Zoho Payroll vs greytHR: Which is Better?
Compare Zoho Payroll and greytHR on free tier, paid pricing, attendance, employee self-service and HR features for Indian businesses.
Zoho Payroll and greytHR are both popular payroll choices for Indian small businesses. Zoho is stronger on ecosystem and brand. greytHR is stronger on HR, attendance and leave. This page compares them honestly, with VetanBandhu as a third option for smaller teams.
Quick comparison
| Factor | Zoho Payroll | greytHR | VetanBandhu | |---|---|---|---| | Free tier | Up to 10 employees | Up to 25 employees | No | | Paid entry | ~₹1,000/mo for 25 | ~₹2,495/mo for 50 | ₹499/mo for 10 | | Employee self-service | Yes | Yes | Not yet | | Attendance | No | Yes | Leave only | | Leave | No | Yes | Accrual tracking | | Ecosystem | Zoho | Standalone | Standalone | | Best for | Zoho users, 1–25 | 25–100 needing HRMS | Owner-led 10–50 |
When to choose Zoho Payroll
Choose Zoho Payroll if you already use Zoho products, you have 10 or fewer employees, or your employees need a self-service portal from day one. It is the safer choice for teams that value ecosystem over HR depth.
When to choose greytHR
Choose greytHR if you want payroll, attendance, leave and employee self-service in one product. The free tier for 25 employees makes it especially attractive for growing small businesses that do not yet want to pay.
VetanBandhu as the honest broker
If you do not need attendance, leave or employee self-service today, VetanBandhu is a simpler, cheaper alternative. You pay a flat rate by headcount band, and the compliance layer is built for India: PF, ESI, professional tax and TDS.
Pricing check date
Zoho Payroll and greytHR prices are directional and were checked on 2 August 2026 from public sources. Zoho's price is considered reliable. greytHR's price is directional. VetanBandhu prices are current as of the same date.
Compared options
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Zoho Payroll | Free up to 10 employees, then base + per employee. Strong Zoho ecosystem. | 0 |
| greytHR | Free up to 25 employees. Full HRMS with payroll, attendance, leave and ESS. | 0 |
| VetanBandhu | An honest broker: flat-rate payroll for small teams that want compliance-first simplicity. | 499 |
Frequently asked questions
- Which has a better free tier, Zoho or greytHR?
- greytHR's free tier covers up to 25 employees, while Zoho's free tier covers up to 10. greytHR is better for slightly larger teams.
- Which is cheaper at 50 employees?
- At 50 employees, greytHR Essential is around ₹2,495 per month. Zoho Standard is around ₹2,000. Zoho is cheaper, but greytHR includes more HR features.
- Does Zoho have better ecosystem integration?
- Yes. If you already use Zoho Books, People or Expense, Zoho Payroll fits better.
- Does greytHR have attendance and leave?
- Yes. greytHR is a full HRMS, so attendance and leave are included even on the free tier.
- Where does VetanBandhu fit?
- VetanBandhu is a simpler, flat-rate alternative for 10–50 employee teams that do not need a full HRMS.