Keka HR Software Overview + Alternative

Keka is a popular HR and payroll platform built to manage everything from hiring to attendance in one place.

It’s packed with features and used by teams across industries.

But like many all-in-one tools, it can sometimes feel heavy, especially for smaller teams.

If you’re looking for something simpler and quicker to set up, there’s a strong alternative. Here's a quick look at Keka and the tool that might suit you better:

What is the Keka HR software?

Keka isn’t just a name that sticks - it started sticking in the real world back in 2015, when Vijay Yalamanchili and his team launched it in Hyderabad, India, with one goal: help companies handle people stuff without getting buried in spreadsheets.

It began as a payroll tool. Not the kind you dread opening. Just six steps and your month-end is done. Since then, it’s grown into something bigger: a full HR and payroll system that tracks time, manages hiring, stores employee info, and yes, even reminds people to praise their teammates (not just in meetings).

Today, over 2.5 million employees log into Keka across industries, from pharma to fintech.

What’s interesting? The platform shapes itself around how your company works. Blue-collar, white-collar, remote, retail, tech - it adapts. There's even a "one screen fits me" setup where employees see only what they need.

You get attendance tracking with GPS or biometrics. Project timesheets. Learning modules. Payroll with tax handling built in. It’s all there, under one roof.

And if that roof needs support? Keka’s help desk responds fast and without the usual back-and-forth.

So, what is Keka? It’s a tool that grew out of payroll pain and turned into a full-blown digital HQ for your people.

How much does Keka cost? Pricing analysis

Pricing pages can be a maze, but we walked through Keka’s and made sense of it.

Three main areas: HRMS & Payroll, Hiring, and PSA (Projects & Timesheets).

Each one has its own perks and price tag. Let’s break them down by what they do and what they cost:

HRMS & payroll plans

Think payroll, attendance, tax, perks, files, feedback - stuff your people team handles every day.

FOUNDATION

For companies starting out or switching from legacy versions.

$9/month/employee

Includes:

Payroll, tax, and expense tracking
Attendance, shift setup, and leave policies
Mobile app, basic reports, social wall, praise
Gamified attendance (yes, points for showing up)
Document letters and notification center

STRENGTH

For teams past the basics, looking to reduce drag on processes.

$16/month/employee

Adds:

Selfie check-ins, continuous location tracking
e-signatures (Keka Sign), travel desk, asset tracking
Employee pulse surveys, mobile OTP login
Advanced analytics, exit surveys, people timeline

GROWTH

For organizations focused on performance, planning, and headcount.

$22/month/employee

On top of everything above, you get:

Company-wide OKRs, skill tracking, goal insights
One-on-ones, calibration, compensation plans
Workflow automation, custom report builder
Performance improvement plans and reviews

Hiring plans

Built for recruiters juggling resumes, interviews, and JD stress.

PRO

$50/month per recruiter. Covers:

Job board, referrals, resume parsing
Chrome extension, scorecards, tags
Candidate emails and pre-offer steps
Dashboards and analytics

ADVANCED

$75/month per recruiter. Includes everything in PRO, plus:

JD match scoring, unlimited talent pools
Workflow automation and custom access roles
Custom reports, dashboards, career portal tweaks

PSA (projects & timesheets)

If you're running client projects, tracking billable hours, or syncing work to revenue.

BASIC

Pricing on request. Good for task timers, daily entries, project views, and 30+ ready-made reports.

PRO

Pricing on request. Adds:

Resource planning and analytics
Billing and invoicing (T&M, retainers, milestones)
Light CRM with opportunity tracking
Revenue by project, client, or region

ADVANCED

Pricing on request. The full kit:

Smart resource allocation
Forecasts for revenue and staffing
Payroll tool syncs (QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP)
Historic health, WBS mapping, approvals galore

What real users say about Keka

We went through the 1,459 reviews on G2, and here’s the quick stat: Keka holds a strong 4.5 out of 5 rating.

What stood out from the users' opinions?

Pro: it’s easy to get the hang of

Users consistently say that Keka is simple to learn and quick to use, even for new hires or interns.

“People can understand Keka easily and will get hands on.” - Komal S., HR Executive

Pro: great support, real humans

Whether you’re fixing login issues or chasing down a stuck leave request, Keka’s team gets called out often for how much they care.

