UKG Versus the Competition

Compared to point solutions or single-market HR tools, UKG stands out for the breadth of its platform and its ability to support different levels of complexity. UKG Pro is built for organizations with advanced HR, payroll, and workforce needs, offering deep configurability and support for multi-entity or global operations, while UKG Ready delivers a simpler, all-in-one system that combines HR, payroll, time, scheduling, and talent management with a focus on automation and ease of use.

If you're ready to get a UKG demo, we suggest getting in touch for a look at the product and quote. Otherwise, read on!

Ratings

4.1

Ease of Use

Best For

Key Differentiator

Price

Custom Pricing

Free Trial

No

PROS

  • Super robust product, packing years of experience with HCM and Workforce Management technology 
  • Since they offer UKG Pro for HRMS and UKG Ready for workforce management, you could arrive at a combination of products that suits many of your HR needs from the same set of tools.

CONS

  • Compared to newer tools, UKG Pro and UKG Ready tend to miss a unique selling point or a specific focus on a certain type of business. While they work great for bigger companies in all sorts of industries, very niche operations might have a hard time adapting to the tool. 
  • Similarly, ​​UKG offers many solutions under one umbrella, so it's not the best fit if you're looking for only a handful of specific use cases.

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UKG Review

Ultimate Software was mainly known for its core HR tech product, UltiPro. Now that they’ve merged with Kronos, UltiPro has been rebranded as UKG Pro. The new company behind it, the Ultimate Kronos Group, aims to combine HCM capabilities with robust people data and analytics. Further, thanks in part to the merger, the word is that the service delivery of the HR teams that use UKG has improved considerably. 

This combination of features and tools is what makes UKG a noteworthy mention in so many HR tech categories. Arguably, UKG Pro can be an HRIS, HCM suite, and HRMS. It has a payroll tool, which also relates nicely to its workforce management offering, UKG Ready. 

The UKG Ready solution, for instance, allows teams to effectively manage the entire time and attendance process. With UKG Ready, it’s easy to punch in and out, manually edit timestamps or change billing coding for different departments. This is a great solution for full comprehensive workforce management.

It’s also worth mentioning that the platform has an ACA compliance tool within the UKG Pro offering. UKG's ACA manager can help with filing compliance documents on your behalf, like 1095-C forms. This part of their tool includes features like a healthcare eligibility dashboard, automatic generation of forms, and pre-delivered reports for identifying ACA compliance.

UKG also offers payroll services for their Workforce Ready users. Aside from the software tools, you can get expert assistance with tax filing, garnishment processing, and distribution of checks and payroll documentation. 

UKG’s products and expertise have been tested throughout the years and built out to the point where they have modules for just about everything you could imagine: payroll, benefits management, onboarding, time-tracking, and countless other HR functions.

What users think of UKG

Reviewer's Rating
10/10

I use UKG on a daily basis as part of my HR role. Most of the time I'm in the system reviewing or updating employee records, helping managers with job changes, and making sure everything is aligned before payroll closes. I also use it to track recruiting activity, like checking candidate status or supporting managers during the offer stage.

During performance review cycles, I spend more time in the talent management modules to review evaluations and ensure documentation is complete, since HR leads both the annual and mid-cycle review process in our organization.

Managers use it for approvals, time tracking, and accessing team information, so I often get pulled in to help with system questions or reporting needs. I also run reports for things like headcount, attrition, disciplinary action reports, and workforce trends to support leadership discussions.

Overall, UKG functions as our primary system of record, so it is part of most of my day-to-day work rather than something I log into occasionally.

What do you like about UKG?

One thing I like about UKG is that it brings employee records, payroll, recruiting, and talent processes into one system, so you're not constantly switching between platforms.

The reporting is also helpful, especially once it's set up properly. We've connected PowerBi to it, which has made it easier to pull HR data and build reports without starting from scratch each time.

