Top 20 Best Workday Alternatives and Competitors in 2026

Workday is a powerhouse HCM platform, offering enterprise-grade HR, payroll, talent, time, and finance in a single cloud. Yet in recent reviews, users repeatedly call out high costs, long implementations, and a steep learning curve.

Our research covers the 20 best Workday alternatives that address these exact pain points, from intuitive SMB solutions to enterprise-grade platforms delivering a superior employee experience at lower costs.

What is Workday?

Workday is a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform specializing in human capital management (HCM) and financial management. It is designed for large organizations managing complex, multi-country HR operations.

The platform consolidates recruitment, payroll, benefits, performance management, learning, and analytics into a single unified system.

However, the platform's enterprise-first approach, steep learning curve, and high cost make it hard for mid-market companies to find a better user experience.

Rankings: 10 Best Workday Alternatives in 2026

In-depth Reviews: Top 10 Workday Competitors in 2026

Our research team invested over 120 hours evaluating the market to identify the top 20 Workday Alternatives.

Our detailed reviews cover their features, pricing, clear pros & cons, and why we selected each to help you select the best alternative for your organization's needs.

1. Skima AI

Skima AI is an end-to-end, AI-first recruitment platform focused on sourcing, explainable matching, and outreach automation for recruiters and staffing teams.

It’s designed to sit on top of or alongside existing ATSs and is built for speed. Explainable resume screening and rediscovery are core strengths. Several customer stories report over 80% time-to-shortlist improvements. Book a personalized demo to see the results from day one.

Key Features of Skima AI

Below are the notable features of Skima AI, one of the top BambooHR competitors:

• AI-powered candidate matching with a Match Score based on job requirements and resume data
• Resume parsing with OCR technology (200+ data points extracted automatically)
• AI job description generator creating role-specific, bias-reduced descriptions
• Omnichannel candidate outreach (email, SMS, phone calls) with campaign automation
• Resume database search with advanced filtering across 130+ integrations (ATS, CRM, HRIS)
• Analytics dashboards tracking recruitment metrics and sourcing ROI
• GDPR-compliant, SOC 2 certified with on-premises deployment option
• Seamless integration with BambooHR, Workday, Lever, FreshTeam, and other platforms

Skima AI Pricing

Pros of Skima AI

• AI-driven Sourcing Cuts Time-to-Hire: The AI Match Score quickly finds top candidates, saving hours on resume screening.
• Omnichannel Automation Reduces Recruiter Workload by 40%: Automated email, SMS, and phone outreach work around the clock. This lets recruiters focus on interviews and offers instead of prospecting.
• Transparent Pricing: No hidden fees or mandatory consulting. Plans start at $49/month and scale easily.
• Integrates with Existing ATS/HRIS: With over 130 native integrations, you can keep tools like BambooHR and Lever. Skima AI fits in seamlessly.
• GDPR and SOC 2 Certified: Enjoy enterprise-grade compliance from day one, unlike many recruiting tools.

Cons of Skima AI

• Recruitment-Only Focus: Skima AI is different from Workday’s unified HCM. It doesn’t cover HR, payroll, benefits, or performance management. You’ll need other tools for those tasks.
• Requires Integration Setup for Full Automation: Integrating Skima AI is easy. However, Workday users must set up syncs between Skima AI and their HR platform to keep candidate data updated.
• Best for High-Volume Recruiting: Skima AI works best for teams hiring 50 or more people a year. Smaller teams hiring 1-2 people annually may not get the full return on investment.

Our Take

Skima AI is not a Workday replacement, it's a Workday recruiter rescue mission. If your frustration with Workday stems from slow hiring, clunky requisitions, and poor candidate experience, Skima AI solves that by replacing Workday's recruiting module entirely.

Combined with BambooHR or any HRIS, Skima AI delivers modern recruitment at a fraction of what you'd pay for Workday's end-to-end suite. Ideal for hiring teams drowning in manual candidate screening and requisition workflows.

