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Recruitment · head to head

SAP SuccessFactors vs Workday

SAP SuccessFactors logo

SAP SuccessFactors

Recruitment

Human experience management

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Workday logo

Workday

HR

Enterprise cloud applications for finance and HR

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: SAP SuccessFactors complex configuration and customization required; Workday high implementation costs equal to or exceeding annual software fees
  • They diverge on capability: SAP SuccessFactors covers Core HR, Workday covers Human capital management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SAP SuccessFactors and Workday actually diverge.

Attributes where SAP SuccessFactors and Workday differ
AttributeSAP SuccessFactorsWorkday
PlatformsWeb, CloudCloud/Web
CategoryRecruitmentHR
Founded20012005

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 SAP SuccessFactors

  • Core HR
  • Talent Management
  • Learning
  • Recruiting
  • Performance
  • Succession Planning
  • SAP ERP
  • Microsoft 365

Only in Workday

  • Human capital management
  • Financial management
  • Planning
  • Time tracking
  • Talent management
  • Procurement
  • Microsoft
  • LinkedIn

Both cover

  • Payroll
  • Analytics
  • Salesforce
  • ServiceNow

What people use each for

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

SAP SuccessFactors

No use cases recorded yet. See the SAP SuccessFactors review.

Workday

  • HR managementnot SAP SuccessFactors
  • Financial planningnot SAP SuccessFactors
  • Workforce planningnot SAP SuccessFactors
  • Compliancenot SAP SuccessFactors
  • Analyticsnot SAP SuccessFactors

Where each one falls short

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

SAP SuccessFactors

  • Complex configuration and customization required
  • Steep pricing for enterprise implementations
  • Implementation requires extensive project timelines

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

SAP SuccessFactors

On request
  • SuccessFactors HXM$undefined/month
    • Core HR
    • Payroll
    • Talent Management

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 SAP SuccessFactors if

  • You need core hr.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want talent management.
SAP SuccessFactors 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 SAP SuccessFactors or Workday better?
Neither clearly leads. SAP SuccessFactors 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, SAP SuccessFactors or Workday?
SAP SuccessFactors starts at On request and Workday at On request.
Does SAP SuccessFactors or Workday run on more platforms?
SAP SuccessFactors runs on Web, Cloud. Workday runs on Cloud/Web.
What can SAP SuccessFactors do that Workday cannot?
SAP SuccessFactors covers Core HR, Talent Management, Learning, Recruiting. Workday covers Human capital management, Financial management, Planning, Time tracking. Both handle Payroll, Analytics, Salesforce, ServiceNow.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SAP SuccessFactors: What is SAP SuccessFactors used for?

SAP SuccessFactors is a cloud-based HCM solution for talent management, recruitment, learning, and onboarding. It helps organizations manage employee data, recruiting workflows, performance management, learning programs, and succession planning.

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
SAP SuccessFactors: Can SAP SuccessFactors integrate with other systems?

Yes. SAP SuccessFactors can integrate with SAP HCM S/4HANA, other SAP ERP systems, and third-party HRIS, background check providers, and sourcing tools through APIs and integration adapters.

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
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
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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