Head to head
Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.
Sales-quoted
HR, payroll and workforce management suite, with UKG Pro for larger employers and UKG Ready for smaller ones. Pricing is by quote.
Where UKG fits
Sales-quoted
Enterprise HCM of record where recruiting is one module. Quote only, with long implementations and a tenant-scoped MCP rather than a public one.
Where Workday fits
| Detail | UKG | Workday |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Sales-quoted | Sales-quoted |
| Free tier | –No | –No |
| MCP server | –No | ✓Yes |
| Public API | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
| Listed under | ATS, Benefits administration, HRIS, Payroll, Time & attendance, Workforce management | ATS, Benefits administration, HR help desk, HRIS, Payroll, People analytics, Succession & internal mobility |
| Capterra | Not enough reviews | 4.5 from 1,769 reviews |
UKG
Stands out: Deep time, scheduling and labor tools for frontline workforces, backed by a developer hub with documented APIs and webhooks.
Watch out: There is no public price, and rollout is a real implementation project. Pro versus Ready is a scoping decision made with sales.
Not the right fit for
Workday
Stands out: It is the system of record for very large companies; recruiting rides along with it.
Watch out: Recruiter sentiment is among the most negative of any platform here, and implementations run long.
Not the right fit for
UKG
Workday
UKG
Sales-quoted
Sales-quoted. No public rate card on the vendor site. The quote depends on the product (Pro or Ready), modules and headcount. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.
Checked 19 Sep 2026
Workday
Sales-quoted
Enterprise. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.
Checked 7 Sep 2026
All UKG alternatives All Workday alternatives Every ATS tool
Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?