An honest comparison
Kuzhu vs RazorpayX Payroll
Pick RazorpayX Payroll if payroll is the whole problem: you want salaries paid and PF, ESI, PT and TDS filed and paid automatically, with as little HR software around it as possible, and you are happy to bank with RazorpayX. It needs less setting up than any HRMS. Pick Kuzhu if you need attendance from biometric devices and phones, shift rosters, leave policies, expenses, assets and the rest of HR on the record payroll runs from, in a database of your own, with a person on the phone.
About RazorpayX Payroll: RazorpayX Payroll is the payroll product of Bengaluru-based Razorpay, built payroll-first: it computes salaries and PF, ESI, PT and TDS, then pays salaries and files and pays statutory dues automatically from a RazorpayX account. It suits startups and small companies whose main need is a payroll that runs itself, with light HR features around it. It is priced per employee per month, with a free plan for small teams. Their site.
Kuzhu is best for
Companies that need attendance, shifts, leave and operations feeding payroll on one record
RazorpayX Payroll is best for
Startups and small companies whose main need is a payroll that files and pays compliance itself
Side by side
What each one does
The RazorpayX Payroll column describes their product as generally offered; plans change, so confirm the current detail on their site before deciding. We do not quote competitor prices for the same reason.
| Area |  Kuzhu | RazorpayX Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per employee per month with no monthly minimum; Basic is free for life up to 15 employees | Per employee per month; a free plan for small teams |
| Indian payroll compliance | PF, ESI, PT, TDS, Form 24Q, arrears and F&F computed inside the run, with challans and registers for you to file | Computed, then filed and paid automatically through RazorpayX |
| Attendance sources | Biometric devices, web clock and GPS-tagged mobile punch, all into one muster | App-based attendance; check current plans for biometric device integration |
| Leave and shifts | Policy-driven leave with accrual, carry-forward and encashment; rotating rosters with week-offs and night allowances | Leave tracking; check current plans for shift rosters |
| Beyond HR | Expenses on Growth; assets, procurement, CRM, support desk and invoicing on Enterprise, all on the same employee record | Reimbursements and contractor payments; no assets, procurement, CRM or invoicing |
| Data ownership | Dedicated database per company, hosted in India; full export at any time and for 90 days after cancellation | Shared multi-tenant cloud hosted in India; exports through reports |
| Implementation | Two to four weeks, including one parallel payroll reconciled to the rupee | Self-serve setup, quick for a small salaried team |
| Support | Phone and WhatsApp in Hindi and English; priority queue on Growth, a named contact on Enterprise | Email and chat; check current plans for phone |
| Mobile app | Android and iOS: GPS punch, leave, payslips, expense claims and manager approvals | Employee app for payslips and requests — check current plans |
| White-label | On Enterprise: your logo, colours and hr.yourcompany.com with managed SSL | Check current plans |
Choose RazorpayX Payroll if
- You want statutory dues filed and paid automatically, not just computed
- Your company is salaried and office-based, with no biometric devices or shift rosters
- You already bank with RazorpayX and want payroll paid from the same account
- You want the least possible setup, and a free plan for a small team
Choose Kuzhu if
- You have biometric devices, field staff or shifts, and payroll must read real attendance
- You want leave policies, expenses, assets, procurement, CRM and a support desk on the same record
- You want a dedicated database of your own, hosted in India, with a full export at any time
- You want white-label branding on your domain, and a team that runs a parallel payroll with you
Questions people ask about Kuzhu and RazorpayX Payroll
Is Kuzhu cheaper than RazorpayX Payroll?
For payroll alone on a small salaried team, RazorpayX Payroll’s free plan may well be cheaper, and it is honest to say so. Kuzhu’s free Basic plan is core HR without payroll; payroll starts on Growth, priced per employee. Kuzhu earns its price when you also need attendance devices, shifts, leave policies and the operational modules on the same record.
Can I migrate from RazorpayX Payroll to Kuzhu?
Yes. Employees, salary structures, year-to-date TDS and leave balances come across from your export; we rebuild the pay components and prove them in a parallel payroll reconciled to the rupee. Salary payments then go out as bank transfer files in the formats major Indian banks accept, from whichever bank you use.
Does Kuzhu file and pay PF, ESI and TDS automatically like RazorpayX Payroll?
No. Kuzhu computes everything inside the run and produces the ECR file, challans, returns-ready registers and Form 24Q; the payment and filing on the government portals is done by you or your consultant. Kuzhu does not move money from a bank account. If automatic filing and payment is the feature you are buying, RazorpayX Payroll does it and Kuzhu does not.
Can Kuzhu pay salaries directly?
Kuzhu produces bank transfer files straight out of the payroll run, in the formats major Indian banks accept, and publishes payslips to every employee’s login. It is not a bank or a payments company, so the transfer itself is made from your own account. Payroll journals also export to Tally and other accounting systems.
Decide on your numbers
See both on your own payroll
Bring last month’s salary sheet. We run it through Kuzhu in front of you, show the difference, and tell you plainly if RazorpayX Payroll is the better fit for you.
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