Gusto
Best all-in-one Workday alternative for small business
Overview
Gusto offers small businesses a full-service payroll and HR solution with built-in tools for hiring, time tracking, benefits, and compliance. It’s intuitive, affordable, and designed specifically for small teams that want to replace bloated, enterprise-style platforms like Workday. From automated tax filings to performance reviews and self-service onboarding, Gusto brings enterprise-level functionality into a single, easy-to-use platform—with transparent pricing and no surprise fees.
Key Features
Fully integrated payroll, HR, benefits, and time tracking
Employee onboarding, document storage, and org charts
Automated tax filing, new hire reporting, and compliance alerts
Project tracking and workforce costing reports
Employee surveys and performance management tools
Hundreds of software integrations, including shift scheduling apps
Self-service portal for PTO, pay stubs, and benefits
Support for international contractors in 120+ countries
Access to certified HR pros on Plus and Premium plans
Pros and Cons
Pros
All-in-one HR, payroll, and time solution
Transparent pricing; no hidden fees
Easy-to-use interface for admins and employees
Rich HR tools at the Plus level
Built-in compliance and tax automation
Cons
Shift scheduling requires third-party integration
Simple plan lacks advanced HR tools
Mobile app has limited admin functionality
Pricing
Gusto’s Simple plan starts at $49/month + $6/person/month and includes basic payroll and hiring tools.
The Plus plan, at $80/month + $12/person/month, adds time tracking, advanced reporting, and team management features.
Premium plans include white-glove support and custom pricing.
Free until you run your first payroll.
Transform your HR processes with Gusto, a platform that’s already the choice of over 500,000 businesses.
UKG Ready
Best alternative to Workday for reporting & analytics
Overview
UKG Ready is a unified workforce management platform built for growing businesses that need deep reporting, automation, and scalability. It combines HR, payroll, scheduling, and time tracking in one system—with powerful prebuilt and customizable reporting tools that help optimize labor costs and workforce performance. It’s flexible and data-driven, though less suited to small, hourly teams.
Key Features
All-in-one HR, payroll, and workforce management platform
150+ standard reports with advanced custom reporting
Real-time analytics and dashboards
Applicant tracking, onboarding, and employee lifecycle tools
Time tracking with PTO and break compliance
Mobile app with employee self-service
Custom workflows for common HR tasks
Talent, learning, and compensation tools available
Pros and Cons
Pros
Advanced analytics and real-time reporting
Fully integrated HR and workforce tools
Scalable for growing midsize teams
Customizable workflows and automation
Clean, modern user interface
Cons
No transparent pricing
Expensive for smaller teams
Learning curve for setup
Customer support varies by plan
Limited integrations
Pricing
UKG does not publish pricing online.
Custom quotes vary by business size, features, and contract length.
UKG Pro starts around $600/year for every 5 employees. Expect UKG Ready to fall slightly below that, depending on your needs.
Remote
Best Workday alternative for global teams
Overview
Remote simplifies global hiring, payroll, and compliance with support in over 200 countries and territories. Whether you need to pay contractors, full-time employees, or both, Remote consolidates payments, benefits, taxes, and compliance in a single platform. It's ideal for distributed teams expanding internationally, though it lacks some domestic workforce planning tools.
Key Features
Global contractor payments in 200+ countries
Employer of record (EOR) in 80+ countries
Localized onboarding, benefits, and contracts
Contractor misclassification risk assessment
Time tracking and expense management
Multi-currency support with no conversion fees
Compliance with local tax and labor laws
30-day trial for onboarding and hiring tools
Pros and Cons
Pros
Centralized global payroll and EOR
Owned entities—no third-party vendors
Easy onboarding and compliance support
Country-specific contracts and benefits
No hidden fees or upsells
Cons
No pricing for global payroll with own entity
Lacks workforce planning or costing reports
Limited support for payment platforms like Payoneer
Email-only customer support
Higher cost for EOR services
Pricing
Contractor payments start at $29/month per contractor.
