Choosing the right payroll software in India in 2025 means balancing accuracy, compliance, ease-of-use, and integrations — especially as companies scale, go remote, or run multiple locations. Below is a practical, unbiased comparison of the leading payroll platforms Indian businesses are using in 2025, what each does best, and how to pick the right one for your company.
Quick summary — who stands out in 2025
Keka — best for mid-sized companies that want an employee-first HR + payroll suite with strong automation.
GreytHR — best-known for Indian statutory compliance and simple, reliable payroll. Great for SMEs.
Zoho Payroll — best for startups/SMEs already in the Zoho ecosystem; great integrations and competitive pricing.
RazorpayX Payroll — best for startups that want banking + payroll in one place and one-click salary payouts.
Darwinbox / Enterprise Suites — best for large enterprises that need deep configurability and global-grade HR + payroll.
Zimyo, PocketHRMS, Saral — solid alternatives with niche strengths (analytics, affordability, compliance workflows).
What Indian businesses need in 2025
Payroll in India is no longer “just payslips.” Employers expect:
automatic statutory calculations (PF, ESI, TDS, PT), with system updates when laws change;
seamless attendance/leave integrations;
direct bank disbursements and challan/TDS filing support;
employee self-service (mobile-ready); and
reporting and analytics for finance/leadership.
Top vendors now advertise these capabilities as standard — but the difference is in execution: quality of integrations, speed of statutory updates, and ease of month-end routines.
Deep dive: how the leaders compare
1) Keka — employee-first HR + payroll
Keka combines payroll with HRMS features (attendance, performance, onboarding) and positions itself as a friendly, design-focused platform for growing companies. Expect one-click payruns, flexible salary structures, and robust attendance syncing. Keka is praised for its user experience, scalability, and people-centric features — making it ideal for mid-sized firms that want an all-in-one HR + payroll product.
Good for: mid-sized companies, companies that want HR + payroll together.
Watch for: choose a plan that matches the depth of reporting you need.
2) GreytHR — compliance-first, trusted by SMEs
GreytHR has a long track record in India and focuses heavily on statutory compliance automation — a major plus for small and medium businesses that lack in-house payroll expertise. It handles PF/ESI/TDS/Professional Tax workflows, e-filing support, and offers straightforward payroll runs and payslip distribution. If compliance is your biggest risk, GreytHR is a dependable choice.
Good for: SMEs that prioritise compliance and reliable support.
Watch for: UX is functional rather than flashy.
3) Zoho Payroll — integrated, affordable, and ecosystem-friendly
Zoho Payroll is attractive for startups and SMEs already using Zoho People/Books. It automates Indian statutory calculations, offers free trials, and adds value through ecosystem integrations (accounting, CRM, etc.). Zoho’s growing footprint and frequent product updates make it a practical pick for budget-conscious teams who want quick time-to-value.
Good for: startups and SMBs using Zoho apps.
Watch for: consider data residency and support SLAs if you scale fast.
4) RazorpayX Payroll — payroll plus banking
RazorpayX Payroll stands out by combining payroll automation with Razorpay’s fintech stack — direct bank disbursals, virtual accounts, and auto challan/TDS filing. It streamlines salary payouts and reconciliations, which is a big win for fintech-savvy startups and fast-growing teams that want payments + payroll tightly integrated.
Good for: startups that want payroll + payouts + banking in one vendor.
Watch for: pricing and bank integration nuances across banks.
5) Darwinbox and other enterprise players
For large enterprises, platforms like Darwinbox (and global vendors such as ADP/Oracle) offer deep configurability, advanced analytics, and cross-country payroll options. These platforms are ideal when you need complex workflows, heavy integrations, and enterprise-grade SLAs — but come with higher implementation effort and cost.
Good for: large multi-national or multi-entity corporations.
Watch for: implementation time and TCO.
Pricing reality check
Pricing models vary: per-employee-per-month, modular bundles, or flat fees. Lower-cost vendors often limit the number of integrations or reports; enterprise suites charge for modules and implementation. Ask vendors for total cost of ownership (implementation, training, support) and sample invoices before you commit.
How to pick the right payroll software — a short checklist
Compliance coverage: Does the vendor support PF, ESI, PT, TDS, and automated challans? (Non-negotiable.)
Integrations: Attendance systems, HRMS, accounting (Tally, QuickBooks, Zoho Books).
Banking & payouts: One-click disbursals and bank formats — helpful for payroll efficiency.
Ease of month-end: Test a demo payroll run with your real workforce sample.
Support & statutory updates: Speed of legal updates and quality of support matter.
Scalability & price: Can the system handle +500 employees or multi-branch rules without huge cost jumps?
Final recommendation
If you’re a startup or small SME already in a software stack (Zoho / Razorpay), start with Zoho Payroll or RazorpayX for fast setup and integrated finance flows.
If compliance and low-touch reliability are your priority and you’re an SME, GreytHR is a safe, well-proven choice.
If you’re a mid-sized company that wants a polished HR + payroll experience, Keka balances UX and capability well.
For large enterprises, evaluate Darwinbox or global vendors for configurability and global payroll needs.
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