Best HR Software in India for Small Businesses and Startups
June 24th 2024
Small businesses and startup owners want the best HR software that automates complex HR workflows, centralises employee databases in one place, and integrates seamlessly with your existing tech stack.
Most HR software available on the market provides these features. What makes a real difference is how employee-friendly it is, how responsive its support team is, and how affordable it is for startups.
Above all, we need to know how accurate the software is because we are dealing with sensitive employee data here, and there is no room for errors.
We have done some digging and shortlisted the best HR software in India that offers all the above features, is easy to use, is high on accuracy, and provides fast support.
Table of Contents
List of Top HR Software in India
Essential Features to Look Out for in the Best HR Software
Before getting into the details, you must understand which features to look for in top HR software. Remember, two types of users will use your HR software: HR professionals, admins, and employees.
When searching for HR software, prioritise both types of users equally.
Features for HR Professionals
Custom workflows for different use cases like onboarding, offboarding, training, leave application, etc.
End-to-end document management dashboard
Bulk payslip processing
Custom view and reports of all employee details within a centralised hub
Integration with Slack, Teams, HubSpot, and other tech stack
Role-based access for team collaboration and privacy
Plenty of ready-to-use templates for HRs to avoid repetitive tasks
Features for Employees
Self-service portal so employees can help themselves with tasks like leaving applications, marking attendance, etc.
Social feed for remote team collaboration, getting updates on news and achievements
Quick access to all essential documents like employment letters, payslips, tax certificates, etc.
24/7 helpdesk to answer routine queries
How to Select the Best HR Software?
You already know which features to look for in the best HR software. But what about the ‘other’ aspects? Here’s a quick checklist of the things to search for in the best HR software other than the key features:
Weigh in whether the HR software supports your current and future use cases
Make sure that there is a dedicated account manager or team to provide fast support for you and your employees whenever there are any questions or concerns
The tool has to be easy to use, as both tech and non-tech background employees will be using it, and there shouldn’t be a complex navigation and clunky UI that they can’t figure out
The HR software vendor must have a clear product roadmap and should be flexible enough to add new features as per your team’s requests
It should be affordable and scalable as your startup grows. There shouldn’t be minimum commitments and feature-gating
Quick Comparison of Top Three Best HR Software in India
Tool name
Craze
Keka
GreytHR
Pros
Fast, adaptable, and user-friendly UI. Super-fast onboarding, document workflows, and fast support
Flexible and powerful automation
Simple, user-friendly app with a responsive helpdesk
Cons
No mobile app (compensated by responsive mobile web browser design)
Clumsy mobile application and frequent log-in issues
Limited customisation features
Ideal for
Startups and SMEs looking to avail all advanced HR features with automated payroll without any minimum commitments
Enterprises ready to pay a flat amount every month with feature lock-ins
Small teams of up to 25 employees, ready to work on basic HR features
Starting price
Core starting from ₹40/month/ person without feature lock-ins
₹9,999/month for up to 100 employees and ₹90/month for each additional employee
₹3495/month for up to 50 employees. A free plan with limited features is available for up to 25 employee teams.
Top 10 HR Software in India
Finding the right HR software isn’t as easy as it seems. InboxInsight surveyed 250 HR leaders, and 55% of respondents said that finding the right solution for their specific use cases was one of the biggest challenges when selecting HR software.
That’s exactly why, in our list of top HR software in India, we state the key features and their ideal use cases. We also add the pros and cons of each tool based on customer reviews posted on sites like G2 and Capterra.
Craze
Craze is becoming the preferred choice of every startup and SME out there, and no, we are not just saying this because of Craze’s gem of a pricing structure (we’ll get to that later). But Craze's HR software solves the challenges faced by startup HR teams and founders from scratch.
Startups often struggle with centralising their employee data. They continue to use spreadsheets, which means a messy setup where finding critical employee data takes hours. Craze’s central hub for employee information helps you track employee datasets like demographics, locations, designations, birthdays, and anniversaries in a single hub. As your startup grows, scaling this database becomes much easier.
Craze’s built-in employee document management system builds a custom dashboard for each employee to streamline their documents, including payslips, tax certificates, employment letters etc. This means no more searching for a document within Drive or emails for hours.
Additionally, you will find document templates for all use cases, including offer letters, onboarding documents, agreements, and more!
Below are the other essential features of Craze HR software.
