Comparison · checked 8 November 2026
Staff Khata vs Keka
Keka is a full HRMS for companies with an HR team, with strong statutory payroll and 1,000+ device integrations, but it does not publish prices and charges a setup fee. Staff Khata is simpler and built for owner-run shops, factories and field teams: attendance by selfie + GPS, a rotating QR or Realtime biometric machines, payroll at a published ₹0.50 per employee per day, WhatsApp updates for the owner and 55 languages.
| Feature | Staff Khata | Keka |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free forever up to 50 staff: attendance from 1 Realtime biometric machine and daily reports (no payroll or mobile app) | No free plan (free trial) |
| Paid pricing | Growth ₹0.50 per employee per day (about ₹15/month): payroll, mobile app, selfie + GPS, leave, shifts. Pro HRMS ₹1/day adds live field tracking | Not published on the vendor site (Foundation, Strength, Growth plans; setup fee) |
| Attendance methods | Selfie + GPS radius punch, QR code that rotates every 40 seconds, Realtime biometric machines | Selfie with face match, geofence, IP restriction, remote clock-in; integrates 1,000+ biometric devices |
| Biometric hardware | Works with Realtime biometric machines you buy from any Realtime dealer | Third-party devices, brands not named |
| Payroll and compliance | Growth plan and above: monthly and weekly payroll, PF, ESI, professional tax, advances, payslip PDFs | PF, ESI, PT, TDS, LWF, payslips, Form 16 on all plans |
| Field staff tracking | Pro HRMS plan (₹1 per employee per day): live map, customer stops with notes and bills, trip replay, fake-GPS detection | Continuous location punching from the Strength plan |
| Owner alerts | Punch alerts and daily summaries on WhatsApp or SMS | Not listed |
| Languages | 55 languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Bengali | English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada (app listing) |
| Platforms | Web, Android, iOS | Web, Android, iOS |
| Best for | Shops, factories and field teams of 10–500 staff who want attendance and payroll in their own language at a low per-employee price | Growing companies with an HR team that want a full HRMS from 10 to 10,000 staff |
Prices exclude GST and come from each vendor's pricing page on 8 November 2026; [3P] marks figures from a third-party listing. "Not listed" or "Not verified" means we could not find it on the vendor's site, not that the feature is missing. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Keka cost?
Keka does not publish INR prices on its pricing page; it lists Foundation, Strength and Growth plans with a free trial and a setup fee (checked 8 November 2026). Staff Khata Growth is ₹0.50 per employee per day.
Is Keka good for a 20-staff shop?
Keka can scale from 10 employees, but it is designed for companies with an HR function. A shop owner who mainly needs attendance, salary and payslips usually finds a simpler app such as Staff Khata quicker to run.
Does Keka work in Hindi?
Keka's app listing includes Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Staff Khata works in 55 languages.
Sources
- Keka: https://www.keka.com/pricing (opens in a new tab)
- Staff Khata: staffkhata.com/pricing