2026 Comparison

Best Keka Alternatives in India

Top 7 Keka Alternatives in India 2026 Compared Head to Head

factoHR India leads the list, followed by 6 strong Indian HRMS options. Compared on pricing, PF and ESI compliance, payroll depth, mobile, and support. Backed by factoHR.

4,000+ Indian businesses G2 rating 4.7 of 5 Quick setup
factohr-india.in/vs/keka
Side-by-Side
FH

factoHR India

Editor’s Pick
Starting Price Custom INR
PF, ESI, PT, LWF All 28 states
TDS & Form 16 Native, 24Q ready
Mobile App iOS + Android, 4.1
Customer Support 5.0 / 5 dedicated
Onboarding Guided, quick setup
K

Keka HR

For Reference
Starting Price Rs 9,999 to 15,999/mo
PF, ESI, PT, LWF Major states only
TDS & Form 16 Native, basic
Mobile App iOS + Android, 3.8
Customer Support Mixed 2025 reviews
Onboarding Longer cycle
factoHR India delivers deeper India compliance, faster go-live, and dedicated support for the same or lower spend as Keka.
Common Pain Points

Why Indian companies switch from Keka in 2026

Most teams stay on Keka for the modern UI. They leave for pricing creep, India compliance gaps, and inconsistent support. Three reasons surface in nearly every G2 and Capterra review thread.

Rs 15,999

Keka top tier

flat monthly fee per company

Longer

Onboarding on Keka

multi-week cycle vs guided setup

3.8 / 5

Keka mobile rating

across iOS and Android

4 of 6

Buyers re-evaluate

after 18 months on Keka

Pricing Creeps Up Fast

Per-module add-ons stack quickly

Premium support is a paid tier

No transparent INR per-employee plan

India Compliance Gaps

LWF support limited to top states

PT slabs not pre-loaded for all 19 states

Sandwich leave and comp-off need manual setup

Support SLA Slipping

2025 G2 reviews flag slow response times

Ticket-based instead of named account manager

Live chat closed outside business hours

At a Glance

7 Keka alternatives compared side by side

Quick snapshot of best-for segment, India pricing, mobile rating, and headline strength. Use this to shortlist before deep diving below.

Rank Software Best For India Pricing Headline Strength G2 Rating
#1 factoHR India SMB to enterprise full HRMS Custom INR Deepest India compliance + payroll sync 4.7
#2 greytHR SMB payroll-led adoption Rs 3,495 to 7,495/mo 150+ reports, mature SMB base 4.4
#3 HROne Mid-market HRMS bundle Rs 4,499 to 8,999/mo Strong onboarding and ATS 4.8
#4 Zoho People Existing Zoho stack users Rs 132 to 441/user/mo Native Zoho One integration 4.4
#5 Darwinbox Large enterprise multi-entity Custom enterprise Enterprise HCM depth 4.4
#6 Zimyo SMB low-cost HRMS Rs 60/employee/mo 40+ modules at low spend 4.6
#7 Pocket HRMS Mobile-first field teams Custom WhatsApp payslips, mobile UX 4.2
Editor’s Pick

Why factoHR India is the best Keka alternative

factoHR India runs payroll, attendance, leave, performance, recruitment, and onboarding from one HRMS built for Indian compliance. Used by 4,000+ Indian businesses with a dedicated account manager from Day 1.

Full India Compliance

PF, ESI, PT (all 19 states), TDS, LWF, Form 16, ECR, and 24Q output ready out of the box.

Quick Guided Setup

Migrate from Keka with guided data import, parallel payroll cycle support, and a dedicated specialist.

Dedicated Account Manager

Named onboarding specialist plus 5.0 customer support rating. No ticket queues, no chatbot loops.

Unified HRMS Stack

Payroll, attendance, leave, performance, recruitment, onboarding, ESS, expense, and timesheet in one platform.

Mobile-First Experience

iOS and Android apps rated 4.1 with offline mode, biometric punch, and WhatsApp payslip delivery.

Predictable INR Pricing

Custom INR pricing by headcount with no surprise per-module fees and no support tier upsell.

Migrate from Keka with guided support.

Dedicated migration specialist, guided data import, and parallel payroll cycle support.

Talk to a Migration Expert
Head to Head

factoHR India vs Keka, feature by feature

40 features audited across payroll, compliance, talent, and support. Built from real product documentation and verified G2 review patterns.

