Darwinbox vs sumHR (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Darwinbox if

• Fits if you run a large company that wants HR and payroll from one vendor
• Works for firms that need payroll across several countries

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you are a small business, as it is aimed at 1,000-plus employees
• Watch out: no prices are published
• Skip it if you want a free plan or a trial, as neither is listed
• Watch out: only the Philippines page was readable, and other country sites may list different modules

Pick sumHR if

• Fits if you are a small Indian firm that wants to pay per user
• Works for teams that are happy to use Jupiter Salary Accounts

Look elsewhere if

• Watch out: the prices are marked exclusive with Jupiter Salary Accounts, so rates may differ without them
• Tight if you want to try it first, as there is no free plan or trial
• Watch out: a one-time set-up fee by employee count applies, and biometric integration has its own fee
• Pricey if you add recruitment at ₹999 per user a month or GPS clock-in at ₹25
• Watch out: some Advanced items are marked coming soon

Darwinbox

• No prices are published; buyers request a quote or a demo.
• The vendor positions the suite at enterprises, with its analyst citation covering HCM suites for 1,000+ employee companies.
• The Philippines page was the one readable; its country sites (UAE, Malaysia, Singapore and others) may list different modules.

sumHR

• A one-time setup fee based on employee count applies, and biometric integration has its own one-time fee.
• The page marks the prices as exclusive pricing with Jupiter Salary Accounts, so rates may differ without them.
• The recruitment add-on is ₹999 per user a month and GPS clock-in ₹25 per user a month.
• No refund for unused time if you cancel mid-subscription, and there is no minimum commitment.

Darwinbox

Core HR and employee records

Employee data, org structures and workflows are kept in one place from hire to exit.

Multi-country payroll

The site lists end-to-end, compliant payroll, taxes and settlements across multiple countries as one of its core modules.

Time, leave and shifts

Tracks time, leave and shifts with policy and compliance controls.

Talent management

Goals, performance reviews, development and succession planning sit in the same suite as payroll.

Analytics and AI

Prebuilt dashboards and custom HR reports, plus the Cortex AI-native HCM launch, with early access offered.

sumHR

Payroll

Online payroll for India is in every plan, with expense claims added from the Basic plan.

Attendance and leave

Web attendance, GPS clock-in with geo-fencing, biometric device integration and leave tracking.

Employee records

An employee database with self-service, onboarding and exit, HR letters and approval workflows.

Payroll outsourcing

For India and UAE customers the vendor offers end-to-end payroll outsourcing and statutory compliance services such as PF, ESI and TDS.

Performance and recruitment

The Advanced plan covers OKRs and 360-degree reviews; an applicant tracking add-on is priced separately.

Darwinbox

Pricing could not be confirmed. See darwinbox.com.

sumHR

• Startup₹49

  per user / month, billed annually

  Self-service, onboarding, employee database, attendance and leave, automated payroll and the mobile app.

• Basic₹69

  per user / month, billed annually

  Adds expense claims, policy center, HR letters, biometric attendance integration and automatic MIS reports.

• Advanced₹119

  per user / month, billed annually

  Adds helpdesks, OKRs and goals, asset manager and 360-degree reviews. Some items are marked coming soon.

• EnterpriseCustom

  For 250 or more employees or custom configuration and integrations.

Darwinbox

No public discounts listed.

sumHR

• Other savings

  Volume discounts above 100 employees

  The pricing FAQ says slab-based volume discounts are available when employee count is above 100.