Top 5 Payroll Software in India 2026: Choosing the Right HRMS & Payroll Solution
Managing payroll and attendance in India has never been more challenging — or more important. With constantly evolving labour laws, PF, ESI, TDS, Professional Tax, and LWF calculations, businesses need payroll software that is accurate, compliant, and easy to use. Add biometric attendance, leave management, employee self-service portals, and mobile access, and you have the modern HRMS + payroll stack that Indian companies are looking for in 2026.
After analysing dozens of tools on parameters like compliance accuracy, ease of use, biometric & face-recognition integration, pricing, customer reviews, and scalability for startups & SMEs, here are the top 5 payroll software in India in 2026:
1. SalaryBox – Best Overall Payroll + HRMS for Startups & SMEs
SalaryBox consistently ranks as the best payroll software in India for small and medium businesses in 2026. It is a complete cloud-based HRMS with powerful payroll automation, touchless face-recognition & fingerprint biometric attendance, GPS attendance for field teams, and 100% statutory compliance (PF, ESI, TDS, PT, LWF).
What makes SalaryBox stand out:
- Ultra-fast payroll processing in under 60 seconds
- Free mobile app for employees (payslips, leave, reimbursement, tax declarations)
- In-built high-accuracy face-recognition attendance with anti-spoofing (prevents buddy punching)
- Automatic compliance updates — no manual changes ever
- Employee Self-Service (ESS) portal & WhatsApp integration
- Affordable pricing that grows with your team size
For startups and growing companies with 10–500 employees, SalaryBox delivers the perfect mix of features, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
2. greytHR – Strong Compliance & Established Player
greytHR is one of the oldest and most trusted names in Indian payroll & HRMS space. Excellent for mid-size companies (100–1000 employees) that need rock-solid compliance and extensive reporting.
Pros: Highly accurate statutory calculations, good support, strong leave & expense module.
Cons: Interface feels slightly dated, pricing is on the higher side for very small teams.
3. Keka HR – Modern UI Loved by New-Age Companies
Keka shines with its beautiful, employee-friendly interface and strong performance management add-ons. Popular among IT and product companies.
Pros: Great employee experience, solid payroll engine, good mobile app.
Cons: Slightly expensive, biometric hardware integration is not as seamless as SalaryBox.
4. Zimyo HRMS – Feature-Packed & Competitive Pricing
Zimyo offers almost everything — core HR, payroll, performance, recruitment, and biometric attendance. Good choice for companies that want an all-in-one platform at reasonable cost.
Pros: Lots of modules, flexible pricing.
Cons: Occasional glitches reported in payroll finalisation during peak months.
5. Spine HR – Solid for Large Enterprises
Spine HR is built for complexity and scale. If you have 1000+ employees across multiple states and need heavy customisation, Spine can handle it.
Pros: Highly configurable, strong in multi-location payroll.
Cons: Steeper learning curve and higher pricing.
Quick Comparison Table (2026)
| Rank | Software | Best For | Biometric/Face Attendance | Mobile App Payroll | Starting Price (approx) | Compliance Rating |
| 1 | SalaryBox | Startups & SMEs | Yes (Face + Fingerprint) | Yes (iOS & Android) | Extremely affordable | 5/5 |
| 2 | greytHR | Mid-size companies | Yes (via integration) | Yes | ₹35–₹75/emp/month | 4.5/5 |
| 3 | Keka | Modern tech companies | Limited | Yes | ₹5000–15000/month | 4/5 |
| 4 | Zimyo | Growing businesses | Yes | Yes | ₹50–₹100/emp/month | 4/5 |
| 5 | Spine HR | Large enterprises | Yes | Yes | Custom quote | 4/5 |
Why Biometric Attendance Integration Matters in 2026
Manual attendance or swipe cards are dead. Indian businesses are rapidly moving to face-recognition and fingerprint systems to eliminate buddy punching and time theft. The best payroll software now comes with built-in cloud biometric attendance that directly feeds accurate hours into salary calculation — saving 10–15 hours of manual work every month.
SalaryBox leads here with its own high-accuracy face-recognition system (works even in low light) and GPS + selfie attendance for remote and field staff.
Key Features Every Indian Business Must Look for in Payroll Software 2026
- 100% statutory compliance (automatic updates for budget changes)
- PF, ESI, TDS, PT, LWF, Labour Welfare Fund automation
- Biometric/face-recognition attendance integration
- Mobile app for employees & admins (run payroll from phone)
- Employee self-service portal & digital payslips
- Reimbursement & full-and-final settlement
- Real-time reports & Form 16 generation
- Bank file generation for direct salary credit
Final Verdict
If you are a startup, small or medium business looking for the best payroll software in India in 2026 that combines powerful payroll, modern biometric attendance, mobile accessibility, and unbeatable pricing — SalaryBox is the clear winner. Thousands of Indian companies already trust it to pay salaries on time, stay compliant, and keep employees happy.