Craze best features
Track employees’ roles, history, revisions, and compensation within the Craze central employee hub easily
Design and allocate tax-friendly, customised salary structures for individual employees and teams
Sync with payroll and leave management software to avoid using spreadsheets and manually tracking employee attendance
Simple, employee-friendly, and error-free HR software
Lightning-fast support for HRs of SME founders for timely assistance on HR operations and payroll
A robust permission and reporting system across all admin tech stack, including payroll, time and attendance, leaves, and IT services, in one place
Pros
Covers entirety of a people operating system - HR, Finance, IT, Compliance and more
Fast, adaptable, and user-friendly UI.
Super-fast onboarding and you can get started with your HR operations in less than an hour
Quick support and a prompt SME team to address all queries for you and your team
Here’s what the existing Craze users have to say
Cons
Though Craze doesn’t have a mobile app at this point, but it is compensated by the responsive mobile web browser design.
Ideal for: Startups and SMEs members looking to avail of all advanced HR features without lock-ins or minimum commitments.
Pricing
Growth: At ₹40/month/employee, you can avail of all advanced features for the Core. This plan is perfect for startups with small teams, not looking to pay a lump sum amount on HR software monthly yet searching for HR automation features to streamline their HR processes
Custom: Appropriate for enterprises with 100+ employees. In this plan, you can access custom features and use cases based on requirements, and the price is custom-made. Here’s a sneak peek of how Craze creates personalised features for its customers:
Keka
Keka is one of the best HR software in India. From streamlining your HR workflows to automating all HR processes, Keka helps your HR teams stay productive and enables employees to self-serve when accessing critical documents or getting swift approvals.
🔖Read this detailed Keka Review article to learn more
Additionally, you will find document templates for all use cases, including offer letters, onboarding documents, agreements, and more!
Keka best features
Individual employee profiles for easy access to organisational structures
Built-in Employee Self-service Portal to engage and empower employees
Built-in document system to access degrees, certificates, previous experience letters, and previous salary slips quickly
Internal employee help desk to process employee requests faster
Pros
Flexible HR software and easily adaptable by employees
Powerful automation workflows for seamless task management
Hardik B - “ One of the best payroll management software solutions is an all-in-one employee management tool.”
Source
Cons
Keka’s mobile application has a clumsy UI and lacks most of the features
Frequent syncing and log-in issues, high loading time for the web-based application
Raj P - “ Sometimes it takes a lot of time to get updated in their Logs and Some Bugs are there Suddenly it goes offline”
Source
Ideal for: Businesses with up to 100 employees looking to pay a minimum ₹6,999/month and who are not looking for advanced features like employee onboarding, custom notifications, custom reports, etc.
Pricing
Foundation: ₹9,999/month for up to 100 employees and ₹90/month for each additional employee
Strength: ₹12,999/month for up to 100 employees and ₹120/month for each additional employee
Growth: ₹15,999/month for up to 100 employees and ₹150/month for each additional employee
HROne
HROne helps HR, and employees build custom processes and workflows to better manage day-to-day HR operations. Its unified employee database allows employees and HR professionals to find information like organizational charts, roles, and other information faster.
HROne best features
Customisable HR software that integrates with your tech stack to build seamless workflows
Centralised employee database that refreshes on the go
Multi-level data access permissions with three different access rights
For more insights into HROne features, read our detailed HROne review.
Additionally, you will find document templates for all use cases, including offer letters, onboarding documents, agreements, and more!
Pros
Easy to use and a simple mobile app that’s available to use from anywhere
An advanced search option to find employee details quickly
Thilak N. - “ Home/Feed wall having options for HR announcements, attendance tracker, team leave section and many more. Easy to understand the configuration steps for the modules.”
Source
Cons
Limited automation features force employees to rely a lot on manual tasks
Onboarding and user configuration are not available to the HR Admin
Mohan R - “ Profile section is non customizable. HR desk not supported in the mobile version, need to access through web application every time.”
Source
Ideal for: Mid-size businesses with 50+ teams seeking the core HR features.
Pricing
Basic: ₹85 /user/month and no access to onboarding, induction, and other workforce features
Professional: ₹115 /user/month and no access to performance management and helpdesk features
Enterprise: Custom pricing based on your feature selections
Zoho People
Zoho People is the next name on our list of the best HR software for startups. Targeted towards global workplaces, it is a cloud-based, flexible HRMS platform for building scalable employee databases and automated systems.
