Smartsheet vs Workday Recruiting
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Smartsheet
Smartsheet is a work management platform that combines the familiarity of spreadsheets with powerful project management and collaboration features. It is widely used by enterprise teams for project tracking, resource management, and automated workflows. Smartsheet is particularly popular with teams comfortable with Excel who need more collaboration and automation capabilities.
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
- ✓Familiar spreadsheet interface reduces learning curve for Excel users
- ✓Powerful automation and workflow capabilities
- ✓Strong enterprise security and compliance features
- ✓Excellent for managing large portfolios of projects
Cons
- ✗Pricing is higher than many competitors
- ✗Interface feels dated compared to modern tools
- ✗No free plan — 30-day trial only
- ✗Less intuitive for teams unfamiliar with spreadsheet-style tools
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
Smartsheet vs Workday Recruiting: Side by Side
| Factor | Smartsheet | Workday Recruiting |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | Project Management | Applicant Tracking |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting Price | $9/user/mo | Contact for pricing |
| Best For | Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation | Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Smartsheet Features
- ✓Spreadsheet-style project management
- ✓Gantt charts
- ✓automation
- ✓dashboards
- ✓resource management
- ✓forms
- ✓integrations
- ✓reporting
- ✓enterprise security
Workday Recruiting Features
- ✓Applicant tracking
- ✓interview management
- ✓candidate sourcing
- ✓onboarding
- ✓analytics
- ✓compliance
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation. Choose Workday Recruiting if large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data.
Best For
Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation
Best For
Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data
Also Consider
If neither Smartsheet nor Workday Recruiting is the right fit, Wrike is worth evaluating.
Wrike
Marketing and creative teams needing enterprise project management with approvals and proofing
From Free
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Smartsheet and Workday Recruiting?
Smartsheet is best for enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation. Workday Recruiting is best for large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data.
Which is better, Smartsheet or Workday Recruiting?
Choose Smartsheet if enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation. Choose Workday Recruiting if large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data.
How much does Smartsheet cost?
Smartsheet starts at $9/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Workday Recruiting cost?
Visit Workday Recruiting website for current pricing.
Who should use Smartsheet?
Enterprise teams wanting spreadsheet-familiar project management with powerful automation
Who should use Workday Recruiting?
Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data