For Indian SMEs seeking the best affordable HRMS for Indian SMEs, several HRMS platforms stand out for their cost-effectiveness, simplicity, and practical features. Tools like Clan, greytHR, Zoho People, Kredily, Keka, and HROne are designed specifically for small to mid-sized businesses — offering essential functionalities such as payroll management, attendance tracking, leave management, employee self-service, and more.
These platforms help growing businesses automate repetitive HR tasks, ensure compliance with Indian labour laws, and improve overall efficiency — all without stretching the budget. Whether your team is remote, hybrid, or working from the office, having the right HRMS can save time, reduce errors, and empower your workforce.
Why Do Indian SMEs Need an HRMS?
Running HR operations manually can lead to missed attendance, inaccurate payroll, and inconsistent leave records. A reliable HRMS can solve these issues by:
- Reducing paperwork and manual errors
- Streamlining payroll and compliance
- Providing transparency for both HR teams and employees
- Offering real-time insights into HR metrics
With scalable and affordable tools now available, even small businesses can adopt HR tech to improve operations.
Features to Look for in the Best Affordable HRMS for Indian SMEs
When choosing an HRMS under ₹999/month, don’t compromise on core functionalities. Here are the must-have features, why you need them, and how they help:
1. Attendance Management
Why You Need It:
Manual time tracking can lead to errors and payroll mismatches.
How It Helps:
- Enables employees to clock in/out via web or mobile
- Offers GPS or face recognition for field teams
- Automatically syncs with payroll calculations
Payroll Automation
Why You Need It:
Payroll involves calculations, deductions, and statutory compliance — all of which are prone to manual errors.
How It Helps:
- Automates salary generation
- Manages PF, ESI, TDS deductions
- Generates payslips and reports in a few clicks
Leave & Holiday Management
Why You Need It:
Without a digital system, leave tracking becomes disorganized and impacts team coordination.
How It Helps:
- Allows employees to apply for/view leave balances
- Ensures policy adherence and approval flows
- Syncs holidays and leave with payroll
4. Centralized Employee Database
Why You Need It:
Maintaining spreadsheets or paper records is inefficient and risky.
How It Helps:
- Stores employee records in one place
- Tracks joining, roles, documents, and lifecycle
- Simplifies onboarding and exit processes
5. Role-Based Access & Permissions
Why You Need It:
Not all users need access to everything. Secure, role-based control is essential.
How It Helps:
- Admins manage system-wide settings
- Managers can approve leaves and view reports
- Employees access only what’s relevant
6. Mobile Access
Why You Need It:
Remote work, field teams, and modern workplaces demand flexibility.
How It Helps:
- Mark attendance or apply for leaves from anywhere
- Receive notifications on the go
- Increases adoption across the organization
7. Reports & Insights
Why You Need It:
Decisions made without data are just guesses.
How It Helps:
- Provides visibility into attendance trends, payroll summaries, and leave patterns
- Supports audits and compliance
- Helps plan resources better
Read here: Best HRMS for Remote Teams
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an HRMS
Besides features, keep these points in mind when evaluating an HRMS for your SME:
1. Cost
Choose an HRMS with transparent, flexible pricing that aligns with your budget. Some platforms charge per employee per month, while others offer fixed packages. Be cautious of hidden costs such as setup fees, support charges, or integration costs.
Click here: Try Clan – starting at just ₹999/month
2. Features vs. Needs
It’s easy to get distracted by advanced features, but focus first on your business’s immediate requirements. Make a checklist of must-haves — like attendance, leave, and payroll — and ensure the platform delivers them efficiently. A good HRMS should balance functionality with simplicity.
3. Scalability
As your team grows or your operations expand across locations, your HRMS should grow with you. Opt for a system that supports multi-location setups, new employee onboarding, and policy customisations as your business evolves.
4. User Interface
An intuitive and clean user interface ensures your HR and admin teams — and even non-tech employees — can use the software with minimal training. A good UI speeds up onboarding, improves adoption, and reduces dependency on support.
5. Integration
Your HRMS shouldn’t work in isolation. Make sure it integrates easily with your existing tools — like biometric devices, accounting software, payroll systems, or tools like Slack, Google Workspace, or Tally. Seamless integration saves time and prevents manual errors.
6. Customer Support
Reliable customer support is crucial, especially for smaller teams. Look for vendors that offer onboarding assistance, live chat or call support, and quick resolution of queries. Strong support ensures long-term value from your HRMS investment.
