Zoho People vs. Keka vs. greytHR — Which HRMS Is Right for You?

Choosing the right HRMS (Human Resource Management System) is a strategic decision — especially in India, where compliance, payroll complexity, and workforce management can be challenging. Three of the most popular HRMS platforms are Zoho People, Keka, and greytHR. Each offers distinct advantages, depending on the size of your company, your HR priorities, and your budget. Here’s a detailed comparison to help you decide.

1. Overview and Positioning

Zoho People is part of the globally popular Zoho ecosystem. It integrates smoothly with Zoho’s other products (CRM, Projects, Books), making it a natural choice for businesses already using Zoho tools.
Keka is a Hyderabad-based HRMS focused on Indian SMEs and startups. It stands out for its modern interface, full payroll module, and deep customization.
greytHR is a veteran in India’s HR tech space, renowned for its strong compliance capabilities, especially payroll, leave, attendance, and statutory reporting.

2. Feature Comparison

Here’s how they stack up across key HR functions:

Core HR & Employee Database

Zoho People: Highly flexible, with custom fields, good document management, and a clean structure.
Keka: User-friendly profile management and centralized employee data.
greytHR: Detailed employee master records, with strong support for statutory data.

Attendance & Leave

Zoho People: GPS-based check-ins, IP restrictions, and strong leave policy flexibility.
Keka: Biometric, web, and mobile attendance with real-time sync; leave policies are very configurable.
greytHR: Traditional attendance and leave module, with multi-level approval workflow and holiday lists.

Payroll

Zoho People: Payroll is not built-in by default — you need Zoho Payroll or integrate separately.
Keka: Fully integrated payroll, built for Indian statutory deductions (PF, ESI, TDS).
greytHR: One of its strongest points — automated payroll, statutory compliance, and strong report generation.

Performance Management

Zoho People: Supports goal setting, performance reviews, 360° feedback, and appraisal cycles.
Keka: Very strong PMS module — OKRs, 1:1s, review cycles, and continuous feedback.
greytHR: More limited; good for basic evaluation, but lacks advanced performance modules compared to Keka or Zoho.

Workflow Customisation

Zoho People: Highly customizable workflows, automation rules, and approval routing.
Keka: Role-based workflows, approval hierarchies, and flexible HR process flows.
greytHR: Workflow support is present but more limited compared to the other two, especially for non-payroll / non-leave tasks.

Compliance & Statutory

Zoho People: Compliance is moderate; payroll module (Zoho Payroll) handles statutes but is separate.
Keka: Strong compliance automation — PF, ESI, and TDS built into payroll.
greytHR: Very compliance-focused — supports Indian labour laws, statutory reports, and auto compliance updates.

3. Pricing

Zoho People: According to its plan comparison, pricing starts at ₹42/user/month for Essential HR (billed annually) and goes up to ₹167/user/month for enterprise plans.
Keka: Their pricing is based on a flat monthly fee — for example, ₹6,999/month for up to 100 users (depending on plan).
greytHR: Starts around ₹3,495/month for 50 employees in its “Essential” plan.

4. User Interface & Experience

Zoho People: Clean, minimal, and intuitive. Works well especially if your company uses other Zoho tools.
Keka: Known for its excellent UI/UX — visually appealing, easy to navigate, andemployee-friendly.
greytHR: More functional than flashy. UI may feel a bit dated but is straightforward and reliable.

5. Integration Capabilities

Zoho People: Integrates strongly with Zoho’s suite (CRM, Books, Projects), as well as third-party tools like Slack, G Suite, and Zapier.
Keka: Integrates with biometric devices, accounting tools (like Tally), and popular ERPs. APIs available.
greytHR: Limited open API integration; works with biometric systems and basic accounting tools but is not as extensible as Zoho People.

6. Support, Onboarding & Training

Zoho People: Offers help center documentation, live chat, webinars; plus the benefit of Zoho’s global support network.
Keka: Dedicated onboarding, customer success, and real-time support. Detailed tutorials and documentation.
greytHR: Localised support (email, phone), help centre, video guides, and a customer success team.

7. Who Should Use Which?

Here are some ideal use-cases based on business needs:

Zoho People: Best for startups and SMEs already in the Zoho ecosystem or looking for a flexible, modular HRMS.
Keka: A great pick for growing Indian startups and mid-sized companies that want a modern UX, strong performance management, and payroll.
greytHR: Suited for SMEs with heavy compliance needs, or businesses focused on payroll automation with statutory accuracy.

8. Pros and Cons (Summary)

Zoho People

✅ Strengths: Integration with Zoho suite, flexible workflows, performance modules
❌ Drawbacks: Payroll is separate, customization requires some technical effort

Keka

✅ Strengths: Excellent UI/UX, full payroll + performance + attendance, modern design
❌ Drawbacks: Higher monthly cost, no free plan

greytHR

✅ Strengths: Strong compliance, payroll accuracy, cost-effective for small teams
❌ Drawbacks: Basic UI, limited performance/engagement tools

Conclusion

Zoho People, Keka, and greytHR are all strong HRMS options, but they cater to different business priorities:

Choose Zoho People if you want a modular system that integrates well with other SaaS tools.
Go for Keka if user experience, performance management, and payroll automation are your top priorities.
Opt for greytHR if cost, compliance, and reliable payroll are your biggest concerns.

Ultimately, the right HRMS for your business depends on your team size, budget, and what HR workflows you want to automate first. Evaluate all three based on a demo, trial, and your real user needs — and pick the one that aligns best with your long-term HR goals.