Zoho People alternatives

Teams leaving Zoho People usually compare HarmonyHR (from $5 per employee), Keka, greytHR and PeopleMuster, which includes every module for $3 per person a month with no seat minimum. Zoho People runs from $1.50 to $10 per user a month in USD across five paid plans, verified 24 September 2026.

Why people leave

The plan ladder is the common story. Five paid plans run from Essential HR at $1.50 to People Plus at $10 per user a month, so each new need can mean a step up.
Scope creep comes next. Timesheets model jobs, projects and clients with billable flags, and then invoicing happens in a sibling Zoho app.
Paid plans start at five users, and free covers five worldwide or three in the US. Figures also change by region, so the number a colleague quotes may not be yours.

The real options

Seven products, Zoho People included, were compared in September 2026 on what one login covers, whether the price is public, and how much sits in a second product. Evaluated from each vendor's own documentation and pricing, with every figure re-read on 24 September 2026. Zoho's USD figures come from its own price list and vary by region.

PeopleMuster

$3 per person a month from the first person. Every module included, no tiers, no seat minimum. 14 days free, no card.

Who it suits: A services team that wants attendance, leave, timesheets and capacity in one place.
Where it wins: One price in every region, one login, and the delivery side sits on the same person record. There is no plan to step up to.

HarmonyHR

HRIS + Survey from $5 per employee a month; annual billing saves 20%; ATS $32.50 per recruiter a month. Verified 24 September 2026.

Who it suits: Small firms that want an HR record with surveys and help moving their data.
Where it wins: Free migration and onboarding are included.
Where it falls short: Hiring is a separate line at $32.50 per recruiter a month.

Keka

Priced by region, with plan tabs and a minimum headcount. Checked September 2026.

Who it suits: South Asian service firms that want HR, payroll and project timesheets together.
Where it wins: One product covers HR, hiring and project time.
Where it falls short: Pricing is a conversation. Comparing it with a published rate takes a call first.

greytHR

India: Essential ₹2,495 a month including 50 employees, then ₹45 each; Growth ₹4,495, then ₹85 each. Middle East: Essential $50 a month including 10, then $2 each. 7-day trial, no lock-in. Verified 24 September 2026.

Who it suits: Firms in India or the Gulf that want published regional price bands.
Where it wins: Published bands per region, a 7-day trial and no lock-in.
Where it falls short: Prices are set per region, and every employee past the included count adds to the base.

Calamari

Time Off $2.50 per employee a month ($2 yearly); Time & Attendance $3 ($2.50) and Core HR $2.50 ($2) sold as further modules. 10-seat minimum, 14-day trial. Verified 24 September 2026.

Who it suits: Firms that want leave and attendance bought one module at a time.
Where it wins: Each module can be bought on its own.
Where it falls short: Each module is priced separately, and billing starts at 10 seats.

Factorial

Quote-led, starting point $8 per user a month with add-on modules. Verified September 2026.

Who it suits: Firms that want a tighter HR product and no suite around it.
Where it wins: Modules are bought one at a time rather than as a bundle.
Where it falls short: No client project delivery. The starting figure is not the quote.

BambooHR

Core $10, Pro $17, Elite $25 per employee a month; flat from $250 a month at 25 or fewer. Verified September 2026.

Who it suits: US small and mid firms that want the HR record to be the whole job.
Where it wins: Depth, maturity and published tiers.
Where it falls short: No client project delivery, and the per-employee rate starts at $10.

Questions people ask

How much does Zoho People cost per user?

In US dollars, billed monthly: Essential HR $1.50, Professional $2.50, Premium $3.50, Enterprise $5 and People Plus $10 per user a month. Annual billing runs $1.25 to $9. Figures come from Zoho's own price list on 24 September 2026 and vary by region.

What are the best Zoho People alternatives?

For a services team, PeopleMuster at $3 per person with every module and no seat minimum. HarmonyHR starts from $5 per employee, Keka and greytHR price by region, and Calamari sells time off from $2.50 per employee as one module.

Does Zoho People handle client billing?

Its timesheets model jobs, projects and clients with billable flags, and invoicing happens in a sibling Zoho application. Billing is in the suite rather than in Zoho People itself.

What is the smallest team Zoho People accepts?

Free covers five users worldwide and three in the US. Paid plans start at five users. PeopleMuster bills from the first person, with no seat minimum.