
Best HR software for startups and SMBs In India
Describing the life of an HR professional in an expanding startup is both fulfilling and challenging. Typically, when an individual assumes the role of head of department or begins to establish an HR unit, they often have multiple responsibilities to manage. The best part? The appropriate HR software can reduce your manual responsibilities, streamline the processes of dealing with employees, and build a more engaged, high-performing team. The focus of this article is to study the best HR software for startups. These instruments serve to automate current puzzling functions of HR management and assist the business in its growth milestones instead of hindering it.
What is HR software for startups?
Specialized software for Human Resources handles automation for smaller enterprises when it comes to recruitment, payroll, employee engagement, and performance evaluations. Such systems assist with data centralization, task automation, and facilitate HR teams during periods of growth.
Features to look for in startup HR software
The right HR software provides a great liftoff for your startup’s growth. To maximize efficiency and scalability, look for features that can make a difference in day-to-day operations.
1. Time and attendance tracking
The features of attendance management systems automate time capture, approval workflows for paid time off (PTO), and sick leave. More sophisticated systems can self-correct for varying time zones and working hours.
Most systems give you reports with valuable historical data regarding time taken off and current balances in current and previous cycles. This ensures accuracy and fairness regarding time-keeping and reduces administrative work for HR teams.
2. Performance management systems
Performance management functionality enables people and businesses to learn, grow, and develop for the better. Ensure you can set goals, schedule 360 reviews, create personalized development plans, and use custom performance templates for the review exercises.
Use your HR system to enable continuous conversation, rather than performance management being an annual event.
3. Onboarding management system
Onboarding Management System is a digital solution designed to streamline and automate the process of integrating new employees into an organization. From sending welcome emails and collecting documents to assigning training and tracking progress, it helps HR teams provide a consistent, efficient, and engaging onboarding experience.
4. Employee Self-Service portal
Search for a comprehensive self-service portal that aligns with your organization's payroll, benefits, and performance management systems so your employees do not have to visit multiple locations. Through employee self-service, your staff can update personal details, initiate leave requests, and communicate interoffice without needing HR support. Your people can be relied upon and have control over their activities, and your HR professionals can target business transformations in workforce optimization, such as talent management or succession planning.
5. Payroll management
The finest payroll system not only ensures payment accuracy; it also takes care of sophisticated tasks such as handling multi-jurisdictional tax laws, currency payments, and differing compensation payments. Integrating the payroll system into the HR software provides streamlined workflows, reduces the risks of payroll errors, saves time, and ensures compliance guarantees.
Best HR Software For Startups & SMBs In India
In recent years, HR software in India has witnessed a massive surge in adoption as businesses realize the need to automate time-consuming HR tasks and improve overall productivity. What was once limited to basic payroll processing or attendance tracking has now evolved into full-fledged AI-powered HRMS platforms that streamline every aspect of human resource management, from recruitment and onboarding to performance management and employee engagement.
With a growing number of HRMS solutions available in the Indian market, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve curated a list of the top 5 HR software For Startups that stand out in terms of features, scalability, user-friendliness, and customer support.
GreytHR
SumHR
ZingHR
Keka
EasyHR
Launched: 2013 Founder: Kanhai Chhugani
A lot of businesses track employee leaves and manage payroll on an Excel spreadsheet, making it unreliable and error-prone, and end up being a clerical job instead of an engaging one. EasyHR helps your Organization's HR team automate the mundane tasks and bring the focus back to your business and your employees. EasyHR offers an end-to-end HR solution to cover every aspect of the HR function.
EasyHR Features:
Onboarding and Exit Management
Document Generation and Management
Tasks and Daily Tasks reporting
Payroll Management
Attendance Management System
Employee self-service portal
Web and Mobile Clock-in/Clock-out
Helpdesk
Payroll Statutory compliance
Geo tracking / Geo Fencing / Geolocation
Claims / Expense Management
Work from Home
Performance Management
Recruitment
Timesheet
Rewards & Recognition
Training
Loans & Advances
Survey
Travel and Outdoor Management
Asset Management
Central Employee Directory
Biometric Integration
Mobile App
Pricing: EasyHR offers multiple plans based on your requirements and module selection. Plans start with INR 2499/month.
