Managing human resources (HR) efficiently is as important as driving innovation and achieving business goals. There’s no better way to do this than implementing a full-service HR system. The right software can automate processes, reduce administrative work, and enable human resource teams to focus on strategic initiatives through data-driven insights.

That said, the key lies in finding the right software, which can be challenging since there are so many options to choose from. Narrowing down your choices to two reliable names, we present Gusto HR software and Workday. These platforms come packed with advanced features and intuitive dashboards, making HR management a breeze.

Find out which is the better choice for your business in this detailed Gusto vs Workday comparison guide, where we will compare their unique features along with pros and cons.

Gusto Vs Workday At A Glance

Features

Gusto

Workday

Payroll

Simplifies payroll with tax calculations and payment options for small to mid-sized businesses

Automates payroll and tax compliance for local and global operations with real-time integration

Integrations

Integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, Homebase, Shopify, and other payroll and accounting systems

Supports over 600 integrations across HR, payroll, and finance systems for large businesses

Talent Management

Offers tools for hiring, onboarding, and performance management for SMBs

Provides advanced tools for performance reviews, succession planning, and skill gap analysis

Reporting

Customizable reports for payroll, HR, and compliance insights

AI-driven reporting with real-time updates and customizable dashboards for strategic planning

Time And Attendance

Tracks work hours, overtime, and time off with mobile and web clock-ins

Tracks hours and overtime with flexible shift rules tailored to business needs

What Is Gusto?

Gusto is a cloud-based HR platform that enables companies to manage payroll with features like automated tax calculations, compliance with changing regulations, and support for both employees and contractors. Beyond payroll, Gusto offers tools for onboarding, benefits administration, and time tracking, integrating seamlessly with other business tools like QuickBooks and Xero.

These capabilities make it a versatile option for small and mid-sized businesses looking to simplify administrative tasks and enhance operational efficiency.

Unique Features Of Gusto

  • Benefits Management: Gusto helps businesses offer and manage employee benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans like 401(k), flexible spending accounts, and commuter benefits. The platform allows seamless integration of these benefits with payroll, ensuring accurate deductions and compliance.
  • Hiring And Onboarding: The platform streamlines the hiring process with tools for sending offer letters, gathering electronic signatures, and automating new hire paperwork, including tax forms like W-4s and I-9s. It also facilitates employee self-onboarding, reducing administrative burden and ensuring new hires can quickly adapt to the team.
  • Workers' Compensation: It offers integrated workers' compensation insurance that adjusts premiums based on payroll data to avoid overpayment. Furthermore, the platform automates compliance with state requirements.

Who Are The Main Users Of Gusto?

Gusto mainly caters to small and mid-sized companies. However, single users or businesses dealing with contractors only can also benefit from this platform. Generally, companies operating in the following industries and sectors benefit from this platform:

  • Healthcare
  • Real estate
  • Professional services
  • Construction
  • Manufacturing

Pros And Cons Of Gust

Pros

  • Offers an intuitive platform, simplifying use for non-technical users
  • Enables businesses to manage payroll in just a few clicks
  • Handles taxes accurately and efficiently

Cons 

  • The geofencing feature doesn’t always work accurately
  • Lacks a feature for setting recurring amounts for contractors, requiring manual entry each time

What Is Workday?

Workday is a cloud-based human capital management (HCM) platform that offers tools for managing employee data, payroll, benefits, recruitment, and talent development, all integrated into a unified system. This integration allows HR teams to automate administrative tasks and access real-time data for better decision-making and workforce planning.

The platform also focuses on employee engagement, offering features like performance management and learning programs.

Unique Features Of Workday

  • Employee Experience: Workday enhances employee experience by centralizing tools for self-service, career growth, and engagement, offering personalized resources and streamlined processes for tasks like benefits enrollment or learning opportunities.
  • Workforce Planning: It supports strategic workforce planning by integrating real-time data to forecast staffing needs, align talent with organizational goals, and adapt to changing demands.
  • Employee Voice: Workday captures feedback through surveys and sentiment analysis, enabling organizations to gauge employee morale and address concerns effectively.
  • Managers Insight Hub: This feature provides managers with data-driven dashboards for team performance, productivity, and engagement insights to make informed decisions.

Who Are The Main Users Of Workday?

Workday caters to the unique features of companies operating in various industries and sectors. These include:

  • Technology
  • Financial services
  • Media and entertainment
  • Hospitality
  • Retail

Pros And Cons Of Workday

Pros

  • A scalable platform, which makes it suitable for companies of all sizes
  • Has a functional native mobile app with an intuitive interface
  • Responsive and helpful customer support team

Cons

  • It may become sluggish during peak times
  • The process of generating reports is complex and requires technical expertise

Gusto Vs Workday – Key Features Comparison

Payroll

Gusto's payroll platform simplifies and automates the complexities of running payroll for small and mid-sized businesses. It enables users to manage employee and contractor payments with ease, ensuring compliance with tax regulations by automatically calculating, filing, and paying payroll taxes. Employees can choose their preferred payment methods, including direct deposit, checks, or Gusto’s cash card.

