When looking for the best payroll software in India, you need a solution that simplifies compliance, automates employee payments, and ensures accurate tax calculations. I’ve tested and reviewed the top payroll software options with a focus on key features such as ease of use, scalability, reporting, and integration with accounting systems. I specifically looked for software that meets India’s unique tax regulations and employee benefits management needs.
This list of the best payroll software in India is based on my hands-on testing and real-world evaluations, ensuring you find the best fit for your business. Whether you’re a small startup or a growing enterprise, the right payroll software will save you time, reduce errors, and keep you compliant.
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Top 10 Payroll Software in India
- Rippling – Best for Comprehensive Payroll Solutions
- Pocket HRMS – Best Payroll Software for SMBs
- Keka – Best for Enterprise-Level Payroll Solution
- Zoho Payroll – Best for Zoho Software Users
- FactoHR – Best for Real-time Analytics
- 247HRM – Best for Automating Payroll Processes
- HROne – Best for Customizing and Simplifying Payroll Process
- greytHR – Best for Compliance Management
- Saral PayPack – Best for Ease of Use
- Razorpay – Best for Payment Gateway Integration
The Best Payroll Software India 2024
Key Features of the Best Payroll Software
Choosing the best payroll software for your business may be a smooth ride once you understand the critical elements to look out for. Here are the main features a payroll software in India should have.
- Payroll Calculations – Payroll software must be able to accurately calculate employees’ salaries and file taxes, benefits, and compensations without missing out on important data. All of these should be automated and shouldn’t require manual data input.
- Employee Self-Service – One of the ways to free out more time for HR or admins is to have a system that allows employees to take part in certain data processing. Good payroll software should provide an employee self-service functionality where employees can interact with the software and communicate with their HR.
- Tax Management – Payroll software in India should have the capacity to monitor and calculate each employee’s tax appropriately. The tax management should align with India’s laws, such as EPF, ESI, and other professional taxes, to avoid penalties.
- Direct Deposit – This feature helps companies to directly pay their employees through bank transfer into their salary accounts. This reduces payment delays and improves employee satisfaction.
- Payroll Reports – One of the best ways to understand your financial performance is by having access to your payment data. Payroll software should provide you with detailed reports that will guide you in making valuable decisions.
The Best Payroll for India Reviewed
For the best payroll software for India analysis, I considered criteria such as pricing, compliance, features, integrations, ease of use, and third-party reviews to evaluate each provider’s performance.
1. Rippling – Best for Comprehensive Payroll Solutions
Free Trial | No |
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Price From | Starting from ₹669.12/month per employee |
Top 3 Features | Unified HR and Payroll System, Integration Capabilities, Tax Compliance |
Pros
- Unified HR and payroll solution
- Integration with third-party apps
- Automated tax filing
- It offers tax monitoring, which helps businesses in India stay compliant
Cons
- Lack of a free plan/trial
2. Pocket HRMS – Best for Small to Medium-sized Businesses in India
Free Trial | Yes, 15-day free trial |
---|---|
Price From | Starting from ₹2495/month for up to 50 employees, then ₹40/employee/month |
Top 3 Features | Dedicated Customer Support and Personalized Service, AI Attendance, Simple & Comprehensive Payroll Tools |
Pros
- Cost-effective for small to medium businesses
- Its AI chatbot assists in getting jobs done quickly
- Built to scale
- Provides free trial for test-running
Cons
- Limited advanced features
- Fewer integrations to third-party software
- The interface could be better to improve its appearance
3. Keka – Best for Enterprise-Level Payroll Solution
Free Trial | Yes, 7-day free trial |
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Price From | Starting from ₹9,999/month (Up to 100 Employees) and ₹90 per additional employee |
Top 3 Features | Intuitive User Interface, Automation, Perks & Benefits |
Pros
- Modern and user-friendly interface
- Customisable workflows and settings
- Allows for comprehensive HR and payroll processes
- Offers extensive features to support enterprise businesses
Cons
- Complex customisation setup
- Integration limitations
- Lack of free plan
4. Zoho Payroll – Best for Zoho Software Users
Free Trial | Free to use |
---|---|
Price From | Starting from ₹40/employee/month, billed annually |
Top 3 Features | Employee Self-Service Portal, 40+ Built-in Payroll Reports, Customisable User Roles and Permissions |
Pros
- Integration and data syncing with other Zoho apps
- Mobile accessibility
- Affordable pricing
- It offers a free forever plan
Cons
- Limited advanced features for larger enterprises
- Customer support quality issues in peak times
- Limited customization when compared to other Zoho applications
5. FactoHR – Best for Real-time Analytics
Free Trial | No |
---|---|
Price From | Custom |
Top 3 Features | Report & Analytics, Multilingual & Custom Payslips, Payroll Wizard |
