Are you still tracking employee attendance with pen and paper? Calculating salaries in Excel sheets every month? Struggling to keep up with changing labor laws in Maharashtra?
You’re not alone. Most businesses in Mumbai face these challenges.
Here’s the good news: the right HR or Payroll software can change everything. Within just a few weeks, you can automate all these tasks and get your HR department running smoothly.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- What HR software actually does
- How it helps Mumbai businesses specifically
- Step-by-step guide to choosing the right software
- Complete comparison of top 10 HR software providers in Mumbai
By the end, you’ll have all the information you need to make the perfect choice for your company.
What is HR Software?
HR software is like a helper that manages all employee-related work automatically. Instead of doing things manually, everything happens in one organized place.
HRMS stands for “Human Resource Management System.” It’s a software that runs on computers and phones to manage everything related to employees.
Think of it this way:
Before HRMS: Your HR person spends 2-3 days calculating salaries, tracking attendance, managing leaves, checking compliance rules. Mistakes happen. Employees ask for the same information repeatedly.
After HRMS: The system does 95% of the work automatically. Your HR person approves salaries with one click. Employees check their own information anytime. Compliance happens automatically.
What Does HR Software Actually Do?
Modern HR software handles many tasks:
1. Employee Records
Store all employee information (name, address, joining date, documents) in one secure place instead of scattered files.
2. Attendance Tracking
Employees mark attendance through mobile apps or biometric machines. The system automatically tracks who worked, when, and for how long.
3. Leave Management
Employees request leave online. Managers approve or reject. The system updates leave a balance automatically. No manual calculations needed.
4. Payroll Processing
Calculate salaries automatically every month. Deduct taxes (TDS), PF (Provident Fund), ESI (Employee State Insurance), PT (Professional Tax) correctly. Generate salary slips instantly.
5. Performance Management
Set goals for employees. Track progress. Conduct appraisals. Everything is recorded in one system.
6. Recruitment
Post job openings. Track applications. Schedule interviews. Onboard new employees. Everything is organized in one place.
7. Compliance
Stay updated with labor laws automatically. Generate required government reports. Calculate all mandatory deductions correctly.
8. Employee Self-Service
Employees access their own payslips, leave records, and attendance anytime. They don’t need to ask HR repeatedly.
9. Reports and Analytics
Generate reports on headcount, employee turnover, attendance patterns, and more. Make better business decisions based on data.
List of Top 9 Payroll & HR Software Provider in Mumbai
1: Savvy HRMS – Best Overall Choice for Mumbai Businesses
Savvy HRMS is the most popular choice for Mumbai businesses. It offers the best balance of features, price, and support. Since 2015, hundreds of companies in Mumbai and North India trust Savvy HRMS.
Key Strengths:
- Complete Core HR Module – Employee database, organizational chart, role-based access, employee lifecycle management (hire to retire)
- Smart Attendance System – Employees mark attendance using phone selfies. Biometric device integration. GPS tracking with geofencing to prevent buddy punching.
- Payroll Excellence – Calculates payroll 100% accurately. Handles PF, ESI, PT, TDS automatically. Generates Form 16 and other compliance documents.
- Flexible Leave Management – Employees apply for leave online. Managers approve with one click. Supports unlimited leave types and policies. Automatic balance updates.
- Performance Management – KRA (Key Result Area) setting. Appraisals with 360-degree feedback. Rating system for career development.
- Travel and Expense Management – Track business travel, reimbursements, expense policy limits. Perfect for companies with traveling employees.
- Mobile Apps – Full-featured Android and iOS apps for employees. Separate manager app for approvals. Works offline too.
- 50+ Pre-Built Reports – Attendance management system, payroll, performance, leave reports. Custom report builder for specific needs.
Pricing for Savvy HRMS:
- Core Plan: ₹4,500/month (up to 50 employees) + ₹90 per additional employee
- Edge Plan: ₹6,000/month (up to 50 employees) + ₹120 per additional employee
- Enterprise Plans: Custom pricing for companies with 500+ employees
Pros:
- Most affordable pricing for the features offered
- Easiest to use (minimal training needed)
- Fastest implementation
- Excellent compliance support
- Best customer support
- Works perfectly for 50-500 employee companies
- Modular (add features as you grow)
Best For: Small to mid-sized to enterprise Mumbai businesses (50-30000 employees) wanting reliability, affordability, and quick implementation.