Payroll being tied directly to core HR data has helped reduce errors, and it's been especially useful with a multi-state workforce where compliance can get complicated.

The recruiting workflow is fairly structured, which makes it easier to track where candidates are in the process and keep hiring managers aligned.

Once everything is configured properly, it works well as a system of record for managing the full employee lifecycle.

Why did your organization buy UKG, and how long have you used it for?

Our organization moved to UKG mainly to bring multiple HR processes into one system. Before that, we were using different tools for employee records, payroll, recruiting, and talent management, which made things harder to manage and sometimes led to inconsistencies in data.

We also just recently transitioned our timekeeping from Kronos to UKG in 2025 Q4, so part of the goal was to have everything more aligned in one place. There was a lot of manual coordination between systems before, especially between HR and payroll, so we were looking for something more centralized.

UKG helped reduce some of the back-and-forth and made it easier to access employee information without switching between platforms. Having employee data, recruiting, and performance information in one system has been helpful, especially when supporting managers or reviewing employee history.

Payroll has been more consistent since it ties directly to employee records, and reporting feels more reliable since everything is coming from the same system.

I've personally worked with UKG for more than 4 years in an HR role, using it regularly for employee records management, payroll coordination, recruiting oversight, and general support for talent-related processes.

What do you dislike about UKG?

The system can feel a bit complex at first, especially for managers who don't use it often or are new to it.

Some of the reporting works well once it's set up, but getting it exactly how you want can take extra configuration or support, which is why we ended up relying more on PowerBi for certain reports.

Implementation and initial set-up can take time, especially when you're working across multiple modules and trying to align everything.

Making updates or changes isn't always quick, since it sometimes involves working with support, which can slow things down depending on the request.

How is UKG different than their competitors?

In my experience, UKG feels different from other HR systems because it brings core HR, payroll, recruiting, timekeeping, and talent into one place. In the past, we used tools that were strong in one area but required separate systems for everything else, which meant more manual work and sometimes mismatched data. With UKG, having one system of record made things more consistent and easier to manage across teams.

What I like is that once workflows are set up, things like payroll and employee record updates run more smoothly without needing to transfer data between systems. Some other tools we looked at had simpler interfaces, but they didn't offer the same level of integration across different HR functions.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

When looking at tools like UKG, one of the first things to consider is whether it actually supports your core HR processes and has the modules you need without relying on too many add-ons.

Ease of use is also important, especially for managers and employees, since adoption tends to drop if the system feels hard to navigate. Reporting matters as well, because HR and leadership rely on that data for day-to-day decisions, and it should be easy to access without extra work.

It's also worth thinking about how the platform fits with your existing systems and whether it will scale as your organization grows.

How has UKG changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

Over time, I've seen UKG improve in ways that made it easier to use day to day for both HR and managers. Early on, some workflows felt a bit confusing, but over time the navigation got better and tasks like scheduling, payroll review, and updating employee records became more straightforward. Reporting also improved, and it became easier to pull information without having to export everything into spreadsheets.

I also noticed better integration between modules. For example, recruiting and onboarding data flows more smoothly into core HR and payroll than it used to, which reduced some of the manual steps we had before.

Mobile access and self-service features have also improved, making it easier for employees to check schedules, request time off, or update their personal information.

These updates came gradually, but over the time I've used the system, it has become more consistent and easier to work with overall.

What specific type of user or organization is UKG very good for?

UKG tends to be a good fit for medium to large organizations with more complex workforce needs, especially those managing a mix of hourly and salaried employees. It works well in environments where HR teams need one system to handle multiple functions like payroll, recruiting, and employee records rather than relying on separate tools.

From what I've seen, it's most valuable in companies that have resources to properly set up and maintain the system over time.

What specific type of user or organization would UKG not be a good fit for?

UKG may not be the best fit for smaller organizations with simple payroll and basic HR needs, since it offers more functionality than they may actually use.

