GreytHR vs Keka vs peopleHum: Best Indian HR Software?

Let’s face it—HR in India isn’t a cakewalk. Between ever-changing compliance rules, payroll complexities, and lean HR teams, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) have a lot on their plate. And that’s where the right HR software for Indian SMEs can make a world of difference.

Whether you're comparing greytHR, Keka, or peopleHum, the goal is simple: find a solution that gets the job done without breaking the bank—or your team. In this guide, we’re unpacking each platform to help you make the smartest decision for your business.

What Indian SMEs Really Need from HR Software

Running a business in India means staying on your toes with labor laws—PF, ESI, professional tax, TDS… the list goes on. And if you’re not compliant? You're looking at fines, delays, and a lot of unnecessary stress.

That’s why good Indian HR software should be more than a digital attendance tracker. It should help you:

• Stay 100% compliant, automatically
  
  
• Manage payroll without Excel headaches
  
  
• Let employees apply for leave or check payslips without asking HR
  
  
• Make sense of your HR data with dashboards
  
  
• Handle onboarding and employee performance in one place
  
  

With these must-haves in mind, let’s dive into how greytHR, Keka, and peopleHum stack up.

Platform-by-Platform Breakdown

greytHR: Reliable and Compliance-First

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If your top priority is compliance, greytHR has built its name around it. It's been around for a while, and many Indian SMEs swear by its payroll accuracy and statutory updates.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• Solid compliance coverage: PF, ESI, TDS, and audit-ready reports
  
  
• Payroll that syncs with attendance and leaves
  
  
• Budget-friendly pricing for small teams
  
  
• A basic, no-frills interface that gets the job done
  
  

User tip: While greytHR is accurate, the interface feels a bit “old school.” It’s functional but not the slickest.

Best for: SMEs that want a compliance-focused tool without bells and whistles.

Keka: Modern Design Meets Functionality

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Keka is the cool kid on the block. It’s designed with user experience in mind and has become popular among Indian SMEs looking for a comprehensive tool that also looks good and works well.

Here’s where Keka shines:

• Great self-service portal for employees
  
  
• Payroll, attendance, and leave management are all synced
  
  
• Easy navigation and clean UI
  
  
• Flexible pricing plans for growing companies
  
  

User tip: Keka nails the balance between form and function. But while it handles compliance well, it’s not quite as analytics-heavy as peopleHum.

Best for: Teams that want a modern-looking, user-friendly HR tool.

peopleHum: Smart, Scalable & Future-Ready

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If you're looking beyond just payroll and leave management—say, for AI features, smart analytics, or smoother onboarding—peopleHum is worth a close look. It's built for the Indian SME that’s ready to scale and automate smarter.

What makes peopleHum different:

• Compliance dashboards that are easy to track
  
  
• Full payroll integration with attendance, benefits, and performance
  
  
• Sleek self-service portal that employees actually enjoy using
  
  
• AI-powered features for hiring, onboarding, and people analytics
  
  
• Pricing plans built for SMEs that want room to grow
  
  

User tip: Users love the modern interface and the fact that it’s not just a payroll tool—it’s an all-in-one HR solution.

Best for: Forward-thinking SMEs ready to scale, automate, and lead with data.

So, What Should You Look for in HR Software?

Still undecided? Focus on these 4 key areas—no matter which platform you choose:

1.HR Compliance Tools

You want a tool that tracks all the updates in India’s labor laws so you don’t have to. Think PF, ESI, TDS, and auto-generated reports.

2.Payroll and HR Integration

If your payroll doesn’t talk to your attendance or leave data, you’ll waste hours fixing errors. Integration is non-negotiable.

3. Employee Self-Service

Let your team handle the small stuff—apply for leave, update their info, check payslips—without pinging HR every time.

4.Cost-Efficiency

Affordability doesn’t mean fewer features. Look for pricing that scales as you grow, without charging extra for every new function.

peopleHum: The Smart Pick for Modern Indian SMEs

Let’s cut to the chase. After comparing greytHR vs Keka vs peopleHum, here’s why peopleHum is getting a lot of love from Indian HR teams:

• It’s got AI-powered insights and onboarding tools to help you stay ahead
  
  
• It gives you real-time dashboards to track everything from compliance to performance
  
  
• It has a modern, mobile-friendly UI employees love
  
  
• It ensures audit-ready compliance with zero headaches
  
  
• And it grows with you, without hidden costs or messy add-ons

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What Users Say: The Common Complaints—and How peopleHum Fixes Them

Every software has its strengths and shortcomings. But when you’re running a lean HR team, even small friction points can cost you time (and sanity). Here’s what users have flagged in their reviews of greytHR and Keka—and where peopleHum gets it right.

greytHR: Functional, But Feels Outdated

Common gripe:
“greytHR is solid on compliance, but the UI feels clunky and outdated. Sometimes it takes too many clicks to get simple things done.” — User on G2

What that means for you:
If your HR team is already stretched thin, inefficient navigation can slow down workflows—and lead to mistakes.

How peopleHum solves it:
With a modern, mobile-friendly interface and intuitive navigation, peopleHum is built for busy HR teams who want to get things done fast and right.

Keka: Slick UI, But Can Get Glitchy

Common gripe:
“Keka looks great, but we’ve run into tech glitches during peak payroll days. Also, their support takes a while to respond.” — User on Capterra

What that means for you:
Great design is a win, but not if it comes with surprise bugs or slow support when you need help the most.

How peopleHum solves it:
peopleHum pairs a smooth, reliable experience with robust backend architecture. Plus, their support team is responsive and rated highly by SMEs for being hands-on and helpful when it counts.

Pricing Surprises

Common gripe about both:
“Good tool, but you keep hitting feature walls unless you upgrade. Every add-on feels like another payment.” — Various reviews on TrustRadius & SoftwareSuggest

How peopleHum stands out:
Transparent pricing, no hidden costs, and enterprise-level features in SME-friendly plans. With peopleHum, you scale without constantly renegotiating your budget.

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FAQ: Quick Answers Before You Decide

Q: Is peopleHum suitable for small businesses or only growing companies?
A: Both. It’s built to scale, so whether you have 10 or 200 employees, you’ll get the same powerful features.

Q: What if my main concern is compliance?
A: All three tools offer solid compliance support, but peopleHum gives you intuitive dashboards to track it all in one place.

Q: Do employees really use self-service portals?
A: Absolutely. In fact, once they do, they won’t stop. It saves everyone—especially HR—tons of time.

Q: Isn’t Keka more visually appealing?
A: Keka has a great UI, no doubt. But peopleHum offers a cleaner design plus more advanced features like AI and onboarding.

Final Thoughts

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but if you’re looking for a platform that’s modern, scalable, and truly built for today’s Indian SME needs, peopleHum ticks all the boxes.

Ready to simplify HR, boost compliance, and delight your team?

👉 Book a Free Demo with peopleHum

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