Top Affordable HRMS Platforms for Indian SMEs
| HRMS Platform | Entry Plan Price | Key Features | Ideal For |
| Clan (Ignite) | ₹999/month (up to 10 users) | Payroll, Attendance, Leave, Holiday, Social Wall, Reports | Small & hybrid teams |
| Zoho People | ₹900/user/month | Time tracking, ESS, Performance | Mid-sized teams |
| greytHR | ₹795/user/month | Payroll, Compliance, Onboarding | Compact growing SMEs |
Here’s a comparison of some top HRMS platforms designed for Indian SMEs, including Clan:
1. Clan HRMS – Simplified HR for Growing Teams
Why Choose It:
- Built for Indian startups and SMEs
- Smart attendance with GPS & face recognition
- Integrated Indian payroll & tax management
- Leave, shift, and team roles management
- Clean dashboard and mobile-ready
- Option to preview and test features with a 14-day free trial (Try Clan)
2. greytHR – Compliance-Driven Payroll & HRMS
Why Choose It:
- Strong focus on Indian payroll compliance
- Built-in statutory reports
- Ideal for companies needing robust payroll controls
3. Zoho People – Flexible & Modular HR Platform
Why Choose It:
- Modular features, scalable plans
- Good for tech-savvy teams or Zoho suite users
- Covers core HR workflows and automation
4. Kredily – Free Plan with Paid Add-ons
Why Choose It:
- Offers a free base plan for startups
- Attendance and payroll features
- Paid modules for automation and analytics
5. Keka – People-Focused Platform with Performance Tracking
Why Choose It:
- Great for companies focusing on performance, growth, and engagement
- Clean UI, advanced workflows
- Suitable for HR teams wanting detailed analytics
6. HROne – Enterprise Features for Mid-Sized Teams
Why Choose It:
- Advanced modules for larger teams
- Useful for companies scaling fast
- Offers ESS portal, workflows, and analytics
Example: How Clan HRMS Transformed an SME’s HR Operations
Company: A 25‑member software startup based in Pune
Challenge: The company was managing HR manually- attendance logs on spreadsheets, leave applications via email, and monthly salary calculations requiring long hours. The HR team spent almost 40% of their time on administrative tasks, leading to delays and errors.
Solution: Clan HRMS (Accelerate Plan – ₹2,499/month, up to 50 users, 14-day free trial)
Since the startup had more than 10 employees, they chose Clan’s Accelerate plan, which supports up to 50 users and offers full HR functionality.
Immediate Results:
- Payroll in Minutes: Automated salary computation, EPF/ESI/TDS deductions, and payslip generation, resulting in an 80% reduction in payroll time.
- Attendance Accuracy: Real-time tracking with face recognition and GPS validation eliminated buddy punching and cut discrepancies by 90%.
- Leave & Holiday Automation: Employees could apply for leave via app, with automatic leave balance updates and streamlined approvals.
- Employee Self‑Service (ESS): Employees accessed payslips, applied for leaves, and updated personal info via the ESS portal- reducing HR tickets by 65%.
- Insightful Reporting: Weekly dashboards highlighted trends in attendance, leave patterns, and payroll costs- enabling data-driven decision-making.
- Smooth Scalability: When the team grew to 30 members, Clan easily accommodated the expansion within the same plan.
Outcome:
- 15+ hours saved per week in HR administrative work
- Near-zero payroll and leave errors
- Improved employee satisfaction and transparency
- Effortless scalability as the team expanded
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is an HRMS?
An HRMS (Human Resource Management System) is software that helps businesses automate and manage HR tasks such as attendance, payroll, leave tracking, employee records, and more.
2. Which is the best HRMS for small businesses in India?
Some popular HRMS platforms for Indian SMEs include Clan, greytHR, Zoho People, Keka, Kredily, and HROne. The best choice depends on your business size, budget, and specific HR needs.
3. How do I choose the right HRMS for my business?
Start by identifying your top priorities- cost, ease of use, scalability, integrations, and support. Then compare 2-3 tools through demos or free trials before making a decision.
4. Is Clan suitable for businesses with under 100 employees?
Absolutely. Clan HRMS is designed specifically for Indian startups and SMEs with up to 100 employees, offering powerful features at an affordable price.
Final Thoughts
Finding the best affordable HRMS for Indian SMEs under ₹999/month is about more than just price- it’s about value. The right HRMS simplifies your HR operations, improves employee satisfaction, and ensures compliance.
If you’re looking for a tool built specifically for Indian teams, with payroll, attendance, leave, and mobile access, Clan HRMS is a reliable and intuitive choice.
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