Darwinbox vs Keka: HR And Payroll Compared (2026)
Darwinbox and Keka are leading Indian HR and payroll platforms.
- Verified 13 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this page
- 5 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- No winner declaredFit depends on your criteria
- Not tested by Stack18Editorial summary of documented facts
Darwinbox vs Keka: the short answer
Darwinbox and Keka are leading Indian HR and payroll platforms. Darwinbox is an enterprise HCM suite priced by quote, while Keka is aimed at SMBs and mid-size companies with reported pricing from $108 a month for 50 employees.
Darwinbox targets organisations of 1,000+ employees that need configurable HCM, performance, learning and analytics, with implementations that can take months. Keka is easier to start with for growing companies that want HR, payroll and attendance quickly.
We compare what the dated sources support and mark the rest Unknown. No winner is declared: the better fit depends on your size, budget and how you work.
Choose Darwinbox if you- Have 1,000+ employees and complex HR processes
- Need a configurable enterprise HCM with analytics
- Have an HR technology team to own configuration
Choose Keka if you- Are a startup or mid-size company scaling quickly
- Want transparent, headcount-based pricing
- Need HR and payroll running in weeks, not months
Darwinbox and Keka at a glance.
One card per product, drawn from each full profile. Open a profile for features, pricing plans, limits and sources.
Darwinbox
Darwinbox Digital Solutions · HR & Payroll Software
Darwinbox is a cloud human capital management (HCM) suite that covers core HR, recruitment, attendance, payroll, performance, engagement and learning for mid-size and large employers, priced by quote based on headcount and modules.
- Pricing
- Quote-based; third-party estimates of about $3 to $5 per employee a month.
- Best for
- Enterprises with 1,000+ employees in India and Asia
Keka
Keka Technologies · HR & Payroll Software
Keka is an HR and payroll platform built for Indian businesses, covering core HR, leave and attendance, payroll with statutory compliance (PF, ESI, TDS, PT) and performance, sold in Foundation, Strength and Growth plans.
- Pricing
- Reported from $108 a month for 50 employees (Foundation); quotes in INR by headcount.
- Best for
- Indian companies that want modern HR with compliant payroll
Darwinbox vs Keka: feature-by-feature comparison.
Every row is drawn from the two profiles and their sources. Rows that differ are marked, and you can filter the table to show only those.
- YesDocumented
- PartialAvailable with limits or on some plans
- NoDocumented as unavailable
- UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed
| Dimension |  Darwinbox |  Keka |
|---|---|---|
| Product | ||
| Core model | YesDarwinbox is a cloud human capital management (HCM) suite that covers core HR, recruitment, attendance, payroll, performance, engagement and learning for mid-size and… | YesKeka is an HR and payroll platform built for Indian businesses, covering core HR, leave and attendance, payroll with statutory compliance (PF, ESI, TDS, PT) and… |
| Product type | YesEnterprise HCM suite (SaaS) | YesHR and payroll software for India (SaaS) |
| Vendor | YesDarwinbox Digital Solutions | YesKeka Technologies |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing modelDiffers | YesCustom quote | YesPer user, seat or unit |
| Free plan | NoNo | NoNo |
| Free trialDiffers | NoNo (demo) | YesYes |
| Starting price | YesQuote-based; third-party estimates of about $3 to $5 per employee a month. | YesReported from $108 a month for 50 employees (Foundation); quotes in INR by headcount. |
| Platform and deployment | ||
| Platforms | YesWeb, iOS, Android | YesWeb, iOS, Android |
| Deployment | YesCloud (SaaS) | YesCloud (SaaS) |
| Key integrations | YesERP and finance systems (custom connectors); Single sign-on; Biometric attendance devices (reported) | YesKeka Hire (ATS); Keka PSA (projects and timesheets) |
| Fit | ||
| Team sizeDiffers | YesMid-size teams, Large enterprises | YesSmall teams, Mid-size teams |
| Best for | YesEnterprises with 1,000+ employees in India and Asia | YesIndian companies that want modern HR with compliant payroll |
| Built for India | YesYes, India-focused | YesYes, India-focused |
| AI | ||
| AI featuresDiffers | YesAI features documented on the profile | UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed |
Darwinbox vs Keka pricing.
Darwinbox pricing
Custom quote per employee per month, by headcount and modules, plus one-time implementation.
- Starting pointQuote-based; third-party estimates of about $3 to $5 per employee a month.
- Free planNo
- Free trialNo (demo)
From the Darwinbox profile. Checked 13 Nov 2026.
All Darwinbox plans and sources
Keka pricing
Per user, seat or unit
- Starting pointReported from $108 a month for 50 employees (Foundation); quotes in INR by headcount.
- Free planNo
- Free trialYes
From the Keka profile. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
All Keka plans and sourcesDarwinbox does not publish pricing; third-party estimates suggest about $3 to $5 per employee a month plus $5,000 to $50,000 implementation. Keka is reported from $108 a month for 50 employees on its Foundation plan, quoted in INR by headcount. For smaller headcounts, Keka is likely cheaper and faster to deploy.
