greytHR Alternative: Aajar Attendance, Leave & Payroll
Per-user pricing from ₹20 instead of a 50-employee base price, and where greytHR's statutory filings win.
The Zoho People alternative with payroll included: Aajar
Aajar combines attendance, leave and payroll from ₹20 per user per month. Zoho attendance starts on the Professional plan at ₹96 per user per month (billed yearly) and payroll is a separate product: about ₹3,400 a month for 25 people for both. Zoho is the better fit if you already use other Zoho apps or need performance management.
Prices exclude GST.
Which one fits
Aajar or Zoho People: who each one suits
Choose Aajar if you
- Want attendance, leave and payroll in one app and on one bill
- Need attendance on the cheapest plan: Zoho's Free and Essential HR plans do not include it
- Want Indian rules built in (late grace, half days, alternate Saturdays, sandwich leave, short permissions) and an eSSL biometric sync on Business
Stay with Zoho People if you
- Already run other Zoho apps and want everything in one ecosystem
- Need performance management, learning or an HR help desk (Premium and above)
- Have 10 or fewer employees and can use Zoho People with the free Zoho Payroll plan
Side by side
Aajar vs Zoho People, feature by feature
| What you need | Aajar | Zoho People |
|---|---|---|
| Price per user per month | ₹20, ₹35 or ₹50 | ₹48 to ₹192 billed yearly, or ₹60 to ₹240 billed monthly (Essential HR to Enterprise) |
| Attendance | Every plan | Professional and above (web, mobile and facial recognition) |
| Shifts and geofencing | Growth plan | Shift scheduling from Essential HR; geo and IP restrictions from Professional |
| Selfie, face and QR check-in | Add-ons at ₹5 per feature per user on Growth and Business | Facial recognition attendance in Professional and above |
| Leave, holidays and permissions | Every plan | Every paid plan; the Free plan covers time-off management |
| Payroll and payslips | Included from Starter | A separate Zoho Payroll subscription |
| EPF, ESI, PT and LWF | Set as deductions. No filings generated | Handled in Zoho Payroll |
| Performance management | Not available | Premium and above |
| Free option | 3 months for up to 50 users | Free plan for up to 5 users, without attendance |
Cost
What it costs for 10 to 100 users
Monthly price in rupees, before GST.
| Team size | Aajar Starter | Aajar Growth | Zoho People Professional + Zoho Payroll Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 users | ₹200 | ₹350 | ₹960 |
| 25 users | ₹500 | ₹875 | ₹3,400 |
| 50 users | ₹1,000 | ₹1,750 | ₹6,800 |
| 100 users | ₹2,000 | ₹3,500 | ₹13,600 |
Zoho figures: Professional at ₹96 per user per month billed yearly, plus Zoho Payroll (free up to 10 employees, then Standard at ₹1,000 a month for 25 employees and ₹40 for each extra). Prices exclude GST.
Why teams switch
Three reasons teams pick Aajar over Zoho People
One app and one bill
Zoho People handles the HR records and attendance; payroll runs in Zoho Payroll. Aajar puts attendance, leave and payroll in one product.
Attendance on the cheapest plan
On Zoho, attendance starts on Professional at ₹96 per user per month billed yearly. On Aajar it is on Starter at ₹20.
Keep an eSSL machine
Aajar's Business plan syncs eSSL and similar biometric terminals.
Switching
How to move from Zoho People to Aajar
- 1
Export your team list
Download names, emails and employee IDs from Zoho People.
- 2
Create your organization
Sign up free. No card needed.
- 3
Add your team
Send invites, or upload the list from Excel (Growth plan).
- 4
Run both for a month
Check that attendance and payslips match before you switch Zoho People off.
FAQ
Aajar and Zoho People: common questions
Does Zoho People include payroll?
No. Payroll is in Zoho Payroll, which is free for up to 10 employees and starts at ₹1,000 a month for 25 employees on the Standard plan. Zoho People Plus bundles several Zoho apps together.
Which Zoho People plan includes attendance?
Professional and above, from ₹96 per user per month billed yearly (₹120 billed monthly). Shift scheduling is available from Essential HR.
Is Aajar cheaper than Zoho People?
For attendance plus payroll, yes: about ₹500 to ₹875 a month for 25 people on Aajar Starter or Growth, against about ₹3,400 for Zoho People Professional plus Zoho Payroll Standard.
When should I choose Zoho People instead?
When you already use other Zoho apps, need performance management, learning or an HR help desk, or have 10 or fewer employees and can use Zoho Payroll's free plan.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Every Aajar plan is free for 3 months for up to 50 users, and for 1.5 months above that. No card is needed.
Where the Zoho People details come from
Taken from Zoho People plan comparison, Zoho Payroll India pricing. Vendors change prices and plans, so confirm with Zoho People before you decide. Aajar's prices are on the pricing page. Related: Zoho People pricing in India, explained.
Try Aajar free for 3 months
Free for up to 50 users. Run it next to your current tool for a month.