Oracle’s NetSuite is well-known in the ERP world for its customization and scalability. It’s a multi-tenant ERP software supporting finance, operations, sales, service, and HR needs.

Best For:

NetSuite is best for small businesses with 10 to 50 employees, mid-market companies with 50-200 employees, and enterprises with over 10,000 employees.

Not a Good Fit For:

NetSuite isn’t great for process manufacturers since their core manufacturing module focuses more on discrete bill of materials rather than recipes and formulas. It’s also generally overkill and prohibitively expensive for smaller businesses or sole proprietors.

Workday stands out for its integrations with over 600 third-party tools, in-depth people analytics, and AI-driven employee engagement and skills management. It features the Workday Peakon Employee Voice, an AI-based tool for employee engagement, and the Workday Skills Cloud for AI-based hiring and employee development. Its mobile apps are highly rated for user-friendliness and accessibility, though the Android version has received complaints about bugs.

Best For:

Large companies with over 2,000 employees and complex operations across multiple regions or entities. The system can be used by a wide range of industries including: financial services, healthcare and life sciences, higher education, manufacturing, retail and hospitality, service businesses, state and local government, and technology firms.

8.3

Our Rating

based on our expert editorial analysis

7.3

USER RATING

based on 25 user reviews

Our Verdict:

We like NetSuite for its robust accounting and supply chain management capabilities. It also offers out-of-the-box functionality and a mature, cloud-native design. Additionally, NetSuite integrates with eCommerce platforms, point-of-sale apps, and more.

We don’t recommend it for startups due to its complexity. It lacks field service management and heavy manufacturing support. Implementation may require technical expertise.

Pros:

Hundreds of third-party add-ons available
Feature sets for multiple industries
Highly customizable
Advanced audit trail
Scalable, web-based ERP software system

Cons:

Must schedule a consult for pricing details
Tedious setup
Difficult to build reports
No equipment management
No field service management

8.0

USER RATING

based on 4 user reviews

Our Verdict:

Workday excels with its comprehensive human capital management tools and user-friendly interface. It offers extensive customization and integrates well with third-party apps, supported by solid customer service. However, it lacks a free version and transparent pricing. Ideal for midsize to large firms, but those seeking clear pricing might need to look elsewhere.

Pros:

Brainstorms from community suggestions
Configuration flexibility
Powerful frameworks

Cons:

No public pricing available
No live chat or knowledge base
No free version or trial available

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $99/user/month
Client OS Web

Price Range
$ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Starting Price $45/employee/month
Client OS Web

Our editorial review staff has had hands-on experience with two significant ERP solutions: NetSuite ERP and Workday. In this comparison, we’ll highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, and identify which is the best fit for most businesses.

NetSuite ERP Overview

NetSuite ERP is a multi-tenant ERP software supports a wide range of business needs, including finance, operations, sales, service, and HR. NetSuite is designed for small businesses, mid-market companies, and even large enterprises.

Our editorial team found NetSuite’s accounting and supply chain management capabilities useful. We also liked its out-of-the-box functionality, cloud-native design, and the seamless integration with eCommerce platforms and point-of-sale apps. However, NetSuite may not be the best choice for startups or businesses that require field service management or heavy manufacturing support due to its complexity.

Workday ERP Overview

Workday, on the other hand, is a web-based enterprise software offering comprehensive financial and human capital management solutions. Workday is best suited for large companies that operate across multiple regions or entities.

Our team was impressed with Workday’s comprehensive human capital management tools and user-friendly interface. The platform offers extensive customization and integrates well with third-party apps, making it a solid choice for midsize to large firms. However, Workday does not offer a free version or transparent pricing, which could be a deterrent for some businesses.

NetSuite vs Workday: Which is Better for Most Businesses?

For most businesses, we recommend NetSuite ERP. While both platforms offer comprehensive ERP solutions, NetSuite’s strength lies in its robust accounting and supply chain management capabilities and a wide range of third-party integrations. Additionally, NetSuite’s price point is typically more attractive to small and midsize businesses compared to Workday.

However, if your company places a significant emphasis on human capital management, and you operate a large enterprise with complex operations, Workday might be a better fit. Just keep in mind that pricing details aren’t readily available and there’s no free version or trial to test the waters.

For a broader scope of ERP software options, check out our roundup of the best ERP software.

NetSuite ERP

★★★★★

(25)

Oracle’s NetSuite is well-known in the ERP world for its customization and scalability. It’s a multi-tenant ERP software supporting finance, operations, sales, service, and HR needs.

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$99/user/month

Client OS

Web

Deployment

Cloud Hosted

Workday

★★★★★

(4)

Workday is a web-based enterprise software that offers financial and human capital management solutions for various industries. The platform boasts unified finance and HR functionalities, bringing real-time insights and auditable process management via a modern SaaS model. Workday stands out for its integrations with over 600 third-party tools, in-depth people analytics, and AI-driven employee engagement and skills management. It features the Workday Peakon Employee Voice, an AI-based tool for employee engagement, and the Workday Skills Cloud for AI-based hiring and employee development. Its mobile apps are highly rated for user-friendliness and accessibility, though the Android version has received complaints about bugs.

Price Range

$ $ $ $ $

Starting Price

$45/employee/month

Client OS

Web

Deployment

Cloud Hosted