For teams without a dedicated HR or system admin resource, the setup and ongoing management can feel a bit overwhelming. It may also not be ideal for organizations looking for a lightweight, quick-to-implement solution with minimal setup time.

Reviewer's Rating
9/10

As a consultant, I am involved on the front-end with the implementation of UKG products. For my most recent client, we implemented UKG Ready for time and attendance, payroll, performance management, reporting, and employee self-service. It was great to see a company go from spreadsheets, inefficient processes, and no data analytics to a solution for all.

I finished up working with the client and was able to hand off the administration without a large administrative burden on their team. Data analytics were able to identify trends and patterns where they didn't have that visibility before.

What do you like about UKG?

Best-in-class product that has the authority, reputation, and solution for a variety of clients. It doesn't matter how many employees you have; they have a solution to fit your budget and goals.

I also like the implementation process. It is seamless, and you are always supported by a very engaged UKG team.

Why did your organization buy UKG, and how long have you used it for?

I've used UKG off and on for years, even way back in 2017 when it was Kronos. As an HR Manager and now as a consultant, I've constantly recommended UKG as a product solution for companies looking to implement a quality, best-in-class HRIS.

UKG products are comprehensive solutions for payroll, time and attendance, performance management, and a very intuitive employee self-service. Many of my clients have transitioned to UKG because of the ease of use and scalability.

For my most recent client, they were not happy with all the platforms and wanted to consolidate into one. We implemented UKG Ready, which met their needs immediately.

What do you dislike about UKG?

For UKG Ready, I'd like to see more customization options when it comes to branding. Sometimes the software was a bit limited when it came to differentials, incentives, and other pay practices.

We had to do a few workarounds that took a minute to figure out how to make the system work for what we needed.

I could see how some clients were a bit sticker shocked when comparing similar vendor solutions. Though, those vendors did not have the reputation that UKG has.

How is UKG different than their competitors?

UKG has been around for years. There always seems to be some startup company that tries to compete. Yes, there are cheaper solutions, but with UKG you have a brand reputation and best-in-class products.

UKG has a variety of products which can fit needs and budgets. Their customer service doesn't stop at implementation. It isn't a "hook, line, sinker" company. You are supported throughout your relationship with UKG, which I can't say the same for other newer companies.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

Companies should have a list of their needs, wants, and wishes when they begin to engage with UKG. You would be surprised at how much UKG can do for your organization. Of course, you also need to have your budget set and understand that with any product implementation, there will be implementation costs.

How has UKG changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

It has gotten better since the merger. The solutions are comprehensive, and they have kept up with the times. They are always taking client feedback and implementing solutions based on that feedback.

What specific type of user or organization is UKG very good for?

From my experience, I have utilized UKG for a variety of healthcare organizations with multiple sites, complex schedules, and nuances. It was a great solution for this type of workforce.

What specific type of user or organization would UKG not be a good fit for?

I honestly can't say who wouldn't benefit from a UKG product. If anything, one without a clear idea of their budget and unrealistic expectations of what they can actually afford.

Reviewer's Rating
8/10

I use UKG daily for timecard approvals, running reports, and for auditing benefit invoices. Additionally, I utilize the system on a quarterly basis to initiate quarterly employee performance review check-ins, that facilitates the overreaching annual compensation review cycle.

What do you like about UKG?

UKG is very easy to navigate. The UKG system interfaces easily with other carriers so that benefit elections easily flow into the system. The system has a robust library that allows for self-study and learn-as-you-go training.

Why did your organization buy UKG, and how long have you used it for?

My company's HR Department was spending countless hours physically trying to collect sheets of paper for employees' performance reviews. Many managers were reviewing their employees on different criteria that was not aligned with our overall mission, nor using consistent department goals that aligned with our company core values.

Paperwork was messy and difficult to read due to handwriting and typos. We needed a consistent, easy to use, electronic system that would streamline not only the content of our employees' performance reviews, but the methodology of how our HR Team collected the data.

