Compare/Head to head

Qandle vs Zoho People

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Qandle

$5/employee/mo Free trial

All-in-one HRMS covering core HR, payroll, attendance, leave, performance and a built-in ATS, aimed at mid-size and enterprise employers with shift-based or field workforces. Plans are billed per employee with a 50-user minimum plus a one-time implementation fee. Best for India-based or India-heavy teams that want statutory payroll and hiring in one system, not US companies shopping for a standalone recruiting tool.

Where Qandle fits

  • Indian employers that need PF, ESI and TDS handled inside payroll
  • Manufacturing, retail and field teams tracking shifts by biometric or GPS
  • Mid-size companies replacing separate HR, payroll and hiring tools
  • HR teams that want to pick modules rather than buy a fixed bundle

Zoho People

$1.25/user/mo 30 day free trial

Cloud HRIS from Zoho with a free plan for small teams. Paid Essential HR is $1.25/user/mo billed annually, with a five-user minimum.

Where Zoho People fits

  • Small HR teams already in the Zoho suite
  • Orgs that can start on the free five-user edition
  • Companies that need leave and files before attendance
  • HR ops that will add performance on Premium

At a glance

DetailQandleZoho People
Starting price$5/employee/mo$1.25/user/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trialYes30 day free trial
MCP server–No✓Yes
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underHRIS, ATS, Leave management, Onboarding, Payroll, Time & attendanceHRIS, Learning, Onboarding, Performance
CapterraNot enough reviews4.4 from 362 reviews

Where they pull apart

Qandle

Stands out: Qandle puts 40+ HR modules, including a recruitment module with AI resume matching and posting to 75+ job boards, into one modular platform where modules can be added or dropped at any time. Attendance supports biometric devices at no extra charge plus GPS, geo-fencing and face recognition, and payroll handles Indian statutory rules such as PF, ESI and TDS, backed by in-house payroll and compliance experts.

Watch out: The 50-user billing minimum means small teams pay for seats they do not use, and the implementation fee is only quoted during the demo. Payroll and compliance tooling is built around Indian rules, and the listed offices are in Gurugram, Hong Kong and London. Since the MYND acquisition the site also pushes MYND's outsourcing services, so expect that pitch alongside the software.

Not the right fit for

  • Teams under 50 employees, given the 50-user billing minimum
  • US companies that need US payroll tax filing
  • Recruiting teams that only want a standalone ATS or sourcing tool

Zoho People

Stands out: Low per-user pricing: Essential HR $1.25, Professional $2, Premium $3, and Enterprise $4.50 per user per month billed yearly.

Watch out: Paid plans require five users, so Essential HR costs at least $6.25/mo. Attendance starts on Professional, and performance, LMS, and help desk sit higher.

Not the right fit for

  • US payroll-first buyers (payroll is a separate Zoho product)
  • Teams that need attendance tracking on the $1.25 plan

Pros and cons

Qandle

  • Recruitment, payroll and attendance in one modular system
  • Biometric device integration at no extra charge
  • No lock-in or minimum commitment period
  • 50-user billing minimum
  • One-time implementation fee quoted only in the demo
  • Payroll compliance is built around Indian rules

Zoho People

  • Free edition for up to five users
  • Essential HR $1.25/user/mo billed yearly
  • 30-day trial, then you keep Free
  • Five-user minimum on paid plans
  • Attendance is not on Essential HR
  • Payroll is a separate Zoho SKU

What each one costs

Qandle

$5/employee/mo

Qandle's US pricing has three plans, each a $38/mo base price per company plus a per-employee rate. Billed monthly, Regular is $5/employee/mo, Plus (most popular) $9 and Premium $11.50; billed yearly they drop to $4.50, $8.10 and $10.40. Billing has a 50-user minimum, so Regular works out to at least $288/mo billed monthly, and there is a one-time implementation fee based on users and modules. Remote screen tracking is an add-on at $2.50/employee/mo ($2.25 yearly). There is no lock-in period, although unused annual credit is not refunded, and companies with more than 1,000 employees get an Enterprise quote. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 8 Oct 2026

Zoho People

$1.25/user/mo

The Free edition covers up to five users. Essential HR is $1.25, Professional $2, Premium $3, and Enterprise $4.50 per user per month billed annually, with a five-user minimum; monthly billing costs more. Paid plans include a 30-day free trial. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Qandle cheaper than Zoho People?
Zoho People starts lower, at $1.25/user/mo against $5/employee/mo for Qandle. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Qandle or Zoho People for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Qandle offers a free trial. Zoho People offers a 30 day free trial.
Does Qandle or Zoho People have an MCP server?
Zoho People ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 8 Oct 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?