Employment Hero vs Workday Recruiting
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Employment Hero
Employment Hero is an all-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits platform with a strong presence in Australia and New Zealand. It offers a free HR plan alongside paid payroll and benefits modules, making it accessible for businesses at any stage. Employment Hero also operates a job marketplace called Swag for employees.
Workday Recruiting
Workday Recruiting is an enterprise-grade applicant tracking system built into the broader Workday HCM suite. It offers end-to-end recruiting from sourcing to offer management within a unified platform.
Pros
- ✓Free HR plan available with core employee management features
- ✓Strong compliance tools for Australian and NZ employment law
- ✓All-in-one platform covering HR, payroll, and benefits
- ✓Employee benefits marketplace with discounts and perks
Cons
- ✗Payroll module costs extra and is best suited for AU/NZ companies
- ✗Limited support and compliance coverage outside Australia and New Zealand
- ✗Some users report the platform can feel complex to navigate
Pros
- ✓Seamlessly integrated with Workday HR and Payroll
- ✓Strong reporting and analytics
- ✓Excellent for large enterprises
- ✓Unified candidate and employee data
- ✓Configurable workflows
Cons
- ✗Very expensive for small businesses
- ✗Complex implementation process
- ✗Requires dedicated admin
- ✗Overkill for teams under 500 employees
Employment Hero vs Workday Recruiting: Side by Side
| Factor | Employment Hero | Workday Recruiting |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | Applicant Tracking |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting Price | Free | Contact for pricing |
| Best For | Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite | Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Employment Hero Features
- ✓HR management
- ✓payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓recruitment
- ✓learning
- ✓employee engagement
Workday Recruiting Features
- ✓Applicant tracking
- ✓interview management
- ✓candidate sourcing
- ✓onboarding
- ✓analytics
- ✓compliance
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Workday Recruiting if large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data.
Best For
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Best For
Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data
Also Consider
If neither Employment Hero nor Workday Recruiting is the right fit, Justworks is worth evaluating.
Justworks
Small businesses wanting Fortune 500 benefits
From $59/employee/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Employment Hero and Workday Recruiting?
Employment Hero is best for australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Workday Recruiting is best for large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data.
Which is better, Employment Hero or Workday Recruiting?
Choose Employment Hero if australian and nz businesses needing full hr suite. Choose Workday Recruiting if large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data.
How much does Employment Hero cost?
Employment Hero starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
How much does Workday Recruiting cost?
Visit Workday Recruiting website for current pricing.
Who should use Employment Hero?
Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite
Who should use Workday Recruiting?
Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data