EOR pricing is $599/month per employee on annual plans or $699/month for monthly billing.
Global payroll via your own entity requires custom pricing.
Free trial available for onboarding tools.
ADP Workforce Now
Best Workday alternative for quickly scaling businesses
Overview
ADP Workforce Now is an enterprise-grade platform built for companies with 50 to 999 employees. It combines payroll, HR, benefits, compliance, and analytics into a scalable, modular system. With over 700 integrations, robust L&D tools, and add-on modules, it’s ideal for midsize businesses that need deep functionality—but expect higher costs and longer setup.
Key Features
Integrated HR, payroll, benefits, and compliance
Modular tools for performance, recruiting, and compensation
PTO accruals, time tracking, and scheduling
Learning management and employee development tools
Custom workflows and advanced reporting
Mobile app with self-service
PEO and outsourcing options available
700+ third-party integrations
Pros and Cons
Pros
Scalable for midsize and growing businesses
Add-on modules for deep customization
Extensive analytics and compliance tools
Dedicated support and implementation services
PEO and HR outsourcing available
Cons
Complex pricing and unclear tiers
Interface can feel dated
Entry-level tiers lack robust HR tools
Must contact sales for custom quotes
Support wait times vary
Pricing
ADP pricing depends on team size and features.
Workforce Now starts with Select, Plus, and Premium tiers.
Add-ons include talent, performance, compensation, and analytics.
Payroll for 50 employees can cost $400+/month.
Free trial available for some services.
BambooHR
Best HR-focused alternative to Workday
Overview
BambooHR is an HR-first platform that centralizes employee records, onboarding, offboarding, performance, and reporting in a simple, intuitive dashboard. It’s ideal for small and midsize teams that want to manage people—not just run payroll. Add-ons are required for payroll, benefits, and time tracking, but the core HRIS delivers exceptional value and ease of use.
Key Features
Employee records and document storage
Best-in-class onboarding and offboarding workflows
Performance management with progress tracking
Automated workflows for HR tasks
Custom reporting on any data point
PTO tracking with accrual rules
Payroll, benefits, and time tools available as add-ons
125+ third-party integrations
Pros and Cons
Pros
HR-first design with strong usability
Powerful reporting and workflow automation
Leading onboarding and employee self-service
Customizable for any HR process
Flexible add-ons for scaling
Cons
No transparent pricing
Essentials plan is limited
Mobile app lacks full admin tools
Add-ons raise total cost
No international support
BambooHR provides custom quotes. Most businesses pay a monthly rate per employee. Add-ons for payroll, performance, and benefits are priced separately. Previously published pricing for HR + performance tools started at ~$108/month. Free 7-day trial available.
Homebase
Best alternative to Workday for shift-based businesses
Overview
Homebase is purpose-built for restaurants, retail, and other hourly workplaces. It combines scheduling, time tracking, hiring, and HR into one affordable platform—with a standout mobile app for shift swaps, team chat, and PTO. While it’s not a full HRIS, it gives shift-based teams all the tools they need to stay compliant and keep teams running smoothly.
Key Features
Auto-scheduling and shift swapping
Time tracking with POS and labor forecasting
Hiring and onboarding with job board integrations
Payroll add-on with automated tax filings
Built-in team chat and employee recognition
PTO tracking and compliance tools
Certifications and labor law tracking
Mobile app for managers and staff
Pros and Cons
Pros
Excellent scheduling and time tools
Easy for staff to use on mobile
Affordable, transparent pricing
Strong fit for restaurants and retail
Free basic plan for small teams
Cons
Payroll is a separate add-on
Limited HR tools unless you upgrade
Fixing clock errors can be clunky
Software bugs occasionally reported
Best suited to hourly businesses
Pricing
Homebase offers a free Basic plan for up to 20 employees
Paid plans start at $20/location/month for Essentials
The All-in-One plan with full HR tools costs $80/location/month
Payroll add-on is $39/month + $6/employee
14-day free trial included
TriNet HR
Best affordable alternative to Workday
Overview
TriNet HR (formerly Zenefits) is a cost-effective HRIS designed for growing businesses that want full control without a premium price. It offers solid self-service HR features like onboarding, time tracking, and org charts at just $8 per employee per month. Add-ons for payroll, benefits, and performance tools are available à la carte.