Zoho People best features
Customise your workplace and increase employee data visibility with an organized database
Part of the connected Zoho ecosystem, Zoho People integrates with other Zoho solutions like Zoho Payroll and Zoho CRM efficiently
Built-in employee self-service portals to empower employees and reduce redundant tasks for HR teams
Pros
Simple UI and availability of a 30-day free trial
The mobile app is equally efficient in both Android and iOS
Shradha J - “ Zoho people is very use to use software. You can integrate this with other Zoho apps easily and get more benefit right from tracking performance to project mangement.”
Source
Cons
Support documentation is outdated, and most problems the users struggle with are not part of it
Personalisation when creating reports is limited beyond the available templates
Parakh S. - “ Too much in the automation part - need to have more how-to videos on youtube.”
Source
Ideal for: Startups and small businesses with less than 50 users don’t mind feature lock-ins.
Pricing
Essential HR: ₹60/user/month and no access to shift scheduling, biometric integration, shift rotation, etc.
Professional: ₹120/user/month and no access to appraisals and review portals
Premium: ₹180/user/month and no access to SLA tracking, discussion forum features
Enterprise: ₹240/user/month and no access to Zoho Payroll, Zoho Vault, or other tools of the Zoho ecosystem
People Plus: ₹450/user/month and access to all features of Zoho applications
GreytHR
GreyHR is one of the best HR software in India. It has been simplifying HR processes and operations for a long time. Built to enhance the experiences of both employees and HR teams, it simplifies repetitive HR tasks in real time to build scalable workflows.
GreytHR best features
Automate repetitive tasks and centralise all employee documents for quick accessibility
Resolve employee queries faster with Bella, the employee support chatbot
Foster communication and collaboration with custom social feeds and bulletin boards
Read our full GreytHR Review
Pros
Simple and user-friendly HR software
Fast helpdesk and support tickets are resolved within 24 hours
Tejas P. - “ The Interface is easy to use on day to day activity. It provides immense features to maintain the HR activities for the employee.” Source
Cons
Limited customisation options when creating automated workflows
Several improvement opportunities in the current UI to make the solution easier to navigate
Sumit A. - “ Despite being largely intuitive, the user interface is a little conjusted. It is difficult to integrate with other systems. It has some performance issues as well.” Source
Ideal for: Small teams of up to 25 employees, ready to work on basic HR features.
Pricing
Starter: ₹0/month for up to 25 employees and limited features. You cannot add additional employees to this plan
Essential: ₹3495/month for up to 50 employees and limited features like no workflow automation and legal reports
Growth: ₹5495/month for up to 50 employees and essential features like support a performance management system are available for add-on charges
Enterprise: ₹7495/month for up to 50 employees, and performance management is available for add-on charges
ZingHR
ZingHR is the next name on our list of best HR software in India. It is an end-to-end HR software that creates and manages configurable employee workflows and integrates BI analytics and business operations.
ZingHR best features
Maintain employee records and customise them with over 400 configurable fields
Streamlined view of the entire workforce
Pre-configured and customisable reports for alert-based events
Pros
Easy-to-use web application
Monitoring employees in a single place becomes easy, and you get notified of all updates
Rohit T. - “ It is a very user friendly for any one, if someone start using this software then he or she can understand the functionality very easily” Source
Cons
Limited feature accessibility and feature lock-in unless you opt for a premium plan
Dashboard loads slowly
Piyush S. - “ Mobile application needs to add more features to it as it's user interface is not so handy. And few features like marking attendance and other should be more easy.” Source
Ideal for: Enterprises with large teams trying to manage a vast employee database
Pricing : Not displayed on the website
BambooHR
BambooHR simplifies employee data for HR professionals and creates a centralized HR database so organisations can make the most of their employee data, identify critical employment trends, and make informed decisions.
BambooHR best features
Secured employee database to track and organise confidential employee database in one place
Automated reporting for strategic decision-making
On-the-go mobile application accessible to all employees
Pros
Self-explanatory and easy-to-navigate HR platform
Easily configurable and flexible HR software
Deb L. - “Easy to set up, implement and use for Admins and End Users alike.” Source
Cons
Not suitable for SMEs, expensive for small teams of less than 25 employees
Robotic customer service and no personalised assistance
Amanda M - “The downside of BambooHR is only being able to put 5 people on a workflow - we find that we need more sometimes.” Source
Ideal for: For medium to large enterprises with over 25 employees
Pricing: Not disclosed on the website.
