Workday Recruiting vs Salesforce
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
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.
Salesforce
Salesforce is the world's leading CRM platform used by over 150,000 businesses of all sizes. It offers a highly customizable suite of sales, service, marketing, and analytics tools. Salesforce is the gold standard for enterprise CRM but has solutions for businesses of all sizes through its Starter and Pro plans.
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
Pros
- ✓Most powerful and customizable CRM on the market
- ✓Massive ecosystem with 3,000+ AppExchange integrations
- ✓Industry-leading reporting and analytics
- ✓Strong community and support resources
Cons
- ✗Expensive and complex for small teams
- ✗Long implementation timelines for enterprise deployments
- ✗Requires dedicated admin resources to get the most out of it
Workday Recruiting vs Salesforce: Side by Side
| Factor | Workday Recruiting | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | Applicant Tracking | CRM Software |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting Price | Contact for pricing | Custom pricing |
| Best For | Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data | Mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable CRM |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Workday Recruiting Features
- ✓Applicant tracking
- ✓interview management
- ✓candidate sourcing
- ✓onboarding
- ✓analytics
- ✓compliance
Salesforce Features
- ✓Contact and lead management
- ✓opportunity tracking
- ✓workflow automation
- ✓AI insights
- ✓reporting and dashboards
- ✓AppExchange integrations
- ✓mobile app
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Workday Recruiting if large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data. Choose Salesforce if mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable crm.
Best For
Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data
Best For
Mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable CRM
Also Consider
If neither Workday Recruiting nor Salesforce is the right fit, Manatal is worth evaluating.
Manatal
Recruitment agencies and budget-conscious companies wanting AI-powered ATS at an affordable price
From $15/user/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Workday Recruiting and Salesforce?
Workday Recruiting is best for large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data. Salesforce is best for mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable crm.
Which is better, Workday Recruiting or Salesforce?
Choose Workday Recruiting if large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data. Choose Salesforce if mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable crm.
How much does Workday Recruiting cost?
Visit Workday Recruiting website for current pricing.
How much does Salesforce cost?
Salesforce starts at Custom pricing. Pricing model: Paid.
Who should use Workday Recruiting?
Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data
Who should use Salesforce?
Mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable CRM