Knit vs Ceridian Dayforce

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In Canada, it can feel like payroll providers are a dime a dozen. While options are great, it also means that there’s a lot of information to wade through in order to find the right payroll provider for your business.

To make the process of choosing a new payroll provider a little easier, we’ve conducted a head-to-head comparison of one of the biggest players in the industry, Ceridian, and the payroll software startup, Knit. To find out how they compare, we’ll look at Knit vs Ceridian Dayforce on the basis of software, payroll features, HR and benefits, customer service, and cost.

It is important to note that Ceridian offers two different payroll options: Ceridian Powerpay, which is designed for small businesses, and Ceridian Dayforce, which is designed for mid-size to enterprise companies. In this article, we look at how Knit stacks up against Ceridian Dayforce. To see how Knit compares to Ceridian Powerpay, click here.

Note: You might have noticed we’re writing about the difference between our service and someone else’s. We’ve done our best to give them a fair shake because we want you to make an informed decision. That said, we think we offer the best payroll service in Canada. Want to give Knit a try? Find out how to get started here.

Knit vs Ceridian Dayforce: An Overview

Software

In terms of software, both Knit and Ceridian Dayforce are cloud-based programs. This means that instead of storing information on a single computer, information is stored over the Internet—much like online banking. This is a great feature for business owners because it means that their data is accessible from virtually anywhere, at any time, as long as there is an Internet connection. Ceridian Dayforce also boasts the added bonus of mobile access, which is beneficial for employers who want to run payroll on the go.

However, the speed and usability of the software is where Knit and Ceridian differ. Ceridian’s software is a behemoth that is built to handle the needs of enterprise companies. This means that while the software is capable of handling complex payrolls for hundreds to thousands of employees, the process often takes much longer and is prone to glitches during updates.

On the other hand, Knit’s software is less robust and is not equipped to handle running payroll for thousands of employees. The trade-off is that Knit’s software is far faster and users experience significantly shorter loading times.

Payroll Features

When it comes to processing payroll, both Knit and Ceridian Dayforce are designed to handle most payrolls. Both platforms automatically calculate, deduct, and remit payroll taxes to the CRA, saving you time and keeping you compliant.

In terms of specific features, Ceridian Dayforce is one of the more robust payroll systems on the market. Ceridian Dayforce is highly configurable and equipped to handle a wide variety of different payroll at a time, including hourly, weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, monthly, union, non-union, and more. As a result, the platform includes less common payroll features such as garnishment administration, automated stat holiday pay calculations, and global pay in over 80 countries. Ceridian also boasts an employee portal that allows employees to track their own pay history, access earnings statements, and manage their data without the need to go through HR or a payroll administrator—something that is particularly important for very large companies.

Knit’s payroll platform is less comprehensive and less configurable than Ceridian Dayforce. However, Knit’s platform can easily be tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized companies. Unlike some of the more no-frills payroll providers on the market, Knit offers extra features such as multiple pay groups, unlimited off-cycle pay runs, WSIB remittance, and the ability to pay third-party payees such as RRSP management companies. Knit also offers some “nice to have” payroll features like email reminders to process payroll, complimentary ROEs and T4s, and an easily accessible employee portal. All of these features mean that Knit is more than capable of handling both simple and more complex payrolls for companies with 100 or fewer employees.

HR & Benefits

While some companies are simply looking for a payroll solution, others prefer to have their HR and benefits integrated into the same platform. Knit bills itself as a united platform for all three processes, while Ceridian offers a more a la carte option, similar to ADP.

Ceridian offers an HR module that integrates directly with its payroll platform, as well as HR advisory services. The HR module is particularly robust and includes features such as employee management, reporting, document management, and more. Ceridian also offers additional add-on modules such as Benefits, Talent Management, Workforce Management, and professional services. For enterprise companies that require many of these modules, having time, attendance, payroll, and benefits on one application helps to reduce integration and interface issues. Although, it’s important to note that the cost of Ceridian Dayforce rises significantly the more modules a company adds.

In contrast, Knit’s HR features are included in the monthly fee for the platform, making it a more affordable option for smaller companies looking for integrated HR. This means that all payroll and HR information is united across the platform for easy management. Some of Knit’s standout HR features include a comprehensive employee database, e-signature documents, employee performance reviews, employee onboarding, and vacation tracking. Like Ceridian, Knit also empowers employees to manage their own data with a self-serve portal that allows employees to access pay stubs, T4s, ROEs, and even request PTO.

Customer Service

While great customer service is important when it comes to any product or service, it is particularly crucial when it comes to time-sensitive processes such as payroll. Both Knit and Ceridian are well aware of the importance of addressing payroll concerns as soon as possible. As a result, both companies employ customer support teams of trained payroll specialists, who are equipped to handle virtually any issues.  

As a large company, Ceridian has the manpower to provide 24/7 global support to its Dayforce users. However, because Ceridian operates such a massive customer service team, users calling into support may be passed off to different system administrators, depending on their needs. Though this means users will eventually get in touch with the right person, it can mean a long time waiting in the queue.

Though Knit’s customer support team is far smaller than Ceridian’s, clients receive more personalized support from customer support representatives who is already familiar with their account. Knit also offers a number of helpful support documents and videos on its website to help users address common issues on their own, without the need to contact support.

Cost

Ceridian does not make its pricing available publicly, however, Dayforce is the more expensive of the company’s offerings as it is tailored to mid-size to enterprise businesses with 100 to 1,000+ employees. Set up usually starts at about $1,100 and then monthly pricing is based on the number of active employees.

On the other hand, Knit makes its pricing publicly available on its website. Knit’s payroll and a lite version of its HR platform are available for $39/month + $4/employee. For payroll and the full HR suite, the price is $39/month + $6/employee. These prices include unlimited pay runs, which mean companies that run frequent payrolls or often find themselves running off-cycle pay runs won’t incur any additional fees.

The Bottom Line

Both Knit and Ceridian Dayforce are more than capable of handling most business payrolls. However, Ceridian Dayforce is first and foremost an enterprise solution, while Knit is tailored to the needs of small businesses with 100 employees or less.

To find out how Knit stacks up against other payroll providers, read our full Guide to the Best Payroll Software in Canada.