Pros
- Real-time analytics
- User-friendly interface
- Good customer support
Cons
- Limited customisation options
- Steeper learning curve
- Limited integration with third-party applications
6. 247HRM – Best for Automating Payroll Processes
Free Trial | Free demo |
---|---|
Price From | Starting from ₹2,499/month up to 30 Employees + ₹59/employee |
Top 3 Features | Seamless Integration With Other HR Tools, Customizable Payroll Functionalities, Loans & Advances |
Pros
- Comprehensive HR and payroll features
- Customisable payroll settings
- Integration with other HR modules
- Automated attendance management system
Cons
- Higher learning curve in its extensive HR feature set
- Limited advanced features
- Lack of a free plan
7. HROne – Best for Customizing and Simplifying Payroll Processes
Free Trial | Yes, 14-day free trial |
---|---|
Price From | Starting from ₹85 /User/Month |
Top 3 Features | Payroll Outsourcing, Salary Verification, Employee Self Service |
Pros
- Highly customisable workflow feature
- Scalable for larger businesses
- Dedicated support during setup and implementation
- Offers salary verification
Cons
- Limited integration with third-party apps
- No forever free plan
- Its dashboard and reporting interface may load slowly sometimes
8. greytHR – Best for Compliance Management
Free Trial | Yes, 7-day free trial |
---|---|
Price From | Starting from ₹3495/month for 50 employees |
Top 3 Features | Statutory Compliance, AI-Powered Chatbot, Unlimited Salary Components |
Pros
- Robust compliance with Indian labor laws
- Customizable reporting and analytics
- User-friendly interface
- Offers a free forever plan
Cons
- Limited integrations
- Customer support challenges
- The user interface needs improvement
9. Saral PayPack – Best for Ease of Use
Free Trial | Free demo |
---|---|
Price From | Starting from ₹53,700 /Single User |
Top 3 Features | Multi-company Support, Salary Management, Statutory Compliance |
Pros
- Intuitive interface and ease of use
- Compliance with Indian labor laws
- Customizable reporting capabilities
- Multiple company support
Cons
- Limited advanced features
- Less comprehensive than competitors in terms of integration
- There’s no free plan
- Its setup can be expensive
10. Razorpay – Best for Payment Gateway Integration
Free Trial | Yes, 30-days free + 20% price off on first subscription |
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Price From | Starting from ₹2499/month |
Top 3 Features | International Payments, Advanced Payroll, Direct Salary Payment |
Pros
- Seamless payment gateway integration
- Compliance with Indian financial regulations
- Automated salary payments and tax deductions
- Direct salary payment
Cons
- Requires additional software for full HR functionality
- Access to integrations like HRMS, attendance, and health insurance are only available at an additional fee
The Best Payroll Software for India 2024 – Compared
The table below provides you with a comprehensive list of all the reviewed payroll software for India.
Payroll Software | Rippling | Pocket HRMS | Keka | Zoho Payroll | FactoHR | 247HRM | HROne | greytHR | Saral PayPack | Razorpay |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best For | Comprehensive Payroll Solutions | Small to Medium-sized Businesses | Enterprise-Level Payroll Solution | Zoho Software Users | Real-time Analytics | Automating Payroll Processes | Customizing and Simplifying Payroll Process | Compliance Management | Ease of Use | Payment Gateway Integration |
Free Trial | No | Yes, 15-day free trial | Yes, 7-day free trial | Yes, free to use | No | Free demo | Yes, 14-day free trial | Yes, 7-day free trial | Free demo | Yes, 1 month free + 20% price off on first subscription |
Starting Price | ₹669.12/month per employee | ₹2495/month for up to 50 employees, then ₹40/employee/month | ₹9,999/month (Up to 100 Employees) plus ₹90 per additional employee | ₹40/employee/month, Billed annually | Custom | ₹2,499/month up to 30 Employees + ₹59/employee | ₹85 /User/Month | ₹3495/month for 50 employees | ₹53,700 /Single User | ₹2499/month |
Top Features | Unified HR and Payroll System, Integration Capabilities, Tax Compliance | Dedicated Customer Support and Personalized Service, AI Attendance, Simple & Comprehensive Payroll Tools | Intuitive User Interface, Automation, Perks & Benefits | Employee Self-Service Portal, 40+ Built-in Payroll Reports, Customizable User Roles and Permissions | Report & Analytics, Multilingual & Custom Payslips, Payroll Wizard | Seamless Integration With Other HR Tools, Customizable Payroll Functionalities, Loans & Advances | Payroll Outsourcing, Salary Verification, Employee Self Service | Statutory Compliance, AI-Powered Chatbot, Unlimited Salary Components | Multi-company Support, Salary Management, Statutory | International Payments, Advanced Payroll, Direct Salary Payment |
How We Review And Test Payroll Products
To provide our readers with accurate and well-informed recommendations, we test the most popular payroll products on the market to find the best options for you. Our methodology consists of the following criteria:
- Features: We examine the features to determine what capabilities are offered, how useful those capabilities will be for the user, and how the variety of features compare to competitor software.
- Scalability: We look at how many users can be added to a platform, and how easy it is to do so, to ensure companies can bring more employees on payroll with ease as they scale their operations.
