Workday Alternatives 2026: 3 Options Compared
Find the right hr/hris solution for your team
Workday pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $100 to $300 per user/month 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: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Top Workday Alternatives
Rippling
Medium EffortRippling costs 80-90% less and includes IT management, but lacks Workday's enterprise-grade analytics, financials integration, and isn't built for 1,000+ employees
ADP Workforce Now
Medium EffortADP is 75% cheaper with deeper payroll expertise, but has a more dated interface and lacks Workday's unified HCM/financials and advanced analytics
Paylocity
Medium EffortPaylocity costs 70-85% less with better UX and employee engagement, but is mid-market focused and lacks Workday's financials and enterprise analytics
When to Stay with Workday
Stay with Workday if you're a large enterprise that needs its unified platform for HCM and financials, rely on its powerful analytics and reporting for strategic planning, or have made the significant investment in implementation and training that makes migration costly
- You've invested heavily in customizations and integrations
- Your team is highly trained and productive on Workday
- You need features that alternatives don't offer
- Migration costs would exceed multi-year savings
Price Comparison
| Product | Price Range | Migration |
|---|---|---|
| Current Workday | $100-$300/user/month | - |
| Rippling | $8-35/user/month | Medium |
| ADP Workforce Now | $10-25/user/month | Medium |
| Paylocity | $20-40/user/month | Medium |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 What are the best Workday alternatives?
The top Workday alternatives include Rippling, ADP Workforce Now, Paylocity. Each offers different strengths: Rippling is growing companies (50-500 employees) wanting modern hr + it, while ADP Workforce Now is enterprises focused on payroll expertise over unified platform.
02 Is it hard to switch from Workday to an alternative?
Migration difficulty varies by alternative. Among Workday alternatives, some options offer easy migration paths with import tools. More complex migrations may require data cleanup and workflow reconfiguration.
03 How much can I save by switching from Workday?
Depending on the alternative you choose, you could save anywhere from 20% to 70% on per-user costs. Workday's typical price of $200/user/month is on the higher end of the market. Factor in migration costs and productivity dip during transition.
04 Should I stay with Workday or switch?
Stay with Workday if you're a large enterprise that needs its unified platform for HCM and financials, rely on its powerful analytics and reporting for strategic planning, or have made the significant investment in implementation and training that makes migration costly However, if your needs have evolved or you're not using Workday's advanced features, exploring alternatives could save you money and complexity.
Get a personalized Workday alternatives analysis
We'll compare your options and recommend the best fit based on your team size, budget, and requirements.