Software profile

Zoho Payroll

Zoho’s payroll software for India and the US, reported free for up to 10 employees in India and about INR 40 per employee a month above that.

  • Free plan
  • Free trial
  • Per user, seat or unit
  • Cloud
  • Built for India
  • Independent sources

by Zoho CorporationHR & Payroll SoftwarePayroll software (SaaS)

  • Verified 13 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this profile
  • 2 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
  • Independent third-party sourcesHow this profile was compiled
  • Not an endorsementStack18 has not tested this product
Quick answer

What is Zoho Payroll?

Zoho Payroll is a cloud payroll application from Zoho that calculates salaries, statutory deductions such as PF, ESI, PT, TDS and LWF in India, generates payslips and filings, and offers an employee portal, integrating with Zoho Books and Zoho People.

  • Best forSmall Indian businesses on Zoho Books
  • Team size fitSmall teams, Mid-size teams
  • PricingReported free up to 10 employees, then about INR 40 per employee a month.
  • Main limitationPricing figures come from a competitor and need checking.
  • AlternativesgreytHR, Keka, RazorpayX Payroll, Zoho People · compare all
Overview

Zoho Payroll overview: who it is for and what it does.

Zoho Payroll automates monthly payroll for Indian businesses, handling salary structures, reimbursements, loans, statutory deductions and challans, plus Form 16. A US edition also exists.

A 2026 pricing guide published by competitor HROne reports Zoho Payroll as free for up to 10 employees and then about INR 40 per employee a month. Confirm current pricing on Zoho’s India pricing page.

It works best for businesses already using Zoho Books or Zoho People, where payroll journals and employee data flow automatically.

Main problem it solves

Automates salary calculation and statutory compliance for small and mid-size Indian businesses.

Typical customer segment

Small and mid-size businesses in India, especially Zoho users.

Target users

  • Payroll administrators
  • Accountants posting payroll journals
  • Employees using the self-service portal

Primary use cases

  • Monthly payroll
  • PF, ESI, PT, TDS and LWF
  • Payslips and Form 16
  • Reimbursements and loans
  • Payroll accounting

What makes it distinct

  • Low per-employee price with a reported free tier.
  • Native link to Zoho Books.
  • Employee self-service portal.
Key features

Zoho Payroll features explained.

Payroll

Salary structures
Components and templates.
Statutory compliance
PF, ESI, PT, TDS, LWF (vendor).
Payslips and Form 16
Generated automatically.

Employees

Self-service portal
Payslips, declarations, proofs.
Reimbursements
Claims and approvals.
Loans and advances
Tracked through payroll.

Integrations

Zoho Books
Payroll journals.
Zoho People
Attendance and leave data.
Bank transfers
Salary payout files (vendor).
Pricing

Zoho Payroll pricing and plans.

Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 13 Nov 2026 against HROne · Zoho.

Pricing model

Per employee per month; reported free tier for small teams.

Free plan

Yes (reported up to 10 employees)

Free trial

Yes (vendor)

Zoho Payroll plans and prices (INR)

  • Free (reported)

    INR 0 up to 10 employees

    n/a

    Per competitor guide.

  • Paid

    About INR 40 per employee a month

    Monthly or annual

    Reported.

Figures come from a competitor’s 2026 pricing guide; check Zoho’s India pricing page for current plans.

Prices change. Confirm current plans and terms on the vendor's site before you decide.

Visit official website (external) ↗See alternatives
Integrations and compatibility

Zoho Payroll integrations, API and platforms.

Important integrations

  • Zoho Books
  • Zoho People
  • Zoho Expense
  • Bank salary files

Supported platforms

  • Web
  • iOS
  • Android

API

Zoho Payroll API (vendor).

Data import and export

Import employees from CSV.

Best inside the Zoho suite.

Strengths, limitations and best fit

Zoho Payroll pros and cons.

Strengths, limitations and best fit. Each point cites a source; editorial summaries are not customer reviews.

