Last updated: 22 October 2026
For most small Indian teams, choosing HRMS software comes down to headcount and how you want to be billed. Zoho People charges per employee, from ₹48 a month on yearly billing. greytHR starts at ₹2,495 a month with 50 employees included, then ₹45 for each extra one.
Do the maths before the demo. On listed prices Zoho People’s entry plan is cheaper up to about 80 staff; past that, greytHR Essential works out cheaper. Both tools handle records, attendance and leave, and often payroll.
The numbers to run before any demo (prices checked 22 Oct 2026, excl. GST)
- Zoho People: from ₹48 per employee a month on yearly billing (₹60 monthly). Paid plans need at least 5 users.
- greytHR: ₹2,495 a month covers 50 employees, then ₹45 for each extra one. No free plan.
- Break-even: about 80 staff. At 50 people it’s ₹2,400 vs ₹2,495 a month.
- Hidden extras: greytHR’s GPS add-on at ₹140 per user a month adds ₹1,400 for 10 field staff. Annual plans don’t refund unused credit.
- GST: neither pricing page states it, so budget for 18% on top and confirm it in your quote.
Want to see the take-home pay for a CTC? Use our free salary calculator to check CTC to in-hand pay, PF, and old vs new tax regime.
HRMS software at a glance
Prices checked 22 Oct 2026. GST on software subscriptions is 18%. Neither pricing page states its GST treatment, so the “with GST” column shows the price if 18% is added on top. Confirm it in your quote.
| Tool | How it charges | Starting price (excl. GST) | If 18% GST is added | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho People | Per employee per month | ₹48 (Essential HR, yearly) / ₹60 (monthly) | ₹56.64 / ₹70.80 | Yes, a free edition for a very small team (check the user limit) |
| greytHR | Base fee + per extra employee | ₹2,495/month for 50 employees, then ₹45 each | ₹2,944.10 | No |
Source: Zoho People and greytHR pricing pages, checked 22 Oct 2026.
Zoho People plans (₹ per employee per month)
| Plan | Monthly billing | Yearly billing |
|---|---|---|
| Essential HR | ₹60 | ₹48 |
| Professional | ₹120 | ₹96 |
| Premium | ₹180 | ₹144 |
| Enterprise | ₹240 | ₹192 |
| People Plus | ₹450 | ₹350 |
Source: Zoho People pricing page, checked 22 Oct 2026.
greytHR plans
| Plan | Base fee per month | Employees included | Each extra employee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | ₹2,495 | 50 | ₹45 |
| Growth | ₹4,495 | 50 | ₹85 |
| Premium | Custom | — | — |
Source: greytHR pricing page, checked 22 Oct 2026.
greytHR also sells add-ons per user a month: timesheets ₹35, expenses ₹35, performance management ₹35–45 and GPS ₹140. Recruitment costs ₹2,500 per recruiter a month (source, checked 22 Oct 2026). Annual plans are available, but unused credit is not refunded.
Worked cost comparison
All figures per month, excluding GST, with the 18% figure in brackets.
| Team size | Zoho People Essential HR (yearly) | Zoho People Professional (yearly) | greytHR Essential | greytHR Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 20 × ₹48 = ₹960 (₹1,132.80) | 20 × ₹96 = ₹1,920 (₹2,265.60) | ₹2,495 (₹2,944.10) | ₹4,495 (₹5,304.10) |
| 50 | 50 × ₹48 = ₹2,400 (₹2,832) | 50 × ₹96 = ₹4,800 (₹5,664) | ₹2,495 (₹2,944.10) | ₹4,495 (₹5,304.10) |
| 80 | 80 × ₹48 = ₹3,840 (₹4,531.20) | 80 × ₹96 = ₹7,680 (₹9,062.40) | ₹2,495 + 30 × ₹45 = ₹3,845 (₹4,537.10) | ₹4,495 + 30 × ₹85 = ₹7,045 (₹8,313.10) |
Source: Zoho People and greytHR pricing pages, checked 22 Oct 2026.
What this shows: at 20 staff, Zoho People’s entry plan costs well under half of greytHR Essential. At 50 staff, the two are close (₹2,400 vs ₹2,495) (Zoho People and greytHR pricing pages, checked 22 Oct 2026). At 80 staff, Zoho People Essential HR and greytHR Essential cost almost the same. So compare plan features at your headcount, not just the starting price. Plan contents differ, so check each vendor’s plan page for the modules you need. Run your own numbers in our SaaS cost calculator.
What is HRMS software?
HRMS stands for Human Resource Management System. It is one place for everything about your employees: personal details, documents, attendance, leave, and often payroll.
- HRIS (HR Information System) usually means the records part only.
- Payroll software calculates salaries and deductions such as PF, ESI and TDS. If salary processing is your only need, see our payroll software guide.
- HRMS covers both, plus day-to-day HR work.
Core HRMS modules a small business needs
Employee records and documents
Each employee’s profile, ID proofs, bank details and letters. You can still issue letters from a template, such as our offer letter format, and store them in the HRMS. For new joiners, our appointment letter format has Word templates with the fields the Labour Codes ask for.
Attendance software: biometric, mobile and geo-fenced
Attendance is often why small firms buy an HRMS. Common options are biometric device integration, mobile check-in, and location-based (geo-fenced) check-in for field staff. greytHR prices GPS tracking as an add-on at ₹140 per user a month (source, checked 22 Oct 2026). For 10 field staff, that adds ₹1,400 a month (₹1,652 if 18% GST is added).
Leave and holiday policies
Set leave types, balances and holiday lists once, and let employees apply from their phone. Managers approve, and balances update by themselves.
