Zoho Payroll Alternatives in India
Honest alternatives to Zoho Payroll for Indian small businesses, including VetanBandhu, RazorpayX, greytHR, Keka, Kredily, Pocket HRMS and Saral PayPack.
Zoho Payroll is a strong choice, but it is not the only option. This page lists honest alternatives for Indian small businesses, ranked by what actually matters: pricing, free tier, employee self-service and the breadth of HR features.
Why look for a Zoho Payroll alternative?
Zoho's free plan is excellent for up to 10 employees. Once you cross that, its per-employee pricing and ecosystem dependency can become reasons to look elsewhere. Some businesses prefer a flat monthly fee, others need a full HR suite, and some want a free product for as long as possible.
Alternatives at a glance
| Product | Free tier | Paid entry | Best for | |---|---|---|---| | Zoho Payroll | Up to 10 employees | ~₹1,000/mo for 25 | Teams already in the Zoho ecosystem | | VetanBandhu | No | ₹499/mo up to 10 | Flat-rate, compliance-first owners | | RazorpayX Payroll | Yes | ~₹2,499/mo for 20 | RazorpayX banking users | | greytHR | Up to 25 | ~₹2,495/mo for 50 | 25–100 employees needing HRMS | | Keka | No | ~₹99/emp/mo, 25-emp floor | Companies with an HR team | | Kredily | Unlimited core | ~₹1,249/mo for 25 | Free attendance + leave + payroll | | Pocket HRMS | No | ₹2,995/mo for 50 | 50+ employees wanting cloud HRMS | | Saral PayPack | No | ₹53,700 one-time | Businesses wanting desktop software |
How we rank these
We put the most useful product for the reader first, not ourselves. Zoho stays at the top for its free tier. VetanBandhu is second for owners who want a simple, fixed-price payroll. Kredily and greytHR follow for their generous free tiers. Keka, Pocket HRMS and Saral PayPack fit specific company sizes and needs.
Pricing check date
Prices were checked on 2 August 2026. Zoho and Pocket HRMS prices are from vendor sites. Other prices are directional from public sources. Re-verify before signing up.
Compared options
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Zoho Payroll | Free up to 10 employees, then base + per employee. Employee self-service included. | 0 |
| VetanBandhu | Flat-rate payroll with strong statutory compliance. Best for owners who want simple, correct payroll. | 499 |
| RazorpayX Payroll | Payroll integrated with RazorpayX business banking and payouts. | 2499 |
| greytHR | Free up to 25 employees. Full HRMS with payroll, attendance and leave. | 0 |
| Keka | Full HR and payroll platform for teams with an HR function. | 9999 |
| Kredily | Free core payroll, attendance and leave for unlimited employees. | 0 |
| Pocket HRMS | Cloud HRMS and payroll with ESS, attendance and AI chatbot. | 2995 |
| Saral PayPack | Desktop Windows payroll software with one-time perpetual licence. | 53700 |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best free alternative to Zoho Payroll?
- Kredily and greytHR both offer strong free tiers. Kredily is free for unlimited employees for core payroll, attendance and leave. greytHR is free for up to 25 employees.
- Which Zoho Payroll alternative has the simplest pricing?
- VetanBandhu uses flat-rate pricing by employee band, so your bill does not rise with every hire within a tier.
- Which alternative is best for a business with an HR team?
- Keka or greytHR are the best choices for companies that need full HR, attendance and performance management.
- Which alternative is best for a one-person owner?
- For a very small team, Kredily's free core or Zoho's free tier are the easiest starting points. VetanBandhu fits when you want payroll compliance without per-employee pricing.