Searching for the best HR software in India in 2026 returns a lot of options. Most comparison articles rank platforms by feature count, which isn't how anyone actually picks HR software. What matters is whether the platform handles your specific payroll structure, automates the compliance filings your team is responsible for, and can be set up without a 3-month project.
This comparison covers four platforms that come up most often in conversations with Indian HR teams: Keka, Zoho People, Darwinbox, and MedleyHR. The goal isn't to declare a winner — each has a different target customer — but to give you enough context to know which one fits your situation.
What We're Comparing
For each platform, we'll look at: who it's built for, how India compliance (PF, ESI, TDS, Form 16) is handled, what pricing looks like in practice, how long setup takes, and where the platform struggles.
Keka
Keka is probably the most talked-about HR software in the Indian mid-market. It has a clean interface, strong payroll capabilities, and a well-built mobile app for employees. The India compliance layer is solid — PF, ESI, TDS, and Form 16 are all handled.
Who it's built for
Keka is best suited for companies with 50–500 employees that have a dedicated HR team. The platform has enough depth to handle complex payroll structures, but that depth also means the setup process isn't trivial. Most Keka customers go through an onboarding process with their implementation team.
Pricing
Keka uses per-employee-per-month pricing. The Foundation plan starts at around ₹6,999/month for up to 100 employees. For smaller teams of 20–30 employees, this makes it more expensive per employee than most alternatives. Pricing is not publicly listed for all tiers — you'll need to request a quote for higher plans.
Where it struggles
For small teams — under 30 employees — Keka's pricing and setup overhead can be disproportionate to the need. The free plan is limited, and the minimum viable paid configuration is a meaningful investment. It's also less self-serve than it appears — most customers use an implementation manager for initial configuration.
Zoho People
Zoho People is the HR module within the Zoho ecosystem. If your business already uses Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, or other Zoho products, there's obvious integration value. It covers the standard HR features — leave, attendance, appraisals — at a low per-employee cost.
Who it's built for
Zoho People works well for companies already in the Zoho ecosystem who need HR features at a low per-seat cost. It's also a reasonable choice for companies where payroll is handled separately (by an accountant or payroll service) and who need only the HR operations side — leaves, attendance, appraisals.
Pricing
Zoho People starts at around ₹48 per employee per month for the Essential plan, making it one of the more affordable options on a per-seat basis. But the payroll module is separate — Zoho Payroll — and has different pricing. The combined cost for a 25-person team can be higher than it appears at first.
Where it struggles
Zoho People's India payroll compliance is thinner than dedicated payroll platforms. If your team needs PF, ESI, and TDS handled precisely — especially with edge cases like mid-year joins, LOP adjustments, or arrears — Zoho Payroll requires more manual verification than Keka or MedleyHR. The two-product split (People + Payroll) also creates configuration complexity.
Darwinbox
Darwinbox is an enterprise-grade HRMS that has positioned itself at the large company end of the market. It's used by several well-known Indian enterprises and handles complex org structures, multi-country payroll, and enterprise integrations. The platform is comprehensive.
Who it's built for
Darwinbox is built for companies with 500+ employees that have dedicated HR and IT teams. The depth and configurability that makes it suitable for large enterprises also makes it impractical for growing companies — the implementation process is substantial, and pricing reflects the enterprise target.
Pricing
Darwinbox does not publish pricing. Contracts are custom-negotiated and typically involve annual commitments. For most companies under 200 employees, the sales and implementation process alone disqualifies it as a practical choice.
Where it struggles
The complexity that serves large enterprises works against smaller teams. Configuration requires dedicated IT involvement. Implementation takes months. And the pricing conversation starts at a level that most sub-200-employee companies shouldn't be spending on HR software.
MedleyHR
MedleyHR is a self-serve HRMS built specifically for India-first compliance. The platform handles PF, ESI, TDS, PT, and Form 16 natively — meaning the compliance layer is built into payroll, not added on. The emphasis is on setup speed and the ability to run payroll without a consultant.
Who it's built for
MedleyHR works best for companies between 5 and 200 employees that want to own their HR operations without depending on an external consultant or a large implementation project. It's also a strong fit for HR managers at growing companies who want a system they can configure themselves and hand off to the team.
Pricing
MedleyHR uses a flat-base pricing model. The free plan covers up to 10 employees with payslip generation, leave management, and employee self-service. The Growth plan is ₹1,999/month with 25 employees included (₹80 per additional employee above that). The Scale plan is ₹3,999/month with 40 employees included (₹100 per additional). No setup fee, no implementation cost, no annual contract required.
Where it struggles
For companies with 300+ employees and complex enterprise integration requirements — SAP, Workday, custom ERP systems — MedleyHR may not have the integration depth required. It's also newer than Keka or Darwinbox, which means the breadth of integrations is still expanding.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Keka | Zoho People | Darwinbox | MedleyHR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target size | 50–500 | 20–200 | 500+ | 5–200 |
| India compliance | Native | Separate module | Native | Native |
| Self-serve setup | Partial | Yes | No | Yes |
| Free plan | No | No | No | Yes (10 emp) |
| Starting price | ₹6,999/mo | ₹48/emp/mo | Custom | ₹1,999/mo |
| Pricing model | Per employee | Per employee | Custom | Flat base + overage |
| Published pricing | Partial | Yes | No | Yes |
| Setup time | Weeks | Days | Months | Hours |
How to Choose
The right platform depends on where your company is and what you need:
- Under 50 employees, want to set it up yourself: MedleyHR. The free plan covers teams up to 10, and the Growth plan is the most cost-effective option at this size.
- 50–200 employees with a dedicated HR team and budget for onboarding: Keka. More features, stronger mobile experience, well-established in the Indian market.
- Already using Zoho products and only need HR ops (not payroll): Zoho People. The integration is genuinely useful if the rest of your stack is already Zoho.
- 300+ employees with complex org structures and IT resources: Darwinbox. Built for enterprise, priced for enterprise.
MedleyHR is free for up to 10 employees — no credit card, no setup fee. Sign up and run your first payroll to see how it fits before committing to anything. Start free →