2: GreytHR
GreytHR is one of India’s oldest and most trusted HRMS providers with 20+ years of experience. They have a proven track record with thousands of customers.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive HRMS modules covering all HR functions
- Strong payroll accuracy with minimal errors
- Excellent compliance support for Indian labor laws
- Extensive customer base with proven references
- Good on-premise and cloud options
Pricing:
Free trial available. Paid plans typically ₹5,000-15,000/month depending on company size.
Pros:
- Proven stability and reliability
- Long history (trusted brand)
- Good compliance support
- Extensive customer references
- Works for companies of all sizes
Best For: Established companies wanting a proven, stable platform with minimal risk. Companies that have used GreytHR for years.
3: Keka HR
Keka is a modern HR platform focused on performance culture and employee engagement. They built it with HR professionals and data scientists.
Key Features:
- Beautiful, modern user interface (very easy to use)
- Strong OKR and KPI tracking system
- Pulse surveys for employee engagement measurement
- Performance analytics and insights
- Strong payroll compliance
- Recruitment automation
Pricing:
₹6,999/month (up to 100 employees). Custom pricing for larger companies.
Pros:
- Beautiful modern design (employees love it)
- Excellent performance management features
- Great employee engagement tools
- User-friendly interface (minimal training)
- Good analytics and insights
Best For: Companies seriously focused on building high-performance culture, especially startups and growth-stage companies with younger workforce.
4: Zimyo
Zimyo is a modern, cloud-first HRMS platform with focus on beautiful design and employee experience.
Key Features:
- Modern, intuitive interface
- Strong employee engagement tools
- Asset and document management
- Performance management with goal setting
- Mobile app (iOS and Android)
Pricing:
₹80/user/month (minimum ₹4,000 for 50 users). Typical range ₹4,000-8,000/month for SMEs.
Pros:
- Modern, beautiful design
- Great employee engagement features
- Intuitive interface (easy to adopt)
- Good mobile experience
Best For: Companies with younger employees who value modern UX and employee engagement. Businesses willing to pay for design quality.
5: Zoho People
Zoho People is part of the massive Zoho suite with 120 million users worldwide. Perfect if you already use other Zoho products.
Key Features:
- Employee self-service portal
- Attendance and leave management System
- Performance appraisal system
- Recruitment tools
- Seamless integration with all Zoho apps (CRM, Books, Projects, etc.)
Pricing:
₹48/user/month (billed annually). Typical ₹2,400-4,800/month for 50-100 employees.
Pros:
- Most affordable pricing
- Integrates seamlessly with Zoho ecosystem
- Works well with Zoho CRM and accounting
- Good for businesses already using Zoho
- Cloud-based and reliable
Best For: Companies already using Zoho CRM or Books looking for integrated HRMS solution. Budget-conscious businesses.
6: Pocket HRMS
Pocket HRMS uses artificial intelligence for HR functions. It includes AI chatbot, predictive analytics, and machine learning.
Key Features:
- AI-powered chatbot (answers employee questions 24/7)
- Predictive analytics for employee performance
- Smart leave recommendations
- Intelligent payroll processing
- AI-driven insights and recommendations
Pricing:
₹60 per employee/month. Typical ₹3,000-6,000/month for 50-100 employees.
Pros:
- AI-powered automation (smart features)
- Chatbot reduces HR workload
- Predictive analytics for better decisions
- Innovative technology
- Good for tech-forward companies
Best For: Tech-forward companies wanting AI-powered HR intelligence. Organizations prioritizing predictive analytics.
7: FactoHR
FactoHR provides comprehensive HRMS features at affordable pricing, balancing feature richness with cost.
Key Features:
- Enterprise-grade HR modules
- Good customization options
- Reliable compliance support
- Good mobile app
- Pre-built reports and analytics
Pricing:
₹4,999/month (up to 50 employees) + ₹69 per additional employee.
Pros:
- Good features at reasonable price
- Customizable workflows
- Reliable compliance support
- Good mobile functionality
- Proven in market
Cons:
- Slightly more expensive than Savvy HRMS
- Interface not as modern as newer competitors
- Smaller support team than GreytHR
- Less brand recognition
Best For: Budget-conscious businesses wanting comprehensive features. SMEs seeking balanced solution.
8: Darwinbox
Darwinbox specializes in enterprise-grade HR solutions for large organizations with complex needs and multiple locations.
Key Features:
- Advanced customization for complex workflows
- Multi-location and multi-company support
- Sophisticated workflow automation
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Integration with enterprise systems
Pricing:
Custom pricing based on employee count, modules, and customization. Typically ₹20,000-50,000+/month.