2. SAP SuccessFactors

SAP SuccessFactors is an enterprise cloud HCM suite built by SAP. Unlike Workday, SuccessFactors is purpose-built to prioritize employee experience while maintaining global scalability.

The platform has become the preferred alternative for enterprises frustrated with Workday's aging interface and high costs. It provides better talent management, recruiting, and learning features in a modern, easy-to-use design.

Key Features of SAP SuccessFactors

Below are the core features of SAP SuccessFactors, one of the top BambooHR alternatives:

• Employee Central (core HR platform) with full employee lifecycle management
• Recruiting module with global talent sourcing and AI-driven candidate matching
• Talent Management, including performance management, succession planning, and career development
• Learning Management System (LMS) with a course library and compliance training
• Payroll integration (can connect to ADP, Ceridian, or SAP payroll engines)
• Compensation Management with scenario modeling and pay equity analysis
• Workforce Analytics with pre-built dashboards and predictive workforce insights
• Onboarding workflows with personalized employee journeys
• Global Compliance automation for 104 countries with localized tax and labor law updates

SAP SuccessFactors Pricing

SAP SuccessFactors charges on a per-user, per-module basis, which can be very expensive for large organisations. The total cost includes implementation (data migration, configuration, testing), training, and ongoing support from SAP or certified partners.

Most contracts need at least 1,000 users. Organizations usually save 15-40% by bundling multiple modules. Typical spending for mid-market firms (1,000–5,000 employees) ranges from $25K to $200K a year; enterprise spending goes over $500K.

Hidden costs include customization, API development, third-party integration, and annual maintenance renewals.

Pros of SAP SuccessFactors

• Superior Employee Experience vs. Workday: It has a modern, intuitive interface and easy navigation. Employees rate it higher than Workday for ease of use.
• No "Innovation Tax" on AI Features: SuccessFactors offers the AI-powered Joule assistant without extra fees. In contrast, Workday charges a 5% renewal tax for AI modules.
• Global Compliance for 104 Countries: Automatic updates for tax and employment laws reduce the need for manual compliance work.
• Purpose-built Talent Management: Its recruiting, performance, succession, and learning tools are strong competitors. They match specialized vendors without the extra bloat found in Workday.

Cons of SAP SuccessFactors

• High Minimum Employee Count (1,000+): Not suitable for mid-market or SMBs; only for enterprises.
• Requires Certified SAP Partner Implementation: Can't implement on your own; partner fees may be 50-100% of first-year software costs.
• Learning Curve for Advanced Modules: The interface is better than Workday, but customization and analytics need technical skills.
• Pricing Not Transparent: You must contact sales for quotes; it's hard to compare with other vendors.

Our Take

SAP SuccessFactors is one of the best Workday alternatives for enterprises prioritizing employee experience and global operations. If your team struggles with Workday's clunky interface and you have 1,000+ employees, SuccessFactors delivers a modern HCM suite.

It provides improved recruiting and talent management at a similar cost. It's especially beneficial for multinational firms in Europe and APAC, as well as those already using SAP's financial systems.

3. Oracle Cloud HCM

Oracle Cloud HCM (Human Capital Management) is a full cloud-based suite. It operates on Oracle's enterprise cloud infrastructure. This suite is designed for large organisations with complex HR needs.

Oracle Cloud HCM brings together talent acquisition, workforce management, payroll integration, compensation, performance management, and analytics in one platform.

Key Features of Oracle Cloud HCM

Below are the standout features of Oracle Cloud HCM, one of the best BambooHR competitors:

• Talent Acquisition including recruiting and applicant tracking  
• Core HR and Employee Information Management with digital personnel files  
• Compensation Management covering base pay, bonuses, and benefits  
• Performance Management featuring 360-degree feedback and goal setting  
• Learning Management System with compliance training  
• Payroll integration for multi-country payroll support  
• Time & Attendance tracking with self-service time entry  
• Workforce Analytics with custom report builder

Oracle Cloud HCM Pricing

Oracle pricing is complex and typically hidden behind a "Contact Sales" wall, as is standard for enterprise-grade software. Pricing often varies based on the number of employees, modules selected, and specific deployment needs (e.g., Government Cloud).

