Dayforce HCM vs Sage People comparison

Dayforce and Sage are both solutions in the Cloud HCM category. Dayforce is ranked #7 with an average rating of 7.0, while Sage is ranked #28. Dayforce holds a 3.2% mindshare in CHCM, compared to Sage’s 0.8% mindshare. Additionally, 89% of Dayforce users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 81% of Sage users who would recommend it.

Dayforce HCM

Read 15 Dayforce HCM reviews

1,695 Views
1,576 Comparison Views

89% willing to recommend

Sage People

Read 15 Sage People reviews

712 Views
441 Comparison Views

81% willing to recommend

Dayforce HCM

Sage People

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Sage People and Dayforce HCM compete in the human capital management space. Dayforce HCM seems to have the upper hand due to its robust feature set for those prioritizing functionality despite higher initial costs.

Features: Sage People provides streamlined workforce management, flexible HR solutions, and user-friendly automation. Dayforce HCM offers comprehensive payroll, talent, and benefits administration with strong analytics capabilities, supporting complex enterprise needs.

Room for Improvement: Sage People could enhance data analytics, scalability for large enterprises, and advanced reporting capabilities. Dayforce HCM can improve user interface simplicity, reduce complexity in configuration, and lower initial deployment costs.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Sage People emphasizes a straightforward deployment process and strong customer service, ideal for simple HR frameworks. Dayforce HCM requires a more involved setup due to its complexity but offers comprehensive support and customization options.

Pricing and ROI: Sage People usually presents lower setup costs with quicker ROI for companies seeking efficient HR solutions with limited budgets. Dayforce HCM requires a higher initial investment, justified by advanced features leading to substantial long-term ROI for businesses needing extensive HCM solutions.

To learn more, read our detailed Dayforce HCM vs. Sage People Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Dayforce HCM vs. Sage People

July 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Dayforce HCM

Ranking in Talent Management

9th

Ranking in Cloud HCM

7th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Talent Intelligence (3rd)

Sage People

Ranking in Talent Management

30th

Ranking in Cloud HCM

28th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Benefits Administration (31st), HR Analytics Software (10th), Talent Acquisition (18th)

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Cloud HCM category, the mindshare of Dayforce HCM is 3.2%, up from 3.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sage People is 0.8%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Cloud HCM

Featured Reviews

TracyBritan

Manager, Learning & Development at Ampersand

Frustrating support and difficult customization prevent optimal use of learning system

Customizing the home screen was difficult; I could not remove certain tabs that were irrelevant to our users. The search functionality is poor as there's no way for administrators to tag keywords to training courses, making it hard for people to find content. Additionally, there is no way to send a direct link to training if someone asks about it. The reporting is subpar; you can only report by course and not by person unless you go into specific Dayforce reports, which do not match the fields in the learning module. The support is also terrible, with slow response times and a lack of useful knowledge-based articles.

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Spencer Gray

People Advisor at Thomas International

Highly customizable, robust, and access to helpful online community

In my opinion, the performance management module of this system could use improvement as it falls behind compared to other specialized performance management platforms. While I understand that this system is not solely focused on performance management and is more of a generalist solution, it still lacks the capabilities and features that you can find in other specialized platforms. If we were to switch to a provider solely focused on performance management, we would have access to a wider range of features and capabilities that are not currently available in this system. Sage People offers a wide range of functions that meet most requirements. However, there is still room for improvement. One feature that I would like to see added is the ability to detect and address any failures in the custom processes or functions built within the system. I would like to see a tool that can automatically sense and identify any issues in the system. Currently, when something goes wrong, it's not always immediately obvious and requires a lot of manual troubleshooting. It would be helpful if there was an error message that clearly explained why the system is failing. This would speed up the investigation process and make it ten times faster.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"We like being able to hire from the Dayforce recruiting module straight into Dayforce and having the file feeds go to our benefits vendor."

"It has created efficiencies in HR and Payroll by eliminating double entry into two systems, implementing a time clock feature for hourly employees, and by having a downloadable general ledger (G/L) constructing journal entering for payroll."

"We used the solution to do a lot of performance management during the review cycle and it helped us alleviate the administrative burden."

"The integrated time clock has provided efficiencies in payroll, as we no longer have to decipher handwritten time sheets and input them into the system."

"The fact that the time and attendance system is built into the HRIS is very valuable because, in the past, we had to use two different systems."

"Dayforce has transformed how we operate by saving us time, paper, accuracy, money, and the employee/supervisor experience."