Pros:
- Enterprise-grade features
- Highly customizable for complex needs
- Good for multinational companies
- Advanced analytics
- Dedicated support
Best For: Large enterprises (500+ employees) with complex requirements and multi-location operations.
Why Savvy HRMS is #1 for Most Mumbai Businesses
Savvy HRMS is well-suited for Mumbai businesses due to its strong understanding of Maharashtra labor laws and regional business practices. It offers a complete, integrated HR solution covering the entire employee lifecycle in one easy-to-use platform, eliminating the need for multiple tools.
With a clean interface and fast implementation, teams become productive quickly and see faster ROI with minimal disruption. Payroll processing is highly accurate and fully compliant, reducing compliance risks. Its modular design allows businesses to scale as they grow, while a proven track record since 2015 ensures reliability, stability, and continuous improvement.
Why Mumbai Businesses Especially Need HR Software
Mumbai is India’s financial capital. Thousands of companies operate here from small startups to large multinational corporations. Each faces unique HR challenges.
1: Diverse Workforce
Mumbai businesses employ people from all over India and the world. Managing diverse work patterns, different leave policies, and varied work locations is complex.
Solution: HR software handles multiple policies, locations, and employee types automatically. Cloud-based systems work from anywhere.
2: Strict Compliance Requirements
Maharashtra has specific labor laws. Rules change frequently. Missing compliance deadlines means government penalties and employee disputes.
Solution: Good HR software updates automatically with law changes. It calculates mandatory deductions correctly and generates required reports on time.
3: High Cost of Manual Processes
In a city like Mumbai, employee costs are high. Every hour your HR team spends on manual work costs money. That’s time they’re not spending on strategy and employee development.
Solution: HRMS automates routine tasks. Your HR team finishes in days what used to take weeks.
4: Growing Businesses Need Scalability
Mumbai businesses grow quickly. What works for 50 employees won’t work for 500. You need a system that grows with you.
Solution: Cloud-based HRMS scales instantly. Add employees and new features without technical headaches.
5: Remote and Hybrid Work
Many Mumbai companies have adopted remote and hybrid work models. Tracking attendance and managing leaves becomes difficult.
Solution: Mobile-first HR software lets employees mark attendance from anywhere. Real-time dashboards show who’s where.
Tips for Choosing the Right Payroll & HR Software for Mumbai’s Needs
Choosing the right HR software becomes easy when you focus on what your business truly needs.
1. Know Your Problems
Start by identifying your biggest issues. Is payroll slow or confusing? Are attendance and leave records inaccurate? Are compliance rules hard to manage? Write down your top 2–3 problems and prioritize software that solves them.
2. Pick Software That Fits Your Company Size
Smaller teams need simple and affordable tools for payroll, attendance, and leave. Growing companies should look for performance management and reporting features. Larger organizations need advanced workflows, integrations, and strong support.
3. Look for Essential Features
At a minimum, your HR software should handle employee records, attendance, leave, payroll with tax calculations, self-service for employees, mobile access, and Indian compliance. Extra features like recruitment, performance reviews, training, and reports are helpful as you grow.
4. Understand the Pricing
Check whether pricing is per employee, module-based, or includes a base fee. Always confirm what’s included, any setup or training costs, and how prices change as your team grows.
5. Check Compliance Support
Make sure the software correctly handles PF, ESI, PT, TDS, gratuity, and government reports, and stays updated with law changes to avoid penalties.
6. Try Before You Buy
Always request a demo or free trial. Test payroll, attendance, leave approvals, reports, and the mobile app. The software should be easy to use with minimal training.
7. Review Support and Integrations
Choose a vendor with fast support, proper training, and help with setup. Also, ensure the software integrates with biometric devices, accounting tools like Tally, banks, and email systems.
Conclusion
Managing HR and payroll manually in Mumbai is time-consuming and error-prone. With changing labor laws, growing teams, and remote work, businesses need a better system. The right HR and payroll software can automate daily tasks, reduce mistakes, ensure compliance, and save valuable time.
Choosing the right solution depends on your company’s size, budget, and biggest HR challenges. Many tools are available, but software like Savvy HRMS works especially well for Mumbai businesses due to its ease of use, fast setup, strong compliance support, and ability to grow with your company.
By understanding your needs, trying the software before buying, and selecting a vendor with good support, you can simplify HR operations and focus on growing your business with confidence.
