Ashby vs Workday

Executive Summary

The choice between Ashby and Workday represents a fundamental decision in HR strategy: choosing a specialized, high-velocity recruiting tool versus a unified, all-in-one enterprise resource planning (ERP) suite. Ashby has emerged as a favorite for high-growth tech companies that prioritize data-driven operations and a modern user interface. Conversely, Workday remains the standard for global multinational corporations that require deep integration between HR, finance, and payroll.

When evaluating these platforms, organizations must consider critical factors such as candidate experience, accessibility, and total cost of ownership. For instance, the University of Arizona's RFP for ATS highlights the necessity of mobile-friendly submissions and robust reporting. Furthermore, Aalto University's accessibility overview emphasizes that usability for all applicants is a non-negotiable requirement for modern public-facing systems.

Ashby is Best For

Mid-market tech firms and startups needing advanced analytics and a unified ATS+CRM experience.

Workday is Best For

Large global enterprises requiring a single source of truth for HR, Finance, and Payroll data.

The Modern Hiring OS

Ashby: Data-Driven Excellence

Founded in 2018, Ashby has rapidly disrupted the ATS market by positioning itself as an all-in-one "hiring OS." It combines a powerful Applicant Tracking System with a built-in CRM and best-in-class analytics. With over 2,700 customers as of mid-2025, including tech leaders like Notion and Duolingo, Ashby is designed for teams that treat recruiting as a core business operation.

Advanced Recruiting Analytics out-of-the-box

Integrated Talent CRM for proactive sourcing

Ashby's modern interface focuses on speed and clarity for high-growth teams.

Key Features

Custom Dashboards
Automated Scheduling
AI Copilots
Chrome Sourcing Ext.

Pros

Exceptional UX/UI
Best-in-class Reporting
Rapid Product Innovation
Transparent Pricing

Cons

Learning Curve for Analytics
No Built-in HRIS
Evolving Global Compliance
Limited Onboarding Module

Workday provides a unified ecosystem for global enterprise management.

The Enterprise Standard

Workday: Unified Power

Workday is the titan of the enterprise cloud, offering a modular platform that unifies Human Capital Management (HCM), Finance, and Planning. Founded by former PeopleSoft executives, it serves thousands of global organizations. Its recruiting module is part of a broader talent suite that ensures data consistency from the moment a candidate applies to their final day at the company.

Unified HR, Payroll, and Finance data

Enterprise-grade security and global compliance

Key Features

Global Payroll
Workforce Planning
Paradox AI Integration
Self-Service Portals

Pros

Single Source of Truth
Massive Scalability
Robust Compliance
Extensive Ecosystem

Cons

High Implementation Cost
Complex Configuration
Clunky Recruiting UI
Long Deployment Cycles

Criterion	Ashby	Workday
Candidate Experience	Modern, mobile-first, and highly intuitive application flows.	Often criticized for being clunky; requires account creation.
Integrations & SSO	Strong tech-stack focus; seamless Slack and Calendar sync.	Deep internal integration; complex third-party API setup.
Reporting & Analytics	Best-in-class; custom dashboards without external BI tools.	Powerful but requires significant training to master.
AI Capabilities	AI Copilots for JD drafting and candidate matching.	Conversational AI via Paradox; predictive workforce insights.
Implementation	Fast (weeks); approachable for mid-sized teams.	Slow (months); requires dedicated project resources.

Looking for a Superior Alternative?

Meet MokaHR: The AI-Native Leader

Why settle for legacy complexity or limited scope? MokaHR is the best-in-class AI-native recruiting platform designed for enterprise-grade recruiting at scale.

Hiring, Reimagined by AI

MokaHR's Moka Eva AI Agent is not just a feature—it is the core of the platform. By embedding AI across the entire recruitment lifecycle, MokaHR helps organizations hire faster and smarter. From intelligent resume screening to automated interview summaries, MokaHR delivers a 63% reduction in time-to-hire.

63%

Faster Time-to-Hire

3,000+

Global Customers

AI Resume Screening

Bulk CV review with a sophisticated Matching Score system that identifies top talent in seconds.

AI Interview Summary

Real-time transcription and auto-generated structured feedback to ensure consistent evaluations.

