Best Workday Alternatives 2026

Compare 8 top Workday alternatives across pricing, features, and use cases.

Updated:

8
Alternatives
0
Free Options
4.2
Avg Rating
$6
Lowest Price

The best Workday alternatives are Rippling, BambooHR, Gusto, and 5 more. Each tool below covers core hr & recruiting workflows with different strengths around pricing, features, and ease of use. Compare ratings, free tiers, and starting prices in the table to find the right fit for your team.

  • Top overall: Rippling - highest combined rating and review volume.
  • Cheapest paid: Oracle HCM Cloud - starts at $13/month.
  • Strong runner-up: BambooHR - comparable features at a different price point.
01

Top 3 Workday Alternatives

Our top picks based on features, pricing, and user reviews. These tools offer the best alternatives to Workday.

#1 Best Overall
Rippling
4.7 Rating
Contact Paid From
No Free Tier

Best for: Companies wanting unified HR, IT, and Finance

View Review
#2 Strong Alternative
BambooHR
4.5 Rating
Contact Paid From
No Free Tier

Best for: SMBs with 25-1,000 employees

View Review
#3 Editor’s Pick
Gusto
4.5 Rating
$49/mo Paid From
No Free Tier

Best for: Small businesses running payroll

View Review
02

Full Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of Workday vs all 8 alternatives.

Tool Rating Paid From Free Tier Best For
Workday Current
4.4
Contact sales No Enterprise HR and finance teams
Review Visit
#1 Rippling
4.7
Contact sales No Companies wanting unified HR, IT, and Finance
Review Visit
#2 BambooHR
4.5
Contact sales No SMBs with 25-1,000 employees
Review Visit
#3 Gusto
4.5
From $49 No Small businesses running payroll
Review Visit
#4 SAP SuccessFactors
3.9
Contact sales No Large enterprises needing comprehensive HCM
Review Visit
#5 Oracle HCM Cloud
3.9
Contact sales No Large global enterprises (1,000+ employees)
Review Visit
#6 iCIMS
3.7
Contact sales No Large enterprises hiring at scale
Review Visit
#7 Gloat
4.4
Contact sales No Large enterprises (1000+ employees)
Review Visit
#8 Eightfold AI
4.1
Contact sales No Enterprise talent intel (2,000+ employees)
Review Visit
03

Detailed Reviews

In-depth look at each Workday alternative with pricing, features, and best use cases.

#1

Rippling

4.7 45,755 reviews

The leading platform for companies that want to grow faster

Contact for pricing

Consider Rippling for higher user ratings, specializes in companies wanting unified hr, it, and finance.

Strengths
  • Unified HR, IT, and Finance in one platform
  • Exceptional automation reduces admin workload by 42%
  • Highest-rated HR platform on G2 with NPS of 90
Cons
  • Custom pricing lacks transparency
  • A la carte modules can add up quickly
Read Full Review Visit Website
#2

BambooHR

4.5 36,547 reviews

Set your people free to do great work

Contact for pricing

Consider BambooHR for higher user ratings, specializes in smbs with 25-1,000 employees.

Strengths
  • Highly intuitive and easy to use
  • Comprehensive HR features
  • Strong time and attendance (8.6 score)
Cons
  • Limited task list and workflow features
  • Limited customization options
Read Full Review Visit Website
#3

Gusto

4.5 69,482 reviews

The people platform for small businesses

Contact for pricing

Consider Gusto for higher user ratings, specializes in small businesses running payroll.

Strengths
  • Extremely easy to use for payroll processing
  • Comprehensive tax filing and compliance automation
  • Strong benefits administration features
Cons
  • Customer support can be slow and inconsistent
  • Pricing increases with employee count and add-ons
Read Full Review Visit Website
#4

SAP SuccessFactors

3.9 49,674 reviews

AI-powered human experience management

Contact for pricing

Consider SAP SuccessFactors for specializes in large enterprises needing comprehensive hcm.