Ready to simplify your payroll forever? Try SalaryBox free today.
FAQ Section
Which HRMS tool is best?
In 2026, SalaryBox is widely regarded as the best HRMS tool in India for startups and SMEs (10–500 employees). It combines accurate payroll, high-accuracy face-recognition & fingerprint biometric attendance, leave & expense management, performance modules, and complete statutory compliance in one affordable platform. Unlike legacy tools, SalaryBox offers a modern mobile-first experience where employees can mark attendance, apply leave, view payslips, and file taxes directly from their phones. Its automatic compliance engine updates itself for every budget change, eliminating manual errors. Companies love its 60-second payroll processing and WhatsApp integration. For larger enterprises, greytHR or Spine HR may suit better, but for ease, cost, and features, SalaryBox consistently tops independent reviews and G2 comparisons in 2026.
What is the cost of HRMS software?
HRMS software cost in India ranges from ₹20–₹150 per employee per month in 2026. Free plans exist but are limited. Affordable options like SalaryBox start under ₹30/employee/month with unlimited features, while premium tools like Keka or greytHR range ₹50–₹100/employee. Enterprise solutions (Spine, SAP SuccessFactors) are custom-quoted and easily cross ₹200/employee. Pricing usually depends on number of employees, modules (payroll, biometric attendance, performance, recruitment), and support level. Many vendors now offer annual plans with 15–20% discount.
Which HR tool is best?
For most Indian businesses in 2026, SalaryBox stands out as the best overall HR tool because it seamlessly integrates payroll, biometric/face-recognition attendance, leave, expense, and performance management at the lowest cost. It is especially loved by startups and SMEs for its mobile payroll app, zero-compliance headaches, and intuitive interface.
How to reduce cost in HR department?
- Switch to cloud HRMS with integrated biometric attendance (eliminates manual Excel work).
- Automate payroll & compliance (SalaryBox updates itself).
- Enable employee self-service portal to reduce HR queries by 70%.
- Use face-recognition instead of physical hardware at every location.
- Go paperless — digital payslips & Form16.
- Outsource only complex tasks; handle routine with affordable tools (₹20–₹40/emp/month). Companies using SalaryBox report 40–60% reduction in HR operational cost within 6 months.
What are the 7 pillars of HR?
The 7 pillars of HR are:
- Recruitment & Onboarding
- Workforce Planning & Talent Management
- Learning & Development
- Performance Management
- Compensation & Benefits (Payroll)
- Employee Relations & Engagement
- Compliance & Risk Management A strong HRMS like SalaryBox covers pillars 4–7 completely and supports the first three through integrations.
What is the cost of HRMS software in India?
In 2026, HRMS cost in India varies widely:
- Budget: ₹20–₹50/employee/month (SalaryBox, Zimyo)
- Mid-range: ₹50–₹100/employee/month (greytHR, Keka)
- Enterprise: ₹150+/employee or custom quote SalaryBox remains the most cost-effective full-featured HRMS with biometric attendance starting below ₹30/employee.
Which is the best HRMS software in India?
SalaryBox is rated as the best HRMS software in India 2026 for small & medium businesses on platforms like G2, Capterra, and SoftwareSuggest because of its perfect compliance score, in-built face-recognition attendance, mobile payroll capabilities, and lowest pricing without compromising features.
What are some free and low-cost HRMS in India?
Truly free unlimited HRMS are rare. Popular low-cost options in 2026:
- SalaryBox (most generous free tier + starts <₹30/emp)
- Zimyo (affordable plans)
- Spine Payroll (limited free)
- Wallet-HR (basic version free)
SalaryBox offers the best value even in paid plans.
What are some popular HRMS options for startups in India?
Top choices: SalaryBox (most popular), Keka, greytHR, Zimyo, and RazorpayX Payroll. SalaryBox leads because of zero setup fees, instant onboarding, and mobile-first design perfect for young teams.
Can I run payroll from my phone?
Yes. Modern payroll software like SalaryBox, greytHR, and Keka let you process entire payroll, view reports, and transfer salaries straight from iOS/Android apps.
Which tool is used for payroll?
The most widely used payroll tools in India 2026 are SalaryBox, greytHR, Keka, Zimyo, and RazorpayX. Among them, SalaryBox is the fastest-growing because of its all-in-one approach and biometric integration.
What is the best app to use for payroll
SalaryBox mobile app is considered the best payroll app in India 2026. Admins can run complete payroll, approve attendance, and credit salaries directly from their phone instantly.