RSA Archer vs Workiva Wdesk comparison

RSA and Workiva are both solutions in the GRC category. RSA is ranked #1 with an average rating of 7.5, while Workiva is ranked #10. RSA holds a 6.0% mindshare in G, compared to Workiva’s 2.6% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of RSA users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 71% of Workiva users who would recommend it.

RSA Archer

Read 42 RSA Archer reviews

8,942 Views
7,869 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Workiva Wdesk

Read 7 Workiva Wdesk reviews

4,638 Views
2,968 Comparison Views

71% willing to recommend

RSA Archer

Workiva Wdesk

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 4, 2025

RSA Archer and Workiva Wdesk compete in risk management and compliance. RSA Archer offers greater flexibility in governance, whereas Workiva Wdesk is stronger in collaboration and real-time data management.

Features: RSA Archer is known for its robust risk management, strong IT integration, and enterprise module for comprehensive GRC (Governance, Risk and Compliance) management. Its capability to automate business processes and consolidate information is noteworthy. Workiva Wdesk shines with real-time data editing, a cloud-based platform supporting extensive collaboration, and effective document management tools.

Room for Improvement: RSA Archer could enhance user-friendliness and simplify integration processes, as well as reduce reliance on deep configuration knowledge. Workiva Wdesk might benefit from expanding its functionalities beyond collaboration and addressing any latency issues in data processing. Simplifying the user interface could also improve usability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Workiva Wdesk offers streamlined cloud-based deployment, ensuring quick access and minimal setup. Its customer service is responsive, aiding efficient onboarding. RSA Archer, while offering extensive configurability, may encounter slower deployment due to complex integration requirements, impacting speed.

Pricing and ROI: RSA Archer has higher setup costs because of its wide customizability, potentially delaying ROI. In contrast, Workiva Wdesk features competitive pricing with lower initial costs and faster ROI, driven by its cloud-focused model. RSA Archer offers a broader range, whereas Workiva Wdesk ensures cost efficiency and quicker deployment.

To learn more, read our detailed RSA Archer vs. Workiva Wdesk Report (Updated: August 2026).

Buyer's Guide

RSA Archer vs. Workiva Wdesk

August 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

RSA Archer

Ranking in GRC

1st

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

IT Governance (1st), IT Vendor Risk Management (5th)

Workiva Wdesk

Ranking in GRC

10th

Average Rating

7.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Business Performance Management (16th), Financial Close Software (8th)

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the GRC category, the mindshare of RSA Archer is 6.0%, down from 15.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Workiva Wdesk is 2.6%, down from 6.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

GRC Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
RSA Archer	6.0%
Workiva Wdesk	2.6%
Other	91.4%

GRC

Featured Reviews

Celda Juby

Information Security Specialist at Dubai Health Authority

Centralized management strengthens compliance with good look and feel

From my perspective as a customer and end user, Archer has an impressive look and feel, but the most adaptive feature is its ease of configuration which helps to enhance our process according to our maturity. It's more about our organization getting centralized with an integrated approach that focuses on risk governance and compliance. When can provide a detailed dashboards to management with the details of risks from top-down or bottom-up prioritizing actions based on its criticality or necessity. This allows us to show end users and management where the issues lie and effectively demonstrate accountability and visibility in compliance.

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Thomas Edward Biller

Senior Financial Analyst at Bakelite Synthetics

Allows multiple users, each responsible for specific sections, to collaborate efficiently

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. Sometimes, the features available in their versions of these applications fell short of the company's standards, which could be limiting. Having access to the latest versions might increase costs, but it is essential to keep up with the evolving technology landscape and meet the demands of companies that require faster reporting processes. This would make it easier to handle custom requests and adjustments, like creating specific data categories in Excel and seamlessly transferring them into Wdesk for presentations without the need for time-consuming manual adjustments.

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

"Reporting is excellent for all types of aggregators, as well as for different types of integrators."

