The one-line difference
Keka wins on brand depth and ecosystem breadth for larger, scaling companies. AccoNova wins on entry cost and India-first statutory payroll for smaller teams: a free tier up to 15 employees, native EPFO ECR export, multi-state Professional Tax and hardware-free GPS/kiosk attendance. Pick Keka if you are a 100+ employee firm that wants a large suite; pick AccoNova if you are an Indian MSME that wants compliant payroll without an enterprise contract.
AccoNova vs Keka at a glance
| Criteria | AccoNova HRMS | Keka HR |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Free up to 15 employees | No free-forever plan (trial only) |
| Primary segment | Indian MSMEs & small teams | Fast-scaling mid-market, 100+ employees |
| Pricing model | Flat buffer capacity — see current plans | Quote-based; per-additional-employee fee published |
| EPFO ECR text export | Native 1-click #~# export | Verify current plan with vendor |
| Multi-state Professional Tax | State-wise slab handling | Verify current plan with vendor |
| Attendance capture | GPS geofencing + tablet kiosk mode | GPS/selfie options; verify plan |
| Comparison / alternative content | Growing cluster of "vs" and alternative pages | Extensive /compare and /alternative library |
| Free calculators | CTC, EPF, Professional Tax calculators | Free-tools calculator hub |
Vendor facts are compiled from public Keka pages and reputable third-party sources, checked 20 October 2026. Vendors change plans and prices frequently — verify on the vendor's own site before you buy.
Where AccoNova is built differently
Built for the 15–100 employee Indian company
Keka scales up; AccoNova starts where Indian MSMEs actually are.
Statutory payroll that matches how Indian filings work
EPF ECR, ESI returns and multi-state Professional Tax are core, not add-ons.
Attendance evidence without biometric hardware
GPS geofencing and tablet kiosk mode replace expensive scanners.
Where Keka is genuinely stronger
We would rather you choose well than choose us. Keka has a decade-plus of domain age, a much larger brand, thousands of referring domains and a deep content and events footprint (city HR conclaves, a broad /compare and /alternative library). If you are a 100+ employee company that wants a large, well-known suite and does not mind quote-based pricing, Keka is a reasonable default. AccoNova competes on a narrower, sharper promise: India-first statutory payroll for MSMEs, with a free start.
Frequently asked questions
Does Keka have a free plan?
Keka does not publish a free-forever plan; it offers a trial and quote-based plans. AccoNova offers a free tier for up to 15 employees. Confirm both on the vendors’ own pricing pages before deciding.
Is AccoNova cheaper than Keka?
For very small teams, AccoNova’s free tier up to 15 employees and flat buffer pricing can cost less than Keka, whose plans target 100+ employee companies and are quote-based. Compare against your own headcount and required modules.
Which is better for a 20–50 employee Indian company?
Both can work. Keka is strongest for fast-scaling mid-market firms that want a large ecosystem; AccoNova is aimed at Indian MSMEs that need statutory payroll (EPF ECR, ESI, multi-state PT) and GPS/kiosk attendance without an enterprise contract.
Can AccoNova export EPFO ECR files?
AccoNova includes native EPFO ECR text-file export (#~# delimited) in core payroll. Always confirm module availability for your selected plan and validate a sample file against the EPFO portal before filing.
More vendor comparisons
Planning a move from Keka
Moving HR software is mostly about data and timing. If you are switching from Keka, plan three things. First, export your employee master, salary structures and year-to-date figures so the new system can carry balances forward. Second, keep the EPF and ESI filings you have already made; you will need them if an employee or an auditor asks. Third, run one month in parallel: process the same payroll in both tools and compare the output line by line before you switch off the old one. AccoNova includes guided setup, and the free tier for up to 15 employees lets a small team test the workflow before paying. Choose a cut-over month that is not already busy with appraisals or restructuring, and agree the date with your accountant.
About this page
Written and maintained by the AccoNova editorial and payroll team, and last reviewed on (first published ). Vendor facts are compiled from public vendor pages and reputable third-party sources and were checked on 20 October 2026; vendors change plans and prices frequently, so verify on the vendor's own site before you buy. AccoNova publishes product guidance and educational resources; no independent qualified statutory reviewer is claimed.
Ready to run payroll the simple way?
AccoNova is free up to 15 employees, with Indian statutory payroll and hardware-free attendance. See the plans or book a short demo.