Comparison · checked 8 November 2026
Staff Khata vs Attendo (Petpooja Payroll)
Attendo (renamed from Petpooja Payroll in August 2026) charges one flat yearly fee with no per-employee charge (Petpooja's blog lists ₹9,000 + GST for the first year and ₹4,000 renewal) and uses its own devices. Staff Khata charges ₹0.50 per employee per day and works with Realtime biometric machines from any Realtime dealer, plus phone and QR attendance, in 55 languages. For a large team on Attendo's hardware the flat fee can be cheaper; for a small team, or if you already own a Realtime machine, Staff Khata usually is.
| Feature | Staff Khata | Attendo (formerly Petpooja Payroll) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 | Flat yearly fee, no per-employee charge (Petpooja blog: ₹9,000 + GST first year) |
| Attendance methods | Selfie + GPS radius punch, QR code that rotates every 40 seconds, Realtime biometric machines | Fingerprint, NFC card, face, passcode, mobile punch with photo and geofence |
| Biometric hardware | Works with Realtime biometric machines you buy from any Realtime dealer | Own devices only |
| Payroll and compliance | Growth plan and above: monthly and weekly payroll, PF, ESI, professional tax, advances, payslip PDFs | PF, ESIC, PT, TDS, LWF; monthly, weekly, daily and hourly pay cycles |
| Field staff tracking | Pro HRMS plan (₹1 per employee per day): live map, customer stops with notes and bills, trip replay, fake-GPS detection | Geo Track field attendance |
| Owner alerts | Punch alerts and daily summaries on WhatsApp or SMS | Not listed |
| Languages | 55 languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Bengali | Employee app in 11 Indian languages |
| 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 | Restaurants and outlets that want hardware included in one flat fee |
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 Spotted something out of date?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
Is Petpooja Payroll the same as Attendo?
Yes. Petpooja announced on 11 August 2026 that Petpooja Payroll is now called Attendo.
Which is cheaper for 20 staff, Staff Khata or Attendo?
Staff Khata Growth for 20 staff is about 20 × ₹0.50 × 365 = ₹3,650 a year. Attendo's first year is ₹9,000 + GST per Petpooja's blog, then ₹4,000 + GST a year. Attendo's renewal fee is cheaper above about 22 staff, and its first-year fee above about 49 staff.
Can I use my existing biometric machine?
With Staff Khata, yes, if it is a Realtime machine. Attendo uses its own Biometric, Biometric Pro and Face Scanner devices.
Sources
- Attendo (formerly Petpooja Payroll): https://attendohr.com (opens in a new tab)
- Staff Khata: staffkhata.com/pricing