Free Payroll Software in India: What’s Free, What’s Not, and What’s Worth Your Time
A few years ago, I helped an old colleague set up payroll for her five-person team. We Googled “free payroll software India,” clicked the first result, and within five minutes, we had a dashboard full of buttons that we didn’t understand a thing about. It was a free trial that expired in seven days. Every time she called customer support, they politely addressed her as ‘madam’ and then completely sidestepped every question she asked.
She gave up and returned to Excel.
I am starting with that story because, if you’ve ever tried to run payroll in India without a full-fledged HR department or a CA who can drop by at any moment you call, payroll administration can seem a deceptively complex job. And finding something free HR payroll software India is even more so.
So let’s talk about it in detail here. What does free payroll software India mean? Who is offering it, what are the catches, and is there anything out there that doesn’t drain your budget while you are still small and want to stay compliant?
What Is Free Payroll Software?
Here is the first thing to understand about free payroll software india. When software says it’s free, it rarely means fully functional with zero strings attached.
Most payroll management software India free download options fall into three categories:
- 1. Free for a limited number of employees – Usually 10–20 users. Great if you are a startup, but it turns useless when you exceed this employee limit.
- 2. Free trial, then paid plan – This is the most common free payroll software India option. You get 7–30 days of access for free. After that, you will hit a paywall. Fair, but it cannot be called free entirely.
- 3. Free forever, but stripped down to the point of frustration – Here you will get a stripped-down free payroll software india without the features you require in the first place. No automated compliance, no payslip customisations, and often no support.
This isn’t me being cynical or dismissing the idea of HR payroll software free download India outright. This is how freemium models work. The real question is: can you find a payroll tool that lets you get the work done, speeds up the workflow and doesn’t overpromise or underdeliver?
Yes, but you’ve got to know what you are signing up for and what you need for your business.
What Do Indian Businesses Expect from Payroll Management Software?
Here is a quick checklist of non-negotiables any decent payroll system should have (free or not):
- Salary processing with variable pay, bonuses, and CTC breakdown
- Leave and LOP adjustment that syncs with attendance
- Auto-generated payslips in statutory formats
- PF, ESI, PT, TDS compliance that updates with regulation changes
- Basic reports for audits, Form 16, etc.
- Employee access (ESS portal or app)
- Security and data backup
Optional but good-to-have payroll features:
- Payroll-to-bank integration
- One-click payslip emails
- Reimbursements and FBP management
- Integration with the shift and document modules
Without at least half of this, calling something that claims to be free payroll software for small business in India a serious option is hard to justify.
Quite ironically enough, we can see plenty of platforms where the only real feature is a salary calculator and a “download Excel” button. It is technically accurate to define them, but free payroll software in Excel India.
Top 5 Best Free Payroll Software India (2025)
Let’s do a quick run-through of what is out there for businesses to choose from when it comes to payroll software free download full version India options and how each of them holds up.
Zoho Payroll
Zoho is a leading name not just in the payroll space but also across workforce management solutions. The broad suite of Zoho tools supports everything from HR to finance. Here is what you are promised to get through Zoho’s free payroll software India version.
- Free up to 10 employees
- Good UI, full compliance, automated reports
- Built-in direct deposit (ICICI Bank)
- Limited to small teams
Best for: Very early-stage startups, solopreneurs
RazorpayX Payroll
Like Zoho, RazorpayX is another household name in India for companies in the pursuit of well-integrated and modern workforce solutions. It’s free online payroll software India unlocks the following features for use.
- Free up to 20 employees
- Handles compliance, contractor payments, automated TDS
- Good support, smooth UI
- Beyond 20 users? You’re paying.
Whom does it fit for: Fintech-friendly founders who don’t mind APIs
GreytHR
GreytHR is a comprehensive HR management system offering features like attendance management, leave tracking, payroll administration, shift scheduling and more. Although with limited features, it promises one of the best payroll software in India free download options.
- Has a free plan, but very limited
- Doesn’t include full payroll automation or statutory filings
- Designed to funnel users into premium plans
Who can go for it: Those who want to test the GreytHR payroll software interface before buying.
Keka
If you are looking for free payroll software India that has a very clean UI, up-to-date features and handles the basics without any interruptions., Keka could be an option you don’t want to miss. Here are some of the features that its free versions or trial versions allow you to enjoy.