Pros of Oracle Cloud HCM

• Enterprise-Grade Analytics Rival Workday: Real-time dashboards and workforce intelligence provide deep HR insights with predictive analytics.
• Strong Financial System Integration: Seamless payroll-to-GL integration for Oracle Financials eliminates data silos.
• 24/7 Support Included in Subscription: Unlike competitors that charge 3-10% annually, Oracle offers enterprise support at no extra cost.
• Global Scalability for Multinational Operations: Built-in multi-currency, multi-language, and multi-country compliance supports operations in over 140 countries.
• Customizable Onboarding and Workflows: Flexible configurations allow quick setups with templates, needing minimal coding.

Cons of Oracle Cloud HCM

• Steep Learning Curve for New Users: The interface is complex and has many customisation options. Training and change management are necessary.
• Lengthy Implementation Timeline: Deployments usually take 6 to 12 months or longer. Implementation costs can exceed 75% of the first-year software fees.
• Requires Significant Internal Resources: You need dedicated HR IT staff or costly consultants for setup and ongoing maintenance.
• Limited Standalone Payroll: Payroll features need third-party integration or certified partners. It’s not as seamless as Workday.

Our Take

Oracle Cloud HCM is the best Workday alternative for large enterprises already invested in Oracle's financial systems or organizations prioritizing analytics and financial integration.

The included 24/7 support and multi-country capabilities make it particularly strong for global operations. However, implementation costs and complexity mean it's not a quick or cheap switch from Workday; plan for a 6-12 month engagement.

4. UKG Pro

UKG Pro (Ultimate Kronos Group Pro) is a comprehensive HR and workforce management platform designed for mid-market to large organizations managing complex payroll, shift scheduling, and time & attendance.

UKG Pro combines industry-leading workforce scheduling (Kronos's strength) with modern HR capabilities and strong payroll automation. Unlike Workday's one-size-fits-all approach, UKG Pro adapts to how teams actually work.

Key Features of UKG Pro

Below are the notable features of UKG Pro, one of the best BambooHR alternatives:

• Advanced shift scheduling and workforce management with AI-driven schedule optimisation  
• Time & Attendance tracking across all devices  
• Payroll processing with complex pay rules  
• Benefits Administration and employee benefits management  
• Performance Management with continuous feedback  
• Learning Management System for course management  
• Talent Management including recruiting  
• Mobile app for employees to manage schedules and request PTO

UKG Pro Pricing

UKG does not publish fixed list prices for its HCM suites on the public site. Pricing is custom and depends on product edition (UKG Ready, UKG Pro, Enterprise), modules selected, employee count, and deployment services.

Pros of UKG Pro

• Good Shift Scheduling and Labour Forecasting: AI-driven scheduling learns employee patterns and optimises shifts. Workday's scheduling can't keep up.
• Intuitive Mobile Experience: Employees can clock in, swap shifts, and request PTO on their phones. It's much simpler than Workday's mobile app.
• Strong Payroll Automation for Complex Rules: It manages union contracts, overtime, multi-state tax, and premium pay better than Workday's standard payroll.
• Faster Implementation: Typical timelines are 3-6 months, compared to Workday's 12-18 months.

Cons of UKG Pro

• Learning Curve for Advanced Features: Scheduling optimization and analytics need training and are not as intuitive as BambooHR.
• Oriented Toward Hourly/Shift Workers: It's less suitable for office-only, salary-based organisations; features focus on time tracking and scheduling.
• Limited Recruiting Features: Talent acquisition is basic compared to Workday or SuccessFactors and may need ATS integration.
• Not All Payroll Customisations Possible: Some complex pay rules still need manual overrides or integration with an external payroll system.

