Best greytHR Alternatives in India (2026): Compared on Compliance, Attendance and Price
Why companies look beyond greytHR, the main alternatives and who each suits, why Professional Tax is often the deciding question, and how to switch without breaking payroll.
greytHR is one of the most widely used HR and payroll products in India, particularly among small and mid-size businesses. Its reputation rests on Indian payroll and statutory compliance: PF, ESI, Professional Tax, LWF and the reports that go with them. So when companies search for "greytHR alternatives", it's rarely because greytHR can't do payroll. It's usually about user experience, pricing at their headcount, setup, or a specific capability they want.
This guide covers what greytHR does well, why companies look elsewhere, the main alternatives and who each suits, a comparison checklist, and how to switch safely.
Updated 30 September 2026. Vendor features and prices change often — confirm the current details on each vendor's own website before you decide.
The short answer
- greytHR is compliance-first HR and payroll. If PT and LWF across several states are must-haves, it remains one of the strongest choices.
- For attendance and shift depth, compare factoHR.
- For a broad suite with performance and hiring, compare Keka or Zimyo.
- For Zoho users, compare Zoho People with Zoho Payroll.
- For HR and payroll in one simple published price, with fast setup, compare PeopleVio.
- Test the finalists on one real payroll month with your own data.
What greytHR does well
- Indian statutory compliance — PF, ESI, PT, LWF and state-specific requirements.
- Payroll and HR in one product.
- A large customer base, so most payroll scenarios have been seen before.
- Free or low-cost entry plans at small headcounts (check the current offer).
Why companies look for a greytHR alternative
1. User experience
Some teams find a product with a simpler, more modern interface easier for employees and managers to adopt — especially on phones.
2. Pricing at their headcount
Every vendor's pricing suits some headcounts better than others. Companies crossing a band, or adding modules, sometimes find the total higher than expected.
3. Attendance needs
Field teams may want geofenced check-in from a phone. Factories may want shift rostering. The right attendance fit often decides the choice.
4. Talent management
Companies that start running performance reviews or structured hiring may want a broader suite.
5. They don't need every state rule
A company in a single state without Professional Tax may not need greytHR's full compliance depth, and may prefer something simpler.
The main greytHR alternatives
| Alternative | Type | Strengths | Consider if… |
|---|---|---|---|
| factoHR | Compliance-focused HR and payroll | Attendance, shifts, overtime, statutory coverage | You run shifts and overtime |
| Keka | Broad HR suite | Payroll plus performance, OKRs, hiring | You'll use talent-management features |
| Zimyo | Broad HR platform | HR, payroll, performance, engagement | Engagement and performance matter |
| Zoho People + Zoho Payroll | Ecosystem | Zoho integrations, customisation | You run on Zoho |
| PeopleVio | Simple all-in-one HR + payroll | One published per-employee price, payroll from attendance, PF/ESI modules, geofencing, same-day setup | 10–500 employees who want it to just work |
Comparison checklist
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Payroll from attendance | Loss of pay, half days and proration without export |
| PF | Wage ceiling by date (₹25,000 from 17 September 2026), EPS rules, validated ECR |
| ESI | Contribution-period rules, monthly return file |
| Professional Tax and LWF | Calculated per state, if needed |
| TDS | Old and new regime, declarations, Form 16 |
| Attendance | Biometric integration, geofenced mobile check-in, shifts if needed |
| Employee experience | Payslips, leave and attendance easy on a phone |
| Setup | Time to first payroll |
| Total price | At your headcount and at 1.5×, including add-ons |
| Export | Everything to CSV/Excel |
The deciding question for many greytHR users is Professional Tax. If you need PT and LWF calculated across several states, make sure any alternative actually does it.
PeopleVio as a greytHR alternative
PeopleVio covers operational HR and payroll in one system, at one published price per active employee.
What's included:
- Payroll with loss of pay, mid-month proration, custom earnings and deductions, and PDF payslips emailed to employees.
- PF with the EPFO module — EPF, EPS, EDLI, VPF; ECR and arrear ECR; UAN validation; challan and TRRN tracking; reminders before the 15th.
- ESI with the ESIC module — contribution periods, the ₹176 daily-wage exemption, the monthly return .xls and challans.
- TDS — old and new regime, declarations with approval, Form 16.
- Attendance — geofenced GPS check-in, ZKTeco/eSSL biometric push, regularisation, late rules and an hours report.
- Leave, comp off, expenses, assets and offer letters.
- Setup usually the same day, with bulk import from Excel.
What it doesn't do — especially relevant against greytHR:
- No Professional Tax or Labour Welfare Fund calculation. If you need PT across several states, greytHR is the better fit.
- No shift rostering or overtime rules.
- No performance reviews or recruitment.
- No installable mobile app — it's a responsive web app.
What PeopleVio costs
| Active employees | Monthly billing | Yearly billing (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | ₹1,475 | ₹1,225 |
| 50 | ₹2,450 | ₹2,050 |
| 100 | ₹4,900 | ₹4,100 |
| 300 | ₹11,700 | ₹9,900 |
| 500 | ₹14,500 | ₹12,500 |
Prices exclude GST; every module included. See the pricing page.
Worked examples
A 90-person company with offices in Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai. PT applies in all three states. → Stay with greytHR, or pick an alternative that calculates PT in all three states.
A 35-person company in Delhi (no PT) with a field sales team. → Compare greytHR with an all-in-one like PeopleVio. Geofenced check-in for the field team and a simple published price may tip it.
A 200-person company starting performance reviews. → Compare greytHR with a broad suite like Keka.
How to switch from greytHR
- Pick the month — April is cleanest for TDS.
- Export employees, salary structures, leave balances and year-to-date payroll.
- Import employees in bulk, then UANs, PF member IDs and ESIC IP numbers.
- Recreate leave policies, holidays, office timings and late rules.
- Set up attendance — biometric machines and office locations.
- Carry forward year-to-date salary and TDS if switching mid-year.
- Run one month in parallel; compare payslips, ECR and ESIC return.
- Go live, and keep your exports.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best greytHR alternatives in India? factoHR for attendance and shifts, Keka or Zimyo for broad suites, Zoho People with Zoho Payroll for Zoho users, and PeopleVio for simple HR and payroll at one published price.
Is greytHR good for small businesses? Yes — it's widely used by small businesses, particularly for payroll and compliance. Alternatives may suit better on user experience, price or attendance needs.
Does PeopleVio calculate Professional Tax like greytHR? No. PeopleVio calculates PF, ESI and TDS, but not Professional Tax or LWF. If you need PT calculated, greytHR is the better fit.
Is PeopleVio cheaper than greytHR? It depends on your headcount and plan. PeopleVio's published price runs from ₹59 per employee per month (₹49 billed yearly) down to ₹29 (₹25 yearly), with every module included. Compare the totals at your headcount.
How long does it take to switch from greytHR? Two to four weeks for most SMEs, including a parallel payroll month.
The bottom line
greytHR is a strong compliance-first choice, and for multi-state PT it remains one of the best. If PT isn't a factor, or you want a simpler experience and a published all-in price, compare it with the alternatives above — on one real payroll month.
See PeopleVio's pricing or book a demo.
Related reading: PeopleVio vs greytHR · greytHR vs Zoho People · greytHR vs factoHR · Best factoHR alternatives
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