- No true “free” plan, but offers demo access
- Robust system, great for scale
- Not beginner-friendly for micro-teams
Ideal for: Mid-size orgs ready to commit
Mewurk
While most free payroll software India or trials only help you get familiar with the ecosystem and not real payroll administration, Mewurk offers a fully usable system for small teams, with optional upgrades if you choose to scale.
With a clean UI, biometric-integrated attendance sync, and end-to-end HR modules, Mewurk stands out as the best contender in HR payroll software free download India. Here is what you will get to enjoy.
- Free trial of full payroll system (no limited features)
- One-click payroll run + auto sync with attendance, shifts, and leave
- Flexible pay-as-you-grow model (modular billing)
- Clean UI, zero bloat, designed for Indian SMEs
Best option: SMEs who want to try a full system before paying, without bloat or surprise pricing
What makes Mewurk’s free payroll software India different?
- No cap on employee count
- No watered-down version
- No credit card needed to explore
- You can run actual payroll before deciding
- Pricing post-trial is modular – pay for what you use
Basically, it’s the only setup where you are not restricted from accessing any features while trying before you buy.
Free Payroll Software India - A Quick Comparison
| Software | Free Plan Details | Key Features | Limitations | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mewurk | Full-feature free trial (no feature caps) | One-click payroll, attendance sync, SME-focused UI | None during trial | SMEs wanting to try a full system first |
| Zoho Payroll | Free for up to 10 employees | Good UI, compliance-ready, automated reports, direct deposit (ICICI) | Limited to very small teams | Early-stage startups, solopreneurs |
| RazorpayX Payroll | 3-month free trial (Pro Plan, no employee limit) | Compliance management, contractor payments, smooth UI | Charges apply after trial, limited customisation | API-friendly startups, fintech-savvy users |
| GreytHR | Free plan with limited features (up to 25 employees) | Includes basic payroll, attendance, leave modules | No full payroll automation or statutory filing | Users wanting to test before purchase |
| Keka | No true free plan, demo access only | Strong features, scalable, clean interface | Not suitable for very small teams or beginners | Mid-size orgs looking to scale |
Final Thoughts
Free payroll software India is like free Wi-Fi at a railway station. Handy and attractive in theory, sometimes useful, sometimes slow, and occasionally leaving you wondering if it is safe to use.
But if you pick the right system, one that’s upfront about pricing, generous with features, and designed for India’s unique compliance needs, you’re not just saving money. You’re saving hours of manual corrections, compliance anxiety, and that one day every month where your HR head quietly cries into their chai.
So yes, go ahead and try a free payroll software. Just make sure it’s free in the way that respects your time and wallet.
Explore Mewurk’s free payroll trial here.
No pressure to buy. No sales calls. Upgrade only if it makes sense to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can free payroll software India integrate with accounting tools like Tally or QuickBooks?
Yes, many HR payroll software free download India offer basic API hooks for data sync between accounting tools like QuickBooks or Tally. However, please note that free tiers may be restricted to one-way exports. We recommend that you test compatibility during trials to ensure journal entries and tax ledgers are integrated correctly.
Is it possible to handle multi-state compliance in India with free payroll software solutions?
Most payroll software solutions are designed to automatically incorporate updates for central laws like PF and TDS, but multi-state variations in PT or labour welfare require manual checks or premium upgrades. Choose payroll tools with geo-specific modules for all operating states to avoid penalties. Also, check if the software can integrate with government portals for real-time statutory filings.
Are there any hidden costs in free payroll software beyond the employee limit?
Yes. Many free payroll tools can surprise you with hidden costs. You might pay extra for API integrations, custom reports, or even basic support. Some add charges for exceeding data storage limits or linking to banking services. Multi-currency setups may have currency conversion fees, and training your team can be an indirect expense.
Mewurk is transparent to the core. You get every feature, without hidden fees.
How to migrate from Excel to payroll software without disruptions?
Each payroll software has a different procedure for payroll data migration. If you have been wondering how to use payroll software free download in Excel in India, note that while you can start with Excel formats, the real efficiency comes from moving to a fully integrated system like Mewurk.
With Mewurk, the migration process is quite straightforward. First, add all employees into the software so that records sync with attendance, leave, and shifts. Import pay-related fields from CSV, map employee IDs and salaries, run a parallel payroll cycle to verify accuracy, and train your team on the new workflow.
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