Last updated: October 24, 2026. This guide describes how Zoho prices its HR products; it does not list Zoho's rates, because they change and depend on the plan you choose. Check Zoho's website or ask Zoho sales for the current figure. Meagle 360 publishes this page and is one of the products compared.
Zoho People is priced per employee per month, and the price depends on the plan you pick. Payroll is a separate Zoho product with its own price, so your real monthly bill is: plan price × number of employees, plus payroll, plus any other Zoho product you add.
Most people searching "Zoho People pricing" only compare the headline plan price. That is how teams end up paying more than they planned. This guide explains the structure so you can work out your real number before you sign up.
How Zoho People Pricing Works
- Per employee, per month. You are billed for each employee, so your cost rises as your team grows.
- Plans from entry level to enterprise. Higher plans unlock more features, such as advanced attendance rules, approvals, analytics and customisation. Which feature sits in which plan is shown on Zoho's plan comparison.
- Free version. Third-party directories such as Capterra India list a free version for very small teams. Confirm the employee limit and what it includes before relying on it.
- Free trial. Zoho offers a trial. Check its length on Zoho's site.
- Billing period. Many SaaS plans are priced lower on annual billing than monthly. Ask which one the price you see refers to.
What Usually Costs Extra
This is the part that decides your real bill.
- Payroll. Zoho People covers HR records, attendance and leave. Payroll (PF, ESI, TDS, payslips) is sold separately as Zoho Payroll, with its own per-employee price.
- Other Zoho products. Hiring (Zoho Recruit), expense claims (Zoho Expense) and similar needs are separate products with separate prices.
- Higher plans. A feature you assumed was standard may sit in a higher plan. Match your must-have list against the plan comparison, not the entry price.
- GST. Confirm whether the displayed price includes GST or whether tax is added at checkout.
- Setup and support. Ask whether implementation, data migration, training and priority support are included or charged.
Estimate Your Real Zoho People Cost in 5 Steps
- Count employees. Include people you will hire in the next 6 months.
- List the modules you need. Leave, attendance, shifts, payroll, hiring, expenses.
- Pick the lowest plan that includes every item on your list. Do not choose by price alone.
- Add payroll and any other Zoho product for the same headcount.
- Add GST and any setup or support charges.
Then use this formula:
Monthly cost = (HR plan price × employees)
+ (Zoho Payroll price × employees)
+ (other Zoho products × employees)
+ GST
Questions to Ask Zoho Before You Buy
Copy these into an email or call:
- What is the total monthly price for my team size with attendance, leave and payroll included?
- Which features are in each plan, and which are not?
- Is the price you quoted monthly or annual billing? Is there a minimum number of users?
- Is GST included in the price?
- Are setup, migration and training charged?
- What happens to the price if I add 10 more employees mid-year?
- Are there limits on payroll runs, attendance rules or reports in my plan?
Save the answers in writing. They are the real price.
Zoho People vs Meagle 360: How the Pricing Models Differ
The two products price differently, so compare like for like.
| Zoho People | Meagle 360 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing unit | Per employee per month | Per user per month |
| Plans | Several plans, features vary by plan | One plan with everything included |
| Payroll | Separate product, priced separately | Included in the plan |
| Other modules | Some are separate Zoho products | Attendance, leave, payroll, employee database and self-service in one plan |
| Price | Depends on plan and add-ons, see Zoho's site | ₹149 per user per month |
What that means for your monthly bill with Meagle 360:
| Team size | Meagle 360 monthly cost | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| 10 employees | ₹1,490 | 10 × ₹149 |
| 25 employees | ₹3,725 | 25 × ₹149 |
| 50 employees | ₹7,450 | 50 × ₹149 |
For Zoho, run the 5-step estimate above with the numbers you get from Zoho, and compare the totals. Check GST and billing terms on both sides.
See Meagle 360's full pricing on one page: View pricing
Who Zoho People Suits (and Who It Does Not)
Zoho People is a good fit if:
- You already use other Zoho products and want one ecosystem
- You want flexible workflows and have someone who can configure them
- You want to start on a free or entry-level plan and grow into more features
You may want to look elsewhere if:
- You want attendance, leave and payroll under one flat price without adding separate products
- You do not have time to configure workflows and want to be live in days
- You want a predictable per-employee bill with no add-on math
If that second list sounds like you, read our comparison of the best HRMS software in India, or see how Keka's pricing works.
Common Mistakes When Comparing HRMS Prices
- Comparing a "starting from" price with someone else's all-inclusive price
- Forgetting that payroll can be billed separately
- Ignoring GST and annual billing requirements
- Buying for today's headcount and not next year's
- Choosing a plan before checking which features it includes
Want one price for attendance, leave, payroll and self-service, without adding up separate products? Meagle 360 is ₹149 per user per month with everything included. Book a free demo
Sources
- Zoho People on Capterra India
- Zoho People website (plans and pricing are linked from this page)
- Meagle 360 pricing