Our Take

UKG Pro is one of the top Workday alternatives for organizations with shift-based or hourly workforces (retail, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality).

If your payroll is complex (unions, premiums, multi-state), your scheduling is a headache to manage manually, and Workday feels like overkill, UKG Pro solves those exact problems.

5. Ceridian Dayforce

Ceridian Dayforce is a complete cloud HCM platform. It focuses on global payroll, talent, and workforce management. Its real-time payroll engine keeps pay records accurate.

Moreover, it updates continuously as data changes. This feature benefits multinational companies and organisations with complex payrolls. Dayforce also offers same-day pay access through Dayforce Wallet.

Key Features of Dayforce

Here are the core features of Dayforce, a leading alternative to BambooHR:

• Real-time payroll calculation engine (continuous, not batch-based)
• Global payroll support for 200+ entities and countries
• Workforce management and employee scheduling
• Time & Attendance tracking across all devices
• Benefits Administration with real-time eligibility and compliance
• Talent Management, including recruiting and performance oversight
• Learning Management System
• People Intelligence (AI-powered talent insights and engagement scoring)

Ceridian Dayforce Pricing

Dayforce does not publish standard per-seat pricing on its public site. Pricing depends on the modules you select (payroll, HR, workforce management, talent, etc.), the number of employees, geographic complexity, and implementation scope.

Pros of Dayforce

• Real-time Payroll Calculations Eliminate Batch Errors: Pay data updates instantly as hours, rates, and deductions change. Say goodbye to payroll delays and corrections.
• Dayforce Wallet Drives Employee Retention: Employees enjoy same-day pay access, without predatory loan fees. This modern benefit helps reduce turnover, unlike Workday.
• Modern, Clean User Interface: Employees and HR teams say our user experience is better than Workday’s. Tasks take fewer clicks to complete.
• Customizable Workflows and Dashboards: Its flexible setup allows HR teams to tailor the platform to their processes without needing extensive consulting.

Cons of Dayforce

• Complex Implementation: Typical timelines range from 4 to 9 months. This is still longer than mid-market solutions like BambooHR.
• Not Ideal for Small Businesses: Minimum headcount and module requirements make costs too high for SMBs to justify.
• Learning Curve for Advanced Modules: Features like scheduling optimisation, custom analytics, and workforce planning need training.
• Timezone Complexity for Global Teams: Some reports require manual timezone conversion. Automation for distributed workforces isn’t complete.

Our Take

Dayforce is the ideal Workday alternative for organizations struggling with payroll accuracy, complexity, or global operations.

If you process payroll monthly and feel frustrated by corrections at month-end, Dayforce can solve that. It’s also ideal for managing payroll in multiple countries where tax laws frequently change.

6. BambooHR

BambooHR is one of the most user-friendly HRIS on the market, designed specifically for small-to-mid-market organizations (under 1,000 employees) that want modern HR software without the enterprise overhead.

Where Workday makes employees groan when they need to request time off, BambooHR makes the same task intuitive enough that new employees require zero training.

Key Features of BambooHR

Here are the standout features of BambooHR, a major competitor of BambooHR:

• Core HR management (employee records, centralized data, org charts)
• Applicant Tracking System (ATS) for recruiting and hiring
• Onboarding workflows with customizable checklists and tasks
• Time off and PTO tracking with approval workflows
• Benefits Administration (enrollment, carrier management)
• Performance Management (reviews, goals, 360-degree feedback)
• Employee Directory with mobile access
• Document Management and e-signature capabilities
• Payroll add-on (full payroll processing available)

BambooHR Pricing

Pros of BambooHR

• Fastest Implementation: 6-8 weeks from contract to live; get ROI in 2-3 months instead of Workday's 18-month slog.
• Exceptional Customer Support: In-house support team (not outsourced); responsive, helpful, and genuinely invested in your success.
• Modern, Clean Interface: Thoughtfully designed for real users; onboarding and time-off requests feel simple and obvious, not confusing.
• Mobile App is Genuinely Useful: Employees can request PTO, approve requests, view org charts, and access documents from their phones; no need to find a computer.

