Software · head to head
Betterworks vs Workday

Workday
Software
Enterprise cloud applications for finance and HR
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Betterworks the $1 and $2 promotional rates require a three year agreement and expire on 31 August 2026; the standing prices are $8 and $9 per user per month; Workday high implementation costs equal to or exceeding annual software fees
- They diverge on capability: Betterworks covers OKR & goal management, Workday covers Human capital management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Betterworks and Workday actually diverge.
| Attribute | Betterworks | Workday |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | quote |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android, Api | Cloud/Web |
| Founded | 2013 | 2005 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Betterworks
- OKR & goal management
- Performance reviews
- Continuous feedback
- 1-on-1 meetings
- Goal alignment
- Calibration tools
- Analytics & reporting
- Mobile app
Only in Workday
- Human capital management
- Financial management
- Planning
- Analytics
- Payroll
- Time tracking
- Talent management
- Procurement
Both cover
- Slack
- ISO27001
- GDPR
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Betterworks
- Goals and OKR tracking across an organisationnot Workday
- Performance reviews, 1:1s and continuous feedbacknot Workday
- Calibration and succession planning on the higher tiernot Workday
- Skills mapping and development plansnot Workday
- Engagement surveys on the Enterprise tiernot Workday
Workday
- HR managementnot Betterworks
- Financial planningnot Betterworks
- Workforce planningnot Betterworks
- Compliancenot Betterworks
- Analyticsnot Betterworks
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Betterworks
- The $1 and $2 promotional rates require a three year agreement and expire on 31 August 2026; the standing prices are $8 and $9 per user per month
- Implementation is charged on top of the per-user price
- Calibration, succession planning and skills intelligence need the Talent Intelligence tier
- Engagement surveys and change management services are Enterprise only
- The vendor states it adds most value above 500 employees, so smaller companies are not the target
Workday
- High implementation costs equal to or exceeding annual software fees
- Long deployment timelines (12-18 months standard) before ROI
- Steep per-employee pricing at enterprise scale ($408-504 PEPM)
- Limited pre-built templates and customization; often requires extensive configuration
- Requires significant IT and change management resources during implementation
Pricing, plan by plan
Betterworks
On request- Goals$undefined/month
- OKR management
- Goal alignment
- Progress tracking
- Performance$undefined/month
- Everything in Goals
- Performance reviews
- Continuous feedback
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- Everything in Performance
- Advanced analytics
- Custom workflows
Workday
On request- Small Business$undefined/month
- Core HR
- Payroll
- Time tracking
- Medium Enterprise$undefined/month
- Full HCM suite
- Financial management
- Advanced analytics
- Large Enterprise$undefined/month
- Complete platform
- Custom configurations
- Dedicated support
Which should you pick?
Choose Betterworks if
- You need okr & goal management.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
- You also want performance reviews.
Choose Workday if
- You need human capital management.
- You work on Cloud/Web.
- You also want financial management.
Questions people ask
- Is Betterworks or Workday better?
- Neither clearly leads. Betterworks starts at On request and Workday at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Betterworks or Workday?
- Betterworks starts at On request and Workday at On request.
- Does Betterworks or Workday run on more platforms?
- Betterworks runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. Workday runs on Cloud/Web.
- What is Betterworks best used for?
- Betterworks is most often used for goals and okr tracking across an organisation, performance reviews, 1:1s and continuous feedback, calibration and succession planning on the higher tier, skills mapping and development plans. Of those, goals and okr tracking across an organisation and performance reviews, 1:1s and continuous feedback are not what Workday is typically brought in for.
- What can Betterworks do that Workday cannot?
- Betterworks covers OKR & goal management, Performance reviews, Continuous feedback, 1-on-1 meetings. Workday covers Human capital management, Financial management, Planning, Analytics. Both handle Slack, ISO27001, GDPR.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Workday: What is Workday GO and what market is it designed for?
Workday GO is a product designed for small and midsize organizations, bringing together HR and finance solutions with transparent pricing and fast activation in 30 to 60 days. It includes HCM, benefits, payroll, talent, and more at a lower price point than standard Workday.
SourceWorkday: What is Workday Skills Cloud and how does it fit into HCM?
Workday Skills Cloud is an intelligent skills foundation built into Workday HCM. It is described as the world's most open intelligent skills foundation and fuels data-driven talent strategies across recruiting, learning, and workforce planning.
SourceWorkday: Does Workday include payroll and benefits management?
Yes. Workday HCM includes benefits administration and payroll capabilities as part of its core suite. Global payroll processing is available across multiple countries and tax jurisdictions.
SourceWorkday: What is the typical pricing model for Workday HCM?
Workday HCM uses per-employee (PEPM) annual subscription pricing. Companies at scale typically pay $34-42 PEPM. Enterprise organizations with 5,000+ employees typically pay $408-504 per employee annually. Pricing decreases with larger commitments and longer contract terms.
SourceWorkday: How long does Workday implementation typically take?
Standard implementations are lengthy, often taking 12-18 months. Workday GO promises faster activation in 30-60 days. Implementation costs typically equal 100-150% of the first year's software subscription fees.
SourceRelated pages
More on Betterworks
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