In 2025, businesses can no longer get away with ignoring technology at work. We’re comparing the top HRIS platforms, BambooHR vs Workday, today, and it’s as good a place as any to start investigating how HR teams can embrace software that makes them more efficient. Choosing the right HR software can make a world of difference, from simplifying hiring to scaling up productivity by tracking the targets that matter.
Whether you’re looking into the BambooHR and Workday comparisons to understand which one fits you best or you just need to gain a sense of top HRIS platforms and the benefits they offer, we should be able to help you understand these tools better.
BambooHR vs Workday, which HRIS tool are you investing in today?
Workday vs BambooHR: What’s the Difference Between These Top HRIS Platforms?
Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) are critical workplace tools that help organizations manage and automate a significant portion of their workforce management needs. These systems allow an employer to create a centralized directory of employees while ensuring that they continue to evolve with the workforce.
HRIS offers many benefits that an organization can utilize and customize to suit its needs. This adaptability is harder to achieve without the use of technology, but that isn’t all they do.
What to Look for While Making HRIS Comparisons in 2025?
Before we get to BambooHR and Workday and their various pros and cons, you should first understand what these tools are primarily capable of. Once you know what to expect from these top HRIS platforms, you can then conduct your HR software comparisons with greater ease to determine which functions you actually need.
Key functions to consider while making a BambooHR vs Workday comparison:
- Employee data management: Does the tool simplify the process of maintaining employee records, and is it easy to navigate and update?
- Payroll processing and compensation management: Does the tool have a clear system of processing pay to workers, from calculating wages to sending them out on time? Will it be able to manage bonuses and other compensation plans?
- Administration of benefits: Can I use this HRIS software to manage and oversee employee benefits such as health insurance, retirement funds, etc.?
- Hiring and recruitment tracking: Does the HRIS tool help me streamline the process of identifying and hiring the right candidates?
- Onboarding: Is it easier to organize and enter employee data during onboarding? Does it help the recruitment team get through onboarding more efficiently?
- Training: Do the top HRIS platforms have some means of scheduling or assigning training programs to the employees?
- Performance management: Is it easier to manage employee reviews and other assessments? Is there a way to measure and track improvements in employee performance?
- Analytics and data-driven insights: Do the HRIS tools give me a way to understand my employee data and make data-based decisions on how to aid my workforce?
- Employee self-service capabilities: Will this tool allow employees to manage and file their own information, file for PTO, or gain insights from the software?
- Compliance management: Will the HRIS platform help the business ensure it stays compliant with changing laws and necessary documentations?
- Document management: Will the tool help me organize, manage, and search for necessary documents?
BambooHR vs Workday Features: HR Software Comparison
Chief Human Resources Officers (CHRO) who are tasked with the smooth running of the internal workings of an organization know how important it is to have the right tools for a job. With technology at the forefront of the conversation, we often focus on how these tools can replace manpower rather than what they can do to enhance it.
BambooHR vs Workday: both tools have features that can support organizations that invest in them, however, there are certain differences between the two. Comparing BambooHR and Workday for 2025 requires us to look at a few different facets of the tools.
BambooHR vs Workday on Scalability
- BambooHR: More suited for small and mid-sized businesses with fewer than 350 employees that have smaller infrastructural needs
- Workday: Better for big businesses that have a large number of employees to track and monitor and addresses more complex HR needs
User Interface And Ease of Use
- BambooHR: Its interface is clean, simple, and user-friendly, and it offers a lot of points of data at a quick glance
- Workday: Also has a customizable interface, but it can be harder to navigate. There is a steeper learning curve for those who have to familiarize themselves with this tool
Recruitment and Onboarding in BambooHR and Workday
- BambooHR: Better for smaller hiring needs with an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) for job postings and other candidate management needs
- Workday: Better for high-volume hiring through its elaborate talent acquisition tools, and it also offers a more sophisticated onboarding system to assist even after hiring is complete
Attendance Management
- BambooHR: Provides all the basic attendance and leave tracking features in the payroll system but with limited customizations for complex schedules
- Workday: More comprehensive system for attendance management and automations for labor compliance, including multi-state operations for larger businesses
Payroll and Compensation Planning: Key Difference Between BambooHR and Workday
- BambooHR: Payroll tracking is an add-on feature, which is disappointing, but it offers a decent system for calculations and tracking. Benefit administration is limited due to reliance on third-party integrations
- Workday: Integrated global payroll solution at no additional cost, which provides advanced management assistance for sending out pay and benefits on time. One of the top HRIS platforms for payroll planning
Reporting and Analytics
- BambooHR: Standard reporting tools that are sufficient for a small-to-medium sized business on employee engagement, performance, attendance, etc.