Cons of BambooHR

• Limited Payroll Functionality: The core payroll is basic. Complex multi-state payroll needs add-ons or third-party tools like ADP, Gusto, or Rippling.
• Limited Customization: It's not as flexible as Workday or Oracle for unique business processes. The design limits configuration, which is a benefit for most SMBs.
• Integration Setup Required: There are over 150 integrations, but many need manual setup or extra paid add-ons. It’s not as seamless as Rippling or Paycom.
• Basic Recruiting Module: It doesn't compete with dedicated ATS platforms like Lever, Skima AI, or iCIMS if recruiting is a key focus.
• Limited Advanced Analytics: Reporting is good for SMBs, but it doesn’t match Workday or Paylocity for complex workforce analytics.

Our Take

BambooHR is the top alternative to Workday for small to mid-sized organizations (50-500 employees). It focuses on ease of use, clear pricing, and quick setup.

If your team struggles with spreadsheets or finds Workday’s interface cumbersome, BambooHR will feel refreshing. Opt for BambooHR if you want your employees to enjoy the HR system. Skip it if you need detailed payroll customization or large-scale analytics.

7. ADP Workforce Now

ADP Workforce Now is a robust HR and payroll platform designed for mid-market to enterprise organisations, ensuring payroll accuracy with comprehensive HR features.

As one of the oldest payroll processors, ADP offers modular pricing, allowing you to pay only for necessary HR functions while benefiting from reliable payroll services.

Key Features of ADP Workforce Now

Below are the notable features of ADP Workforce Now, one of the top BambooHR competitors:

• Comprehensive payroll processing (federal, state, and local taxes)
• Time & Attendance tracking across devices
• Benefits Administration with self-service enrollment
• Talent Acquisition and Performance Management (recruiting, reviews, feedback)
• Compensation Management and Salary Planning
• HR Analytics with flexible reporting
• Employee Self-Service portal
• Secure login with multi-factor authentication

ADP Workforce Now Pricing

ADP does not publish exact pricing on its website. All pricing is custom-based on company size, modules selected, and specific requirements.

Pricing factors include: number of employees, state/local tax setup, pay frequency, additional modules (onboarding, compensation benchmarking, background screening), and integration requirements.

Pros of ADP Workforce Now

• Legendary Payroll Accuracy: ADP handles 1 in 6 paychecks in the US. Its 50-state tax compliance is thorough and precise, resulting in few payroll errors.
• Modular Pricing: Unlike Workday’s all-in-one approach, you can select payroll with basic HR or add performance, recruiting, and learning as needed.
• Comprehensive HR + Payroll Integration: There’s a smooth link between payroll, time, benefits, and HR data. No manual syncing is necessary.
• Flexible Reporting: Customizable reports provide HR teams with essential data for decision-making. It outperforms BambooHR in complex analytics.
• Strong Marketplace Integrations: ADP integrates well with Employee Navigator, PointsNorth, and other enterprise tools.

Cons of ADP Workforce Now

• Quote-Based Pricing Hides True Cost: There’s no published pricing list. This makes budgeting hard and comparisons tricky. Sales reps often quote high, so getting multiple quotes is essential.
• Complex Navigation in Some Areas: The interface isn’t as intuitive as BambooHR. The recruitment page is difficult to use, and finding functions like reopening a closed job post isn’t straightforward.
• Not Suitable for Small Businesses: It’s designed for organisations with 100+ employees. The pricing and complexity make it too much for small businesses. Gusto or BambooHR might be better options.
• Steep Learning Curve: HR teams and managers need training. The platform offers many features, but they aren’t always easy to find.
• Additional Module Costs Add Up: Beyond basic payroll and HR, adding recruiting, learning, or talent management can significantly raise costs.

