GustovsWorkday
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
Gusto
- Customer support extremely slow - takes days to weeks for replies(9/10)
- Support staff cannot answer questions or transfer to someone who can(8/10)
- Support tickets disappear and online tickets not taken(8/10)
Workday
- No direct support channel and slow ticket response(8/10)
Gusto
- Payroll errors and missing payments to employees(10/10)
- Tax filing errors and incorrect EIN handling(9/10)
- Unexpected withdrawals and billing errors(8/10)
Workday
- Payroll errors including missed payments and 401K failures(10/10)
- Regular maintenance downtime every weekend(6/10)
Gusto
- Making corrections is nearly impossible(8/10)
- Off-cycle payroll breaks overtime calculations(7/10)
- Employee UI is clunky and software becomes sluggish(5/10)
Workday
- Confusing navigation and unintuitive interface(8/10)
- Job application process is universally hated(7/10)
- Password and authentication frustrations(6/10)
- ATS module lacks modern recruiting features(7/10)
Gusto
- Constant price increases - Simple plan jumped from $40 to $49(7/10)
- Charged full month fee even when canceling without running payroll(6/10)
- Expensive for growing teams - costs escalate quickly(6/10)
Workday
- Enterprise pricing starts at $150K-$500K annually(9/10)
- Rigid 3-7 year subscription agreements with no flexibility(8/10)
Gusto
- Difficult to customize employee withholdings(5/10)
Workday
- Limited report customization frustrates data-driven teams(7/10)
Gusto
- Contractor payment limits cause delays(5/10)
Workday
- Data migration is the biggest implementation challenge(8/10)
Gusto
No signals
Workday
- Implementation takes 6-24 months with frequent delays(9/10)
Gusto
No signals
Workday
- Slow system response and frequent load delays(7/10)
Gusto
No signals
Workday
- Mobile app crashes and freezes during basic operations(7/10)
Gusto
No signals
Workday
- August 2025 data breach exposed 70 million records(9/10)
Pricing Comparison
Gusto
Users: Per employee: $6/month
Storage: N/A
Limits: Single state only, No next-day direct deposit, No time tracking, No PTO management, Limited HR tools
Users: Per employee: $12/month
Storage: N/A
Limits: No dedicated CSM, No priority support, No compliance alerts, No HR expert access
Users: Per employee: $22/month
Storage: N/A
Limits: Requires larger budget, May be overkill for simple payroll needs
Users: Per contractor: $6/month
Storage: N/A
Limits: No W-2 employee support, Contractor payment frequency limits, No benefits
Users: Per international employee
Storage: N/A
Limits: Only available through Gusto Global, Additional setup requirements
Workday
Users: Up to 500 employees
Storage: Based on contract
Limits: Limited customization, Basic reporting only, Standard support SLA, Some features require upgrades
Users: 500-2,500 employees
Storage: Based on contract
Limits: 3-5 year contract commitment, Complex implementation timeline, May need dedicated admin resources
Users: 2,500+ employees
Storage: Based on contract
Limits: 5-7 year contracts common, 12-24 month implementation typical, Requires significant internal resources
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Gusto | Workday |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | ||
| Full-Service Payroll Core feature, works well for basic runs | ||
| Automatic Tax Filing Federal, state, local - but errors reported | ||
| Payroll Global payroll included, but complex setup | ||
| Direct Deposit Next-day on Plus plan only | ||
| Multi-State Payroll Plus plan required | ||
| Contractor Payments Separate plan or add-on | ||
| HR Management | ||
| Core HCM Employee records, org charts, positions | ||
| Talent Acquisition | ||
| Recruiting/ATS Basic - lacks sourcing automation | ||
| Compliance | ||
| 1099 Filing End of year filing included | ||
| W-2 Filing Automatic year-end filing | ||
| Compliance Alerts Premium plan only | ||
| Talent Management | ||
| Performance Management Goals, reviews, feedback | ||
| Learning | ||
| Learning Management Add-on module, additional cost | ||
| HR | ||
| Employee Self-Onboarding Strength - very easy for new hires | ||
| Benefits Administration Health, dental, vision, 401k options | ||
| PTO Management Plus plan required | ||
| Time Tracking Plus plan required, basic functionality | ||
| Compensation | ||
| Compensation Planning Enterprise tier feature | ||
| Planning | ||
| Workforce Planning Adaptive Planning add-on | ||
| Finance | ||
| Financial Management Enterprise tier, separate module | ||
| Analytics | ||
| Analytics & Reporting Custom reports require consultants | ||
| Integrations | ||
| QuickBooks Integration Well supported | ||
| Xero Integration Well supported | ||
| Security | ||
| SSO Integration SAML, OAuth supported | ||
| Support | ||
| Dedicated CSM Premium plan only | ||
| Usability | ||
| Offline Mode Limited offline capabilities | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Mobile App iOS and Android | ||
| Developer | ||
| API Access Available for integrations | ||