Here are the best alternatives to EY India, organized by the type of service you’re likely seeking and with quick notes to help you pick.

Top direct competitors (full-service professional firms — audit, tax, advisory, consulting)

• PwC India — comparable global breadth; strong in assurance, tax, deals and risk advisory.
• Deloitte India — large consulting and advisory footprint plus audit and tax services.
• KPMG India — strong in audit, tax and risk/advisory services; good for regulatory and compliance work.

Mid‑market & global networks (lower cost or more mid‑market focus)

• Grant Thornton Bharat — focused on mid‑market companies; strong in tax, advisory and transaction services.
• BDO India — global network with emphasis on audit, tax and business advisory for mid-sized firms.
• RSM India — mid‑market leader for audit, tax, and consulting; often more flexible/practical for growing companies.
• Mazars India — audit, accounting and advisory with European/global reach; often competitive pricing.
• Crowe, Baker Tilly, PKF and other global networks — good regional coverage and specialized advisory.

Specialist advisory and consulting firms (strategy, transactions, restructuring, analytics)

• McKinsey, BCG, Bain — top-tier strategy consulting (large fees, high-impact strategic work).
• Protiviti — specialized in risk, internal audit and finance transformation.
• Big IT & technology consultancies: Accenture, Capgemini, TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech — better for large tech/ERP/cloud/digital transformations than traditional audit firms.

Boutique/specialist firms (tax, legal, forensic, valuations)

• National law firms (e.g., Cyril Amarchand, Khaitan, AZB) — for complex tax/transaction legal work.
• Forensic/accounting boutiques and valuation specialists — useful for investigations, disputes and high-value M&A carve-outs.

How to choose the right alternative

1. Define the service: audit vs tax vs strategy vs IT transformation — many firms specialize, so match scope to firm strength.
2. Industry experience: prefer firms with proven work in your sector (financial services, manufacturing, tech, etc.).
3. Size & budget: Big Four for large, complex mandates; mid‑market firms for cost efficiency and hands‑on partners.
4. References & sample scope: request references, a sample engagement plan, and a fixed-fee proposal or phased estimate.
5. Regulatory credentials: confirm professional registrations and local regulatory approvals (audit firms must meet local requirements).

If you tell me which service (audit, tax, transaction advisory, strategy, IT/ERP, forensic, etc.), your company size or budget and whether you need global coverage, I can give a 3–4 firm shortlist that’s best matched to your needs.