Managing attendance, payroll, and compliance has become one of the toughest operational challenges for Indian small and medium-sized businesses. With more companies adopting digital HR systems and hybrid attendance models, choosing the right HRMS can dramatically improve efficiency and reduce monthly workload.

Two of the most popular tools in this space are SalaryBox and Keka.
While both platforms help automate HR operations, they are built for very different audiences. SalaryBox is designed specifically for Indian SMEs, whereas Keka is a more feature-heavy HR suite built for mid-sized companies and enterprises.

If you are unsure which platform suits your business better, this detailed comparison will help you make the right choice.

SalaryBox vs Keka: Quick Comparison Table

Feature	SalaryBox	Keka
Best for	Small & growing businesses	Mid-sized & large companies
Ease of use	Simple and fast	Complex for beginners
Setup time	Under 30 minutes	Requires detailed configuration
Pricing	SME-friendly	Higher cost
Mobile app	Full-featured	Limited compared to desktop
Biometric sync	Smooth	Sync issues reported
Support	Fast, responsive	Slow during peak times
Performance	Lightweight & fast	Lags with large data models
Customization	Flexible for SMEs	Often needs paid add-ons

1. Ease of Setup and Onboarding

SalaryBox – Simple, Fast, and Designed for SMEs

SalaryBox stands out for its extremely easy onboarding. You can:

• Set up the system within 30 minutes
• Onboard your employees instantly
• Run your first payroll on the same day
• Start attendance tracking without technical hurdles

There’s no steep learning curve, making it ideal for busy HR teams and business owners.

Keka – Complex Setup That Takes Time

Keka is packed with advanced HR features, but this also makes onboarding complex.
Businesses often report:

• Overwhelming configuration steps
• Need for HR expertise
• Multiple sessions to understand the system fully

For mid-sized companies with full HR teams, this is fine—but SMEs may struggle.

2. Pricing and Affordability

SalaryBox – Best for SME Budgets

One of SalaryBox’s biggest advantages is its affordable pricing structure. There are:

• No hidden setup charges
• No mandatory add-ons
• No costly training sessions
• Plans tailored to small team sizes

This makes SalaryBox a budget-friendly choice for startups and small-to-medium companies.

Keka – Higher Pricing Structure

Keka offers powerful HR automation modules, which makes it more expensive.
For very small companies:

• Pricing may not justify usage
• Many features remain unused
• Add-ons increase total cost of ownership

This makes Keka less suited for budget-conscious SMEs.

3. Customization and Flexibility

SalaryBox – Built for Indian SME Flexibility

SalaryBox understands how small businesses work—frequent shift changes, weekly pay cycles, salary adjustments, and more.

It supports:

• Custom attendance rules
• Flexible shifts
• Overtime settings
• Rapid salary structure changes
• Smooth compliance updates

Everything is quick and doesn’t require extra paid modules.

Keka – Limited Customization Without Add-ons

Keka offers good features but limited flexibility in certain payroll and attendance modules.
Advanced custom workflows often require:

• Technical support
• Paid add-ons
• Workarounds

This slows down HR execution, especially for small teams.

4. Ease of Use & Learning Curve

SalaryBox – Clean, Simple, and Intuitive

SalaryBox is built with user experience at its core.
Anyone—even non-HR people—can use it easily.

• Clean design
• Clear navigation
• Easy attendance and salary management
• No training required

This saves hours every week.

Keka – Steep Learning Curve

Keka’s UI is modern but dense.
Users commonly note:

• Too many menus
• Too many advanced modules
• Requires training for new HR staff

Small businesses looking for simplicity may find Keka overwhelming.

5. Customer Support Quality

SalaryBox – Fast & Reliable Support

Support is one of SalaryBox’s strongest areas. SMEs get:

• Quick responses
• Human-driven assistance
• Solutions tailored for Indian HR needs
• Faster turnaround during payroll days

This ensures smoother operations.

Keka – Slower Response During Peak Times

Many Keka users report:

• Delays in receiving support
• Slower responses during payroll cycles
• Difficulty getting quick resolutions

For SMEs, delayed support can directly impact salary payouts and compliance.

6. Mobile App Performance

SalaryBox – 100% Mobile-First HRMS

SalaryBox’s mobile app is fully functional, allowing:

• Attendance tracking
• Approvals
• GPS and selfie attendance
• Payslip downloads
• Payroll execution on mobile

For businesses with field teams or distributed staff, this is a major strength.

Keka – Limited Features in Mobile App

Keka’s mobile app does not support all its desktop features.
Employees and managers often need to switch to desktop for:

• Advanced settings
• Custom reporting
• Administration-level tasks

This reduces flexibility for on-the-go teams.

7. Attendance & Biometric Device Integration

SalaryBox – Smooth, Real-Time Sync

SalaryBox integrates seamlessly with commonly used biometric machines.

Benefits include:

• Zero sync issues
• Real-time attendance updates
• Accurate data for payroll
• Reduced manual corrections

This saves HR teams tremendous time.

Keka – Sync Issues Reported

Keka users often report:

• Integration issues with third-party biometric devices
• Delayed attendance syncing
• Manual adjustments needed

This adds friction, especially during payroll runs.

8. Performance and Speed

SalaryBox – Lightweight & Fast

SalaryBox is built to be fast even on:

• Basic laptops
• Budget Android phones
• Low-speed internet connections

Dashboards load quickly, data sync is smooth, and payroll processing is fast.

Keka – Lags With Large Data

Keka offers advanced analytics but sometimes struggles with:

• Heavy reports
• Large data structures
• Enterprise-style workflows

For SMEs, this may feel unnecessary and slow.

9. Feature Relevance & Practical Value

SalaryBox – Essential Features Only

SalaryBox focuses on what SMEs need most:

• Attendance tracking
• Payroll
• Compliance
• Employee database
• Payslips
• Leave management
• Biometric integration
• Shift management

No extra modules that complicate operations.

Keka – Too Feature-Heavy for Small Teams

Keka offers:

• OKRs
  Performance management
• Hiring workflows
• Engagement analytics

These are valuable for large companies but unnecessary for smaller teams.
This feature overload reduces usability for SMEs.

10. Customization Without Extra Costs

SalaryBox – No Expensive Add-Ons

SalaryBox offers customization within its plans—no need for:

• Paid extensions
• Add-on modules
• Long implementation cycles

This makes it more transparent and affordable.

Keka – Add-Ons Increase Long-Term Cost

Many custom workflows in Keka require:

• Additional modules
• Paid upgrades
• Setup fees

This increases long-term expenses for growing companies.

When Should You Choose SalaryBox? (Recommended For SMEs)

SalaryBox is perfect for:

• Startups
• Small businesses
• Growing teams up to 500 employees
• Owners who want “plug & play” HR software
• Companies that need mobile-first attendance
• Teams using biometric attendance
• Businesses looking for a simple, affordable payroll tool

If your focus is simplicity, speed, and affordability, SalaryBox is clearly the right choice.

When Should You Choose Keka?

Keka is ideal for:

• Mid-sized companies
• Large enterprises
• Businesses with advanced HR needs
• Companies that require OKRs or performance workflows
• HR teams that can manage complex systems

Keka shines when depth of HR automation is required.

Final Verdict: SalaryBox Wins for SMEs in 2026

In the SalaryBox vs Keka comparison, both solutions are strong—but for different audiences.

• Keka is a comprehensive, powerful HR suite made for larger companies.
• SalaryBox, however, offers the perfect blend of simplicity, affordability, mobile-first design, and powerful payroll + attendance features for SMEs.