What do you dislike about UKG?

The system sometimes would be slow or stagnant. Having a dedicated account representative would have been appreciated. The system was extremely cumbersome when initially trying to set up company-wide performance reviews.

It would have been very helpful to have templates within the system, rather than be required to build out competencies by job position from scratch.

How is UKG different than their competitors?

UKG is certainly a strong competitor for a small-medium sized company's HRIS, compared to larger providers such as ADP's Workforce Now. I preferred UKG because the system itself was much more intuitive to use.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

Consider what you plan to use the system for and how many employees you have in your company to determine whether the system will accommodate your needs. Consider your industry as well, for example whether your employees will need remote, self-service options in the field or will be at a desk all day. What training is offered and how difficult the system is to navigate and learn is also worth evaluating carefully.

How has UKG changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

UKG constantly comes out with new versions and options. They are excellent at adapting to new laws and regulations, as well as advancing their technology alongside their competitors.

What specific type of user or organization is UKG very good for?

Human Resources Administrative Leaders, line managers, and payroll administrators will find UKG a great tool to use.

What specific type of user or organization would UKG not be a good fit for?

Someone not comfortable using SaaS and people who are not willing to take training and build out their performance reviews and set up their tailored company profiles properly won’t find UKG good to use.

UKG Alternatives:

Paylocity

Paylocity offers a wide range of modules for the entire employee lifecycle. Although it markets itself as supporting all business sizes, its strong focus on automation, customization, and compliance — plus a higher starting price, according to user reports — makes it a better fit for midsize companies with more than 300 employees.
Popularity Score
4.2 / 5
User Score
4.3 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5
Visit Website

Paylocity

Paylocity offers a wide range of modules for the entire employee lifecycle. Although it markets itself as supporting all business sizes, its strong focus on automation, customization, and compliance — plus a higher starting price, according to user reports — makes it a better fit for midsize companies with more than 300 employees.
Popularity Score
4.2 / 5
User Score
4.3 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5
Learn More

Deel

Deel HR offers a simple, effective HRIS for remote and international teams that need a way to compensate their employees, and a system for record-keeping.
Popularity Score
4.4 / 5
User Score
4.6 / 5
Product Score
4.5 / 5
Visit Website

Deel

Deel HR offers a simple, effective HRIS for remote and international teams that need a way to compensate their employees, and a system for record-keeping.
Popularity Score
4.4 / 5
User Score
4.6 / 5
Product Score
4.5 / 5
Learn More

HiBob

Bob is a global HR software platform that provides customizable features to streamline HR processes, including advanced functions such as compensation and workforce planning. But Bob particularly stands out for its focus on employee experience — from its funky, colorful interface reminiscent of 1970s disco, to employee recognition and interest groups that foster workplace connection. Bob is well-suited for most SMBs, but if your goal is to manage HR processes and improve platform adoption and engagement with employees, I recommend Bob. It's both fun to use and a powerful tool to manage people processes.
Popularity Score
4.5 / 5
User Score
4.4 / 5
Product Score
4.3 / 5
Visit Website

HiBob

Bob is a global HR software platform that provides customizable features to streamline HR processes, including advanced functions such as compensation and workforce planning. But Bob particularly stands out for its focus on employee experience — from its funky, colorful interface reminiscent of 1970s disco, to employee recognition and interest groups that foster workplace connection. Bob is well-suited for most SMBs, but if your goal is to manage HR processes and improve platform adoption and engagement with employees, I recommend Bob. It's both fun to use and a powerful tool to manage people processes.
Popularity Score
4.5 / 5
User Score
4.4 / 5
Product Score
4.3 / 5
Learn More

BambooHR

BambooHR has been a go-to HR solution for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) for years, with modules covering nearly every HR process — from hiring to payroll, benefits, time tracking, and performance management. BambooHR stands out to me for its plug-and-play HR workflows, pre-built reports, and easily navigable interface that requires little training.
Popularity Score
4.5 / 5
User Score
4.5 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5
Visit Website

