Zoho Recruit vs Keka
Zoho Recruit and Keka are both popular with Indian teams but solve different problems: Zoho Recruit is a dedicated applicant tracking system, while Keka is a full HRIS (payroll, attendance, leave) with a hiring module.
Key takeaways
- Zoho Recruit is a dedicated ATS; Keka is a full HRIS with a basic hiring module.
- Keka wins on payroll/HRIS; Zoho Recruit wins on dedicated recruitment.
- Neither offers explainable AI scoring or automated interviews.
- workro adds AI recruitment depth and pairs with an HRIS like Keka for payroll.
Choose Zoho Recruit if recruitment is your priority and you want a dedicated ATS; choose Keka if you need payroll and full HRIS with basic hiring built in.
| Feature | Zoho Recruit | Keka |
|---|---|---|
| Primary strengthFocus | Dedicated ATS | Full HRIS + payroll |
| Applicant pipelineCore ATS | Strong | Basic (module) |
| Payroll & attendanceHRIS | Core strength | |
| Resume matchingAI | Keyword-based | Basic |
| Automated scored interviewsAI | ||
| India complianceIndia fit | Good | Strong (payroll/statutory) |
| IntegrationsEcosystem | Zoho suite + others | HR ecosystem |
| Free tierPricing | Yes (1 job) | |
| Pricing modelPricing | Per-user | Bundled HRIS |
Zoho Recruit and Keka cover ATS and HRIS respectively, but neither offers explainable AI resume scoring or automated interviews. workro is the AI-native recruitment layer: explainable 0–100 scoring, automated behavioural and technical interviews, DPDP compliance, and a free-forever plan — pair it with Keka for payroll, or use it instead of Zoho Recruit for AI-first hiring.
Try workro freeFrequently asked questions
Should I use Zoho Recruit or Keka?+
Use Zoho Recruit if recruitment is your focus and you want a dedicated ATS; use Keka if you need payroll and full HRIS with basic hiring. For AI-first recruitment, workro complements either.
Is Keka an ATS?+
Keka is primarily an HRIS (payroll, attendance, leave) with a basic hiring module, not a dedicated ATS. For deeper recruitment features, a dedicated ATS like Zoho Recruit or an AI-native tool like workro fits better.
Which is better for AI recruitment?+
Neither Zoho Recruit nor Keka centres on AI recruitment. workro offers explainable AI resume scoring and automated interviews, with a free plan to start.
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