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Comparison · HR

IceHrm vs Keka

A side-by-side editorial comparison of IceHrm and Keka — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

IceHrm vs Keka: at a glance

FeatureIceHrmKeka
SectorHRHR
Velocity score0.02.5
Sparks · 30d00
Top themeshr-software, self-hosted, ui-rebuild, self-updatinghr, payroll, india-compliance, content-marketing
Last editorial update55m ago16h ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is IceHrm?

IceHrm 36 rebuilds the interface, adds dark mode, and updates itself from the dashboard.

IceHrm had been releasing about once a year, and the March 2026 release rebuilt travel management. Version 36.0.0 on September 14 is the largest change in years: a single-page interface grouped into People, Time and Work, Leave and Pay, global module search, dark mode, phone layouts, and an updater that installs new versions from the dashboard with a backup and rollback. 36.0.1 on October 1 fixed a stored XSS and an unauthenticated include in update.php.

Read the full IceHrm trajectory →

What is Keka?

Keka's feed is India payroll and tax explainers, not a product changelog

Keka's recent posts are HR and payroll explainers for Indian businesses: what payroll is, Form 27Q, LPA salary, allowances, payroll providers, and the EPFO's rise in the PF wage ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000. One essay on junior hiring breaks the pattern. It is evergreen search content positioning Keka's product, with no changelog present.

Read the full Keka trajectory →

IceHrm vs Keka: editorial side-by-side

I0.0

IceHrm 36 rebuilds the interface, adds dark mode, and updates itself from the dashboard.

◆ Current state

IceHrm had been releasing about once a year, and the March 2026 release rebuilt travel management. Version 36.0.0 on September 14 is the largest change in years: a single-page interface grouped into People, Time and Work, Leave and Pay, global module search, dark mode, phone layouts, and an updater that installs new versions from the dashboard with a backup and rollback. 36.0.1 on October 1 fixed a stored XSS and an unauthenticated include in update.php.

◆ Where it's heading

The product is modernizing its interface and maintenance model together, so admins no longer need a terminal to upgrade. The quick security patch and new SECURITY.md suggest more frequent releases than the old yearly pace.

◆ Prediction

Expect further 36.x patches delivered through the in-app updater; which module gets rebuilt next is unclear.

K2.5

Keka's feed is India payroll and tax explainers, not a product changelog

◆ Current state

Keka's recent posts are HR and payroll explainers for Indian businesses: what payroll is, Form 27Q, LPA salary, allowances, payroll providers, and the EPFO's rise in the PF wage ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000. One essay on junior hiring breaks the pattern. It is evergreen search content positioning Keka's product, with no changelog present.

◆ Where it's heading

The content has moved from general lifecycle checklists and U.S. compliance guides toward Indian payroll and tax, where the regulatory detail gives steady reasons to publish. The observable signal is editorial focus, not product shipping.

◆ Prediction

Expect more India payroll and compliance explainers, particularly when rules change. Product changes will not surface in this feed.

Alternatives to IceHrm and Keka

Other HR products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either IceHrm or Keka.

See all IceHrm alternatives → · See all Keka alternatives →

Recent activity from IceHrm and Keka

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 24d agoKekaWhat is Payroll? A Complete Guide for Indian Businesses
  2. 1mo agoIceHrmIceHrm 36.0.1 fixes stored XSS and an unauthenticated include
  3. 1mo agoKekaIf No One Hires Juniors, Where Do Your Next Seniors Come From?
  4. 1mo agoKekaPF Wage Ceiling Raised to ₹25,000: What Changes for Employees and Employers
  5. 1mo agoKekaWhat is Form 27Q? Complete Guide to TDS Return for NRI Payments in India
  6. 1mo agoKekaPayroll Outsourcing Companies in India: Top 11 Providers for 2026
  7. 1mo agoKekaLPA Salary: Full Form, Meaning & How to Calculate Monthly In-Hand Salary
  8. 1mo agoIceHrmIceHrm 36: new single-page UI, dark mode, one-click updates
  9. 7mo agoIceHrmTravel management rebuilt and one-command upgrades
  10. 2y agoIceHrmMicrosoft sign-in and direct user invitations
  11. 3y agoIceHrmExtension marketplace and background payroll processing ⚡
  12. 4y agoIceHrmPHP 8 support and payroll template polish

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between IceHrm and Keka?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Keka is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 2.5 vs 0.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is IceHrm better than Keka?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Keka is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 2.5 vs 0.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other HR products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to IceHrm?

Top IceHrm alternatives in HR are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "IceHrm alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/icehrm for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to Keka?

Top Keka alternatives in HR are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Keka alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/keka for the full list with editorial commentary on each.