Key Features
Digital onboarding with offer letters and background checks
Org charts, directories, and data management
Time tracking, PTO, and scheduling
Self-service portal and mobile app
Basic reports and analytics included
Add-ons for payroll, benefits, and recruiting
Transparent pricing with per-employee rates
HR support and retention tools in higher tiers
Pros and Cons
Pros
Very affordable entry price
Strong onboarding and scheduling tools
Transparent pricing structure
Modular design—pay only for what you need
Good core HR features in base plan
Cons
Payroll not included in base plan
Five-employee minimum on all plans
Limited integrations
Support access can be inconsistent
Add-ons increase total cost quickly
Pricing
Essentials plan: $8/employee/month (annual).
Growth and Zen plans: $16–$27/employee/month.
Month-to-month pricing is higher.
Payroll can be added for $6/employee/month.
Minimum 5 employees required.
No free trial.
Compare All
| Pricing | Free Trial | Free Plan | Best Use Case | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Simple $49/mo + $6/user/mo; Plus $80/mo + $12/user/mo; Premium custom pricing | Small businesses wanting an all-in-one, simpler Workday alternative for payroll, HR, and benefits | ||
 | Custom pricing | SMBs needing advanced workforce reporting and analytics | ||
 | $29/mo contractors; $599/mo EOR | (30 days) | (contractors) | Teams hiring and managing international employees or contractors |
 | Custom pricing | (select plans) | Rapidly scaling businesses needing enterprise-grade HR and compliance | |
 | Custom pricing | (7 days) | HR-focused teams prioritizing onboarding, performance, and engagement | |
 | Free; paid plans $24.95+/location | Hourly and shift-based businesses replacing Workday with a simpler tool | ||
 | $8–$27/employee/mo | Not listed | Budget-conscious SMBs needing a lower-cost Workday alternative |
| Pricing | Free Trial | |
|---|---|---|
| Simple $49/mo + $6/user/mo; Plus $80/mo + $12/user/mo; Premium custom pricing | |
| Custom pricing | |
| $29/mo contractors; $599/mo EOR | (30 days) |
| Custom pricing | (select plans) |
| Custom pricing | (7 days) |
| Free; paid plans $24.95+/location | |
| $8–$27/employee/mo | Not listed |
FAQ
Who is Workday’s biggest competitor?
ADP is one of Workday’s biggest competitors, especially for payroll and HR services. Gusto, SAP, Oracle, and UKG are also major players, depending on company size and needs. Smaller businesses often choose platforms like Gusto or BambooHR for simpler, more affordable options.
Is Workday the best HRIS system?
Workday is one of the best HRIS systems for large enterprises with complex needs. But for small and midsize businesses, it’s often too expensive and difficult to customize. Alternatives like Gusto or TriNet HR offer more user-friendly, affordable features for smaller teams.
Which is better, Workday or ADP?
ADP is better for payroll and workforce scale, while Workday excels at enterprise-level HR and analytics. ADP offers more robust payroll support and broader customer tiers, whereas Workday focuses on strategic HR and workforce planning for larger organizations.
Why do so many companies use Workday?
Companies use Workday because it combines HR, finance, and analytics into one platform. It’s built to support large, complex organizations with advanced compliance, customization, and global workforce needs—but its power often comes with higher costs and steeper learning curves.
Is Workday an ERP or CRM?
Workday is an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) platform, not a CRM. It focuses on human capital management, financial planning, and analytics. For customer relationship management, businesses typically use tools like Salesforce, which integrate with Workday when needed.
