When I Work vs Workday Recruiting
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
When I Work
When I Work is an employee scheduling and time tracking platform designed for hourly and shift-based teams. It makes it easy for managers to build schedules, communicate with staff, and track attendance. When I Work is one of the most affordable scheduling tools on the market.
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
- ✓Very affordable pricing starting at just a few dollars per user
- ✓Easy-to-use scheduling with drag-and-drop interface
- ✓Good team messaging and shift swap tools
- ✓Simple time clock with GPS tracking
Cons
- ✗Limited features beyond scheduling and time tracking
- ✗No payroll processing or full HR suite
- ✗Reporting is basic compared to more comprehensive workforce 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
When I Work vs Workday Recruiting: Side by Side
| Factor | When I Work | Workday Recruiting |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | Applicant Tracking |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting Price | $2.50/user/mo | Contact for pricing |
| Best For | Small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers | Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data |
| Our Pick | — | — |
When I Work Features
- ✓Shift scheduling
- ✓time clock
- ✓team messaging
- ✓attendance tracking
- ✓payroll export
Workday Recruiting Features
- ✓Applicant tracking
- ✓interview management
- ✓candidate sourcing
- ✓onboarding
- ✓analytics
- ✓compliance
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose When I Work if small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers. Choose Workday Recruiting if large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data.
Best For
Small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers
Best For
Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data
Also Consider
If neither When I Work 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 When I Work and Workday Recruiting?
When I Work is best for small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers. Workday Recruiting is best for large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data.
Which is better, When I Work or Workday Recruiting?
Choose When I Work if small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers. Choose Workday Recruiting if large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data.
How much does When I Work cost?
When I Work starts at $2.50/user/mo. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Workday Recruiting cost?
Visit Workday Recruiting website for current pricing.
Who should use When I Work?
Small businesses with hourly or shift-based workers
Who should use Workday Recruiting?
Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data