# Staff Khata vs Keka

> Compare Staff Khata and Keka on pricing, attendance methods, biometric machines, payroll, field tracking and languages for Indian SMBs.

Checked 8 November 2026. Prices exclude GST.

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.

## Comparison

| | 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 |

## 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
- Staff Khata: https://staffkhata.com/pricing

Page: https://staffkhata.com/compare/keka-alternative