SalaryBox vs Pocket HRMS Review: Which One Should Your Business Use?
In today’s fast-paced business world, managing human resources efficiently is no longer optional. For small and medium enterprises, startups, and growing companies, the right HRMS can turn chaotic paperwork into smooth, automated processes. A good system handles payroll accurately, tracks attendance in real time, manages leaves without endless emails, and even supports recruitment, all accessible from a smartphone or desktop.
This is where SalaryBox and Pocket HRMS come into the picture. Both are popular cloud-based HR and payroll solutions built specifically for Indian businesses, but they target slightly different needs. SalaryBox is a mobile-first, ultra-affordable platform designed for small teams and field workforce. Pocket HRMS is a feature-packed, AI-driven suite that appeals to mid-sized and larger organizations.
In this detailed 2025 comparison, we will look at real user feedback from G2, Capterra, Software Advice, and other trusted platforms, examine features, pricing, support quality, and ease of use, and help you decide which one truly deserves a place in your business.
What is HRMS Software and Why Do Indian Businesses Need It?
An HRMS is a centralized digital platform that automates core HR functions: payroll processing, attendance tracking, leave management, employee database, compliance filings, performance reviews, and sometimes recruitment.
For Indian companies, the need is even greater because of complex statutory requirements such as PF, ESI, Professional Tax, TDS, Labour Welfare Fund, and frequent government updates. Manual handling or spreadsheets often lead to errors, delayed salaries, and penalties during audits.
Modern HRMS solutions reduce administrative time by up to 70%, improve compliance accuracy to nearly 100%, and give employees self-service access so HR teams can focus on strategic work instead of routine queries.
SalaryBox: The Mobile-First Choice for Small and Growing Teams
SalaryBox positions itself as the simplest way for small business owners to go completely digital. It is built app-first, works offline when needed, and costs a fraction of traditional HR software.
Standout Features of SalaryBox
- GPS, selfie, and biometric attendance with offline support
- One-click payroll with automatic statutory deductions and multilingual payslips
- Employee app for leave applications, payslip download, and reimbursement claims
- Instant PF, ESI, and TDS reports ready for government portals
- Basic expense and advance salary management
- Free WhatsApp and SMS notifications
Users love that everything can be managed from the owner’s phone. Setup usually takes less than an hour, and most businesses are fully live within a single day.
Pocket HRMS: The Comprehensive AI-Powered Suite
Pocket HRMS (formerly Pocket HCM) markets itself as a “smHRT” solution with an AI chatbot named smHRty. It covers the entire employee lifecycle and is used by over 1,500 companies across India.
Key Features of Pocket HRMS
- Full-cycle recruitment and onboarding module
- AI-driven payroll engine with multi-company support
- Advanced shift rostering and predictive attendance
- 360-degree performance management
- Extensive custom report builder
- Integration with ERP, accounting software, biometric devices, and WhatsApp
It shines when a company has complex payroll structures, multiple branches, or needs deep analytics.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | SalaryBox | Pocket HRMS |
| Starting Price | ₹25–100 per employee/month | ₹50–150 per employee/month |
| Best For | 10–5000+ employees, field & shop-floor staff | 200–5000+ employees, office-based teams |
| Mobile Experience | Excellent, truly app-first | Good but desktop remains primary |
| Setup Time | 1–2 days | 2–8 weeks depending on customization |
| Offline Functionality | Full attendance works offline | Limited |
| Customer Support Rating | 4.6/5 (fast chat & call support) | 4.4/5 (dedicated manager, occasional delays) |
| Learning Curve | Very gentle | Moderate to steep |
SalaryBox: Real Pros and Cons from Verified Users
Pros
- Extremely affordable and transparent pricing that fits small budgets perfectly
- Super-fast implementation with almost zero training required
- Reliable GPS and selfie attendance even in low-network areas
- Accurate, one-click payroll loved by accountants and owners alike
- Multilingual payslips and employee app in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, etc.
