Best payroll software in Kenya (October 2026)
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We ranked payroll tools for businesses in Kenya on PAYE, SHIF, NSSF coverage, M-Pesa payouts, and what you actually pay for a 10-person team.
The ranking
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1
Wingubox Payroll
by Wingubox · Payroll softwareBest for small teams wanting M-Pesa payoutsKenyan cloud payroll that prepares PAYE, SHIF, NSSF and Housing Levy reports and exports KRA P10 and M-Pesa bulk payment files.
PAYESHIFNSSFHousing LevyP10 returnM-Pesa payoutsPros
- Covers PAYE, SHIF, NSSF, Housing Levy, P10 return
- M-Pesa payouts
- Free for 1-2 employees; 30-day free trial
Cons
- No drawbacks found in our data
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2
AnooreHR
by AnooreHR · Payroll softwareBest free start for small teamsPayroll for small African businesses with Kenyan statutory tables (PAYE, SHIF, NSSF February 2026 limits, Housing Levy) and a free tier for up to 3 employees.
Pros
- Covers PAYE, SHIF, NSSF, Housing Levy
- Free tier for up to 3 employees, no card required
Cons
- P10 return: check on AnooreHR's site
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3
Workpay
by Workpay · Payroll softwareBest for outsourced or multi-country payrollNairobi-based payroll and HR platform covering 54 African countries, with bulk salary payouts, an employee app and an outsourced payroll option.
Pros
- Covers PAYE, P10 return
- M-Pesa payouts
- Local company with support in Kenya
Cons
- SHIF, NSSF, Housing Levy: check on Workpay's site
- No free plan
- Prices on request only
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4
Deel
by Deel · Employer of recordBest for hiring in Kenya without a local companyGlobal employer of record: Deel legally employs your staff in the country and runs their payroll and statutory deductions, so you need no local company.
Pros
- Covers PAYE, SHIF, NSSF, Housing Levy, P10 return as the legal employer
Cons
- Priced per employee in US dollars
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5
Remote
by Remote · Employer of recordBest for hiring in Kenya without a local companyGlobal employer of record and contractor platform: Remote employs your staff in the country and handles payroll and statutory deductions.
Pros
- Covers PAYE, SHIF, NSSF, Housing Levy, P10 return as the legal employer
Cons
- Priced per employee in US dollars
Not yet ranked
These products may sell in Kenya, but we have not confirmed enough data to score them. They join the ranking automatically once we do.
- Odoo Payroll: Payroll app inside the Odoo suite; a Kenya payroll localisation module is available on the Odoo app store. Not ranked yet: availability and pricing in Kenya still to be checked. Check on Odoo Payroll's site
Compare all in a table
| Rank | Product | Score | 10 staff (KES/month) | Free plan or trial | Statutory (of 5) | M-Pesa payouts | Type | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wingubox Payroll | 100 | 1,500 | Yes | 5 | Yes | Own payroll | Visit site |
| 2 | AnooreHR | 53 | Not published | Yes | 4 | Not confirmed | Own payroll | Visit site |
| 3 | Workpay | 51 | On request | No | 2 | Yes | Own payroll | Visit site |
| 4 | Deel | 48 | 776,903 | No | 5 | Not confirmed | Employer of record | Visit site |
| 5 | Remote | 48 | 906,603 | No | 5 | Not confirmed | Employer of record | Visit site |
Tap a column heading to sort; the rank column keeps our order. Prices in other currencies converted at 129.7 KES per USD (2026-10-09).
Find my best match
Four questions, your top 3. We don't ask for your name, email or phone.
What a 10-person business would pay
A small business in Kenya with 10 staff, paying salaries monthly. Employer-of-record prices are shown for comparison; they also take on the legal employment of your staff.
| Product | Plan used | Vendor price | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wingubox Payroll | Grade 1 plan, 6-10 employees | KES 1,500 | KES 1,500 | KES 18,000 |
| AnooreHR | Paid price not published | |||
| Workpay | Price on request | |||
| Deel | Employer of Record, 10 employees | USD 5,990 | KES 776,903 | KES 9,322,836 |
| Remote | Employer of Record, 10 employees | USD 6,990 | KES 906,603 | KES 10,879,236 |
How to choose payroll software in Kenya
Check every statutory item. Payroll in Kenya must handle PAYE, SHIF, NSSF, Housing Levy, P10 return. 3 of the 5 ranked products confirm all of them. Check any payslip with our paye and net salary calculator.
Employer of record or your own payroll? With a registered company you run payroll yourself, from free plan, then kes 750 per month with Wingubox Payroll. Without one, an employer of record such as Deel or Remote employs staff for you at USD 599–699 per employee per month.
How salaries are paid. 2 of 5 ranked products confirm M-Pesa payouts.
Published prices. 3 of 5 publish prices. For quote-only products, ask for the cost per employee in writing.
Score parts: Statutory coverage, M-Pesa payouts, Pricing transparency, Value for 10 staff, Free plan or trial, Local presence, Runs your own payroll. Commissions are never part of it. Full method.
Questions
What is the cheapest payroll software in Kenya?
In our data, Wingubox Payroll costs the least for a 10-person team: KES 1,500 a month (Grade 1 plan, 6-10 employees).
Do I need an employer of record?
Only if you employ staff in Kenya without your own registered company there. With a company, local payroll software is far cheaper.
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