Yes, you can run statutory payroll in India for free. HivePayroll is free for up to 10 employees, with no time limit and no credit card: payroll with PF, ESI, Professional Tax, LWF and TDS calculated automatically, payslips and Form 16 (now Form 130), leave, and an employee self-service app.
Start free. Setup takes a few minutes.
What’s included in the Free plan
- Payroll processing with salary structures, arrears and loss of pay
- PF, ESI, Professional Tax, Labour Welfare Fund and TDS calculated automatically, including the ₹25,000 PF wage ceiling from 17 September 2026
- Payslips and Form 16 (Form 130) for every employee
- Leave management: leave types, balances and approvals
- Employee self-service app: employees see payslips, apply for leave and submit tax declarations
- Loans and advances, expenses and reimbursements, and flexible benefits (FBP)
- Letters and documents, and salary revisions
- Reports and statutory registers for your accountant
What’s different on paid plans: on Free, attendance is marked by you (everyone is present unless you record leave or absence) or uploaded from Excel. Paid plans add phone check-in with selfie and location, biometric machine integration, shifts and attendance corrections. They’re priced by team size from ₹500 a month (billed yearly); see pricing.
Free payroll software in India compared
Several Indian payroll products have a free plan. They differ in how many employees they allow and what they leave out. Checked on each vendor’s pricing page in September 2026:
| HivePayroll Free | Zoho Payroll Free | Kredily Free Forever | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employees | Up to 10 | Up to 10 | Unlimited |
| PF, ESI, PT, TDS calculation | Yes (plus LWF) | Yes (plus LWF) | Yes |
| Payslips | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Form 16 (Form 130) | Yes | Yes (TDS worksheet) | No, paid plans only |
| PF/ESI challans | Statutory reports included | Compliance features included | No, paid plans only |
| Leave management | Yes | Via Zoho People | Yes (one rule) |
| Employee self-service | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Attendance | Manual or Excel upload | Via Zoho People | Web clock-in |
| First paid plan | ₹500/month for up to 10; ₹1,000 for 11–25 (billed yearly) | ₹1,000/month for 25 (billed yearly) | ₹1,249/month for 25 |
greytHR has also advertised a free Starter plan for small companies (reported as up to 25 employees on third-party sites), but its pricing page listed only paid plans and a free trial in September 2026, so check with greytHR directly.
Which free plan fits?
- Up to 10 employees and you want Form 16 and statutory reports included: HivePayroll or Zoho Payroll.
- Your accounts are in Zoho Books: Zoho Payroll’s integration is the draw.
- More than 10 employees and you only need calculations and payslips: Kredily’s free plan allows unlimited employees, but Form 16, challans and salary payouts need a paid plan.
- You expect to grow past 10: compare the first paid plan, not just the free one. HivePayroll moves to a flat price by team size, with no per-employee charges up to 100 employees.
Is free payroll software safe for statutory compliance?
The calculation rules are the same on free and paid plans. What matters is that the software is kept current. 2026 brought the Labour Codes’ 50% wage rule, new tax form numbers under the Income-tax Act, 2025, and the PF ceiling change on 17 September, all in one year. Before you pick any free tool, check:
- Does it apply the ₹25,000 PF wage ceiling?
- Does it calculate Professional Tax and LWF for your state?
- Does it produce Form 16 (Form 130), or only payslips?
- Can you export your data if you leave?
What happens when you grow past 10 employees?
When you add an 11th employee on HivePayroll, you get 15 days to choose a paid plan, and nothing stops working in that time. Paid plans are ₹1,000 a month for 11–25 employees and ₹1,500 for 26–50 (billed yearly, excluding GST), with every feature included.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any free payroll software in India?
Yes. HivePayroll and Zoho Payroll are free for up to 10 employees with statutory compliance included, and Kredily has a free plan without an employee limit that leaves out Form 16 and challans.
Is HivePayroll really free?
Yes, for up to 10 employees, with no time limit and no credit card. The only difference from paid plans is how attendance is captured.
Does the free plan include PF and ESI?
Yes. PF, ESI, Professional Tax, Labour Welfare Fund and TDS are calculated on the Free plan.
Can I use free payroll software for my small business?
Yes. For a business with up to 10 employees, a free plan covers monthly payroll, payslips and year-end Form 16. See payroll software for small business.
Start free
Create your free HivePayroll account: payroll for up to 10 employees, free, with no time limit. Questions? Email support@hivepayroll.co.in.
Competitor plans were checked on each vendor’s pricing page in September 2026; confirm current details with the vendor.
