Gusto or Workday? How to Pick the Right Fit for Your Team
Is Gusto or Workday the better investment for your business? Compare pricing, total cost of ownership, and feature value side by side — with expert analysis from our Harvard-educated consultants.
Feature Comparison
Side-by-side feature ratings for Gusto and Workday.
| Feature | Gusto | Workday | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee onboarding | Gusto has a slight edge in employee onboarding. | ||
| Payroll processing | Workday edges out Gusto on payroll processing, though the gap is modest enough that other factors may matter more. | ||
| Leave management | Workday edges out Gusto on leave management, though the gap is modest enough that other factors may matter more. | ||
| Performance reviews | Gusto significantly outperforms Workday on performance reviews, making it the stronger choice for businesses that prioritise this area. | ||
| Compliance tools | Gusto edges out Workday on compliance tools, though the gap is modest enough that other factors may matter more. | ||
| Self-service portal | When it comes to self-service portal, Workday pulls clearly ahead of Gusto — a factor worth weighing if this capability is important to your team. | ||
| Reporting | Workday holds a small advantage in reporting. For most mid-market Australian businesses, this difference alone would not drive the decision. | ||
| Benefits administration | Gusto edges out Workday on benefits administration, though the gap is modest enough that other factors may matter more. | ||
| Time tracking | Gusto holds a small advantage in time tracking. For most mid-market Australian businesses, this difference alone would not drive the decision. | ||
| Integrations with accounting | Workday edges out Gusto on integrations with accounting, though the gap is modest enough that other factors may matter more. | ||
| Ease of setup | Gusto edges out Workday on ease of setup, though the gap is modest enough that other factors may matter more. | ||
| Value for money | Workday edges out Gusto on value for money, though the gap is modest enough that other factors may matter more. |
Employee onboarding
Gusto
Workday
Gusto has a slight edge in employee onboarding.
Payroll processing
Gusto
Workday
Workday edges out Gusto on payroll processing, though the gap is modest enough that other factors may matter more.
Leave management
Gusto
Workday
Workday edges out Gusto on leave management, though the gap is modest enough that other factors may matter more.
Performance reviews
Gusto
Workday
Gusto significantly outperforms Workday on performance reviews, making it the stronger choice for businesses that prioritise this area.
Compliance tools
Gusto
Workday
Gusto edges out Workday on compliance tools, though the gap is modest enough that other factors may matter more.
Self-service portal
Gusto
Workday
When it comes to self-service portal, Workday pulls clearly ahead of Gusto — a factor worth weighing if this capability is important to your team.
Reporting
Gusto
Workday
Workday holds a small advantage in reporting. For most mid-market Australian businesses, this difference alone would not drive the decision.
Benefits administration
Gusto
Workday
Gusto edges out Workday on benefits administration, though the gap is modest enough that other factors may matter more.
Time tracking
Gusto
Workday
Gusto holds a small advantage in time tracking. For most mid-market Australian businesses, this difference alone would not drive the decision.
Integrations with accounting
Gusto
Workday
Workday edges out Gusto on integrations with accounting, though the gap is modest enough that other factors may matter more.
Ease of setup
Gusto
Workday
Gusto edges out Workday on ease of setup, though the gap is modest enough that other factors may matter more.
Value for money
Gusto
Workday
Workday edges out Gusto on value for money, though the gap is modest enough that other factors may matter more.
Pricing Comparison
General pricing information for each platform.
Gusto
From ~$46/month + $6/person
Prices shown are approximate and may differ based on your plan, team size, and billing cycle. Verify directly with the vendor for current AUD rates.
Workday
Custom pricing
Pricing is indicative only and subject to change. We recommend contacting the vendor for a tailored quote based on your Australian business needs.
Pros & Cons
An honest look at the strengths and limitations of each platform.
Gusto
Pros
- Extensive integration ecosystem with 30+ connectors
- Cloud-based with reliable uptime
- Rich data model covering employees, payrolls, benefits and more
- Self-service portal reduces admin load
- Popular across Professional Services, Retail & E-commerce, Hospitality & Tourism
Cons
- Smaller market presence compared to category leaders
- May not suit every workflow without customisation
- Onboarding documentation could be more comprehensive
- Australian compliance features may need add-ons
Workday
Pros
- Regular platform updates and improvements
- Popular across Financial Services, Manufacturing, Professional Services
- Active user community and resources
- Real-time webhook support for instant data sync
- Well-documented REST API for custom integrations
Cons
- Complex data model may require expert configuration
- Award interpretation rules may need manual setup
- Integration with local payroll can be complex
- Support response times vary by plan tier
Best For
Which tool suits which use case.
Choose Gusto if you need
- ✓ Leave tracking
- ✓ Moderate data needs (employees, payrolls)
- ✓ Payroll processing
- ✓ Professional Services businesses
- ✓ Retail & E-commerce organisations
Choose Workday if you need
- ✓ Real-time data sync across platforms
- ✓ Complex data models (workers, positions, organisations and more)
- ✓ Teams needing extensive third-party integrations
- ✓ Financial Services businesses
- ✓ Employee management
Expert Verdict
Our Harvard-educated consultants' take on this comparison.
Clever Ops Recommendation
Gusto and Workday are both proven hr & payroll platforms trusted by mid-market Australian businesses. The differences between them matter most in specific scenarios: integration requirements, budget constraints, and feature priorities. Rather than guessing, let our team of Harvard-educated consultants assess your needs and recommend the right fit — it is what we have been doing for 12+.
Migration Notes
What to know about switching between Gusto and Workday.
Migrating Between Gusto and Workday
Both Gusto and Workday offer REST APIs, which simplifies the migration process. Clever Ops builds custom migration scripts that extract data from one platform and import it into the other with full field mapping. We validate every record, run parallel systems during the switch, and provide 3 months of post-migration support.
Gusto vs Workday FAQ
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