Our Take

ADP Workforce Now is the best Workday alternative for mid-market organizations (500-5,000 employees) that prioritize payroll accuracy and need comprehensive HR in one place.

If your payroll is complex (multi-state, union, international), ADP is ideal. Choose ADP Workforce Now if you're leaving Workday and want familiar enterprise stability.

8. Paycom

Paycom is a unified HR and payroll platform for organisations with 50+ employees seeking complete automation without the high costs of Workday.

Its unique features include Beti®, an employee-driven payroll process, alongside IWant® for AI-driven searches and GONE® for automated time-off approvals, making automation truly effective.

Key Features of Paycom

Below are the core features of Paycom, one of the top BambooHR alternatives:

• Single database for seamless data flow, eliminating silos and duplicates
• Automated payroll with Beti®, allowing employees to manage their own payroll
• Self-service mobile payroll for real-time pay visibility
• Time tracking across mobile, kiosk, and web platforms
• Talent management covering recruiting, onboarding, and performance
• Performance management featuring continuous feedback
• HR analytics with reporting dashboards
• Dedicated service model for personalized support

Paycom Pricing

Paycom does not publish fixed product prices on its website. Pricing is customized and varies by number of employees, modules selected, transaction volume (payroll runs), and implementation needs.

Pros of Paycom

• Beti® Cuts Payroll Processing Time: Employees enter their own hours, reducing errors and saving HR over 20 hours each cycle.
• Truly Single Database: Data changes update instantly across modules. Employees, payroll, and talent systems work together seamlessly.
• Modern, Clean Interface: Designed for today's users, navigation is easy and feels user-friendly, not corporate.
• IWant® AI Search is Game-Changing: Ask Paycom for data, and AI finds answers right away, making info retrieval simple.
• Dedicated Service Model: You get a team familiar with your organisation, offering responsive, knowledgeable, and personalised support.

Cons of Paycom

• Per-Payroll Charges Can Increase Costs: Weekly payroll costs more than monthly due to per-run fees. This means organizations with seasonal or frequent payroll pay extra.
• Not Ideal for Small Businesses: Paycom suits companies with 50 or more employees. It's overkill and costly for those with fewer than 50. Gusto or BambooHR are better choices.
• Limited Advanced Analytics: Paycom’s analytics aren't as strong as Workday's for workforce planning and predictive insights. It has good dashboards, but they lack advanced features.
• Complex Report Creation: Building custom reports needs expertise. While templates help, fulfilling one-off requests can take a lot of time.

Our Take

Paycom is the best Workday alternative for mid-to-large organizations (50-1,000 employees) that want modern automation and a unified platform without Workday's complexity or price.

If your HR team wastes time on manual payroll building, requisition approvals, or time-off management, Paycom's automation (Beti, GONE, IWant) will transform those workflows.

9. Paylocity

Paylocity is a balanced, cloud-based HR and payroll platform. It is designed for mid-market organizations with 100 to 500 employees. These companies want a unified platform that offers strong talent management and good analytics, all at a lower cost than Workday.

Paylocity sees itself as the middle ground. It's more capable than BambooHR for talent management, but is significantly cheaper and easier to implement than Workday.

Key Features of Paylocity

Below are the standout features of Paylocity, one of the best BambooHR competitors:

• Core HR management (employee records, data management)
• Payroll processing and tax compliance
• Time & Attendance tracking
• Talent and Performance Management (recruiting, onboarding, feedback)
• Compensation Planning and Analysis
• Learning Management System
• Analytics and reporting (dashboards, flexible reports)
• Mobile app (self-service for employees and managers)

Paylocity Pricing

Paylocity does not publish fixed list prices on its site. Pricing is modular and customized based on the modules selected (HR, Payroll, Finance, IT), company size, and implementation needs. The official guidance is to request pricing or contact sales for a tailored quote.