GreytHR
Launched: 1994
Founder(s): Girish Rowjee and Sayeed Anjum
About: An oldie on our list of best HR software – GreytHR. Greytip provides complete lifecycle management of an employee including management of his or her information, leave, attendance, headcount analysis, and payroll processing, as a solution on its platform. Focusing on small and medium enterprises, the company states to be helping only the technology side of the business, through its product GreytHR.
GreytHR has served over 3000 customers spread across 60+ cities and is used by 8 lac employees.
GreytHR Features:
Core HR Management
Payroll Management
Leave Management
Tasks and checklists
PayNow
Employee Self-Service Portal
Employee Self-onboarding
Attendance Management
Expense Claims Management
Multi-company Support
Geo Mark+
Pricing: GreytHR offers four pricing plans for you to choose from, starting at INR 995/month + INR 15/month per employee.
SumHR
Launched: 2013
Founder(s): Jay Thaker and Waqar Azmi
About: SumHR is another HRMS provider that aims to help startups and SMEs streamline HR & Payroll processes. It aims to challenge the perception of human resource management by making the lives of HR professionals easier by automating mundane tasks.
SumHR provides a modern cloud-based HR software that reduces paperwork, increases employee productivity and allows your HR team to help your organization reach its goals.
SumHR Features:
Attendance Monitoring
Leaves Tracking
Biometrics Integrations
Payroll Automation
Project Timesheets
Enterprise Social Network
Onboarding/Exit Checklists
HR Helpdesk
Performance Management
Document Management
Recruitment Management
Pricing: Minimum subscription of INR 2999 + INR 49 per employee per product.
ZingHR
Launched: 1999
Founder(s): Prasad Rajappan
About: One of the oldest HRM providers, ZingHR has constantly updated its technological prowess to deliver a modern and complete HR solution that is used by over 5 lac employees in over 500 companies.
ZingHR adopts an employee-centric, mobile-first approach covering the entire spectrum from employee recruitment to employee exit. From startups to medium-sized businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises, a cross-section of industries chooses ZingHR to deliver business strategy alignment, team execution, and maximum people performance.
ZingHR Features:
Employee Self Service Portal
Employee Data Management
Leave Management Platform
Claims Management
Salary Structure Configuration
Investment Declaration Workflow
Payroll Processing
Full & Final Settlement Engine
Statutory Compliance Engine
Reports Engine
JV Outputs for Finance
Onboarding & Appointment Letters
Time, Attendance & Leave Management System
Attendance Reports & Dashboards
Recruitment Process with Standard Workflows
e-Separation with Standard Workflows
Lifecycle Changes with Standard Workflows
Performance Management & Appraisal
Pricing: ZingHR offers four pricing plans starting at INR 7250 for up to 50 employees.
Keka
Launched: 2016
Founder(s): Vijay Yalamanchili and Sashi Pagadala
About: Keka is on a mission to improve the employee experience for employers across India. Frustrated with age-old, clunky and boring interfaces of HR software, the founders set out to create a modern HRMS that delivers a better experience.
Within the year of its launch in 2016, Keka had over 400 customers across India using their product to streamline HR & Payroll workflows.
Keka Features:
Payroll Management
HRMS
Employee Portal (Self Service)
Leave Management
Employee Onboarding & Exit
ToDo – Task Management
Polls & Announcements
Attendance Tracking
Attendance Rules
GPS Attendance Tracking
Expense Claims
Asset Management
API Access (Beta)
Pricing: Keka offers 3 pricing plans starting at INR 4999/month up to 100 employees + INR 30 per additional employee.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best HR software for startups depends on your organization’s size, budget, and unique HR needs. Whether you're a startup or a large enterprise, automating HR operations using a reliable HRMS platform can save time, reduce errors, and improve employee satisfaction.
📢 Ready to streamline your HR operations? 👉 Explore EasyHR – Book a Free Demo today at www.easyhrworld.com
Check out the list for the Top 5 Best HR Software in 2024
Check out the list for the Top 5 Best HR Software in 2025