BambooHR

BambooHR has been a go-to HR solution for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) for years, with modules covering nearly every HR process — from hiring to payroll, benefits, time tracking, and performance management. BambooHR stands out to me for its plug-and-play HR workflows, pre-built reports, and easily navigable interface that requires little training.
Popularity Score
4.5 / 5
User Score
4.5 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5
Learn More

ADP

If you're growing and need flexible support for unique business cases, ADP's Workforce Now HR software is a worthy consideration. It offers the largest selection of native solutions to handle the evolving needs of midsize businesses, including global payroll in more than 140 countries, benchmarks for strategic workforce planning, and even business advisory services. ADP also has one of the largest integration libraries on the HR software market, allowing you to connect accounting, business intelligence, and collaboration tools for a centralized system to handle all your people processes as you grow.
Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
4 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5
Visit Website

ADP

If you're growing and need flexible support for unique business cases, ADP's Workforce Now HR software is a worthy consideration. It offers the largest selection of native solutions to handle the evolving needs of midsize businesses, including global payroll in more than 140 countries, benchmarks for strategic workforce planning, and even business advisory services. ADP also has one of the largest integration libraries on the HR software market, allowing you to connect accounting, business intelligence, and collaboration tools for a centralized system to handle all your people processes as you grow.
Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
4 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5
Learn More

Who shouldn't buy UKG

UKG offers many solutions and modules within its platform. Hence it's not the best fit for companies in need of only a handful of specific use cases. For example, it has no standalone ACA module. Therefore, it is best for large or enterprise companies looking for an entire HR suite plus many other perks.

UKG Customers

Through the years, UKG has been trusted by organizations like Tesla, Marriott, Yamaha, Aramark, Puma, Sony Music, Samsung, Mammoth, Temple University, MGM Grand, The YMCA, The Salvation Army, and Feeding America.

UKG: HRIS with Abundant Features
visit UKG

UKG Key Features

  • People analytics: Gather intel on everything workforce-related and use it to make strategic, AI-supported decisions. 
  • Compensation management: UKG Ready can automate and streamline the entire compensation management process. This add-on supports annual, nonannual, cycle-based, and off-cycle merit and promotion-based salary increases.
  • People center: With UKG Pro, you get a complete picture of your entire employee population. This instant access to business intelligence can drive decision-making.
  • Benefits administration: Employees can learn about, compare, and enroll in the compensation plans of their choosing. This part of the platform also provides educational tools and personalized recommendations.

UKG has capabilities for:

  • Payroll
  • Benefits administration
  • Open enrollment and life events
  • Tax management
  • Talent management
  • Document manager
  • Onboarding
  • Compensation management
  • Succession planning
  • Mobile app (Android & iOS)

UKG Key Integrations

While their integrations are limited, UKG does have API capabilities. UKG’s products can integrate with tools like LinkedIn, Branch, Workday, Jostle, and many more. There are more integrations for other HR, payroll, ERP, patient information systems, and other back-office applications. If once you look into it you realize that they don’t integrate with a particular part of your tech stack, you should know that they sometimes provide custom solutions on a case-by-case basis.

UKG Pricing

UKG uses subscription-based pricing. Cost is determined by employee count, selected features, and additional add-ons. Specific pricing requires a quote from UKG sales.

UKG is Best For

UKG Pro is best suited for organizations with complex HR and payroll requirements, such as large enterprises, global teams, or companies with sophisticated reporting, compliance, and workforce planning needs. It’s designed for teams that need depth, configurability, and long-term scalability.

UKG Ready is typically a better fit for small to mid-sized businesses that want a unified system for HR, payroll, and workforce management without the overhead of an enterprise HCM. It works well for teams that prioritize simplicity, automation, and faster time-to-value over extensive customization.

