Anaplan vs Workiva Wdesk comparison

Anaplan and Workiva are both solutions in the Business Performance Management category. Anaplan is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.4, while Workiva is ranked #12 with an average rating of 7.0. Anaplan holds a 6.8% mindshare in BPM, compared to Workiva’s 3.3% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Anaplan users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 71% of Workiva users who would recommend it.

Anaplan

Read 35 Anaplan reviews

5,642 Views
3,216 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Workiva Wdesk

Read 7 Workiva Wdesk reviews

3,586 Views
1,040 Comparison Views

71% willing to recommend

Anaplan

Workiva Wdesk

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 19, 2024

Anaplan and Workiva Wdesk compete in the enterprise software market focusing on planning and reporting. Anaplan appears to have the upper hand in scalability, while Workiva Wdesk excels in collaboration for real-time teamwork.

Features: Anaplan offers comprehensive planning and forecasting with robust modeling capabilities, making it appealing for organizations needing scalable solutions for complex scenarios. It provides extensive options for "what-if" analysis and seamless data integration. Workiva Wdesk is distinguished by its integrated reporting, compliance, and accurate data linkage across documents, which are crucial for regulatory requirements. Its standardized data flow allows easy document management and dynamic updates.

Room for Improvement: Anaplan could enhance its user-experience design to reduce the learning curve and streamline initial training processes. It's important to advance its collaboration tools to better support real-time teamwork across dispersed teams. Further improvements in its reporting capabilities could help bridge gaps in regulatory compliance. Workiva Wdesk might refine its integration with non-ERP systems to expand usability across diverse IT environments. Enhancing mobile accessibility could improve workflow efficiency for users on the go. Continued focus on improving scalability would better accommodate growing enterprises.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Anaplan provides a flexible SaaS model that supports easy integration and customization, although some users find the learning curve steep without proper training. Workiva Wdesk ensures seamless implementation and outstanding customer support, facilitating rapid onboarding and minimizing downtime, which benefits smaller teams needing quick adjustments.

Pricing and ROI: Anaplan's pricing reflects its rich feature set and powerful capabilities, often leading to a higher initial setup cost but delivering significant returns through improved process efficiencies over time. Workiva Wdesk, while perceived sometimes with higher subscription costs, offers value through accelerated compliance processes and reduced manual workloads, providing solid ROI, especially for clients in regulated industries.

To learn more, read our detailed Anaplan vs. Workiva Wdesk Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Anaplan vs. Workiva Wdesk

April 2026

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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

Anaplan

Ranking in Business Performance Management

1st

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Production Planning (3rd), Predictive Analytics (3rd)

Workiva Wdesk

Ranking in Business Performance Management

12th

Average Rating

7.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

GRC (8th), Financial Close Software (6th)

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Business Performance Management category, the mindshare of Anaplan is 6.8%, down from 14.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Workiva Wdesk is 3.3%, up from 2.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Business Performance Management Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Anaplan	6.8%
Workiva Wdesk	3.3%
Other	89.9%

Business Performance Management

Featured Reviews

Segun Oladele

Associate Manager, Accounting at BIC

Reporting and forecasting have become more automated through intuitive data organization and flexible number calendarization

I do not have any improvements from my own end at this time.There are some specific features or functionality that I would like to see included in Anaplan in the future. From what we have been using, I do not think there is any specific one because we import and export numbers. Importing and exporting with CSV files is already available in Anaplan. I do not have any special requests from Anaplan. I still decided to give Anaplan an eight because I have not seen a specific dashboard on Anaplan. Anaplan could have a dashboard where you can see the flow of your numbers displayed on pictorials rather than just saying this is the number. Simple dashboards should be implemented.

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reviewer2510292

Corporate ESG Analyst at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees

Has cross-functional connectivity but improvement is needed in script encoding

The tool's deployment is quick. Once the program is set up, you're ready to collect data and connect it to your report. The deployment team's size depends on the size of the company and how many different data providers you're utilizing. Some companies have one person doing everything, while others have a huge team. We're on the latter end of it, with many people involved. One great thing about the platform is that everything is consolidated in one place, providing a single resource for everyone. This is a benefit. The maintenance of the solution depends on the experience of the person managing the company's program. The company might have a contractor handling the back end and software management if they're low-level and only analyzing the data. However, if you have someone experienced with software and script encoding, that person might be the analyst and managing the program. Generally, most people are just analysts and not managing the software. There's an opportunity for improvement in user management of their software, and I hope they address this gap before the year ends.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It's real-time connected planning, so the calculations are pretty much seamless as far as your model is connected."