Kredily
Kredily empowers HR teams with a comprehensive, cloud-based HRMS platform to capture, manage, and track employee data for data-driven decision-making. Simple, hassle-free software offers various features to streamline HR teams' repetitive tasks.
Kredily best features
Rule-based automation to simplify repetitive HR processes
Fast onboarding and same-day implementation of your HR processes
User-friendly and efficient HR management
Pros
Simple, affordable, and comprehensive
Direct implementation of expense approval payouts through the dashboard
Kartik S. - “it nice and easy platform.” Source
Cons
Frequent feature updates affect data, and users are not informed about these updates in advance
Gets logged in and out repeatedly, affecting user experience
Kartik S. - “automatic loging problems” Source
Read our detailed Kredily Review to know more
Ideal for: Medium-sized businesses and enterprises having high budgets to pay a flat amount every month to avail of the advanced features
Pricing
Free Forever: ₹0/month with only 250MB data storage and limited feature accessibility
Professional: ₹1499/Month/ for up to 25 employees and from the 26th employee onwards ₹60 for each additional employee
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Darwinbox
Darwinbox offers a modern take on HR management, offering flexible, smarter, and faster HR operations for enterprises. Ideal for remote teams managing a global workforce, Darwinbox efficiently handles multiple legal aspects and compliances within a unified HR platform.
Darwinbox best features
A single control centre to manage complex, remote organizational structures
Bulk data management and role-based access for large teams
No-code, customisable workflows for scalability
Pros
User-focused workflows to reduce third-party implementation costs
Expert support and consultation on-demand to resolve technical issues
Ankita A - “Simple and smooth tool for automating day-to-day HR processes such as daily login, leave management, and attendance” Source
Cons
Complicated reporting and HR analytics are missing
Manual capability requirements are high
Vamshi A. - “Improvement of user interface is needed.” Source
Ideal for: Large enterprises and remote teams with global workforce and complex workflows
Pricing: Not disclosed on the website
PocketHRMS
The final name on our list of top HR software in India is PocketHRMS. HR departments use this software to achieve hyper-efficiency and simplify complex HR processes. It automates different areas of employee management processes for seamless HR operations.
PocketHRMS best features
Get an in-depth overview of employee information within a custom dashboard
Automated compliance handling and simpler tax management
Biometric-based attendance management
Pros
End-to-end and self-service solution for HR teams and employees
Simple, employee-friendly, and provides all essential employee insights
Gitika N. - “Simple UI, excellent Support team, they also go beyond and cater to your additional change requests customizing the software in order to meet your requirements.” Source
Cons
Poor document management tool with no option to view or download employee documents quickly
Lack of customization and not enough fields available in existing report templates for use-case-specific adjustments
D P J. - “Restricted functionality module. The HR process was incorrectly understood, and the system was not customized to meet the initial requirements.” Source
Ideal for: Medium-sized teams of a minimum of 50 employees who are ready to spend a flat amount every month to get advanced feature access
Pricing
Standard: ₹2495/month for up to 50 employees and an additional ₹40/employee/month from the 51st employee onwards with feature lock-ins
Professional: ₹3995/month for up to 50 employees and an additional ₹80/employee/month from the 51st employee onwards with advanced features like AI attendance, advanced leave workflows
Premium: Custom pricing
Expand Your Options: Explore These Alternatives!
Still trying to decide which HR software to opt for? These are a few more options you can explore:
HRMantra
A comprehensive HR automation platform with extensive employee database capabilities, supporting 450+ employee attributes and customizable workflows.
HRMantra best features
Advanced employee database management
Customisable letter templates with approval workflows
Dynamic surveys and online testing
Detailed exit management and insurance handling
Organisation charts and position reporting
Pros
Easy to use and simple installation process
Self-explanatory UI that reduces training time
Rahul B.: “While using hrmantra we did not face any problems while installing and using in mobile salary calculation was good.” Source
Cons
Poor support team response
Rahul B. : “Their support was not good take so munch time for revert.” Source
Ideal for: Large enterprises requiring extensive employee data management and complex workflow automation
Price
Undisclosed
FactoHR
A cloud-based HR platform focused on security and workflow automation with strong document management capabilities.