- Workday: Advanced reporting tools with predictive analytics that provide detailed insights into the workforce and work trends, suited for enterprises that require comprehensive strategies
Integration Capabilities
- BambooHR: Integrates with a variety of other software platforms, including payroll, benefits, and other HR-related tools, often through pre-built integrations
- Workday: Offers a broad range of integration options with finance, ERP, and various other enterprise systems, suitable for organizations with diverse technology stacks
Mobile App Capabilities
- BambooHR: Core features available on the mobile app but requires a separate app for hiring needs
- Workday: Unified app for all insights and analytics with advanced features available
Customer Support Availability
- BambooHR: Support team available via calls and email during business hours
- Workday: Offers 24/7 customer support and automated issue detection services are promised
BambooHR vs Workday: Which Should You Choose?
If you operate a small or midsize business that you don’t expect to scale up rapidly in the coming months, BambooHR is a more straightforward option for CHROs and HR teams to consider. It offers the necessary tools for all the analytics and assessments that you might be interested in without overly complicating matters for a small HR team.
A BambooHR vs Workday comparison might showcase the latter possessing better tools and offerings, but these may be unnecessary for a company that is not recruiting a large number of employees on a daily basis.
For larger businesses or those that plan to expand significantly in the coming months, Workday comes out on top in our HR software comparisons. It offers a more detailed and elaborate report on employees and offers tools for teams operating across the globe.
Summarizing our BambooHR vs Workday Comparisons
When considering BambooHR vs Workday, in almost all areas, Workday offers a more comprehensive set of tools and analytics for large workforces and HR teams. However, BambooHR is still a top choice for smaller businesses that have simpler needs, without compromising on quality or support. Paylocity is also another good alternative to consider if you want a third option.
What type of businesses are BambooHR and Workday designed for?
BambooHR is suited for small to medium-sized businesses—typically those with fewer than 350 employees—and offers an easy-to-use solution for small HR teams. Workday is better suited for larger enterprises with global operations and demands for advanced analytics.
Between BambooHR and Workday, which platform is easier to use?
BambooHR is easier to use for non-technical users and smaller teams. Workday is easier to optimize for tech-savvy HR teams that need more data to do their jobs well. The ease-of-use for BambooHR vs Workday features depends on the business and HR teams operating them.
What are the key differences in the core HR features of BambooHR and Workday?
BambooHR focuses on essentials like employee records, time-off management, and basic org charts—simple and effective for SMBs. Workday provides advanced HR tools like dynamic org charts, workforce planning, and global compliance—robust for large-scale operations.
Can BambooHR and Workday handle payroll and benefits tracking?
With BambooHR, payroll is an add-on (via Trax) with basic features, and benefits administration is limited and relies on third-party integrations. Workday offers a fully integrated payroll with global compliance and advanced benefits management, including predictive analytics, which is ideal for complex needs.
Do BambooHR and Workday offer free trials?
BambooHR has a more straightforward, self-directed free trial that you can test to see how it operates. Workday offers a personalized demo for interested businesses for those who need a more hands-on guide before they invest in the tool.
Need more data on the differences between BambooHR vs Workday or other HRIS tools? Let us know. For more explorations of the top HRIS platforms, subscribe to The HR Digest and support the growth of your organization today.