Quick Answer
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Workday Recruiting pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $100K to $500K per year in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.

Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.

  • Free tier: Yes
  • Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
  • Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training

Workday Recruiting offers 3 pricing tiers: Mid-Market, Enterprise, Enterprise Plus. The Enterprise plan is large enterprises (500-2,500 employees) needing advanced ai screening, workforce planning, and deep hcm integration across the full talent lifecycle.

Compared to other ai recruiting software, Workday Recruiting is positioned at the premium price point.

Last verified: January 2026 | Sources: 6 pricing pages and reviews

Workday Recruiting is the talent acquisition module within the Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) suite, designed for mid-market and enterprise organizations that want native integration between recruiting, HR, payroll, and talent management. Unlike standalone ATS tools like Greenhouse or Lever, Workday Recruiting operates as part of a unified HCM platform, meaning candidate data flows seamlessly into employee records, workforce planning, and compliance reporting. It is used by large enterprises including Netflix, Amazon, and Target, and features AI-powered capabilities through HiredScore AI for Recruiting.

Pricing starts around $100,000/year for mid-market companies (200-500 employees) and scales to $300,000-$500,000+/year for large enterprises (2,500+ employees). Workday does not publish pricing online; all plans require custom quotes based on employee headcount, selected modules, and contract length. Per-employee costs range from $60-$100/month depending on company size and negotiation, making Workday one of the most expensive recruiting solutions on the market.

A critical consideration: Workday's base recruiting pricing excludes implementation ($150,000-$400,000+, typically 150-200% of the annual subscription), premium AI modules like HiredScore, administrator training and certification, and data migration from legacy systems. Total first-year cost of ownership is typically 40-60% higher than the base subscription. Additionally, Workday contracts include annual price escalation clauses and multi-year commitments, limiting flexibility for companies that may want to switch providers.

In this 2026 pricing guide, we break down Workday Recruiting's three pricing tiers, estimate real-world costs for different company sizes, expose hidden fees like implementation and premium AI modules, and compare Workday Recruiting to alternatives like Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby, and HireVue to help you determine if Workday Recruiting is the right investment for your talent acquisition strategy.

All Workday Recruiting Plans & Pricing

Plan Monthly Annual Best For
Mid-Market Employees: Under 500 employeesAdvanced analytics: Limited Contact Contact Mid-market companies (200-500 employees) already using or planning to adopt Workday HCM who need integrated recruiting without third-party ATS
Enterprise Employees: 500-2,500 employeesCustom integrations: Expanded API access Contact Contact Large enterprises (500-2,500 employees) needing advanced AI screening, workforce planning, and deep HCM integration across the full talent lifecycle
Enterprise Plus Employees: 2,500+ employeesCustom integrations: Unlimited Contact Contact Global enterprises (2,500+ employees) requiring multi-region compliance, full talent suite integration, and premium support SLAs
View all features by plan

Mid-Market

  • AI-powered candidate sourcing and matching
  • Applicant tracking system (ATS)
  • Requisition management and approval workflows
  • Interview scheduling and feedback
  • Customizable career site
  • Basic reporting and analytics
  • Mobile-optimized candidate experience

Enterprise

  • All Mid-Market features
  • Advanced analytics and workforce planning
  • HiredScore AI for Recruiting (AI-powered screening)
  • Custom approval workflows and routing
  • Advanced integrations (background checks, assessments, HRIS)
  • Compliance reporting (EEOC, OFCCP)
  • Dedicated customer success manager

Enterprise Plus

  • All Enterprise features
  • Full Workday Talent Optimization suite
  • Global multi-language and multi-currency support
  • Advanced security (SSO, SAML, role-based access)
  • Custom SLA and 24/7 premium support
  • Advanced API and webhook integrations
  • White-glove implementation and onboarding
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Hidden Costs to Budget For

