greytHR vs Keka: HR & Payroll Software for India (2026)

The case for

• Billed in rupees with 18 percent GST on the invoice, so an Indian entity claims input credit without forex or card friction
• Essential starts at 2495 rupees a month covering 50 employees, so a small team knows the floor before ever talking to sales
• Indian statutory payroll compliance is built into the core product rather than sold as a separate localisation module

The catch

• The 50 employee base is included, and every employee past that adds 45 rupees on Essential or 85 rupees on Growth monthly
• Attendance and shift management sit on the Growth plan at 4495 rupees a month, about 80 percent more than Essential
• Add-on modules bill separately, with GPS live tracking at 140 rupees per user monthly and recruitment at 2500 rupees per recruiter monthly
• Support turnaround is a recurring theme in reviews, with buyers reporting slow ticket resolution and issues left open for months

The case for

• Statutory reports for PF, ESI, LWF and TDS ship prebuilt alongside Form 16 and Form 24Q, so Indian payroll compliance is native.
• Sales and support numbers are published for Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata and Pune, so buyers get a local phone contact.
• Separate plan sets exist for India, for the United States and European Union, and for Asia Pacific and GCC countries.

The catch

• A setup fee applies on top of the subscription, and Keka describes it as covering guided configuration, data import and validation of past salary records.
• Headcount above the bundled base costs 90, 120 or 150 rupees per extra employee per month depending on tier, so hiring raises the bill monthly.
• Paying salaries directly from Keka Wallet carries additional charges that the plan price does not include.
• Keka Sign for e-signatures and advanced onboarding start at the Strength tier, so the entry Foundation plan still needs a separate signing tool.