Softwr

HR · head to head

People HR vs Workday

People HR logo

People HR

HR

HR software that does the HR hard work

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Workday logo

Workday

HR

Enterprise cloud applications for finance and HR

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only People HR has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: People HR pro and Elite+ HR plans require contacting sales; exact features unclear; Workday high implementation costs equal to or exceeding annual software fees
  • They diverge on capability: People HR covers Employee Database, Workday covers Human capital management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which People HR and Workday actually diverge.

Attributes where People HR and Workday differ
AttributePeople HRWorkday
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidCloud/Web
Founded20122005

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (HR).

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 People HR

  • Employee Database
  • Absence Management
  • Document Management
  • Performance
  • Recruitment
  • Self-Service Portal
  • Microsoft 365
  • Google Workspace

Only in Workday

  • Human capital management
  • Financial management
  • Planning
  • Analytics
  • Payroll
  • Time tracking
  • Talent management
  • Procurement

Both cover

  • Slack

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

People HR

  • HR management for startups and growing teamsnot Workday
  • Integrated payroll and HR operationsnot Workday
  • Employee management with compliance featuresnot Workday

Workday

  • HR managementnot People HR
  • Financial planningnot People HR
  • Workforce planningnot People HR
  • Compliancenot People HR
  • Analyticsnot People HR

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

People HR

  • Pro and Elite+ HR plans require contacting sales; exact features unclear
  • Payroll SaaS Pro and Elite+ pricing not published
  • Combined plans mark no distinction between HR and payroll components

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

People HR

Free
  • Starter$3/month
    • per-employee pricing
    • ideal for startups
  • Core$5.5/month
    • per-employee pricing
    • growing teams
  • Pro$8/month
    • per-employee pricing
    • larger companies
  • Elite+$9.5/month
    • per-employee pricing
    • advanced HR

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 People HR if

  • You need employee database.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want absence management.
People HR review

Choose Workday if

  • You need human capital management.
  • You work on Cloud/Web.
  • You also want financial management.
Workday review

Questions people ask

Is People HR or Workday better?
Neither clearly leads. People HR starts at Free and Workday at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, People HR or Workday?
People HR has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for People HR and On request for Workday.
Does People HR or Workday run on more platforms?
People HR runs on Web, iOS, Android. Workday runs on Cloud/Web.
Can I use People HR for free?
Yes. People HR has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Workday starts at On request.
What is People HR best used for?
People HR is most often used for hr management for startups and growing teams, integrated payroll and hr operations, employee management with compliance features. Of those, hr management for startups and growing teams and integrated payroll and hr operations are not what Workday is typically brought in for.
What can People HR do that Workday cannot?
People HR covers Employee Database, Absence Management, Document Management, Performance. Workday covers Human capital management, Financial management, Planning, Analytics. Both handle Slack.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

People HR: How is PeopleHR pricing calculated?

Pricing is per employee per month (PEPM). Starter: £3, Core: £5.50, Pro: £8, Elite+: £9.50. Users can add/remove employees as needed.

Source
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.

Source
People HR: Do I get a discount for annual billing?

Yes, annual customers receive discounts compared to monthly billing. Exact discount percentages not specified on the pricing page.

Source
Workday: 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.

Source
People HR: What add-ons are available?

Optional add-ons cost £1.50-£2 PEPM for most features. Specific add-ons not listed on the pricing page.

Source
Workday: 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.

Source
People HR: Can I combine HR and Payroll services?

Yes, combined HR + Payroll plans are available: Core+ (£7 PEPM), Pro+ (£9.50 PEPM), Ultimate+ (£11 PEPM). Support and implementation included.

Source
Workday: 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.

Source
Workday: 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
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