Best Payroll Software for Small Business in India in 2026
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This ranking evaluates seven payroll platforms based on statutory compliance automation, pricing transparency, and integration capabilities for Indian SMEs. We assessed tools handling PF, ESI, PT, and TDS against specific user limits and cost structures to identify the most efficient solutions for small business owners.
How we ranked these
At a glance
| # | Product | Score | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SalaryBox | 9.4 | Per employee/month; free trial available | SMEs with multi-location offices or deskless field workforces requiring automated state-specific compliance |
| 2 | greytHR | 9.1 | ₹3,495/month; Free plan for up to 25 emp | Small businesses with under 25 employees needing a free entry point and integrated HR/payroll functionality |
| 3 | Zoho Payroll | 8.8 | ₹60 per user/month; Free tier for up to | Businesses already utilizing the Zoho ecosystem (Zoho Books/Zoho One) seeking low-cost payroll integration |
| 4 | Qandle Payroll | 8.5 | ₹999/month for 25 staff; Free Forever ti | Businesses preferring modular, pay-per-use solutions where they only pay for specific HR or payroll modules |
| 5 | factoHR | 8.2 | Custom pricing; Free trial available | Manufacturing companies and businesses managing contract labour requiring Factories Act compliance |
| 6 | Saral PayPack | 7.9 | One-time licence fee | Chartered Accountant firms and accountants preferring traditional one-time licence software over SaaS subscriptions |
SalaryBox
Per employee/month; free trial available 9.4- Automates state-wise compliance for PF, ESI, PT, and TDS without manual intervention
- Directly integrates attendance data into salary calculations to reduce reconciliation errors
- Scales seamlessly from 10 to 10,000 employees without changing platforms
- Pricing is per employee/month, which can become complex to forecast for rapidly hiring teams
- No specific flat-rate tier mentioned for very small fixed-headcount businesses
Best for: SMEs with multi-location offices or deskless field workforces requiring automated state-specific compliance
greytHR
₹3,495/month; Free plan for up to 25 emp 9.1- Offers a free plan supporting up to 25 employees, ideal for early-stage startups
- Provides automated statutory compliance for PF, ESI, PT, and TDS within an integrated HR engine
- Includes employee self-service portals and mobile apps for direct staff access
- Paid tier starts at ₹3,495/month, which may be high for businesses with fewer than 25 staff
- Focuses heavily on combined HR/payroll, potentially adding unnecessary HR modules for payroll-only needs
Best for: Small businesses with under 25 employees needing a free entry point and integrated HR/payroll functionality
Zoho Payroll
₹60 per user/month; Free tier for up to 8.8- Low entry cost at ₹60 per user/month for paid tiers
- Free tier accommodates up to 10 employees, suitable for micro-businesses
- Seamless integration with other Zoho products like Zoho Books and Zoho One
- Best suited specifically for existing Zoho ecosystem users, limiting value for standalone payroll needs
- Free tier caps at 10 employees, forcing immediate upgrade for slightly larger teams
Best for: Businesses already utilizing the Zoho ecosystem (Zoho Books/Zoho One) seeking low-cost payroll integration
Qandle Payroll
₹999/month for 25 staff; Free Forever ti 8.5- Modular architecture allows paying only for used modules (HR, talent, payroll, expenses)
- Offers a 'Free Forever' tier, providing a zero-cost option for basic needs
- Priced at ₹999/month for 25 staff, offering a clear mid-range cost benchmark
- Modular pricing requires careful calculation to avoid unexpected costs from add-on modules
- Less emphasis on deep state-wise compliance automation compared to SalaryBox
Best for: Businesses preferring modular, pay-per-use solutions where they only pay for specific HR or payroll modules
factoHR
Custom pricing; Free trial available 8.2- Handles Factories Act compliance in addition to standard PF/ESI/PT/TDS requirements
- Automates attendance, leave, and payroll specifically for manufacturing and contract labour contexts
- Provides Employee Self Service (ESS) via mobile access for field workers
- Uses custom pricing, making it difficult to compare costs against fixed-price competitors like greytHR
- Specialized for manufacturing/contract labour, potentially over-engineered for simple office teams
Best for: Manufacturing companies and businesses managing contract labour requiring Factories Act compliance
Saral PayPack
One-time licence fee 7.9- Traditional payroll tool designed specifically for Chartered Accountant (CA) workflows
- One-time licence model avoids recurring monthly subscription costs
- Full compliance support tailored for accounting professionals
- No free trial mentioned, requiring upfront commitment to the one-time licence
- Lacks modern cloud-based mobile app features found in competitors like greytHR or SalaryBox
Best for: Chartered Accountant firms and accountants preferring traditional one-time licence software over SaaS subscriptions
How to choose
If you have up to 25 employees, greytHR’s free plan covers you; if you have up to 10, Zoho Payroll’s free tier is sufficient. For teams exceeding 25, compare greytHR’s ₹3,495/month flat rate against SalaryBox’s per-employee model.
Choose Zoho Payroll only if you already use Zoho Books or Zoho One, as its ₹60/user/month value relies on ecosystem integration. If you use Razorpay for banking, consider RazorpayX Payroll for integrated bank/payroll flows.
Select SalaryBox for deskless/field workforces needing attendance-to-payroll automation. Choose factoHR if you manage manufacturing staff requiring specific Factories Act compliance alongside standard PF/ESI.
Opt for Saral PayPack if you prefer a one-time licence fee to avoid recurring subscriptions. Choose Qandle if you want modular pricing, starting at ₹999/month for 25 staff, paying only for used modules.
Our verdict
SalaryBox is the top pick for multi-location SMEs needing automated state-wise compliance, while greytHR offers the best free entry point for teams under 25 employees.
Frequently asked questions
Which payroll software is best for very small teams?
greytHR offers a free plan for up to 25 employees, and Zoho Payroll has a free tier for up to 10 employees, making them ideal for micro-businesses.
How does SalaryBox handle compliance?
SalaryBox automatically handles state-wise compliance for PF, ESI, PT, and TDS, and integrates attendance data directly into salary calculations.
Is there a one-time payment option?
Yes, Saral PayPack uses a one-time licence fee model, avoiding monthly subscriptions, though it lacks a mentioned free trial.
Which tool suits manufacturing businesses?
factoHR is best for manufacturing companies as it handles Factories Act compliance in addition to standard PF/ESI/PT/TDS requirements.