Pros of Paylocity

• Balanced Feature Set for Mid-Market: More talent management than BambooHR, cheaper and easier than Workday; ideal for 100-500 employee organizations.
• Modern Cloud-Based Platform: Designed for contemporary HR needs; feels fresh compared to Workday's outdated interface.
• Strong Talent Management Capabilities: Comprehensive recruiting, onboarding, and performance management without excessive specialist tools.
• Good Analytics and Reporting: Intuitive dashboards and flexible reporting; superior to BambooHR for data-driven HR decisions.
• Scalable Architecture: Expands with your organization from 100 to 500+ employees without the challenges of migrating to Workday.

Cons of Paylocity

• Not as Comprehensive as Enterprise Platforms: It lacks Workday's finance integration and advanced analytics. It’s better for HR and payroll than for integrating finance with HR.
• Limited Customization: Paylocity can’t be tailored as flexibly as Workday or Oracle. Its design works for most mid-market needs but limits specialized cases.
• Moderate Implementation Timeline: It’s faster than Workday (6-10 weeks) but slower than BambooHR (6-8 weeks).
• Primarily US-Focused: While it offers multi-country payroll, complex international scenarios are better suited to Ceridian Dayforce or SAP SuccessFactors.
• Customer Support Inconsistency: Rapid growth has led to a decline in support quality. Users report long wait times during payroll peaks and frequent changes in representatives.

Our Take

Paylocity is the best Workday alternative for mid-market organizations (100-500 employees) that balance HR, payroll, and talent management without the Workday cost premium or implementation burden.

However, be aware that PTO setup is complex, and customer support quality has declined with rapid growth.

10. Gusto

Gusto is the payroll and HR platform built specifically for small businesses that want simplicity without compromise. You get full-service payroll, tax compliance, benefits administration, and modern HR tools without the enterprise overhead or Workday-sized price tag.

Where Workday is a Ferrari for a trip to the grocery store, Gusto is the reliable Honda that gets you there with zero complexity and zero sticker shock.

Key Features of Gusto

Below are the notable features of Workday, based on our research:

• Full-service payroll processing with unlimited payroll runs.  
• Automatic tax filing and payment (federal, state, and local).  
• Time and attendance tracking (mobile, desktop, kiosk).  
• PTO and leave management with automatic accruals.  
• Benefits administration (health, dental, vision, 401(k)).  
• Employee onboarding with digital offer letters and e-signatures.  
• Employee self-service portal (view pay stubs, W-2s, benefits).  
• Background checks integration (via Checkr).  
• Access to certified HR experts (included in Plus/Premium plans).

Gusto Pricing

Pros of Gusto

• Easiest Onboarding Experience: Step-by-step process with helpful reminders. New hires can self-enroll in benefits and enter tax info. They’re ready to go on day one.
• Rock-Solid Payroll Accuracy: Automatic tax filing and payments across all states. Multi-state compliance is built in. Employees trust their paychecks, with zero payroll errors reported compared to ADP's occasional bugs.
• Free Benefits Administration: Health, dental, vision, 401(k), HSA, FSA, and commuter benefits are all included. There are no extra per-employee fees as competitors charge.
• Great for Contractors and W-2 Mix: Handles both 1099 and employee payroll seamlessly on one platform. This is uncommon for this price point.
• Great Integrations: Over 150 connectors to accounting (QuickBooks, Xero), benefits providers, time tracking, and ATS platforms. It works well with other tools.

Cons of Gusto

• Limited for Complex Multi-State Scenarios: It doesn't automatically calculate overtime across states with different laws. Off-cycle payrolls may lead to hour tracking issues.
• Not Suitable for Large Enterprises: Gusto is designed for companies with under 200 employees. It lacks advanced analytics, talent management, and performance tools needed by larger firms. It's better suited for SMBs.
• Pricing Increases with Growth: While costs are low for small businesses, per-employee fees can add up quickly. Competitors offer competitive all-in-one pricing for companies with 200 or more employees.
• Time Tracking Features Limited: Gusto can't track billable hours for projects. Geolocation clocking may be unreliable. It's better to use dedicated time tracking integrations.
• Limited Recruiting Module: There is no applicant tracking system (ATS). The recruiting features are basic hiring tools. If recruiting is important, consider integrating with Lever or BambooHR ATS.