- Error Handling: Errors in payroll can be disastrous for a company, so it’s critical payroll software safeguards against them. We evaluate how quickly each software can adjust and fix errors to ensure there are no interruptions in payroll operations.
- Price and Value for Money: We look at the features, integrations, customer service, and extras to determine if the price matches the value it provides. We score a product higher if it offers a free trial, and if it is transparent about its pricing plans.
- Integrations: We evaluate the integrations of each piece of software to determine how well it fits in with other key pieces in a business’s software stack, and whether its functionality can be expanded as required.
- User Experience: We get hands-on with each product to put ourselves in the shoes of a new user, testing each platform to gain understanding if the platform is easy to use or requires onboarding.
- Security: We dig into the security policies of each company, interrogating the safeguards they have in place to ensure the software protects user data properly.
- Compliance: We evaluate payroll software based on whether it offers local compliance when it comes to accounting, taxes, documentation, and more.
Benefits of Using Payroll Software
Payroll software is intended to make life easier for businesses, especially on payday. However, any business that uses payroll software in India will be able to run effectively while keeping employees satisfied and compliant with rules.
Below are some other benefits of using payroll software:
Manually sorting, monitoring, and calculating tax might result in errors, causing compliance concerns and dissatisfaction among workers. Payroll software empowers companies in India to compute tax requirements in accordance with Indian tax legislation and avoid penalties.
The best payroll software in India constantly analyzes and updates data to meet changes in Indian labor rules and tax regulations. This allows organizations to prepare reports that are compliant with the most recent requirements.
Paperwork does not guarantee data security or accessibility, owing to the high level of human participation in data entry and monitoring. Payroll software protects business data by using data security techniques such as encryption, authentication, passwords, and more. Some payroll software also provides user role access, allowing organizations to manage team members’ access to certain data.
Every company has unique demands that evolve as it grows. Payroll software allows organizations to tweak and customize features to match their unique requirements, saving time over manual operations. Businesses, for example, can generate accurate payroll reports and analytics that are suited to their specific requirements, allowing them to make quick and educated decisions.
Nowadays, people leverage automation provided by software to improve work efficiency. Similarly, payroll software helps HR and finance managers be more efficient by automating repetitive and time-consuming payroll processes. This allows administrators to spend more time strategizing and working on other business operations.
Trends in Payroll Software for India 2024
The payroll software landscape keeps changing as technology advances, offering several opportunities for growth and adjustments. Below are the top trends in payroll software I can see for the Indian market:
- AI and Automation: With the rise of AI-powered automation, errors are being reduced, and job efficiency is increasing, resulting in increased employee productivity in the long run. Artificial intelligence is speedily facilitating finance compliance and risk management in organizations. As machine learning and AI are improving data analysis, payroll software is evolving and managing companies’ data efficiently.
- Gig Economy Rising: India, like many other countries, is seeing an increase in the gig economy. In reality, this is only the beginning, as a study by India’s Booming Gig and Platform Economy indicated that India’s gig workforce will reach 23.5 million by 2029-2030. This policy suggested improving financial access for platform workers.
- Data Security: Cyber threats are still on the news as many businesses fall victim in India. Therefore, it’s businesses’ responsibility to ensure the cyber security of employee and company data. With this, payroll software needs to improve data security measures or encryption.
- Mobile-Friendliness: Employees’ work habits and business communication have been influenced by smartphone usage. Therefore, payroll software that is mobile-friendly is gaining popularity as it enables firms to provide employees with easy access to data. It also makes collaboration easier because employees can check their pay stubs, submit loan and leave requests, and access essential HR information immediately from their mobile phones.
- Employee Benefits/Well-Being: As Indian businesses prioritize their employee well-being, choosing payroll software that matches this exact goal is also a priority. Every payroll software offers health benefits, insurance, etc., to support organizational goals in motivating their employees.
How to Choose the Best Payroll Software
Your payroll processing could be better if you have the right software to guide you. Likewise, understanding what to look out for in payroll software is critical.
Consider the following factors when choosing the best payroll software for your business.
Consider the budget and functionality match. Ensure the plan meets needs in terms of features for the price.
Assess user consensus on ease of use. Look for systems that don’t require extensive setup or training.
Check mobile app availability and integration options, which may vary based on plan tiers.
Ensure essential features are included in the chosen plan, as some may be restricted to higher-tier plans.
Factor in the cost and availability of additional functionality as your business grows.
Prioritize payroll software that seamlessly integrates with existing apps and complements daily accounting and bookkeeping methods.
Evaluate support hours, methods, and user reviews for insights into the provider’s support quality.
FAQs
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References
- AI in Finance: Revolutionizing the Future of Financial Management (Datacamp.com)
- India’s Booming Gig and Platform Economy (NITI.gov.in)
- India businesses face over 3,000 cyberattacks per week, second only to Taiwan firms (The Hindu)
- Indian businesses increasingly prioritising mental wellbeing, say commentators (British Safety Council)