"The solution improves forecast accuracy, drives up the quality of analytics, and frees up about 30% of finance people’s time during the planning cycle so they can focus on value-added analytics instead of just consolidating numbers."

"Anaplan offers flexibility in building different options within the platform."

"Anaplan paid for itself with what it saved on new hires."

"Where we're seeing the opportunity in the market is at the Fortune 100 companies that have far more complex modeling type scenarios where you need to be able to have a lot of people collaborating together, and you need a lot of information all at everyone's fingertips. This is where you see the big advantage of a solution like Anaplan."

"The solution scales well."

"Anaplan's strongest feature is that its GUI is very modern and user-friendly."

"Because of that flexibility and ability to build models in the way you want to build it, it means you can tailor it to the company's requirements."

More Anaplan pros

"The cross-functionality between connectivity, whether through API connections between different software platforms or the connection of data collection to the actual written ESG report, is highly valuable. The connectivity of all these aspects significantly aids in data assurance, which I consider a bonus."

"It helps you to maintain a backup of your data, including the connectivity with the tables, which provides a user-friendly way to handle and access your files."

"The most valuable feature is its ability to easily upload and update financial results, creating a dynamic data sheet."

"Workiva Wdesk has a flow diagram that is standardized, making it easy for people to file documents on ECDAs, which are in HTML format."

"Workiva Wdesk is pretty good in terms of getting the data from the system, automating the reporting schedules...It has a very good integration with ERP tools."

"It makes the compliance process more efficient and more effective."

"The collaboration within the platform is valuable."

Cons

"Anaplan lacks a native ETL tool, making it challenging to integrate numerous flat files."

"The solution can improve by providing an easier form of integration to different platforms, such as receiving data from different Salesforce. There is a process to do it through the use of some APIs but it could be made much easier. This would be a large help to us."

"Automation needs to be built into this solution."

"There is a chance of improvement for the history. In Anaplan back-end model, if there is any change, it is captured in the history, however, on the front-end UX page, if there are any changes on the UX page, there is no history captured."

"I would rate scalability between six and seven. Anaplan had issues before, but the new Polaris engine solves them, although its implementation is more challenging compared to the Classic engine."

"Whenever you load the data in Excel and then send it back to Anaplan, it takes a lot of time."

"Right now, we haven't seen any ROI from using Anaplan."

"The dashboard could be better. Because within a dashboard or report, you have to do a lot of scrolling."

More Anaplan cons

"The most critical issue is the need to shift between uppercase and lowercase."

"With this product, it's more about the integrated data model where you can have a one-to-many/many-to-one relationship between your policies and processes, risks, and controls. They need to showcase how you can put those pieces together."

"The speed must be improved."

"Regarding the solution, reporting has certain areas that can be considered for improvement."

"The tool's script encoding needs to be updated to make it more user-friendly and less of a manual process when changes are made to a company's program. Those changes happen frequently due to mandatory or voluntary reporting requirements, leading to lost linkage connections that must be manually reset each time a change is made. This aspect is not functional now, and I see it as an opportunity for improvement."

"One area where Workiva Wdesk could improve is by ensuring that its cloud-based system is fully compatible with the most current versions of PowerPoint and Excel."

"At this point, I don't see a compelling reason to invest in Workiva. It may be necessary for compliance and controlling the version of SCC, but not everyone needs its high-end capabilities."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of the solution is expensive."

"This is an expensive product and if the price were reduced then it would attract more customers."

"The license is a yearly subscription. There are three licensing tiers: the model builder, planner, and the reporting."

"The tool’s pricing is reasonable and competitive with other solutions."

"This is a yearly subscription. So a customer initially buys a workspace and specifies how much GB they want. The minimum starts at around 30 GB. You can buy multiple workspaces."

"A value-for-money product and a very reasonable price compared to competitors like SAP or IBM."

"Anaplan is a bit pricier compared to its competitors - the license costs about $4,000 per user annually."

"The cost of Anaplan is a challenge for clients, especially if they don't have an ongoing long-term use case for it. It's a $50,000 licensing fee just to get started. Clients need a strong business case to switch from Excel to Anaplan. But if clients have used something similar in the past, such as Hyperion or other solutions, that's not a factor because they know what to expect."

More Anaplan pricing and cost advice

"Our clients in Asia think that the solution is too expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Insurance Company

Financial Services Firm

16%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	10
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	17

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	1
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	5

Questions from the Community

What are your main use cases for Anaplan?

Anaplan is an industry-leading cloud-based corporate performance management (CPM) platform that combines business planning and analytics in a single solution. It is designed to assist organizations...