FactoHR best features
Security-focused design with granular permissions
Built-in integrations
Centralized employee database
Automated document management
Multi-level workflow approvals
Pros
Easy to use and intuitive
You don’t need technical skills to use the tool
Er. Varun A.: “ You will not need deep technical knowledge to operate it. The software has handy features that helped me to monitor attendance and measure the performance and productivity of employees easily.” Source
Cons
Non-responsive features with limited admin facilities
Mayank K. : “The features were non-responsive, the admin could never automate it and the only thing it was doing was not working properly.” Source
Ideal for: Organizations prioritizing security and automated workflow management
Price
Undisclosed
Zimyo
AI-powered HRMS platform offering comprehensive HR and payroll management with mobile accessibility.
Zimyo best features
Core HR management
Time & attendance tracking
Payroll automation
Performance management
Mobile app access
Pros
Easy to use and customizable
Mobile-friendly application
Prakash J. : “With a customizable front dashboard, I can choose and remove elements like attendance, announcements, and surveys.” Source
Cons
Bugs and complexities in the product.
Anurag M. : “Some bugs are still there which sometimes freezes the screen and results in difficult situations and complexities sometimes. But these instances are not that frequent.” Source
Ideal for: SMEs looking for an integrated HR solution with mobile capabilities
Price
Basic: ₹64/user/month (min ₹4,000 for up to 50 users)
Standard: ₹84/user/month (min ₹6,000 for up to 50 users)
Unlimited: ₹120/user/month (min ₹10,000 for up to 50 users)
Pros
Cloud-based software accessible from anywhere
Easy to use
Noopur A. : “The application is buggy, and there are a few UI/UX issues which should be taken care of.” Source
Cons
Not good for Android
Buggy application with UI/UX issues
Noopur A. : “The application is buggy, and there are a few UI/UX issues which should be taken care of.” Source
Ideal for: Indian businesses seeking integrated HR, payroll, and compliance solutions.
Price
Self-Service: Starts at ₹6,000 per month
Full Service: Starts at ₹8,000 per month
Benefits of HR Software
Some of the significant benefits of HR software are as follows:
Reduces manual effort by automating repetitive tasks, saving up to 30 minutes per employee per day, and allowing HR teams to focus on strategic initiatives
Provides a unified platform to store and manage all employee data, including personal information, documents, payroll details, and performance records, in one secure location
Ensures compliance with labour laws and tax regulations through automated updates, audit trails, and built-in compliance checks for error-free operations
Improves employee experience through self-service portals, mobile access, quick query resolution, and streamlined processes from onboarding to exit
Delivers accurate payroll processing by automating calculations, managing multiple salary structures, and handling tax deductions without human error
Enables data-driven decision-making with real-time analytics, customizable dashboards, and detailed reports on key HR metrics and workforce trends
Improves workplace communication through integrated channels, including mobile apps, chat systems, and announcement boards, fostering better engagement
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Conclusion
Selecting the best HR software ultimately comes down to an organization’s requirements: Does it support your use cases? Does it match your budget? Is it employee-friendly?
The best way to understand if a product suits you is to use it first-hand or get a product demo. And that’s precisely what we suggest before concluding the article.
We are confident that once you start using Craze, you will notice the clear differences between Craze and other traditional HR software in India and recognise that it is designed by and for startups.
It is ideal for you if:
You need a people operating system that handles HR, finance, and IT all in one place.
You are frustrated with most HR software in India restricting essential features for Enterprise users.
You prefer quick replies to your queries and getting tasks done quickly.
Want to see what Craze is capable of?
FAQs
What are the types of HR software?
The main types include Core HR software (employee data management), Recruitment software, Performance Management software, Payroll software, and All-in-one HRMS platforms that combine multiple functionalities in a single solution.
What is the average cost of HR Software in India?
The average cost of HR software in India ranges from ₹40 to ₹450 per employee per month.
What features are essential for startups using HR software?
Essential features for startups include a centralized employee database, document management, a self-service portal, auto sync with payroll, and leave management software.
Why should I choose an HR software?
Choose HR software to automate workflows, centralize employee data, and streamline HR processes, saving time and resources.
Does HR software offer payroll and leaves as built-in features?
Yes, HR software like Craze has strong core HR features, including built-in payroll, leave, and time tracking that sync in real-time.
Cloud vs On-premise- which HR software should you choose?
Cloud-based HR software is recommended as it offers better accessibility, automatic updates, lower maintenance costs, and enhanced security. Most modern businesses prefer cloud solutions over on-premise systems for flexibility and scalability.
