ask for one before you commit.
What is the cheapest alternative to Xero Payroll?+
Among alternatives that publish a price, uKnowva HRMS starts lowest at ₹100/mo, compared with ₹1,000/mo for Xero Payroll. Prices are read from each vendor's website and exclude GST.
Is there an Indian alternative to Xero Payroll?+
Yes. 6 alternatives are built in India, including Paybooks (₹1,800/mo), Paybooks Payroll (₹1,800/mo), Zoho People Plus (₹300/mo). Indian products usually handle GST, TDS and UPI natively and bill in rupees.
Xero Payroll vs Paybooks: which is better?+
Paybooks is the closest match to Xero Payroll in our catalogue. Key differences: Starts ₹800/mo higher (₹1,800/mo vs ₹1,000/mo); Built in India (Bengaluru). Compare them side by side before you book a demo.
How were these Xero Payroll alternatives chosen?+
Every product listed sits in hrms software or a category Xero Payroll also covers, and Xero's own products are excluded. Prices, free plans and platforms come from each vendor's official website. App Advisor does not sell any of this software.
Free shortlist
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