Feature factoHR India Keka HR
PAYROLL
Multi-state PF compliance
ESI auto-deduction across 28 states
Professional Tax for all 19 states
LWF auto-deduction state-wise
TDS auto-calculation with regime switch
Form 16 Part A and B generation
Form 24Q quarterly output
ECR file generation for EPFO
Bank advice file for 20+ Indian banks
Multi-entity payroll consolidation
LEAVE & ATTENDANCE
Sandwich leave toggle
Comp-off accrual with expiry
State-wise Shops Act leave rules
Biometric integration (ZKTeco, eSSL, Matrix)
GPS and geo-fenced attendance
Shift roster with auto-allocation
TALENT
Performance management with OKRs and KRAs
360-degree feedback workflow
9-box grid and talent calibration
ATS with native Naukri integration
BGV vendor API (AuthBridge, IDfy, OnGrid)
Bulk offer letter for campus hiring
Onboarding workflow with EPF UAN and Form 11
ESS & EXPERIENCE
Mobile-first ESS (iOS and Android)
WhatsApp payslip delivery
IT declaration with proof upload
Reimbursement with bill OCR
Hindi and regional language UI
SUPPORT & SUCCESS
Dedicated named account manager
Guided quick setup with specialist
Parallel payroll cycle during migration
India-based phone support
Customer support rating 5.0 / 5
Full support Partial / add-on Not available
Strong Alternates

6 other Keka alternatives worth considering

Different priorities call for different tools. Here are six well-rated Indian HRMS options that compete with Keka on payroll, talent, or ecosystem fit.

#2

greytHR

G2 4.4

Mature SMB payroll plus HR

Pros

Strong PF, ESI, PT compliance
Mature SMB workflow
Flat tier pricing

Watch Outs

Customisation needs paid support
Limited performance management depth
Pricing Rs 3,495 to 7,495/mo
Best For SMB and mid-market with standard policies
#3

HROne

G2 4.8

Mid-market HRMS bundle

Pros

Strong onboarding and ATS modules
Solid state-wise compliance
Good mobile experience

Watch Outs

Pricing climbs with modules
Some advanced reports gated to enterprise
Pricing Rs 4,499 to 8,999/mo
Best For Mid-market 100 to 1,000 employees
#4

Zoho People

G2 4.4

Native Zoho One stack integration

Pros

Affordable per-user pricing
Tight Zoho CRM and Mail integration
Multilingual interface

Watch Outs

India compliance needs custom scripts
State-wise leave rules need workflow setup
Pricing Rs 132 to 441/user/mo
Best For Existing Zoho stack users
#5

Darwinbox

G2 4.4

Enterprise HCM with global reach

Pros

Enterprise-grade depth
Multi-entity and multi-country support
Strong analytics

Watch Outs

Enterprise pricing only
Long implementation cycle
Overbuilt for SMB
Pricing Custom enterprise
Best For Large enterprises 2,000+ employees
#6

Zimyo

G2 4.6

Low-cost Indian HRMS bundle

Pros

40+ modules at low per-user price
Quick implementation
India SMB focused

Watch Outs

ATS depth is moderate
BGV needs separate vendor
Pricing Rs 60/employee/mo
Best For SMBs wanting wide module coverage
#7

Pocket HRMS

G2 4.2

Mobile-first AI HRMS

Pros

Strong mobile UX
AI insights and WhatsApp payslips
Good for field-heavy teams

Watch Outs

Desktop experience secondary
Reporting depth is moderate
Pricing Custom
Best For Field-heavy industries and SMBs
3-Year TCO

Pricing comparison and 3-year total cost

Indicative INR cost for a 200-employee Indian company across base licence, support tier, and typical add-ons. Verify with each vendor in writing before signing.

Vendor Base Year 1 Typical Add-ons Indicative 3-Year TCO
factoHR India Custom INR (bundled) Included in plan Predictable, no hidden fees
Keka HR Rs 1.2 to 1.9 lakh Premium support tier extra Rs 4.5 to 7.5 lakh
greytHR Rs 42K to 90K Recruit and PMS add-on Rs 1.8 to 3.5 lakh
HROne Rs 54K to 1 lakh Enterprise modules Rs 2.5 to 4 lakh
Zoho People Rs 3.2 to 10.5 lakh Zoho Recruit, custom workflows Rs 10 to 32 lakh
Darwinbox Rs 8 to 15 lakh+ Implementation fee 2 to 4 lakh Rs 30 to 60 lakh
Zimyo Rs 1.4 lakh Premium support Rs 4.5 to 5.5 lakh
Pocket HRMS Custom AI module add-on Custom by config
Pricing reflects publicly available data and typical Indian buyer scenarios for 200 employees. Always request a formal quote and total-cost worksheet before purchase.
India Compliance

India compliance scorecard across all 7 alternatives

PF, ESI, PT, TDS, and LWF coverage audited per vendor. Use this matrix to spot real India compliance depth versus marketing claims.