Strengths

  • Low reported per-employee price. [1]
  • Indian statutory compliance built in. [2]
  • Native Zoho Books integration. [2]
  • Employee portal included. [2]

Limitations

  • Pricing figures come from a competitor and need checking. [1]
  • Strongest within the Zoho ecosystem. [2]
  • Payroll only; HR features need Zoho People. [2]
  • Limited to supported countries. [2]

Best for

  • Small Indian businesses on Zoho Books
  • Teams wanting low-cost compliant payroll
  • Startups with under 10 employees

May be less suited to

  • Companies needing full HCM in one product
  • Multi-country payroll
How it compares

Zoho Payroll compared with similar HR & payroll software.

Summaries come from each profile. This is a side-by-side aid, not a ranking.

ProductPricing modelFree planStarting priceBest for
Zoho PayrollPer user, seat or unitYes (reported up to 10 employees)Reported free up to 10 employees, then about INR 40 per employee a month.Small Indian businesses on Zoho Books
greytHRFlat or plan-basedNoEssential ₹2,495 a month (50 employees) + ₹45 per extra employee.Indian SMEs that want affordable payroll and leave management
KekaPer user, seat or unitNoReported from $108 a month for 50 employees (Foundation); quotes in INR by headcount.Indian companies that want modern HR with compliant payroll
RazorpayX PayrollFlat or plan-basedNoPrime INR 3,499 a month for up to 20 employees.Indian startups wanting hands-off compliance
Zoho PeoplePer user, seat or unitYes (3 users)Free for up to 3 users; paid plans from $3 per user per month billed annually.Small businesses that want low-cost HR, attendance and performance tools
ADP Workforce NowCustom quoteNoQuote-based; reported median buyer spend about $16,000 a year.Mid-size US employers that want payroll, benefits and HR from one provider

Browse all HR & Payroll Software →

FAQ

Zoho Payroll questions and answers

What is Zoho Payroll used for?

Zoho Payroll is used for monthly payroll, PF, ESI, PT, TDS and LWF, payslips and Form 16 and reimbursements and loans.

Does Zoho Payroll have a free plan?

Yes. Yes (reported up to 10 employees). Free trial: Yes (vendor).

How much does Zoho Payroll cost?

Reported free up to 10 employees, then about INR 40 per employee a month. Figures come from a competitor’s 2026 pricing guide; check Zoho’s India pricing page for current plans.

What are the main alternatives to Zoho Payroll?

The main alternatives to Zoho Payroll covered on Stack18 are greytHR, Keka, RazorpayX Payroll and Zoho People. greytHR may suit Indian SMEs that want affordable payroll and leave management. Keka may suit Indian companies that want modern HR with compliant payroll. RazorpayX Payroll may suit Indian startups wanting hands-off compliance. See the Zoho Payroll alternatives guide for a side-by-side table.

What integrations does Zoho Payroll support?

Documented integrations include Zoho Books, Zoho People, Zoho Expense and Bank salary files. API: Zoho Payroll API (vendor).

What are the limitations of Zoho Payroll?

Pricing figures come from a competitor and need checking. Strongest within the Zoho ecosystem. Payroll only; HR features need Zoho People.

Which platforms does Zoho Payroll run on?

Zoho Payroll is documented as available on: Web, iOS, Android.

Is Zoho Payroll available in India?

Yes. Zoho Payroll is built for or widely used in India, and pricing is available in INR where noted. Confirm GST and local terms with the vendor.

When was the Zoho Payroll profile last verified?

Sources for this profile were last reviewed on 13 Nov 2026. 2 sources are listed under Sources, and prices and plans can change, so confirm with the vendor.

Sources and freshness

Where this information comes from.

  1. Payroll Software Price in India: Complete 2026 Pricing Guide HROne Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
  2. Frequently asked questions about Zoho Payroll Zoho Official Accessed 13 Nov 2026

Mixed-source profile. Facts and prices come from the vendor’s own pages and independent third-party sources, as marked. Confirm with the vendor before buying.

Plan names, prices and features were checked against the sources listed on 13 Nov 2026. Capabilities were not tested.

Stack18 has not tested this product or received anything from the vendor for this profile. Editorial summaries of vendor information are not endorsements. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.

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