AttendFirst vs greytHR: Honest Feature Comparison
Ravi builds attendance and workforce tools for Indian SMBs. Previously led product at two B2B SaaS startups in Hyderabad.
AttendFirst costs ₹4,485/year for 25 employees (attendance + leave only). greytHR costs ₹41,940+/year for the same team (full HR suite). AttendFirst includes GPS, selfie, and QR check-in on its free plan; greytHR’s free plan has no GPS and limited leave management. Choose AttendFirst for focused attendance tracking, greytHR if you need payroll and full HR.
Disclosure: We built AttendFirst. We’ll try to be fair, but you should know our bias upfront.
The Fundamental Difference
greytHR is a full HR suite: payroll, compliance, attendance, leave, expense management, employee self-service portal, and more. It’s designed for companies that want one platform for everything HR.
AttendFirst does two things: attendance tracking and leave management. No payroll, no expense management, no performance reviews. Built specifically for Indian businesses that want attendance done right without paying for HR features they don’t need.
Think of it this way: greytHR is a Swiss Army knife. AttendFirst is a sharp kitchen knife. Both cut. The question is what you’re cutting.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | AttendFirst | greytHR Free | greytHR Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan limit | 10 employees (all features) | 25 employees | — |
| Price (25 employees/year) | Rs.4,485 | Rs.0 (limited) | Rs.41,940+ |
| GPS check-in | Yes (free) | No | Paid add-on |
| Selfie verification | Yes (free) | No | Paid add-on |
| QR code check-in | Yes (free) | No | Yes (paid) |
| Mobile attendance | Yes (works in any browser) | No (web only) | Yes (paid app) |
| Leave types | Unlimited (PL/SL/CL/custom) | 1 type | Multiple |
| Half-day leave | Yes | No (free) | Yes |
| Manager approval workflow | Yes | Basic | Yes |
| Reports + Excel export | Yes | Basic | Advanced |
| Indian holiday calendar | Yes (gazetted holidays preloaded) | No (free) | Yes |
| Email notifications | Yes (21 notification types) | No (free) | Yes |
| Payroll | No (by design) | No | Yes |
| Expense management | No | No | Yes |
| Compliance (PF/ESI/TDS) | No | No | Yes |
Pricing Breakdown
For a 25-Person Team
AttendFirst: First 10 employees free. Remaining 15 × Rs.299/year = Rs.4,485/year. All features included.
greytHR Free: Rs.0, but no GPS, no selfie, no mobile app, one leave type only. Web-only check-in.
greytHR Paid (Starter): Rs.3,495/month = Rs.41,940/year. Includes payroll, compliance, advanced attendance. GPS and mobile attendance may require higher tiers.
The math: greytHR’s paid plan costs 9x more than AttendFirst. You’re paying for payroll, compliance tools, and other HR features. If you need those, greytHR is worth it. If you just need attendance and leave, you’re overpaying.
For a 50-Person Team
AttendFirst: 40 × Rs.299 = Rs.11,960/year.
greytHR Paid: Rs.3,495/month base + per-employee charges = Rs.50,000-70,000+/year depending on plan.
Where greytHR Wins
Be honest about it: greytHR is better if:
You need payroll. AttendFirst doesn’t do payroll and never will. If you need salary calculation, PF/ESI filing, TDS, payslips: greytHR handles it. So does Keka and Zoho Payroll.
You want one platform for everything. greytHR does attendance, leave, payroll, expenses, compliance, and employee self-service in one place. Less software to manage.
You have 25 or fewer employees and only need basic check-in. greytHR’s free plan supports 25 employees. If web-only check-in is enough (everyone works at desks in one office), it’s free and functional.
You need compliance features. PF, ESI, professional tax, TDS. greytHR automates Indian labor law compliance. AttendFirst doesn’t touch this.
Where AttendFirst Wins
GPS + selfie verification on the free plan. greytHR’s free plan has no GPS, no selfie, no mobile check-in. AttendFirst includes all three for free (up to 10 employees). If you have field staff, delivery workers, or employees at multiple locations, this is the difference between knowing where your people are and guessing.
Mobile-first attendance. AttendFirst works in any mobile browser. Employees check in from their phones with one tap: selfie + GPS captured automatically. greytHR’s free plan requires employees to be at a computer. Read more about how selfie check-in compares to biometric machines.
Simpler for small teams. If you have 15 employees at a shop and you’re currently using an attendance register, AttendFirst does exactly what you need. greytHR will show you payroll settings, compliance modules, and expense features you’ll never use.
Price at scale. At 50 employees, AttendFirst costs Rs.11,960/year. greytHR’s attendance-capable paid plan costs 4-6x that. If you run payroll separately (many Indian SMBs use their CA or a separate tool), AttendFirst saves you significant money.
Leave management depth on free plan. AttendFirst’s free plan includes unlimited leave types, half-day support, pro-rated quotas for mid-year joiners, manager approval workflows, and automated reports. greytHR’s free plan gives you one leave type with basic tracking.
Common Scenarios
”I run a retail shop with 8 employees across 2 locations”
Use AttendFirst. Free for 8 employees. GPS tells you which location each employee checked in from. Selfie prevents buddy punching. greytHR’s free plan won’t tell you location since there’s no GPS.
”I have 40 employees and need payroll + attendance”
Use greytHR (or Keka). You need payroll, and AttendFirst doesn’t do it. Paying for attendance separately when you need an HR suite doesn’t make sense.
”I have 30 employees and my CA handles payroll”
Use AttendFirst. Rs.5,970/year for attendance + leave management. Your CA continues to handle payroll. No point paying Rs.50,000+/year for greytHR when you only use the attendance piece.
”I have 10 employees at a construction site”
Use AttendFirst. Free. GPS + selfie from the construction site. Workers check in from their phones. greytHR’s free plan doesn’t work for field workers since it’s web-only.
”I’m a startup with 25 employees, everyone works from the office”
Either works. greytHR’s free plan covers 25 employees with web check-in. If everyone’s at desks, that’s fine. But if you want GPS tracking for WFH days or selfie verification, AttendFirst at Rs.4,485/year is cheaper than greytHR’s paid plans.
The Bottom Line
Choose greytHR if: You need payroll, compliance, or a full HR suite. The attendance features come bundled with everything else.
Choose AttendFirst if: You need attendance and leave management only. Especially if you need GPS/selfie verification, have field workers, or want more features on the free plan than greytHR offers.
There’s no “better” tool. There’s only a better fit for what you need. Looking at more options? See our comparison of 5 genuinely free attendance tools.
AttendFirst is free forever for up to 10 employees with GPS, selfie, QR code check-in, and full leave management. No payment required.
Get attendance tips for Indian businesses
One practical guide per week. No spam.
Ready to try it?
Free forever for up to 10 employees. No payment required. Setup in 5 minutes.