Sterling Check vs Workday: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Sterling Check and Workday comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Workday is our overall pick for HR & recruiting workflows. Pick Sterling Check if you need its specific feature set.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Sterling Check
Comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding.
Best for you if:
- • Provides comprehensive pre-hire and post-hire background checks and identity services.
- • Offers industry-specific solutions with global reach and regional expertise.
Workday
Comprehensive cloud HR and finance management for large enterprises
Best for you if:
- • You want to try before committing
- • Workday is an enterprise cloud platform for HR and finance
- • It provides HCM, financial management, and analytics for enterprises
| At a Glance |  Sterling Check |  Workday |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Paid | Custom/moHCM |
Best For | HR & Recruiting | HR & Recruiting |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Sterling Check or Workday?
Choose Sterling Check if
Comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding.
- Deep market expertise with industry-specific solutions and compliance guidance.
- Global reach with operational scale for international background checks.
- Fast turnaround times, with a significant percentage of US criminal searches closing in one day.
Choose Workday if
Comprehensive cloud HR and finance management for large enterprises
- Enterprise HR leader
- Comprehensive features
- Good analytics
- You want a free tier before you commit
| Feature | Sterling Check | Workday |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.3/5 3,022 reviews |
| Categories | HR & RecruitingSecurity | HR & RecruitingFinance |
In-Depth Analysis
Sterling Check
Comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding.
Strengths
- +Deep market expertise with industry-specific solutions and compliance guidance.
- +Global reach with operational scale for international background checks.
- +Fast turnaround times, with a significant percentage of US criminal searches closing in one day.
- +Robust integrations for simplified customer and candidate experiences.
- +Automated adverse action process to save time and reduce risk.
Weaknesses
- -Pricing details are not publicly available and require direct inquiry.
- -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
Strengths
- +Enterprise HR leader
- +Comprehensive features
- +Good analytics
- +Financial integration
- +Industry standard
Weaknesses
- -Very expensive
- -Complex implementation
- -Steep learning curve
- -Overkill for SMBs
- -Long sales cycle
Key features
Pricing: Sterling Check vs Workday
| Plan | Sterling Check | Workday |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | N/A | Custom HCM |
| Tier 2 | N/A | Custom Financial Management |
| Tier 3 | N/A | Custom Enterprise Platform |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Sterling Check pricing and Workday pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Workday has a free tier. Sterling Check is paid only.
Go with: Workday
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Sterling Check
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Workday
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Sterling Check is paid. Workday is freemium. Workday lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are hr & recruiting tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Workday
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Sterling Check
- Choose if you want comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding
The Bottom Line
Workday is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sterling Check or Workday better?
Workday is rated in our evaluation. Sterling Check is paid and Workday is freemium.
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 is a paid tool. Workday is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.