The short answer: HRIS stores employee records; payroll software calculates pay and deductions; an HRMS combines both with attendance, leave and other HR workflows in one system. For most Nepali businesses, an HRMS is the best fit, because attendance and leave feed directly into payroll.
What is an HRIS?
A Human Resource Information System is the employee database: personal details, contracts, documents, departments and reporting lines. It answers “who works here and on what terms?”
What is payroll software?
Payroll software calculates salary, allowances, deductions and taxes, then produces payslips and bank files. In Nepal it must handle salary TDS, SSF, PF and CIT.
What is an HRMS?
A Human Resource Management System includes the HRIS and payroll, and adds attendance, shifts, leave, approvals, self-service and reports, so data entered once flows everywhere.
Comparison table
| Feature | HRIS | Payroll software | HRMS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee records | Yes | Basic | Yes |
| Attendance & shifts | No | No | Yes |
| Leave management | Sometimes | No | Yes |
| Salary, TDS, SSF | No | Yes | Yes |
| Employee app | Sometimes | Sometimes | Yes |
Which one does your business need?
- Under 10 staff, one office: a simple HRIS or spreadsheet may do
- Payroll is the only pain: payroll software, but attendance and leave will still be manual
- Shifts, branches or field staff: an HRMS
How Hajir fits
Hajir is a full HRMS built for Nepal: records, attendance, leave, shifts and payroll in one app, for NPR 100 per employee per month.
Frequently asked questions
Is HRMS the same as HR software?
HR software is the general term. HRMS usually means a complete system that includes payroll and attendance.
Is HRIS cheaper than HRMS?
Often yes, but you will still need separate tools or spreadsheets for attendance and payroll.
Does an HRMS include payroll?
Yes. A complete HRMS such as Hajir includes payroll with TDS and SSF.
Written by the Hajir HR team. Last updated: 3 November 2026 (Kartik 2083).
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