Vendor PF / EPF ESI PT 19 states TDS / 24Q LWF
factoHR India
Keka HR
greytHR
HROne
Zoho People
Darwinbox
Zimyo
Pocket HRMS
Migration Steps

How to move from Keka to factoHR India

A guided four-step migration path. Parallel payroll cycle during transition keeps employees paid on time and compliance unbroken.

Step 1

Discovery and Data Audit

Kick-off with dedicated account manager
Audit current Keka export files
Map salary structures, policies, and entities
Step 2

Configuration and Setup

Import employee master data
Configure leave, attendance, and payroll
Set up state-wise PT, ESI, and PF rules
Step 3

Parallel Payroll and UAT

Run parallel payroll on both systems
Validate salary, TDS, and ECR output
Train HR team and line managers
Step 4

Go-Live and Handover

Full cutover to factoHR India
Roll out ESS to all employees
Reconcile and decommission Keka

Timelines depend on employee count, number of entities, and policy complexity. Your dedicated migration specialist gives a custom plan after the discovery call.

Decision Matrix

Which Keka alternative fits your team?

Pick by company size, primary need, and stack fit. Most Indian buyers narrow to two finalists, then decide on demo experience and support.

If you are

SMB seeking deep India compliance

Top pick

factoHR India

Full PF, ESI, PT, LWF coverage with dedicated account manager and live in 5 days.

If you are

Already invested in Zoho One

Top pick

Zoho People

Ecosystem integration with Zoho CRM, Books, and Mail keeps stack consistent.

If you are

Large enterprise multi-entity

Top pick

factoHR India or Darwinbox

factoHR India for India-first depth, Darwinbox for global HCM enterprise scale.

If you are

Mid-market wanting onboarding plus ATS

Top pick

HROne

Bundled recruitment, onboarding, and HR in one mid-market suite.

If you are

Field-heavy mobile-first team

Top pick

Pocket HRMS or factoHR India

Strong mobile experience with WhatsApp payslips and offline-capable apps.

If you are

Tight budget under Rs 1.5 lakh a year

Top pick

Zimyo or greytHR

Low per-user pricing with usable HRMS depth for SMB.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Real questions Indian buyers ask before switching from Keka. Click any to expand.

Why do Indian companies look for Keka alternatives in 2026?

Most Indian buyers leave Keka for three reasons: per-module pricing creep on renewal, partial India compliance for LWF and state-wise Professional Tax, and inconsistent support response times flagged in 2025 G2 reviews. factoHR India and greytHR are the most commonly evaluated replacements.

Which Keka alternative has the best India compliance?

factoHR India leads on India compliance depth. It covers PF and ESI across all 28 states, Professional Tax in all 19 states with slabs, LWF auto-deduction state-wise, TDS with Form 24Q output, and Form 16 generation supported through configurable rules.

How much does Keka cost in India and what is the cheaper alternative?

Keka pricing runs Rs 9,999 to Rs 15,999 per month flat by employee tier. Cheaper alternatives include greytHR (Rs 3,495 to 7,495 per month), Zimyo (Rs 60 per employee per month), and Zoho People (Rs 132 to 441 per user per month). factoHR India offers custom INR pricing typically competitive with Keka.

How does migration from Keka to factoHR India work?

factoHR India provides a dedicated migration specialist, guided data import from Keka exports, and a parallel payroll cycle so HR teams can validate output side by side before full cutover. The exact timeline depends on entity count, employee volume, and policy complexity.

Does the Keka alternative support multi-state PF, ESI, and PT in India?

factoHR India, Darwinbox, and HROne offer full multi-state PF and ESI compliance with state-wise Professional Tax for all 19 states. greytHR supports most states for PT. Zoho People and BambooHR need custom workflow setup for multi-state PT slabs.

What is the difference between Keka and factoHR India?

factoHR India is a unified HRMS with deeper India compliance (LWF, PT all 19 states), guided quick setup, dedicated account manager, and predictable INR pricing. Keka offers a modern interface and strong payroll core for mid-market buyers willing to absorb add-on costs.

Which Keka alternative is best for enterprises in India?

Enterprises typically evaluate factoHR India and Darwinbox. factoHR India fits Indian enterprises wanting deep compliance and a dedicated success team. Darwinbox suits global Indian enterprises needing multi-country HCM and large analytics depth.

Can I run parallel payroll on Keka and the new HRMS during migration?

Yes. factoHR India supports a parallel payroll cycle for 30 to 60 days so the HR team can validate salary, TDS, and ECR output before full cutover. Most migrations include at least one full parallel cycle to confirm zero variance.

Still have questions?

Talk to an HRMS expert about your Keka migration scenario.

Contact Sales
Ready to switch?

Make the switch from Keka to factoHR India today

Get a personalised migration plan, transparent INR pricing, and a dedicated account manager from Day 1. Backed by factoHR.

4,000+ Indian businesses G2 4.7 of 5 Quick guided setup