Software · head to head
Google Workspace vs Workday
Google Workspace
Software
Everything you need to get work done, all in one place
- From
- €3.4/month
- Rated
- -
Workday
Software
Enterprise cloud applications for finance and HR
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Google Workspace starter tier storage limited to 30 GB per user, requiring upgrade to Standard or higher for adequate document storage; Workday high implementation costs equal to or exceeding annual software fees
- They diverge on capability: Google Workspace covers Gmail business email, Workday covers Human capital management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Workspace and Workday actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Workspace | Workday |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | €3.4/month | On request |
| Pricing model | subscription | quote |
| Platforms | Web | Cloud/Web |
| Founded | 2006 | 2005 |
Identical on both: 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 Google Workspace
- Gmail business email
- Google Drive storage
- Google Docs, Sheets, Slides
- Google Calendar
- Google Meet video conferencing
- Google Chat
- Google Forms
- Google Sites
Only in Workday
- Human capital management
- Financial management
- Planning
- Analytics
- Payroll
- Time tracking
- Talent management
- Procurement
Both cover
- Salesforce
- Slack
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Google Workspace
- Business email and calendar managementnot Workday
- Collaborative document editingnot Workday
- Video conferencing and meetingsnot Workday
- Secure document storage and sharingnot Workday
Workday
- HR managementnot Google Workspace
- Financial planningnot Google Workspace
- Workforce planningnot Google Workspace
- Compliancenot Google Workspace
- Analyticsnot Google Workspace
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Google Workspace
- Starter tier storage limited to 30 GB per user, requiring upgrade to Standard or higher for adequate document storage
- Starter and Standard tiers both capped at maximum 300 users per organisation
- Video meetings limited to 100 participants on Starter tier, 150 on Standard tier
- Recording capabilities only available on Standard tier and above
- eDiscovery, Vault, and advanced security features only available on Plus and Enterprise tiers
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 ($408-504 PEPM)
- Limited pre-built templates and customization; often requires extensive configuration
- Requires significant IT and change management resources during implementation
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Workspace
€3.4/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Google Workspace review.
Workday
On request- Small Business$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 Google Workspace if
- You need gmail business email.
- You also want google drive storage.
Choose Workday if
- You need human capital management.
- You work on Cloud/Web.
- You also want financial management.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Workspace or Workday better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Workspace starts at €3.4/month and Workday at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Workspace or Workday?
- Google Workspace starts at €3.4/month and Workday at On request.
- Does Google Workspace or Workday run on more platforms?
- Google Workspace runs on Web. Workday runs on Cloud/Web.
- What is Google Workspace best used for?
- Google Workspace is most often used for business email and calendar management, collaborative document editing, video conferencing and meetings, secure document storage and sharing. Of those, business email and calendar management and collaborative document editing are not what Workday is typically brought in for.
- What can Google Workspace do that Workday cannot?
- Google Workspace covers Gmail business email, Google Drive storage, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Google Calendar. Workday covers Human capital management, Financial management, Planning, Analytics. Both handle Salesforce, Slack.
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.
Source