Strengths
  • Comprehensive HR functionality
  • Strong global capabilities
  • Good for managing employee data
Cons
  • Steep learning curve
  • Complex configuration
Read Full Review Visit Website
#5

Oracle HCM Cloud

3.9 965 reviews

Comprehensive cloud-based Human Capital Management platform ...

From $13/month

Consider Oracle HCM Cloud for specializes in large global enterprises (1,000+ employees).

Strengths
  • Comprehensive feature set covering core HR, talent management, payroll, and workforce management in one platform
  • Strong global capabilities with multi-currency, multi-language support and extensive localization (104 countries)
  • Excellent integration with other Oracle Cloud applications and third-party systems
Cons
  • Complex navigation and UI that can feel like 'a maze' - steep learning curve for new users
  • Employee self-service functionality is not intuitive, difficult for end-users to adopt
Read Full Review Visit Website
#6

iCIMS

3.7 2,127 reviews

The leading cloud recruiting software

Contact for pricing

Consider iCIMS for specializes in large enterprises hiring at scale.

Strengths
  • Comprehensive talent acquisition suite
  • Strong customization options
  • Good global support
Cons
  • Complex setup and configuration
  • Interface can be overwhelming
Read Full Review Visit Website
#7

Gloat

4.4 74 reviews

The AI platform for workforce agility

Contact for pricing

Consider Gloat for specializes in large enterprises (1000+ employees).

Strengths
  • User-friendly interface
  • Effective opportunity matching
  • Strong career development features
Cons
  • Enterprise pricing only
  • Automation features could be stronger
Read Full Review Visit Website
#8

Eightfold AI

4.1 247 reviews

The industry's first Talent Intelligence Platform that transforms how you hire, retain, and grow a diverse workforce

Contact for pricing

Consider Eightfold AI for specializes in enterprise talent intel (2,000+ employees).

Strengths
  • AI-powered candidate matching saves significant time in recruitment
  • 50%+ increase in recruiter productivity reported by users
  • Excellent for identifying diverse candidates (85% time reduction)
Cons
  • Not intuitive UI/UX, steep learning curve reported
  • Not a standalone ATS - requires integration with existing systems
Read Full Review Visit Website
04

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best alternative to Workday?
Rippling is the best overall Workday alternative. It offers higher user ratings compared to Workday, with strong ratings across the hr & recruiting category. Other strong picks include BambooHR and Gusto.
Is there anything better than Workday?
Yes - 8 credible Workday alternatives rank competitively in this comparison, led by Rippling and BambooHR. Whether one is "better" depends on your priorities: pricing, specific features, or ease of use.
Is there a free alternative to Workday?
None of the listed Workday alternatives offer a fully free tier with comparable features. Most provide free trials, so check each tool's pricing page for current trial terms.
What is the cheapest alternative to Workday?
Oracle HCM Cloud is the cheapest paid Workday alternative at $6/month. Most other alternatives start at higher monthly prices.
What are people using instead of Workday?
Rippling, BambooHR, and the other 8 tools listed above are the most common Workday replacements. Common reasons cited by users include prohibitive cost for smaller organizations, pricing (pricing varies by plan), and feature gaps that competing tools have closed.
How does Workday compare to Rippling?
Workday and Rippling are both hr & recruiting tools targeting overlapping use cases. Workday is best for Enterprise HR and finance teams, while Rippling is best for Companies wanting unified HR, IT, and Finance. See the detailed comparison table above for feature-by-feature differences.
Can I migrate my data from Workday to another tool?
Most Workday alternatives support data import via CSV, API, or dedicated migration tools. Migration effort varies by destination: check each tool's import documentation before committing to a switch.
Which Workday alternative is best for small businesses?
Oracle HCM Cloud is the most small-business-friendly Workday alternative on this list, with affordable pricing that scales without enterprise complexity.
05

Related Comparisons

Head-to-head comparisons of Workday with the top alternatives above.

Still using Workday?

Read our complete Workday review to see if it is still the right choice for you.

Read Workday Review