Workday

Help businesses manage HR, payroll, recruiting, and employee performance effectively.

Workday Overview

Updated September 16, 2025

Workday is a comprehensive cloud-based platform designed to simplify human resources and financial management. It provides organizations with tools for payroll, workforce planning, talent acquisition, employee development, and performance tracking, all within a single system.

With real-time data and analytics, businesses can make informed decisions, improve efficiency, and enhance employee experiences. Workday is widely used by companies seeking scalability, security, and streamlined HR operations.

Key Features

Unified cloud platform: Provide a single system for HR, finance, planning, and analytics, which eliminates data silos and improves accuracy.
Artificial intelligence and analytics: Deliver predictive insights and AI-driven recommendations that help leaders make smarter decisions quickly.
Global scalability and compliance: Support international payroll, tax, and labor laws, which ensures businesses stay compliant across regions.
Employee and manager self-service: Allow employees and managers to update personal details, track goals, and approve requests from web or mobile.
Automated workflows: Simplify processes like onboarding, approvals, and compliance, which reduces manual tasks and saves time.
Talent and workforce management: Manage recruiting, performance reviews, learning, and succession planning to attract and retain top talent.
Time, attendance, and benefits management: Track working hours, leave requests, and benefits enrollment while integrating seamlessly with payroll.
AI agents and governance: Use role-based AI agents to automate tasks and a centralized system to securely manage and monitor them.

Price

Product / Solution	Pricing Info on Workday.com	Notes
Workday Adaptive Planning	Free 30-day trial offered; subscription pricing available only via quote request	Only module with a “Pricing & Packaging” page; no public dollar amounts listed
Workday HCM (Human Capital Management)	No public pricing listed; must contact sales for a quote	Enterprise-grade solution, cost depends on number of employees and modules selected
Workday Financial Management	No public pricing listed; must contact sales for a quote	Custom pricing based on company size and requirements
Workday Payroll	No public pricing listed; must contact sales for a quote	Region-specific features, usually bundled with HCM
Workday Peakon Employee Voice	No public pricing listed; request demo/quote	Focuses on employee engagement and feedback
Workday Strategic Sourcing	No public pricing listed; request demo/quote	Procurement and sourcing solution, quote-based
Other Modules (Learning, Recruiting, Analytics, etc.)	No public pricing listed; request demo/quote	All enterprise solutions require custom pricing

Pros

Competitor	Pros of Workday
Oracle HCM Cloud	Workday provides a more intuitive user experience with a unified HR and finance platform. Its reporting and analytics are easier to use, and its cloud-native design ensures smoother updates without disruption.
SAP SuccessFactors	Workday offers stronger financial planning and AI-driven insights, which make it attractive for organizations that want to combine HR with financial forecasting and scenario modeling in one system.
ADP Workforce Now / Vantage HCM	Workday gives deeper analytics, predictive modeling, and broader integration between HR and financial data. It supports complex workforce planning that ADP often lacks at an enterprise level.
Rippling	Workday scales better for multinational organizations, offering advanced compliance tools, global payroll, and enterprise-grade security that go beyond Rippling’s small-to-mid-sized business focus.
BambooHR	Workday delivers end-to-end enterprise functionality across HR, payroll, finance, and compliance. Its advanced tools for workforce planning and global operations outperform BambooHR’s SMB-focused simplicity.

Cons

Competitor	Cons of Workday
Oracle HCM Cloud	Workday can be slower to implement, and customization options are less flexible. Oracle’s long presence in enterprise HR sometimes provides richer local compliance features.
SAP SuccessFactors	Workday is often more expensive, and smaller organizations may find SAP’s modular pricing easier to manage. SAP also integrates well for companies already using its ERP systems.
ADP Workforce Now / Vantage HCM	Workday requires more investment and resources to maintain, while ADP can be simpler for payroll-first needs. ADP also tends to offer clearer pricing for smaller companies.
Rippling	Workday is more complex and less agile for small teams, which makes Rippling a better choice for fast-growing startups that want quick onboarding and lightweight tools.
BambooHR	Workday can feel overwhelming for smaller companies, with longer training times and higher costs. BambooHR remains easier for small HR teams that want straightforward people management.

Customers' Reviews From Reliable Websites

Reddit Review
OutSail Review
Capterra Review
G2 Review
Forbes Review