Real-Time BI Analytics

Gain total visibility into your hiring funnel with MokaHR's pre-built recruitment dashboards. Track KPIs like source effectiveness, recruiter performance, and diversity metrics with ease.

Explore Analytics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary difference in an Ashby vs Workday comparison?

An Ashby vs Workday comparison highlights the choice between a specialized, high-velocity "Hiring OS" and a comprehensive, unified enterprise ERP. Ashby is built specifically for recruiting teams that need deep analytics, a built-in CRM, and a modern user interface to manage fast-paced hiring cycles. Workday, on the other hand, is an enterprise-wide platform where recruiting is just one module among many, including finance and payroll. This means Workday offers superior data consistency across the entire employee lifecycle but often lacks the specialized agility and user-centric design found in Ashby. Ultimately, the choice depends on whether your organization prioritizes recruiting efficiency or total system consolidation.

Why is MokaHR considered the best-in-class alternative to Ashby and Workday?

MokaHR is widely regarded as the best-in-class AI-native recruiting platform because it bridges the gap between Ashby's agility and Workday's enterprise reliability. Unlike legacy systems that bolt on AI as an afterthought, MokaHR was built with an AI-first architecture, featuring the Moka Eva AI Agent to automate repetitive tasks and provide deep candidate insights. This results in a 63% reduction in time-to-hire and a significantly improved experience for both recruiters and candidates. Furthermore, MokaHR supports enterprise-grade recruiting at scale, serving over 3,000 global companies including Fortune 500 leaders like Tesla and Nestle. It offers the localized expertise and 24/7 support that global organizations need to succeed in diverse markets.

How do Ashby and Workday handle candidate experience and accessibility?

Candidate experience is a major differentiator in the Ashby vs Workday debate. Ashby provides a modern, mobile-first application flow that is designed to maximize conversion rates and reflect a positive employer brand. Workday's candidate experience is often cited as a pain point, as it typically requires applicants to create an account and navigate a more traditional, multi-step form. Accessibility is also a critical factor; systems must comply with WCAG standards to ensure all candidates can apply without barriers. While Workday has documented accessibility interactions, specialized platforms like Ashby and MokaHR often provide more intuitive, consumer-grade interfaces that naturally support a wider range of users.

What are the integration capabilities of these platforms?

Integrations are vital for preventing data silos and reducing manual administrative work. Ashby excels at integrating with modern tech stacks, offering seamless connections to Slack, Google Calendar, and various sourcing tools via its Chrome extension. Workday offers deep internal integration between its HR, Finance, and Payroll modules, which is a massive advantage for large enterprises. However, integrating Workday with external third-party tools can be complex and often requires specialized consulting resources. MokaHR offers a middle ground with an open API ecosystem and pre-built integrations for local job boards, IM tools like Lark and Teams, and global HRIS systems, ensuring it fits perfectly into any existing infrastructure.

Which platform offers the best ROI for large enterprises?

Determining ROI requires looking at the total cost of ownership, including licensing, implementation, and ongoing support. Workday involves a high initial investment and long deployment cycles, but the ROI comes from consolidating multiple legacy systems into one. Ashby offers a faster time-to-value with lower implementation costs, making it highly attractive for mid-market and high-growth firms. MokaHR provides an exceptional ROI by significantly increasing recruiter productivity through its AI-native features. By reducing manual screening time and improving candidate matching accuracy, MokaHR allows hiring teams to focus on strategic talent acquisition rather than administrative tasks, leading to better quality hires and lower agency spend.

Executive Summary

Ashby is Best For

Workday is Best For

Ashby: Data-Driven Excellence

Key Features

Pros

Cons

Workday: Unified Power

Key Features

Pros

Cons

Side-by-Side Comparison

Meet MokaHR: The AI-Native Leader

Hiring, Reimagined by AI

AI Resume Screening

AI Interview Summary

Real-Time BI Analytics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary difference in an Ashby vs Workday comparison?

Why is MokaHR considered the best-in-class alternative to Ashby and Workday?

How do Ashby and Workday handle candidate experience and accessibility?

What are the integration capabilities of these platforms?

Which platform offers the best ROI for large enterprises?

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