Payroll: built in or connected
Some HRMS tools include payroll; others connect to a separate payroll app. If PF, ESI and salary TDS matter most, check that the payroll side is updated for the ₹25,000 EPF wage ceiling (from 17 Sep 2026) and for Form 130, which replaced Form 16. Our payroll software comparison covers prices and compliance in detail.
Onboarding and exits
Checklists for joining and leaving, document collection, and asset return. These save time once you hire more than a few people a year.
HR software for small business: what you can skip under 25 staff
- Skip: performance management, recruitment modules and advanced analytics. A spreadsheet works for these at this size.
- Keep: employee records, attendance and leave. These are daily tasks and the most error-prone on paper.
- Choose Zoho People Essential HR if you have under about 80 staff and want the lowest monthly bill on listed prices.
- Choose greytHR if you expect to pass about 80 staff, where its base fee plus ₹45 per extra employee (source, checked 22 Oct 2026) costs less than Zoho People’s entry plan.
Cloud-based HRMS vs installed software
Cloud-based HRMS (also called cloud-based HR software) runs in the browser and on a phone app. You pay a monthly or yearly subscription, updates happen on the vendor’s side, and employees can mark attendance or apply for leave from anywhere. Installed software runs on your own computers; you manage updates and backups yourself. Both tools in this guide are priced as monthly or yearly subscriptions.
Choose cloud if staff work from more than one location or from the field. Consider installed software only if your IT team must keep data on your own servers.
HRMS pricing in India: three models
- Per employee: Zoho People. The bill rises steadily with each hire.
- Base fee + extra employees: greytHR. Cheaper per head once you fill the included 50.
- Add-ons: GPS, timesheets and recruitment can raise the bill. Add them to your comparison before deciding.
Tool-by-tool summary
Zoho People
Who it suits: small teams that want to pay only for the staff they have, and businesses already using Zoho apps. Paid plans need a minimum of 5 users. Five paid plans run from Essential HR to People Plus, with about 20% off for yearly billing (₹48 vs ₹60 on Essential HR) (source, checked 22 Oct 2026). If you are weighing the wider Zoho suite, read our Zoho One pricing guide and confirm with Zoho which apps your plan includes.
greytHR
Who it suits: larger small businesses, roughly 80 staff and above, where its per-head cost falls below Zoho People’s entry plan. No free plan. Essential and Growth both include 50 employees in the base fee; Premium is quoted on request.
Data protection and employee data: DPDP basics
HR systems hold sensitive personal data, such as ID numbers and bank details. The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 were notified on 13 Nov 2025. Most duties for businesses, including the notice and consent rules, start on 13 May 2027. They are not yet in force for most businesses, but it makes sense to choose a tool now that lets you control who can see what, export data and delete it when needed. This is general information, not legal advice.
Checklist before you buy
- Price for your exact headcount, with GST shown separately.
- The attendance method you need (biometric, mobile or GPS) and whether it costs extra.
- Payroll updated for the ₹25,000 EPF ceiling and Form 130.
- Role-based access and data export.
- Mobile app for employees.
- Refund terms on annual plans.
For a wider view of your software budget, use our business tool stack builder or our guide to choosing business software.
What users commonly report
These themes summarise public reviews of Zoho People (Capterra, Google Play, Software Suggest) and greytHR (G2, Capterra, Software Advice, Trustpilot)—the two HRMS options examined in depth on this page. They are paraphrased and India-focused where the sources allow.
- Day-to-day HR is easier on both: leave, attendance and basic employee records in one system are a consistent praise theme for Zoho People and greytHR.
- Employee self-service cuts chase-ups: greytHR users especially value payslip and leave self-service; Zoho People users praise mobile leave and attendance for office and field staff.
- Zoho stack fit helps: reviewers already on other Zoho apps often like People as part of the same setup.
- Mobile GPS check-in is Zoho People’s weak spot: wrong location, failed check-in or check-out, and app lag are recurring Play Store and directory themes.
- greytHR support and UI draw complaints: slow tickets during payroll or formula issues, plus a dated or cluttered interface, repeat across sources.
- Setup and customisation take work: Zoho People users report a learning curve for shifts and approvals; greytHR users note limits on non-standard leave accruals, reports and workflows.
FAQs
Is there free HRMS software?
Zoho People’s pricing page lists a forever-free edition for a very small team; check the current user limit there. greytHR shows no free plan.
How much does HRMS cost per employee in India?
Zoho People costs ₹48–₹350 per employee a month on yearly billing, excluding any GST (source, checked 22 Oct 2026). greytHR Essential works out to ₹49.90 per employee at exactly 50 staff (₹2,495 ÷ 50) (source, checked 22 Oct 2026).
Can HRMS track attendance from a mobile phone?
Many can. Check the plan page for mobile and GPS attendance; greytHR sells GPS as a ₹140 per user add-on (source, checked 22 Oct 2026).
HRMS or payroll software: which do I need?
If you only need salaries and statutory deductions, payroll software is enough. If you also manage attendance, leave and records, choose an HRMS. You can also keep salary slips simple with our salary slip format.
Sources and checked dates
- Prices checked 22 Oct 2026: Zoho People (official pricing page; INR figures from Zoho’s price data file that the page loads: people-pricing-val.json), greytHR.
- DPDP Rules 2025 (G.S.R. 846(E), 13 Nov 2025): MeitY.
- EPF ceiling: EPFO FAQs. Form 130: Income Tax Department.
- GST 18%: Notification No. 11/2017-Central Tax (Rate).
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