Our Take

Gusto is an ideal Workday alternative for small businesses (10-200 employees) seeking affordability and simplicity.

It effectively manages payroll, tax compliance, and benefits, but may not suit those with 500+ employees or advanced talent management needs.

10 Other Workday Alternatives

Here are 10 more worthwhile Workday competitors. Compare the ideal for, trial info, and starting pricing.

How to Choose the Best Workday Alternative?

Selecting the right Workday competitor depends on several key decision factors. Use the short checklist given below:

1. Primary Goal: Payroll accuracy, recruiting speed, people ops simplicity, or global compliance? Pick the vendor built for that goal.
2. Scale & Geography: Does it support all the countries you operate in? Check native payroll/localization (important for UAE, UK, Canada).
3. Time-to-Value: How long to implement? Look for published deployment case studies.
4. Integrations: Will it play nicely with your ATS, payroll, banks, accounting, and security stack?
5. Total Cost of Ownership: Include license fees, implementation, and ongoing partner/consulting costs.
6. User Experience & Adoption: Survey hiring managers and employees; poor adoption kills ROI.
7. Vendor Roadmap & Support: Check recent product investment, AI features, and support SLAs.

Why Trust Our Reviews?

Our research team dedicated over 120 hours to analyzing HR software solutions to bring you the top 20 Workday competitors. For each product, we evaluated:

• Official pricing pages to ensure current, accurate rates
• Verified customer reviews from 2025-2026 to capture recent experiences
• Regional availability and compliance strength for the US, UK, UAE, and Canada
• Feature depth versus Workday's limitations, specifically
• Customer support quality based on user testimonials
• Scalability for different team sizes and global operations

Our review methodology ensures our recommendations are data-backed, current, and directly address why users are switching away from Workday.

Summary

Workday's dominance in the enterprise HCM market doesn't mean it's the right choice for your organization. Rising costs, complex implementation, and poor user experience have created demand for alternatives that deliver comparable functionality at lower cost and faster deployment.

The ideal Workday alternative varies with your organisation's size, payroll complexity, and budget. For SMBs, BambooHR and Factorial excel in simplicity. Mid-market firms find value in Rippling and Paycom for integrated HR and payroll.

Enterprises with global needs benefit from SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle Cloud HCM, and Ceridian Dayforce. For international hiring, Deel, Remote, and Oyster offer straightforward global payroll. Always involve end users in demos to ensure a good fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who are Workday competitors?

Major competitors include SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle Cloud HCM, Skima AI, UKG, Ceridian Dayforce, ADP, BambooHR, Rippling, Paycom, Paylocity, iCIMS, and Gusto.

2. What is the best Workday alternative for SMBs?

For small and mid-size businesses, BambooHR, Gusto, Zenefits, and Rippling deliver fast deployment, clearer pricing, core HR and payroll functions, and simpler admin compared with enterprise HCM platforms.

3. How does Skima AI enhances Workday recruiting workflows?

Skima AI supplements Workday by surfacing explainable matches, rediscovering past candidates, automating outreach campaigns, and scoring talent. This speeds up shortlists and boosts recruiter efficiency, all without replacing Workday’s core HR and payroll functions.

4. Is there a cheaper alternative to Workday for mid-market companies?

Mid-market teams choose Paylocity, Paycom, ADP, or Ceridian Dayforce; these vendors offer payroll and HR features with a lower total cost and faster implementations than Workday for many mid-sized employers.

5. Which Workday competitors offer stronger global payroll/localization?

Ceridian Dayforce, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle Cloud HCM, Ramco, and Bayzat provide robust multi-country payroll and localization. Select based on your operating countries, local tax rules, and regional compliance requirements.