EzNxt vs Keka: Which HRMS is Right for Your Team Size?
Short answer: Keka is enterprise HR software starting at ₹6,999/month, built for 100+ employee organizations. EzNxt is free for up to 10 users and designed for Indian startups and SMBs with 2–50 employees. If you have fewer than 50 employees, EzNxt gives you the same core HR modules — without the enterprise price tag.
Last updated: June 2026 • Keka pricing based on published rates (India, billed annually)
Quick Comparison: EzNxt vs Keka
| Feature | EzNxt | Keka |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free (up to 10 users) | ₹6,999/month (up to 100 employees) |
| Minimum Annual Cost | ₹0 | ₹83,988/year |
| Best For | Startups and SMBs, 2–50 employees | Mid-size companies, 100+ employees |
| Employee Records | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Leave Management | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Attendance Tracking | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| ATS / Recruitment | ✅ Included Free | ✅ Additional cost |
| Performance Reviews | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Payroll (PF/ESI/TDS filing) | ⚠️ Basic (filing on roadmap) | ✅ Full automated filing |
| CRM Module | ✅ Included Free | ❌ Not available |
| Accounting Module | ✅ Included Free | ❌ Not available |
| Asset Tracker | ✅ Included Free | ❌ Not available |
| Helpdesk | ✅ Included Free | ❌ Not available |
| Free Plan | ✅ 10 users, all modules | ❌ No free plan |
| Credit Card Required | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Setup Time | Same day | 2–4 weeks typical |
Why Startups and SMBs Choose EzNxt Over Keka
The pricing gap is too large for early-stage teams
Keka's minimum plan starts at ₹6,999/month billed annually — that is ₹83,988 per year before you hire your first employee, run your first payroll, or open your first leave request. For a startup with 10–30 employees, this is a significant HR overhead cost. EzNxt is free for up to 10 users and costs ₹80/user/month after that. A 25-person team pays ₹1,200/month on EzNxt vs ₹6,999+ on Keka.
Keka is built for 100+ employees — not for startups
Keka was designed for mid-size and large Indian companies with complex payroll (PF/ESI/TDS compliance at scale), multiple branch locations, and dedicated HR teams. The platform depth and setup complexity reflects this. Most startups with 5–50 employees do not need enterprise HR software — they need something that works on day one without a 2–4 week implementation project.
EzNxt includes CRM, accounting, and ATS that Keka does not
Keka is a standalone HR platform. It does not have CRM, accounting, or helpdesk. A business using Keka for HR still needs separate tools for customer management and accounting. EzNxt is a single platform: CRM, HRMS, ATS, Accounting, Projects, Asset Tracker, Bulk Mailer, and Helpdesk all share one database — so your HR data connects to your finance data without any integration setup.
ATS is built in, not an add-on
EzNxt includes a full applicant tracking system at no extra cost. Post jobs, track candidates through your hiring pipeline, schedule interviews, send offer letters, and convert hired candidates to employee records in HRMS with one click. In Keka, the recruitment module is available as an additional subscription on top of the base HR plan.
Where Keka is Better Than EzNxt
Keka is a genuinely strong product for the right use case. There are clear areas where Keka outperforms EzNxt:
Automated Indian Statutory Payroll
Keka is known for its automated PF, ESI, and TDS calculations with direct portal filing integrations. This is Keka's strongest differentiator. EzNxt supports salary data and structures but does not yet automate PF/ESI filing — this feature is on the EzNxt roadmap but is not available today.
Complex Multi-Branch Payroll
For businesses with offices in multiple states, complex shift patterns, variable components, and compliance across different employee categories, Keka's payroll depth handles edge cases that simpler platforms do not.
Workforce Analytics and HR Intelligence
Keka provides deeper HR analytics, workforce planning dashboards, and compensation benchmarking. For HR teams making data-driven decisions at scale, Keka's analytics depth is stronger.
Dedicated HR Team Support
Keka is built for companies with a dedicated HR function. Its interface and feature set assumes HR professionals are the primary users. For companies with a full-time HR manager handling 200+ employees, Keka's specialized depth is appropriate.
Cost Comparison: EzNxt vs Keka at Different Team Sizes
| Team Size | EzNxt/month | Keka/month (est.) | Annual Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 employees | ₹0 | ₹6,999+ | ₹83,988+/year |
| 10 employees | ₹0 | ₹6,999+ | ₹83,988+/year |
| 20 employees | ₹800 | ₹6,999+ | ₹73,188+/year |
| 50 employees | ₹3,200 | ₹6,999+ | ₹45,588+/year |
| 100 employees | ₹7,200 | ₹6,999+ | Break-even range |
EzNxt: first 10 users free, then ₹80/user/month. Keka: ₹6,999/month minimum for HR-only. Keka pricing may vary by plan and features selected.
