Gusto vs Workday
Compare Gusto and Workday on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.
Gusto
US SMB payroll + benefits + light HR — Simple from $49/mo + $6/person; Plus $80 + $12; Premium $180 + $22.
Best for
- • US small businesses running payroll (and benefits) for the first time
- • Teams that want published month-to-month pricing instead of HCM quotes
- • Single-state companies that can start on Simple and upgrade for multi-state
Starting from $49.00/user/mo
No free plan
VS
Our verdict
There is no universal winner between Gusto and Workday. Choose Gusto when US small businesses running payroll (and benefits) for the first time. Choose Workday when Enterprises (typically 1,000+ employees) that want one HCM system of record. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.
Workday is better for
- ✓ Integrations
Choose Gusto if: US small businesses running payroll (and benefits) for the first time
Choose Workday if: Enterprises (typically 1,000+ employees) that want one HCM system of record
Workday
Enterprise HCM default — custom PEPM quote (no published seat $); implementation-led. Landscape only vs SMB HRIS/payroll.
Best for
- • Enterprises (typically 1,000+ employees) that want one HCM system of record
- • Global HR + payroll programmes comparing Workday as the default shortlist
- • Orgs that will fund a multi-month SI implementation
No free plan
Feature comparison
Grouped feature support from verified product research for Gusto and Workday.
Hiring
| Feature | Gusto | Workday | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant tracking | Moderate | Strong | Workday |
| Career site & job boards | Limited | Strong | Workday |
| Interview scheduling | Limited | Strong | Workday |
Workforce
| Feature | Gusto | Workday | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workforce scheduling | Limited | Moderate | Workday |
| Frontline communications | Limited | Moderate | Workday |
| Time & attendance | Moderate | Strong | Workday |
| GPS / geofence clock-in | Limited | Moderate | Workday |
People & payroll
| Feature | Gusto | Workday | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core HRIS | Moderate | Strong | Workday |
| Payroll processing | Strong | Strong | Tie |
| Benefits administration | Strong | Strong | Tie |
Training
| Feature | Gusto | Workday | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOP / knowledge base | Limited | Moderate | Workday |
| Employee training paths | Limited | Strong | Workday |
| LMS / course commerce | Limited | Limited | Tie |
Platform
| Feature | Gusto | Workday | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HRIS integrations | Strong | Strong | Tie |
| Analytics & reporting | Moderate | Strong | Workday |
| AI assistance | Moderate | Strong | Workday |
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