How has UKG Changed Over Time?

UKG Implementation

Implementing UKG Pro or Ready can take up to a few months for large organizations. They also have numerous third-party services out there to assist with the implementation of its software.

Now, although it can vary depending on if you’re implementing UKG Ready or UKG Pro, a typical implementation process can follow these six steps: 

  • Planning: Webinars, learning modules, timeline creation, introduction to the project manager.
  • Assess: Goal setting, provide necessary data, approve solution design, review best practices.
  • Solution Build: Build the system, integrate it with other systems, and administrator training.
  • Test & Clarify: Solution overview, internal training, workshops.
  • Deploy & Support: "Go live" additional training, transition to support team.
  • Additional Modules & Functionality: Implementation of additional solutions, for instance, the ACA module.

UKG Customer Success

Aside from having customer success managers for their clients, UKG has many resources in place for their users. They’ve got a resources & insights page, for instance, where you can browse ROI tools and ebooks or guides for each of their features. They also have a support community page where customers can get their questions answered by experts as well as community members.

About UKG

UKG was formed in 2020 through the merger of Ultimate Software and Kronos, two long-standing providers in the HR and workforce management space. The company is headquartered in the United States, with dual headquarters in Lowell, Massachusetts, and Weston, Florida.

Today, UKG operates as a single organization delivering HCM, payroll, and workforce management software to customers globally. The company is led by Jennifer Morgan, who serves as CEO.

While UKG’s roots stretch back to the founding of Kronos in 1977 and Ultimate Software in 1990, the modern UKG platform reflects a consolidation of those legacies into a unified product strategy focused on workforce experience, operational efficiency, and people analytics.

Company HQ

The company still keeps the headquarters from the two entities they were before the merger. That’s Lowell Massachusetts (Kronos) and Weston Florida (Ultimate Software).

Number of Employees

12,000+

Year Founded

Although the merger happened in 2020, it’s interesting to consider that Kronos Incorporated was founded in 1977 and Ultimate Software in 1990.

Amount Raised

FAQ

Is UKG Kronos? 

Kronos merged with Ultimate Software in 2020, resulting in the creation of the UKG company (Ultimate Kronos Group). Kronos Workforce Ready, the company’s flagship time tracking software product, rebranded as UKG ready.

Is UKG the same as UltiPro? 

Ultimate Software became the Ultimate Kronos Group as it merged with the company Kronos in 2020. UltiPro became UKG Pro, retaining much of the HCM software offering that made it so popular since the turn of the century with some added workforce management features. 

Does UKG do payroll? 

Whether it’s through UKG Ready or UKG Pro, their two main offerings based on the products they did before the merger, UKG is certainly able to process payroll. They offer the software tools to process it automatically, but they also provide expert assistance if needed.

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UKG Alternatives

Paylocity

Best for mid-sized businesses.

Popularity score
4.2 / 5
user score
4.3 / 5
Product score
4.1 / 5
Deel

Best for running global HR without silos

Popularity score
4.2 / 5
user score
4.6 / 5
Product score
4.5 / 5
HiBob

Best for employee experience.

Popularity score
4.5 / 5
user score
4.4 / 5
Product score
4.3 / 5
BambooHR

Best for small-and-medium-sized businesses.

Popularity score
4.5 / 5
user score
4.5 / 5
Product score
4.4 / 5
ADP

Best for scalability.

Popularity score
4.3 / 5
user score
4 / 5
Product score
4.1 / 5
HiBob

Culture-focused HRIS for multinational organizations

Popularity score
4.5 / 5
user score
4.4 / 5
Product score
4.3 / 5
Gusto

Best for startups.

Popularity score
4.3 / 5
user score
4 / 5
Product score
4.1 / 5

Review Methodology

We take our research process seriously and want to make sure we are presenting our readers with the very best solutions in a given software category. Check out this guide to learn how we evaluate vendors before featuring them in our buyer guides.

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