“Customer support is the best part… they are available anytime to solve queries.” - Verified User, HR

Pro: everything in one place

Payroll, time tracking, documents, attendance - it’s all in one system. No need to jump between tabs or download separate tools to get things done.

“We can track attendance, salary, leaves - all in one software.” - Digambar B., BIM Engineer

Con: biometric sync is a little slow

Some users mention delays in attendance logs after punching in. So if you're on mac or iOS and expect instant feedback, you might wait a second.

“The biometric doesn’t refresh right away after punching - it’s confusing.” - Pranay B., BIM Engineer

Con: complex parts for beginners

A few reviewers found areas like payroll formats, F&F, or goal development tricky at first. These might need more onboarding or a built-in help guide.

“Performance section is more complex compared to similar software.” - Chandrakant S., HR

Con: long setup time for changes

One manager pointed out that even small changes can take time to go live. If you’re looking to quickly adjust settings or user rights, it might not be instant.

“Implementation takes time - especially for changes.” - Priti C., HR Manager

Con: some delays in approvals

Whether it’s a leave request or log adjustment, getting manager sign-off can take a while.

“It takes time to get approval from the manager for leave or log edits.” - Rishabh B., Coordinator

The best Keka alternative in 2025: Unrubble

So, you’ve read what real users think of Keka. Lots of praise, sure, but also a few sticking points. Setup takes time. Features sometimes feel too compressed into complex menus. And while support is there, not everything works as fast as you'd hope.

Now, let’s flip the script. Enter Unrubble. A lightweight, modern HR and time-tracking tool that skips the clutter and gets straight to what your team actually needs.

Unrubble is a people-first platform built to eliminate the stress of tracking time, managing time off, scheduling shifts, and logging hours. It’s used by companies like Toyota, Denon, and Caritas, but it’s especially loved by small and mid-sized teams who don’t want to fight their software.

No legacy feel. No heavy dashboard menus. No need to download a training manual just to figure out your next punch-in.

Why Unrubble is better than Keka

Let’s be real. If you're a small team or growing business, you probably don’t need 17 dashboards, 5 types of approval chains, or a setup phase that takes weeks. Here's where Unrubble pulls ahead, and fast:

1. Set up in minutes, not months

Keka users often say onboarding takes time and that even small changes can drag. With Unrubble, the setup is “stupid-easy.” You can set shifts, rules, and teams without calling IT. Need to start tracking time today? You can.

2. Privacy and security baked in

Your data is encrypted. Always. Unrubble doesn’t trade or share your info. It makes money off subscriptions, not your team's data. That’s a big privacy win for any company with sensitive records.

3. Cleaner experience on web and mobile

Keka works across platforms, but some users hit glitches, especially on biometric punch-ins. With Unrubble, your team can clock in using face ID, browser, or app. No fuss. The mobile experience is fast and smooth, and yep, it even works beautifully on iOS.

4. Scheduling that doesn’t break your brain

Forget clunky shift management. Unrubble’s scheduler uses drag-and-drop, drafts, real-time changes, and smart alerts. One user even said, “Scheduling became a breeze.” Compare that to multiple Keka reviews about slow manager approvals and you'll see the difference.

5. Transparent pricing that fits your headcount

Unrubble’s pricing model adjusts based on how many people are using it. No hidden fees. No confusing breakdowns. Just a clear set of features and fair rates.

Features that matter (and don’t overwhelm)

Time tracking: see lateness, overtime, and work totals at a glance
Scheduling: build, edit, and publish shifts in real-time (no email chain needed)
PTO tracking: vacation, WFH, business trips? All logged and visible
Business trip management: track travel, upload receipts, and keep docs in one spot
Mobile Time Clock: face recognition and anti-spoofing on any device
Employee Self-Service App: let employees check their status, share updates, and respond to changes instantly
Timesheets in real time: no need to export, wait, or compress into Excel

But wait - what about support and updates?

Our support team is known for actually listening. Feature requests aren’t ignored, and improvements roll out often. Unlike big systems bogged down by endless corporate layers and funding cycles, our team works with a real feedback loop. Got ideas? We'll listen to them. Want to reach a human instead of a bot? You can.