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Is Board better than Anaplan as a Business Intelligence (BI) solution?

We've had several FP&A departments include Anaplan in their analytics discussions, and while BI information IS generated, the focus is generally on compiling input from various sources and simu...

See all answers

Is Anaplan better than SAP ERP?

There are different aspects of both Anaplan and SAP ERP that I like and dislike. Anaplan improves forecast accuracy and drives up the quality of analytics. Rather than spending all of their time co...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Workiva Wdesk?

The tool's script encoding needs to be updated to make it more user-friendly and less of a manual process when changes are made to a company's program. Those changes happen frequently due to mandat...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Workiva Wdesk?

I've been working with the tool's script encoding departments and top management to address gaps in their script encoding. They are working towards closing these gaps to ensure we can continue usin...

See all answers

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Anaplan

May 2026

Download Anaplan product report

Buyer's Guide

Workiva Wdesk

April 2026

Download Workiva Wdesk product report

Also Known As

No data available

Wdesk

Overview

Anaplan delivers a comprehensive cloud platform designed for three-dimensional data analysis, visualization, and planning. Known for real-time integration with systems such as Salesforce, it enables efficient budgeting, reporting, and modeling without extensive coding knowledge.

The Anaplan platform enhances operational efficiency with its flexible and scalable capabilities, supporting financial planning, supply chain management, and sales operations among others. Users benefit from features like an advanced in-memory calculation engine, quick updates, and ease of integration with systems like SAP. While Anaplan offers a robust toolset, enhancements in dashboard capabilities and integration processes are needed, with improvements requested in visualization tools, more flexible graphs, and better API integration. Additional desires include machine learning features and streamlined data import processes to reduce latency.

What are the key features of Anaplan?

Three-dimensional Planning: Provides robust data analysis and visualization.
Real-time Integration: Seamlessly integrates with systems like Salesforce and SAP.
Advanced Calculation Engine: Enables quick updates across platforms.
Model Map: Aids easy model navigation and management.
Scalability: Adapts to companies of all sizes with ease.

What benefits should users consider?

Operational Efficiency: Enhances planning and execution processes.
Ease of Use: Reduces the need for extensive coding knowledge.
Flexibility: Adapts to diverse business needs and industries.
Cost-effectiveness: Offers potential ROI by optimizing planning efficiencies.

In industries like financial planning, supply chain management, and sales operations, Anaplan facilitates scenario-based analysis, demand forecasting, and business execution. It is employed in marketing, commercial real estate planning, and integrates easily with existing systems. Users in these sectors find it valuable for improving planning accuracy and responsiveness.

Anaplan

Workiva Wdesk specializes in updating financial results with seamless API connectivity and strong data assurance. Valued for its effective compliance processes, the platform enhances collaboration, making it efficient for financial data handling and reporting schedules.

Known for its integration with ERP tools, Workiva Wdesk supports standardized data flow, easing management and document replication for updates. Its user-friendly interface facilitates efficient collaboration for tasks like SOX, internal audit, and SEC filings. However, users point out the need for better compatibility with PowerPoint and Excel features, improved search functionality, and enhanced data linkage management. There are also concerns regarding encoding, data loss during server refreshes, and workflow inefficiencies.

What are the key features of Workiva Wdesk?

Seamless API Connectivity: Allows for easy integration with existing systems.
Data Assurance: Provides robust backup and security.
User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies navigation and task management.
ERP Integration: Supports standardized data flow and document updates.
Collaboration Tools: Enhances teamwork with multiple contributors on projects.

What benefits should users expect?

Improved Financial Reporting: Streamlined report generation for SEC filings and financial reporting.
Enhanced Compliance: Effective processes for SOX and internal audits.
Efficient Data Management: Standardized data flow and document handling.
Increased Productivity: User-friendly interface aids swift adoption and use.

Workiva Wdesk is extensively used across industries for creating and managing board deck presentations, aiding teams in generating annual reports and preparing detailed reports including data tables. It facilitates collaboration in financial settings, addressing needs in compliance, risk management, and audit preparation.

Workiva

Sample Customers

HP, ForeScout, DocuSign, EAT, Pandora, Aviva, Intel Security, Zalora

Noodles Company, eBay, Winnebago, American Assets Trust, AmericanEnterprise, Calpian, Capstone Infrastructure, Cascades, Circor International, Coeur Mining, Davey, Dr Pepper Snapple

Buyer's Guide

Anaplan vs. Workiva Wdesk

April 2026

Free Report: Anaplan vs. Workiva Wdesk

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