Side by side
Paybooks vs Payroll Engine
Both stand on global payroll software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial AndroidAPIiPhone+1
Choose Paybooks if your business in India needs payroll and compliance software, employee self-service, or outsourced payroll support. Businesses seeking a free plan should look elsewhere; pricing requires an inquiry.
Visit Paybooks
Free plan APILinuxMac+3
Payroll Engine offers a configurable framework and developer tools for embedding payroll processing, but deployment and security settings need attention. Its maker explicitly says not to expose the backend to the public Internet.
Visit Payroll EngineThe facts
| Paybooks | Payroll Engine | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | Yes |
| Open source | No | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, API, iPhone, Web | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Essential: ₹2,499 a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 8 | 1 |
| Maker | Paybooks | Not published |
| Website | paybooks.in | payrollengine.org |
| On global payroll software | #6 of 29 | #2 of 29 |
Paybooks: what it does well
- Covers payroll processing, revisions, arrears, and variable pay
- Includes Indian statutory compliance and tax filing
- Employee portal supports payslips, tax forms, and benefits enrollment
- Attendance tools include overtime, shifts, and biometric integration
- Managed payroll services include dedicated payroll specialists
What to know first
- No free plan
- Pricing is available on request
Payroll Engine: what it does well
- REST API supports tenant and employee management.
- Handles recurring and non-recurring payruns.
- Includes testing tools for validation and regression testing.
- Offers a browser-based management application.
- Released under the MIT License.
What to know first
- Country regulations are commercial.
- A database must be provided separately.
- Authentication and audit trails are disabled by default.
- Maker says not to use the backend on the public Internet.
Alternatives to Paybooks Alternatives to Payroll Engine The whole list