Watch for 6 hidden costs
  • Implementation fees range from $150,000-$400,000+: Workday implementation typically costs 150-200% of the annual subscription. A $300K/year contract can mean $450K-$600K in implementation fees alone. Budget 6-12 months for full deployment with a certified Workday partner.
  • Per-employee pricing scales steeply with headcount: Workday charges $60-$100 per employee per month depending on company size and negotiation. A company growing from 500 to 1,000 employees can see costs jump 50-80% at renewal, even without adding features.
  • Premium modules sold separately from base recruiting: HiredScore AI for Recruiting, Workday Learning, Talent Optimization, and Workforce Planning are separate add-ons, each costing $10,000-$50,000+ annually. The base recruiting module alone often does not include these AI capabilities.
  • Training and certification costs for HR administrators: Workday requires certified administrators, and training programs cost $200-$500 per user. Organizations typically need 2-5 certified admins, plus ongoing training as Workday releases biannual updates.
  • Annual price escalation clauses in contracts: Workday contracts include a 1% + CPI annual price uplift cap for the first 3 years post-renewal. After 3 years, pricing can increase significantly. Multi-year commits (3-5 years) help lock in rates but reduce flexibility.
  • Data migration and integration middleware costs: Migrating from legacy ATS systems (Taleo, iCIMS, Greenhouse) to Workday Recruiting requires data migration services costing $20,000-$100,000+. Custom integrations with third-party tools often need middleware like Workato or MuleSoft, adding $10,000-$30,000/year.
Tip

Ask your Workday Recruiting sales rep about these costs upfront. Getting them in writing before signing can save you from surprise charges later.

Full hidden costs breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

01 How much does Workday Recruiting cost?

Workday Recruiting costs $100,000-$500,000+ per year depending on company size and modules selected. Mid-market companies (200-500 employees) typically pay $100,000-$200,000/year. Large enterprises (500-2,500 employees) pay $200,000-$400,000/year. Global enterprises (2,500+ employees) can pay $400,000-$500,000+ annually. All pricing is custom-quoted based on employee headcount, not published online.

02 Is Workday Recruiting available as a standalone product?

Workday Recruiting is part of the broader Workday HCM suite and is typically sold as a module within the platform, not as a standalone product. Organizations usually purchase Workday HCM first, then add the Recruiting module. This bundled approach means you get deep integration with HR, payroll, and talent management, but it also means higher total costs compared to standalone ATS tools like Greenhouse or Lever.

03 What is Workday Recruiting?

Workday Recruiting is an enterprise-grade talent acquisition module within the Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) suite. It provides AI-powered candidate sourcing, applicant tracking, interview management, offer management, and onboarding capabilities, all natively integrated with Workday's HR, payroll, and talent management tools. It is used by large enterprises including Netflix, Amazon, and Target.

04 Workday Recruiting vs Greenhouse: which is better?

Workday Recruiting is best for large enterprises already invested in the Workday HCM ecosystem who want native integration across HR, payroll, and recruiting. Greenhouse is better for mid-market companies wanting a dedicated, best-of-breed ATS with more flexibility and lower cost. Workday costs $100K-$500K+/year; Greenhouse costs $6K-$70K/year. Choose Workday for enterprise HCM integration; choose Greenhouse for standalone ATS agility.

05 How long does Workday Recruiting implementation take?

Workday Recruiting implementation typically takes 6-12 months for full deployment, depending on organization size and complexity. Mid-market companies may complete in 4-6 months with a simplified configuration. Large enterprises with global operations, custom workflows, and data migration from legacy systems often require 9-12+ months. Implementation is usually led by certified Workday partners and costs 150-200% of the annual subscription.

06 Does Workday Recruiting include AI features?

Yes, Workday has invested heavily in AI for recruiting. HiredScore AI for Recruiting provides AI-powered candidate screening, matching, and ranking. Workday also offers AI-driven job recommendations, automated candidate engagement, and predictive analytics for hiring. However, HiredScore AI is a premium add-on that may not be included in base Recruiting pricing, so confirm which AI features are included in your quote.

07 What are the hidden costs of Workday Recruiting?

Major hidden costs include implementation fees ($150K-$400K+, or 150-200% of annual subscription), premium AI modules like HiredScore ($10K-$50K+/year), administrator training and certification ($200-$500/user), data migration from legacy ATS systems ($20K-$100K+), and annual price escalation clauses (1% + CPI). Budget 40-60% above base subscription for true total cost of ownership in the first year.

08 Can small companies use Workday Recruiting?

Workday Recruiting is designed for mid-market and enterprise organizations, typically companies with 200+ employees. Recent pricing adjustments have made Workday more accessible to companies with 200-500 employees at approximately $100K-$200K/year. For companies under 200 employees, dedicated ATS tools like Greenhouse ($6K-$70K/year), Lever ($5K-$140K/year), or Ashby ($0-$2K/month) are more cost-effective and appropriately sized.

09 Does Workday Recruiting offer a free trial?

No, Workday Recruiting does not offer a free trial or free plan. Workday provides product demos and guided walkthroughs upon request through their sales team. Given the complexity and enterprise nature of the platform, evaluation typically involves a structured sales process with discovery calls, custom demos, and proof-of-concept engagements rather than self-service trials.