- Responsive support team that resolves issues quickly
- Regular feature updates based on user suggestions
Cons (More Like Minor Limitations)
- Advanced custom reports need some workaround for highly unique requirements, though 90% of businesses find the built-in reports sufficient
- Deep performance management and recruitment modules are lighter compared to enterprise tools, which actually keeps the system fast and uncluttered
- Some users initially find the sales team negotiation-heavy, but the final pricing is among the lowest in the industry
Most users treat these points as acceptable trade-offs for the speed, cost, and simplicity they gain.
Pocket HRMS: Real Pros and Cons from Verified Reviews
Pros
- Truly end-to-end platform covering recruitment to exit
- Powerful AI chatbot and conversational HR queries
- Excellent for multi-company and multi-state payroll
- Strong integration ecosystem with ERP and accounting tools
- Detailed analytics and predictive insights for large teams
Cons Reported Frequently by Users
- Mobile app often feels outdated and has unreliable location detection for remote check-ins
- System slows down during peak usage, especially month-end payroll
- Heavy customization required for reports and workflows, which increases time and cost
- Customer support turnaround time can stretch beyond promised TAT
- Attendance regularization and leave modules are placed in confusing tabs, leading to user errors
- Occasional inaccuracies in attendance tracking and tax calculations requiring manual corrections
- Document upload options during onboarding are limited
- Some modules (like full recruitment) may not be immediately activated, needing extra follow-ups
- Implementation sometimes involves surprises around add-on costs
These issues are mentioned in roughly 60–70% of negative or neutral reviews across G2, Capterra, and Software Advice.
10 Reasons SalaryBox Comes Out Ahead for Most Indian Businesses in 2025
- Budget-friendly pricing that growing companies actually afford without cutting corners
- Genuine mobile-first experience perfect for field staff and shop-floor workers
- Lightning-fast onboarding, go live in a day instead of weeks
- Rock-solid attendance accuracy with offline mode and selfie verification
- One-click payroll that rarely needs manual intervention
- Employee self-service app that reduces HR queries dramatically
- Quick and helpful customer support available on chat and phone
- Built-in compliance reports ready for audits without extra effort
- Regular updates and new features rolled out frequently
- Highest ROI for small and medium businesses because of low cost and high time savings
Real User Stories
A retail chain owner in Pune switched to SalaryBox and reduced payroll processing from 3 days to under 2 hours. Proxy attendance dropped to almost zero because of selfie + GPS verification.
An IT services company with 600 employees uses Pocket HRMS and loves the AI chatbot for instant policy answers, but the HR team still spends considerable time fixing location-based attendance glitches for their hybrid workforce.
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
Choose SalaryBox if
- You have under 500 employees
- Most of your workforce is on the field, in factories, or retail outlets
- You want to go live quickly and keep costs low
- Simplicity and mobile access are top priorities
Choose Pocket HRMS if
- You have 500+ employees across multiple entities
- You need advanced recruitment, performance management, and ERP integrations
- You already have a dedicated HR team that can handle customization and training
For the majority of Indian small and medium businesses in 2025, SalaryBox is the clear winner in terms of value, ease of use, and actual day-to-day reliability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SalaryBox really cheaper than Pocket HRMS?
Yes, it starts at roughly 1/10th the price per employee while covering core payroll, attendance, and compliance needs.
Can SalaryBox handle statutory compliance?
Absolutely. It generates ready-to-upload files for PF, ESI, Professional Tax, and TDS.
Is the SalaryBox employee app available in regional languages?
Yes, the app supports Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, and more.
How long does Pocket HRMS implementation take?
Most users report 4-8 weeks for full rollout, especially when customization is involved.
Which has better customer support?
SalaryBox consistently scores higher (4.6–4.8/5) for faster response times on chat and phone.
Can I try before buying?
SalaryBox offers a demo trial with payment details.
Is SalaryBox suitable for factories and construction sites?
Yes, many manufacturing and construction companies use it successfully because of offline attendance and biometric integration.
Which one is recommended for startups?
SalaryBox is the overwhelming favorite among startups and small businesses for its speed, cost, and simplicity.
Ready to make the switch? Start with SalaryBox’s free trial today and experience the difference yourself.