"The implementation was through a team assigned to us by Ceridian. They were extremely knowledgeable and it made the implementation go very smoothly."

"Our employee benefits enrollment is managed through Ceridian Dayforce, which makes for a limited manual process."

More Dayforce HCM pros

"I guess I would say maybe that it is a more robust system."

"The solution's initial setup was straightforward."

"The solution is beneficial overall."

"The report builder and dashboard builder are very, very good."

"The reporting features are also very valuable because, on top of 300+ reports available on the system, you can also customize quite a number of reports."

"The most valuable feature of Sage People is the integration with our payroll system."

"The most valuable features of Sage People are the reports that are useful for decision-making and the API that can be integrated well. Additionally, the solution can be accessed from mobile devices onto the cloud."

"The solution provides the ability to trace back records, is reliable, makes life easy, and is secure."

More Sage People pros

Cons

"Customizing the home screen was difficult; I could not remove certain tabs that were irrelevant to our users."

"Our current software program offers a home page with important company documents and a place for company announcements. Unfortunately, Ceridian Dayfoce does not offer this."

"An area for improvement could be a little more testing before implementing hotfixes to make sure they do not interfere with any active customized products."

"The solution's initial setup was difficult. Also, the solution's initial deployment took around six months."

"Many things are presented as though they will be included with the system but then require costly upgrades."

"I would like the solution to improve its customer service communication."

"Management and reporting of the GL costing could be improved."

"One area to be improved is the solution's reporting function, which can be cumbersome."

More Dayforce HCM cons

"There were a couple of things that we wanted to customize, but we couldn’t do it ourselves."

"Right now, Sage doesn't seem to have what we are looking for when it comes to managing HR tickets. In my previous experiences with other HR software, we had to buy another solution to obtain this functionality, and it would be a great feature for Sage to consider adding. For an HR system, Sage would do very well to include it."

"The automation in Sage People could improve. The solution is the best used for data storage but the automation could be better to have more functionality."

"The user interface is not great."

"The integration with our payroll system could improve. However, it is managed by another company."

"If Sage People were to become a fully cloud-based solution, it could lead to significant improvements. With the COVID pandemic highlighting the benefits of remote work, a complete shift to cloud-based functionality would be a welcome development for users."

"Its stability could be better."

"The budget module does not work. Sage People need to maybe make it more user-friendly."

More Sage People cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Negotiate for everything you want."

"Earlier, the price of the product was reasonable. Under present circumstances, the price or cost of the product has been increased."

"In terms of pricing, the product is expensive. However, it is crucial to take into account the manner in which the solution will be utilized and the availability of other alternatives."

"We found the setup costs and pricing to be very reasonable."

"We paid for the implementation costs in the first year with the money that we saved by switching to Dayforce HCM."

"Ceridian continually enhances Dayforce HCM. Some of these enhancements they charge for and some are just straight enhancements with no extra charge."

"I rate the solution's pricing a seven on a scale where one is the lowest and ten is the most expensive."

"The XOXO program associated with Dayforce allows you to earn credits towards registration and accommodations at their annual Insight Conferences, which can be a real savings to the company when sending employees to the conference."

"I believe we pay licensing on a yearly basis, but I can't comment on the total amount that we pay on licensing."

"The cost of Sage People varies depending on the financial resources of the organization. While it may be affordable for middle-level companies, it may be more challenging for young companies to bear the cost."

"Its cost is moderate for a multi-group licensing model."

"We have to purchase the solution's license to use it."

"I think it's reasonably priced. But in comparison to other systems, I would choose them over Sage People, regardless of their prices."

"The pricing is reasonable."

"From an SME standpoint, I wouldn't necessarily describe it as expensive. However, for the average startup, it may not be affordable since our current annual expenditure on the system, which supports approximately 210-220 users, amounts to approximately £15,000 to £18,000."

"There is other software on the market that can do similar functions to Sage People that could be better in price. Some solution allows you to do your payroll processes by month or by the process. Small companies could benefit by using another solution."

More Sage People pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

13%

Educational Organization

12%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

22%

Comms Service Provider

13%

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Ceridian Dayforce HCM?

The solution's payroll portion is very streamlined.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Ceridian Dayforce HCM?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Ceridian Dayforce HCM?

We have used Dayforce HCM for our HR functionalities and for the learning module over the last five years. We actually just migrated to a new learning management system.

