Zoho Payroll

At a glance

• Editor score
  10.0 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan · paid from ₹1,000/mo (annual) · 14-day trial
• Best for
  Indian businesses paying employees and contractors together
• Free plan
  Yes
• Payment schedules
  Scheduled
• Founded
  1996
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Unified employee and contractor pay runs with off-cycle payouts
  • Automatic TDS handling under Sections 194C and 194J
  • Free plan with employee portal and Zoho integrations

• Where it doesn't

  • Contractor Payroll starts with the Standard plan
  • Contractor features are described as early access
  • Payout coverage is focused on a single country

Our verdict on Zoho Payroll

Zoho Payroll is cloud-based payroll software for businesses in India that need to manage employees and contractors together. It calculates salaries, taxes, and deductions; generates payslips and reports; supports statutory compliance; and provides self-service access. Contractor tools include onboarding, profile management, contract end-date reminders, TDS application under Sections 194C and 194J, payment-method management, regular pay runs, and off-cycle payouts. Web, iOS, and Android access support payroll work across devices.

Pricing follows a freemium model with a 14-day free trial. The Free plan costs INR 0 per month and includes automatic payroll calculation, payslip generation, an employee self-service portal, and integrations with Zoho Books, Zoho People, and Zoho Expense. Standard adds Contractor Payroll, TDS challan recording, an audit trail, and voice and email support at INR 1,250 per organization per month monthly or INR 1,000 annually. Professional costs INR 3,750 monthly or INR 3,000 annually and adds bonus and off-cycle pay runs, approvals, custom fields, and payroll documents. Premium costs INR 5,000 monthly or INR 4,000 annually and adds leave and attendance management, advanced approvals, workflow rules, and webhooks.

The integration mix suits organizations already working with Zoho applications or supported banking services. Connections include Zoho Analytics, Zoho Practice, Zoho Payments, HSBC, ICICI Bank, and WhatsApp Business, alongside the Free-plan Zoho integrations. Payment methods include cheque, cash, manual transfer, and direct deposit, while reports cover payroll and compliance. Contractor Payroll begins with Standard, and the contractor feature is also described as early access, so organizations should confirm availability before purchase. Zoho Payroll fits Indian businesses seeking one scheduled payroll process for employees and contractors; businesses needing multi-country payouts or contractor tools outside this focus should choose another option.

Zoho Payroll pricing

All 4 Zoho Payroll plans and prices →

Zoho Payroll fact sheet

Zoho Payroll integrations

Zoho Payroll lists 9 integrations on its own site.

• Zoho Books
• Zoho People
• Zoho Expense
• Zoho Analytics
• Zoho Practice
• Zoho Payments
• HSBC
• ICICI Bank
• WhatsApp Business

See all Zoho Payroll integrations →

Alternatives to Zoho Payroll

• Plane Contractor ManagementA global contractor management platform with onboarding, payments, tax documents, and HRIS tools.4.6
• Papaya GlobalA broad global payroll and contractor platform with budget entry pricing but no free plan.4.0
• WingspanScheduled contractor payouts with onboarding, tax support, portals, and international coverage.8.0

See all Zoho Payroll alternatives →

Also listed in

• Direct Deposit Payroll

Featured on iTechGuides

Zoho Payroll is listed in our Contractor Payment Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

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