If you are reading this article that means you are searching for best HR & Payroll software and shortlisted two options. Both are good choices, but they are built for very different types of businesses. And picking the wrong one could cost you a lot more than just money.
Believe me — this is one of the most common and typical questions Indian HR and business stuck around. “Runtime OR Keka — which one should we go with?”
So, let’s decode it without any fluff and marketing language. Just a clear, fact-based comparison so you can make the right call for your team and business.
Quick Overview — Who Are These Two?
Runtime HRMS is a Jaipur-based cloud HR and payroll platform built specifically for Indian small and mid-size businesses that want to automate attendance, payroll, leave management, compliance, employee records, and workforce tracking.
It focuses on affordability, ease of use, and complete HR automation from onboarding to exit with easily accessible customer support.
Keka is a Hyderabad-based HRMS platform, it has built a strong reputation for its clean UI and employee-centric design. Keka is widely used by companies in the 500–1000 employee range and has a strong focus on employee experience.
Both platforms cover the HR essentials, but that doesn’t mean that both are good for you, it’s totally depended upon the business requirements. So, let’s start.
Runtime HRMS vs Keka: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Runtime HRMS | Keka |
| Payroll Processing | ✅ All plans | ✅ All plans |
| PF / ESI / TDS / PT Compliance | ✅ Automated | ✅ Automated |
| Mobile Attendance (Geo-tagged) | ✅ All plans | ✅ Strength plan onwards |
| Geo-Fencing | ✅ All plans | ✅ Strength plan onwards |
| Biometric Integration | ✅ Addon (Basic) / Free (Pro+) | ✅ Available |
| Employee Self-Service App | ✅ All plans (Runtime Workman) | ✅ All plans |
| WhatsApp Notifications | ✅ All plans | ❌ Not standard |
| Travel Tracking (GPS) | ✅ Enterprise / Addon | ❌ Not available |
| HR Letter Automation | ✅ All plans | ✅ All plans |
| 50+ MIS Reports | ✅ All plans | ✅ All plans |
| AI Reporting | ✅ Professional+ plans | ❌ Not mentioned |
| Performance Management | ✅ Enterprise plan | ✅ Growth plan |
| Project Management | ✅ Professional+ plans | ✅ Available |
| Recruitment Module | ❌ Not available | ✅ Keka Hire (add-on) |
| Data Storage | ✅ Indian datacenters (AWS/Google/Azure) | ✅ Indian datacenters |
| Selfie Attendance | ✅ AWS Rekognition powered | ✅ Available in select workflows (Microsoft Azure powered) |
| Suitable for | ✅ 10-400 employees | ✅ 400-1000 employees |
Runtime HRMS uses AWS Rekognition for selfie-based attendance — the same enterprise-grade facial recognition technology used by global companies. Keka uses Microsoft Azure AI for face matching. Both are industry-leading technologies.
Two things Runtime HRMS has that Keka doesn’t:
- WhatsApp notifications — This is more useful feature than it sounds, especially for field teams and blue-collar workers.
- Travel Tracking with GPS — If you have field sales, service, or delivery employees than this is a significant differentiator.
One thing Keka has that Runtime doesn’t:
- Recruitment module (Keka Hire) — If the hiring is a major part of your HR workflow, then Keka’s recruitment module is a strong feature.
Customer Support
This is where real comparison starts, because after sales service is most important part of any product. These two platforms differ significantly — and the choice really matters for small businesses. Let’s check:
Runtime HRMS offers Live Chat, Email, Support Tickets, AI Chatbot, and Google Meet sessions — all included in every plan. For a small HR team of 1–2 people, this level of accessibility matters a lot.
Keka’s support is structured more for enterprise teams — dedicated account managers on higher plans, but chat and email response times vary. For smaller teams who need quick answers during payroll week — this can be a challenge.
| Points | Runtime HRMS | Keka |
| Live Chat | ✅ Mon-Fri 10AM-6PM | ✅ Available |
| AI Chatbot | ✅ 24/7 | ❌ Not mentioned |
| Google Meet Sessions | ✅ 1-2/month | ❌ Not standard |
| Onboarding Session | ✅ Free | ✅ Available |
| WhatsApp Support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Customer review tells that Runtime’s support team is responsive and genuinely helpful — especially during setup and payroll configuration.
One verified review says: “The support team is excellent; if you have a new requirement, their team will try to include it in the next release.“
Final verdict on support: If you have a small HR team – 2-3 people, with no dedicated IT support, then fast and accessible customer support is not optional. You need a dedicated customer support, and Runtime HRMS is perfect choice.
Ease of Use
Keka is genuinely regarded for its UI. It was built with a strong focus on user experience, and most users agree that it looks and feels modern.
Runtime HRMS is clean, functional, easy to navigate, and most HR managers are comfortable with it within a few days. The Runtime Workman employee app is well-regarded for its simplicity.
Verdict: If UI design is your top priority, then Keka should be in your list but if you want something that your team can use without training — Runtime HRMS gets the job done well.
Pricing Comparison — For a 50-Employee Company
| Items | Runtime HRMS (Basic) | Keka (Foundation) |
| Monthly Cost | ₹2,950 | ₹9,999 |
| Annual Cost | ₹35,400 | ₹1,19,988 |
| Payroll Included? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Performance Management | Enterprise plan | Growth plan (extra cost) |
| Free Trial | ✅ Book a Demo | ⚠️ Gated demo — no self-serve trial |
Who Should Choose What?
Choose Runtime HRMS if:
- If your team size is 10–400 employees
- If the budget is a priority and you want complete HR + payroll without enterprise pricing
- If you have field employees and need GPS-based travel tracking
- If you need WhatsApp notifications for employee communication
- If you want fast, accessible customer support without waiting days for a response
- If you’re a startup and want fixed pricing for 3 years (Startup Plan at ₹7,200/year)
Choose Keka if:
- If your team size is 500–1000 employees
- If UI and design are important to your team
- If you have active hiring needs and want a built-in recruitment module
- If your employees are tech-savvy and ESS adoption is a priority
- If you have the budget for ₹9,999–₹15,999/month plus add-ons
- If you don’t need travel tracking or WhatsApp notifications
- If you have a dedicated IT staff to resolve daily technical issues.
Summary
If you’re a small business owner or HR manager trying to decide, then you can start with a Runtime HRMS demo. See the product yourself, run a test payroll, and check if it fits your workflow. If it does — you’ll save lakhs every year compared to Keka.
If you genuinely need Keka’s specific strengths like recruitment module, advanced performance management, UI polish for a 500+ person team — then Keka may be worth the price.
But before jump on any decision, just keep in mind that best HRMS is the one your team uses and resolves your issues on time. Not the most expensive one.
👉 Book a Free Runtime HRMS Demo →
Disclaimer: All Keka pricing, features, and support information in this article is based on publicly available data from Keka’s official website and third-party review platforms as of June 2026. Pricing and features may change over time. We recommend verifying current details directly with Keka before making any purchase decision.