List prices rarely tell the whole story. Check minimum terms, user or volume minimums, add-ons and taxes such as GST before comparing totals.
Prices and plans change. Confirm current terms with each vendor before you decide.
Darwinbox vs Keka: implementation, ecosystem, AI and security.
Ease of implementation and trials
We did not test setup or migration for either product. Darwinbox free trial: No (demo). Keka free trial: Yes. Pilot one real process in each before committing.
Integrations and ecosystem
Darwinbox: ERP and finance systems (custom connectors); Single sign-on; Biometric attendance devices (reported). Keka: Keka Hire (ATS); Keka PSA (projects and timesheets). Check each integration directory for the tools you actually use.
AI capabilities
Darwinbox documents AI features on its profile. Keka does not document AI features in the sources reviewed. We did not test output quality, so run both against a real task before treating AI as a deciding factor.
Deployment, security and administration
Darwinbox runs as cloud (SaaS); Keka runs as cloud (SaaS). We did not review certifications or data residency in detail. Request current security documentation from both vendors if you are regulated.
Darwinbox and Keka: each option, in balance.
Darwinbox
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Covers hire to retire, including India statutory payroll, in one suite.
- Mobile-first self-service suits distributed and frontline workforces.
- Per-employee cost reportedly falls at higher headcounts.
- AI analytics such as attrition prediction are included in the platform.
- No published pricing or free trial.
- Implementation can take three to six months for enterprises.
- Best results need an internal HR technology team for configuration.
- Some reviewers report support delays during peak onboarding.
Keka
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Statutory payroll with PF, ESI, TDS, professional tax and gratuity is on the entry plan.
- Strength adds geo-fencing, selfie clock-in and SSO.
- A free trial is available.
- Prices are quoted by headcount and not published in INR.
- Performance management needs the Growth plan.
- Hiring and project tools are separate products.
- There is no permanent free plan.
Darwinbox or Keka: which fits which situation?
No overall winner is declared. The better choice depends on the criteria that matter most to you, so test both against your own requirements.
Choose Darwinbox if you…
- Have 1,000+ employees and complex HR processes
- Need a configurable enterprise HCM with analytics
- Have an HR technology team to own configuration
Choose Keka if you…
- Are a startup or mid-size company scaling quickly
- Want transparent, headcount-based pricing
- Need HR and payroll running in weeks, not months
Switching between Darwinbox and Keka.
Moving HR systems means migrating employee master data, payroll history, leave balances and approval structures. Run payroll in parallel for at least one cycle before switching.
- Export a sample of your data and test an import into the other product.
- List the automations, integrations and permissions you would need to rebuild.
- Pilot with one team before a full cut-over.
- Check contract terms and notice periods with both vendors.
General guidance, not specific to either vendor. Confirm migration options with the vendors.
Darwinbox vs Keka: questions and answers
What is the difference between Darwinbox and Keka?
Darwinbox and Keka are leading Indian HR and payroll platforms. Darwinbox is an enterprise HCM suite priced by quote, while Keka is aimed at SMBs and mid-size companies with reported pricing from $108 a month for 50 employees. Darwinbox targets organisations of 1,000+ employees that need configurable HCM, performance, learning and analytics, with implementations that can take months.
Is Darwinbox or Keka better for small companies?
Keka is designed for SMBs and mid-size firms and publishes headcount-based pricing. Darwinbox is aimed at large enterprises with quote-based pricing.
Do both handle Indian payroll?
Yes. Both cover Indian statutory payroll such as PF, ESI, PT and TDS.
How long does implementation take?
Darwinbox enterprise rollouts are reported at three to six months. Keka is generally faster for smaller organisations; confirm timelines with each vendor.
Which is better for small businesses, Darwinbox or Keka?
Darwinbox is documented for mid-size teams, large enterprises; Keka for small teams, mid-size teams. Choose Darwinbox if you have 1,000+ employees and complex HR processes; choose Keka if you are a startup or mid-size company scaling quickly.
What are the alternatives to Darwinbox and Keka?
Both are listed in Stack18’s HR & Payroll Software directory. See the Darwinbox alternatives guide and the Keka alternatives guide for sourced shortlists of competitors.
Where this comparison comes from.
- Darwinbox Pricing, Features & the Asanify Alternative (2026) Asanify Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Darwinbox Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 Capterra Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- What impacts HR software pricing? Darwinbox Official Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Keka pricing in India IT for SME (reseller) Third-party Accessed 10 Nov 2026
- Keka Pricing Toolradar Third-party Accessed 10 Nov 2026
Comparison rows summarise the sources listed and the two profiles. Confirm current details with each vendor. Stack18 has not tested either product.
Ready to test Darwinbox and Keka?
Check each vendor's current pricing and terms, run both against a real scenario from your business, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf software is not the answer.
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