Workday is powerful but expensive. For companies under 500 employees — or those who don't need enterprise-grade HCM — these alternatives offer strong features at a fraction of the cost.
| Platform | Starting Price | Best For | Employee Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workday HCM | $34+ PEPM | Enterprise HCM + Finance | 500–500K+ |
| BambooHR | $6–$10 PEPM | Small to mid-size businesses | 5–500 employees |
| Gusto | $40/mo base + $6/EE | US-based SMBs with payroll focus | 1–250 employees |
| Rippling | $8–$15 PEPM | Tech-forward companies 50–2,000 EEs | 10–2,000 employees |
| Paycom | $12–$22 PEPM | US-based companies 500–10,000 EEs | 50–10,000 employees |
| UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group) | $15–$30 PEPM | Complex scheduling, shift-based workforces | 250–100,000 employees |
Best for SMBs under 500 employees
Pricing
$6–$10 PEPM
Model
Per employee/month
Best For
Small to mid-size businesses
Size Range
5–500 employees
Pros
Cons
Best payroll-first HRIS for US SMBs
Pricing
$40/mo base + $6/EE
Model
Base + per employee
Best For
US-based SMBs with payroll focus
Size Range
1–250 employees
Pros
Cons
Best all-in-one HR + IT platform
Pricing
$8–$15 PEPM
Model
Per employee/month (modular)
Best For
Tech-forward companies 50–2,000 EEs
Size Range
10–2,000 employees
Pros
Cons
Best single-database HCM for mid-market
Pricing
$12–$22 PEPM
Model
Per employee/month
Best For
US-based companies 500–10,000 EEs
Size Range
50–10,000 employees
Pros
Cons
Best for workforce management complexity
Pricing
$15–$30 PEPM
Model
Per employee/month
Best For
Complex scheduling, shift-based workforces
Size Range
250–100,000 employees
Pros
Cons
If your headcount is above 500 and you need advanced analytics, global payroll, and unified finance, Workday may still be the right choice. Use our calculator to understand total costs.