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Comparisons

Workday vs Dayforce HCM

Compared 40% of the time

SAP SuccessFactors vs Dayforce HCM

Compared 20% of the time

UKG vs Dayforce HCM

Compared 18% of the time

Oracle HCM Cloud vs Dayforce HCM

Compared 13% of the time

PeopleSoft vs Dayforce HCM

Compared 5% of the time

More Dayforce HCM Competitors

Workday vs Sage People

Compared 39% of the time

Cegid vs Sage People

Compared 35% of the time

SAP SuccessFactors vs Sage People

Compared 26% of the time

More Sage People Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Dayforce HCM

July 2025

Download Dayforce HCM product report

Buyer's Guide

Sage People

June 2025

Download Sage People product report

Also Known As

Ceridian Dayforce HCM, Ascender Talent Management, Ceridian Ideal

Fairsail

Overview

Dayforce HCM is a global, cloud-based human capital management (HCM) software platform for managing the complete employee lifecycle. This solution was designed to improve the employee experience by bringing together data from across the employment cycle to help managers make better decisions at all levels.

Dayforce HCM is an HR, payroll, benefits, workforce management, and talent management platform. The scalable software uses a single, flexible rules engine, as well as real-time updates and calculations, to help you meet complicated regulatory requirements.

Dayforce reduces the burden of disconnected applications by delivering a single application for all of your human capital management needs. All transactions made anywhere within the application flow seamlessly across all functional areas in real time, eliminating the need for repeated data entry, manual workarounds, and batch operations. This is thanks to a single employee record and a single rule engine. Organizations can achieve shorter training time, faster user adoption, and a faster return on investment.

With Dayforce HCM, users can view all HR data in real time in one place.

Here are some key tasks companies can do with the solution:

Hire the right people
Design work/life balance plans
Manage employee development
Handle payments
Administer benefits
Track compliance throughout the employee lifecycle

Dayforce HCM Features

Dayforce HCM has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

Continuous payroll for staff: Dayforce HCM aids in paying staff accurately and on schedule. Give your payroll staff the ability to access and audit data at any time during the pay cycle.

Personnel management: Empower and engage your frontline employees while keeping labor expenses and compliance under control. Make proactive, data-driven decisions that can help you run your business more efficiently.

Optimized staff benefits: Assist employees in selecting the best benefit plans while streamlining administrative tasks. With the help of analytics, you can maximize the value of your benefits investments and gain a better understanding of your costs.

Streamlined human resources: With a single consolidated, real-time solution, you can eliminate HR information silos. Improve HR productivity by streamlining administrative tasks and gaining access to key HR analytics.

Dayforce HCM Benefits

There are many benefits to implementing Dayforce HCM. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

Dayforce HCM aids in planning, hiring, retaining, and building your team, whether they be full-time employees or hourly workers. Insights based on data can help you see around corners and predict the future.

Dayforce HCM helps you keep track of compliance everywhere in order to reduce risk. Simplify compliance in a global workplace. Keep up with complicated payroll and tax requirements from different regions and countries, as well as internal policies and processes. Dayforce can help you reduce the risk – and the cost – of noncompliance.

Dayforce HCM empowers your workforce by improving your employee experience with always-on technologies like Dayforce Wallet. Transform pay, enable self-service, and assist your employees in developing future skills, no matter where they are or what device they are using.

Dayforce

Connect teams across borders

Customise communications: Deliver business updates to specific groups and gather feedback with surveys.
Personalise experiences: Create engaging, branded experiences – tailored by group or region.
Connect global teams: Manage your entire workforce, wherever they are. Embed global policies while enforcing local regulations.
Help teams thrive, anywhere: Support wellbeing, provide localised benefits packages, and more.

Get ahead with actionable HR analytics

Make informed decisions: Use People analytics for actionable insights in seconds.
Provide real-time insights: Give up-to-the-minute recommendations so leaders jump on trends and adjust plans.
Customise dashboards: Plan hiring, analyse attrition, manage absence, and more.
Get actionable feedback: Understand the employee experience through surveys, tailored to different groups.

Compete successfully for top talent

Deliver a differentiated, stand-out candidate experience with easy-to-use employer branding themes and options that shows off your culture and company story.
Fill roles faster with skilled talent using our unique, AI-powered, intelligent candidate matching.
Have new employees hit the ground running with seamless remote pre-boarding and onboarding experiences.

Sage

Sample Customers

ACCO Brands

Rocketship Education, Monitise, u-blox, SolarWinds, Mitsubishi, SmartStream, Canonical, Betfair

Buyer's Guide

Dayforce HCM vs. Sage People

July 2025

Free Report: Dayforce HCM vs. Sage People

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