greytHR alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 29, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave greytHR: no free plan; only a 7-day free trial, and performance, expenses and GPS tracking cost extra on lower plans. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces greytHR, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Zoho People currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Frappe HR	Open source	Yes	Web, Self-hosted, iOS +1	4 of 4	64.8
2	OrangeHRM	Open source	Yes	Web, Self-hosted, iOS +1	3 of 3	61.8

1. Frappe HRTop pick
Best for: Companies, especially in India, that want free open-source HR and payroll they can host
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, iOS, Android
64.8
score / 100
Why switch from greytHR
Open-source HR and payroll you can self-host, with Indian payroll support.
Pros
Free and open source, including payroll
Strong Indian payroll localisation
Pairs with ERPNext for accounting
Cons
Setup and localisation take effort
Functional rather than polished interface
Support through partners or community
Visit Frappe HR Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Frappe HR a good greytHR alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Open source
100% open source
Checked Oct 29, 2026frappe.io(opens source in a new tab)
Self-hosting
Yes, or managed cloud
Checked Oct 29, 2026frappe.io(opens source in a new tab)
India payroll
Supported
Checked Oct 29, 2026frappe.io(opens source in a new tab)
License
GPL-3.0
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. OrangeHRM
Best for: Organisations with IT staff that want a free, self-hosted HRIS
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, iOS, Android
61.8
score / 100
Why switch from greytHR
Open-source HR system with a free starter edition for core records and leave.
Pros
Free open-source Starter edition
Covers leave, time, recruiting and performance
Paid hosted edition available when needed
Cons
No payroll in the free edition
Community-only support for Starter
Interface lags behind commercial HRIS tools
Visit OrangeHRM Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is OrangeHRM a good greytHR alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
Open-source edition
Starter, free
Checked Oct 29, 2026orangehrm.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free trial
30 days (Advanced)
Checked Oct 29, 2026orangehrm.com(opens source in a new tab)
API
Yes
Checked Oct 29, 2026orangehrm.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best greytHR alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best greytHR alternative for most people

Zoho People

Affordable HR suite from an Indian vendor that pairs with Zoho Payroll and the rest of Zoho.

Best greytHR alternative for a free option

Frappe HR

Open-source HR and payroll you can self-host, with Indian payroll support.

Best greytHR alternative for open source

OrangeHRM

Open-source HR system with a free starter edition for core records and leave.

Best greytHR alternative for self-hosting

Frappe HR

Open-source HR and payroll you can self-host, with Indian payroll support.

Best greytHR alternative for iPhone and Android

Factorial

Polished all-in-one HR platform for growing teams outside a single country.

Best greytHR alternative for working in the browser

Zoho People

Affordable HR suite from an Indian vendor that pairs with Zoho Payroll and the rest of Zoho.

greytHR alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to greytHR?

Zoho People ranks first right now. Affordable HR suite from an Indian vendor that pairs with Zoho Payroll and the rest of Zoho. Frappe HR and OrangeHRM follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to greytHR?

Yes. Frappe HR (open source) and OrangeHRM (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to greytHR?

Yes: Frappe HR and OrangeHRM. Frappe HR and OrangeHRM can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from greytHR?

The complaints we hear most: no free plan; only a 7-day free trial; performance, expenses and GPS tracking cost extra on lower plans; payroll focus is India; not a fit for global teams.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces greytHR, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.