The platform also goes beyond basic payroll by integrating tools for tracking time, managing paid time off (PTO), and handling reimbursements. This allows businesses to centralize and streamline their payroll-related tasks without the need for multiple systems.

The payroll system in Workday allows businesses to manage payroll processes both locally and globally, making it suitable for companies with a presence in multiple countries. It automates payroll calculations, tax compliance, and direct deposit, ensuring accuracy and timely payments.

Additionally, the platform integrates payroll data with other systems, enabling real-time synchronization of HR transactions and financial data, eliminating manual errors, and simplifying compliance reporting.

Winner: It’s a tie: Workday is better suited for companies with extensive international workers, while Gusto works well for businesses focused on local presence.

Integrations

Gusto excels in providing integrations with a wide range of popular business tools, creating a cohesive ecosystem for businesses to operate more effectively. It connects with accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero, enabling seamless syncing of payroll data for accurate bookkeeping and financial reporting. Other integrations include time-tracking tools such as Homebase and Deputy, which help streamline workforce management and improve accuracy in payroll calculations.

The software also integrates with platforms like Clover and Shopify, supporting businesses in efficiently managing payments and operations.

Workday facilitates seamless integration with more than 600 third-party tools through its Integration Cloud. This allows data from payroll, HR, and financial systems to flow effortlessly across platforms, reducing duplication and improving accuracy. Some of these integrations include Harver, Ramp, GoodTime Hire, Deel EOR Connector, and Sterling BackCheck.

Winner: Workday outshines Gusto in this category with its extensive integration capabilities, seamlessly connecting HR, payroll, and financial ecosystems across over 600 systems, making it the superior choice for mid-to-large-sized businesses.

Talent Management

Gusto's talent management tools help businesses attract, develop, and retain top talent. The platform includes features for hiring and onboarding, such as customizable offer letters, digital document signing, and automated onboarding checklists. These tools ensure that new hires have a smooth transition into the organization.

Additionally, Gusto supports ongoing employee engagement with tools like performance management, feedback tracking, and goal setting, helping managers foster a culture of growth and collaboration.

Workday's talent management module helps companies support employee growth. It offers tools for hiring, performance reviews, and succession planning. By connecting these features with other HR systems, the platform promotes a unified approach to employee engagement. Furthermore, its analytics also help identify skill gaps and potential leaders, allowing companies to build strong, flexible teams.

Winner: Workday's talent management suite outshines Gusto by providing advanced tools for performance reviews, succession planning, and skill gap analysis powered by integrated analytics.

Reporting

Gusto offers powerful reporting tools that provide businesses with valuable insights into their payroll, HR, and financial data. With customizable reports, employers can track key metrics like payroll costs, employee attendance, and benefits utilization.

These reports are presented in an easy-to-read format, allowing businesses to make informed decisions and identify trends that impact their bottom line. Additionally, Gusto ensures compliance by generating reports needed for tax filings and audits.

Using Workday’s analytics and reporting tools, companies can derive actionable insights from their HR, payroll, and financial data. Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), it offers customizable dashboards and real-time updates, helping users track key performance metrics, compliance issues, and workforce trends. This information allows HR managers to make informed decisions, whether for workforce planning or financial forecasting.

Winner: This category ends in a tie as Gusto offers valuable insights and customizable reports that focus more on basic payroll and HR metrics, making it better suited for SMBs. However, for enterprises or businesses with complex reporting needs, Workday stands out.

Time And Attendance

Using Gusto's time and attendance system, employees can easily clock in and out using a variety of methods, including mobile apps, web portals, or physical time clocks. The system automatically tracks worked hours, including overtime, and calculates time off, such as vacation or sick leave.

Furthermore, it enables managers to review and approve timesheets in real time, reducing administrative work and the chances of errors. This streamlined approach helps businesses maintain compliance with labor laws and ensures employees are compensated accurately for their time worked.

Workday’s time and attendance tracking feature provides organizations with a flexible solution for managing employee work hours, ensuring accurate and streamlined timekeeping. Employees can clock in and out easily via web or mobile devices, and the system automatically tracks worked hours, breaks, and overtime. It also supports configurable shift rules, allowing businesses to tailor the time tracking to their specific needs, such as varying schedules or union regulations.

Winner: Gusto wins this round with Its real-time timesheet approvals, mobile and web clock-ins, and automatic overtime and time-off calculations.

Which HR Software Is Better For Your Business?

Gusto and Workday both offer strong HR solutions but cater to different business needs. Gusto is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses, offering a user-friendly platform with efficient payroll, integrations, and time-tracking features. Workday, on the other hand, is better suited for larger organizations, providing advanced talent management, reporting, and workforce planning tools with deep integration across HR and financial systems.

When choosing between Gusto vs Workday, the decision ultimately depends on your business size, needs, and future growth plans. Consider factors like the complexity of your HR processes, integration requirements, and workforce planning needs to make the best choice for your company.