Who Should Choose EzNxt vs Keka?
Choose EzNxt if you are:
- A startup or SMB with 2–50 employees
- Looking for a free HRMS with no minimum spend
- Needing CRM and accounting alongside HR in one tool
- Not yet ready to invest ₹83,000+/year in HR software
- Wanting to start immediately — no 2-week implementation
- An Indian business wanting INR pricing with no contract
Choose Keka if you are:
- A company with 100+ employees needing enterprise HRMS
- Requiring fully automated PF, ESI, and TDS payroll filing
- Running complex multi-branch or multi-state payroll
- Needing advanced shift management and workforce scheduling
- Wanting deep HR analytics and compensation benchmarking
- Able to invest ₹6,999+/month dedicated to HR software
EzNxt vs Keka: Final Verdict
These two products serve different markets. Keka is an enterprise HR platform for companies with 100+ employees and complex statutory payroll needs. Its depth in PF/ESI/TDS automation and workforce analytics is genuine — but so is its minimum ₹83,000/year price tag.
EzNxt is built for Indian startups and SMBs with 2–50 employees who need real HR processes without the enterprise overhead. Free for your first 10 users, ₹80/user/month after that, and it includes CRM, accounting, and project management that Keka simply does not offer. For most early-stage Indian businesses, EzNxt is the more practical and dramatically more affordable starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions: EzNxt vs Keka
What is the main difference between EzNxt and Keka?
The main differences are scale and pricing. Keka is built for companies with 100+ employees and starts at ₹6,999/month. EzNxt is built for small businesses with 2–50 employees and is completely free for up to 10 users. If you have fewer than 50 employees and are not yet ready for enterprise HR software, EzNxt is the more practical choice.
Is EzNxt a Keka alternative for small businesses?
Yes. EzNxt is the most direct Keka alternative for small businesses with under 50 employees. EzNxt covers the same core HR modules — employee records, leave management, attendance, performance reviews, and a built-in ATS — at no cost for the first 10 users. Keka requires a minimum subscription of ₹6,999/month.
Does EzNxt have payroll like Keka?
Keka is known for automated payroll with PF, ESI, and TDS calculation and filing. EzNxt HRMS supports salary structures, allowances, and deductions for payroll data — but full automated PF/ESI compliance filing is on the EzNxt roadmap. For businesses that need fully automated Indian statutory payroll right now, Keka has an advantage in this area.
How much does Keka cost vs EzNxt?
Keka starts at ₹6,999/month for up to 100 employees (billed annually). That is ₹83,988/year at minimum. EzNxt is free for up to 10 users and costs ₹80/user/month after that. For a 20-person team, EzNxt costs ₹800/month while Keka would cost ₹6,999/month or more.
Does EzNxt have an ATS like Keka?
Yes. EzNxt includes a full ATS (Applicant Tracking System) in the same platform as HRMS. You can post jobs, track candidates, schedule interviews, and convert a hired candidate to an HRMS employee record in one click. Keka also has a recruitment module, but it comes at an additional cost on top of the base HRMS subscription.
Can small startups use Keka?
Keka is designed for companies with 100+ employees. While technically available for smaller teams, the minimum pricing of ₹6,999/month makes it expensive for startups with 5–30 employees. Most Indian startups and SMBs use EzNxt or similar tools until they reach 100+ employees, then consider Keka or DarwinBox for the additional compliance automation needed at scale.
Does EzNxt integrate HR with CRM and accounting like a full business platform?
Yes — and this is a key differentiator. EzNxt is a single platform with CRM, HRMS, ATS, Accounting, Projects, Asset Tracker, Bulk Mailer, and Helpdesk all sharing one database. Keka is a standalone HR platform. If you need to manage both customers (CRM), employees (HRMS), and accounts in one system, EzNxt does this. Keka does not.
When should I choose Keka over EzNxt?
Choose Keka when your company has 100+ employees and needs enterprise-grade payroll automation with direct PF/ESI/TDS portal filing, complex shift management, workforce analytics, or multi-branch payroll processing. Keka excels at complex Indian statutory compliance at scale. EzNxt is the right choice for 2–50 employee companies that need integrated CRM, HR, and accounting without the enterprise cost.
Why pay ₹83,988/year when you can start free?
EzNxt is free for your first 10 users — HRMS, ATS, CRM, Accounting, and 4 more modules included. No minimum contract, no credit card.
When your team exceeds 100 employees and needs automated PF/ESI filing, you can evaluate Keka then. Until that point, EzNxt is built for exactly your stage.
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