Sterling Check vs Workday: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Sterling Check and Workday side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Workday leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Sterling Check
Comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding.
Best for you if:
- • You want deep market expertise with industry-specific solutions and compliance guidance
Workday
Comprehensive cloud HR and finance management for large enterprises
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Sterling Check | Workday |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Not published | Free plan |
Category | HR & Recruiting Compliance | HR & Recruiting Accounting |
Rating | n/a | 2.7/5 G2 4.1 · Trustpilot 1.0 2,205 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Potential for module-specific add-ons |
Choose Sterling Check or Workday?
Choose Sterling Check if
- You want deep market expertise with industry-specific solutions and compliance guidance
- You want global reach with operational scale for international background checks
Choose Workday if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want enterprise HR leader
- You want comprehensive features
In-Depth Analysis
Sterling Check
Comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding.
Strengths
- Pro: Deep market expertise with industry-specific solutions and compliance guidance.
- Pro: Global reach with operational scale for international background checks.
- Pro: Fast turnaround times, with a significant percentage of US criminal searches closing in one day.
- Pro: Robust integrations for simplified customer and candidate experiences.
- Pro: Automated adverse action process to save time and reduce risk.
Weaknesses
- Con: Pricing details are not publicly available and require direct inquiry.
- Con: The transition from Sterling to First Advantage might require existing users to adapt to new branding or processes.
Key features
Workday
Comprehensive cloud HR and finance management for large enterprises
Workday's pricing is custom and enterprise-focused, making it inherently expensive for smaller organizations.
Watch out
Potential for module-specific add-ons
Strengths
- Pro: Enterprise HR leader
- Pro: Comprehensive features
- Pro: Good analytics
- Pro: Financial integration
- Pro: Industry standard
Weaknesses
- Con: Very expensive
- Con: Complex implementation
- Con: Steep learning curve
- Con: Overkill for SMBs
- Con: Long sales cycle
Key features
Plans and prices: Sterling Check vs Workday
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sterling Check | No plan prices on file | sterlingcheck.com/pricing |
| Workday |
| workday.com read Oct 6, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Sterling Check pricing and Workday pricing.
Key Takeaways
Sterling Check
- Choose if you want comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding
Workday
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Workday leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Workday has a published user rating (2.7/5 from 2,205 reviews); Sterling Check has none we can show.
- Only Workday has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Sterling Check and Workday compare in 2026?
On the data below, Workday leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Workday has a published user rating (2.7/5 from 2,205 reviews); Sterling Check has none we can show. Only Workday has a free plan.
What are Sterling Check and Workday used for?
Sterling Check: Comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding. Workday: Comprehensive cloud HR and finance management for large enterprises.
What does Sterling Check cost vs Workday?
Sterling Check has no public paid-plan price on file. Workday has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 6, 2026.
What's the main difference between Sterling Check and Workday?
Sterling Check's main strength: deep market expertise with industry-specific solutions and compliance guidance. Workday's main strength: enterprise HR leader.