Compare/Head to head

ServiceNow HRSD vs Workativ

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

ServiceNow HRSD

Sales-quoted

HR service delivery on the ServiceNow platform: cases, knowledge, and an employee portal. Pricing is sales-quoted.

Where ServiceNow HRSD fits

  • Enterprises already on ServiceNow
  • HR ops teams drowning in inbox tickets
  • Companies that want one portal for IT and HR
  • Global employers with knowledge-base deflection

Workativ

$349/mo

Workativ is an AI help desk for HR and IT questions that live in Slack or Microsoft Teams. The AI-agent pricing page starts at Business, $349 per month for 500 chat sessions and 2 agents. Yearly billing saves 15 percent.

Where Workativ fits

  • SMB and mid-market HR or IT teams that want a Slack or Teams agent at $349/mo
  • Companies that need 500 sessions and 2 agents without per-employee fees
  • Teams that prefer session caps over per-employee billing
  • Ops leaders who need live-agent handoff without standing up ServiceNow

At a glance

DetailServiceNow HRSDWorkativ
Starting priceSales-quoted$349/mo
Free tier–No–No
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes–No
Listed underHR help deskHR help desk

Where they pull apart

ServiceNow HRSD

Stands out: HR tickets on the same platform as ITSM, so large employers are not running a side help desk for people ops.

Watch out: This is a ServiceNow SKU, not a standalone HR help desk you buy for $10/user. Platform, modules, and implementation dwarf the software line item. MCP and API are listed.

Not the right fit for

  • SMBs
  • Teams that wanted a Slack HR chatbot only
  • Buyers with no ServiceNow estate

Workativ

Stands out: Session-based pricing with no per-user fees, so the whole company can talk to the agent. Business is a published $349/mo session SKU, unusual in this category.

Watch out: Business caps you at 500 AI chat sessions, 2 agents, 5 actions, 3 live agents, and 60 days of data retention. The old $99 Starter plan is no longer listed. Enterprise is custom.

Not the right fit for

  • Enterprises that need a quote-only HRSD suite on top of Workday
  • Buyers who need unlimited sessions on the cheapest card

Pros and cons

ServiceNow HRSD

  • HR cases on the same platform as IT
  • Knowledge deflection at enterprise scale
  • MCP and API listed
  • Quote-only, platform deal
  • Implementation is the real cost
  • Wrong buy with no ServiceNow footprint

Workativ

  • Published Business plan at $349/mo with no per-user fee
  • Business is a flat session SKU rather than PEPM
  • Slack and Teams deployment without buying a full ITSM
  • 500 sessions on Business may not cover a very busy HR inbox
  • Capterra has only 4 reviews
  • Enterprise connectors and extra sessions leave the public table

What each one costs

ServiceNow HRSD

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted on the ServiceNow platform. Platform API. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Workativ

$349/mo

Business is $349 per month on monthly billing for 500 AI chat sessions, 2 AI agents, 5 actions, and 3 admins or live agents, with 60 days of data retention. Yearly billing saves 15 percent. Enterprise is custom. The Starter plan is no longer listed. Pricing is session-based with no per-user fees. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try ServiceNow HRSD or Workativ for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.
Does ServiceNow HRSD or Workativ have an MCP server?
ServiceNow HRSD ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

All ServiceNow HRSD alternatives All Workativ alternatives Every HR help desk tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?