"It's really a one-stop-shop and a great feature compared to what other tools offer."

"RSA is a very rich application, and I like its adaptive suggestion where, based on your users and the class of data, it can actually recommend you the proper control to choose."

"In two to three months, even non-technical people can be masters of the product."

"Archer allows us to define the progress of the organization's processes and helps build the right cyclic process and improve the current structure."

"The most valuable features are the advanced workflow and the dashboards. This tool can present data wonderfully to management, and it is easy for them to manage the risk plans."

"RSA Archer GRC modules allow you to build efficient, collaborative enterprise governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) programs across IT, finance, operations, and legal domains."

"RSA Archer's best features are advanced workflow, reports, dashboards, and notifications."

More RSA Archer pros

"The collaboration within the platform is valuable."

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

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

"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."

"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 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."

Cons

"It's resource-hungry, that's the best way of putting it."

"Archer's performance could be improved - older versions can be very slow, and the application crashes from time to time."

"Data feeds have always been a big headache for us because there is no feature to let us know if a feed has not run or has failed."

"The main improvement I would like to see in the on-premises version is the amount of data the product can hold."

"RSA Archer somehow lags behind in the user interface. Additionally, the reporting capability of Archer should be improved."

"The first improvement I would suggest for RSA Archer is a better search feature. The search criteria needs to be improved. Sometimes I do a search and the search doesn't return the exact item I'm looking for. RSA Archer could also be improved by being more user-friendly. Maybe I have been using a limited version of RSA Archer, but I'm not sure whether it has ESG, environmental and social governance. In the next couple of years, ESG is the next feature that will be integrated into GRC tools. I would recommend RSA Archer adds ESG."

"Initially, technical support is a little weak, and I would rate it six out of ten. The issue with initial support is that new engineers are often not as experienced."

"Compared to other GRC tools, RSA Archer is a little complex in the sense that even users need to have some knowledge of the tool."

More RSA Archer cons

"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."

"The speed must be improved."

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

"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."

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

"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."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I am not 100% familiar with that, especially with their new model. I just know that the way they've licensed per user to scale is good."

"The license is costly for the solution, but the remaining set up and maintenance is quite cheaper."

"RSA Archer's price is justifiable and not as expensive, compared to ServiceNow. I have heard that the licensing for ServiceNow is much more expensive. I'm unaware whether there are any additional costs after licensing fees."

"At the higher end of the price scale, but provides better, more accessible functionality and customization than cheaper products."

"The solution’s pricing is moderate."

"The pricing is okay. The licensing costs are very reasonable; it is very affordable to us."

"As I am a developer and responsible for providing production support, I do not have personal knowledge of the pricing. However, my colleagues claim that it is very expensive in comparison with other tools."

"The price of the solution is very affordable."

More RSA Archer 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

18%

Insurance Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Financial Services Firm

16%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Insurance Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	9
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	25

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

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with RSA Archer?

While it provides benefits in terms of security, the pricing is a bit higher than customers typically expect. It would be helpful if RSA Archer had the capability for two-way integration because, i...

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What is your primary use case for RSA Archer?

Regarding the compliance, risk, and governance tools, I am comfortable discussing the tools in the GRC category. The specific module from ServiceNow is the ServiceNow Compliance, Risk, and Governan...

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What advice do you have for others considering RSA Archer?

I have been in touch with about three companies who use RSA Archer actively in the compliance area. These companies use RSA Archer for nearly all purposes, including governance, internal risk, and ...

See all answers

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

RSA Archer

July 2026

Download RSA Archer product report

Buyer's Guide

Workiva Wdesk

July 2026

Download Workiva Wdesk product report

Also Known As

Archer

Wdesk

Overview

RSA Archer provides robust risk management, compliance, and vendor management with intuitive features for customizable and streamlined governance tasks.

RSA Archer delivers integrated solutions supporting risk management and compliance tasks. Its adaptive interface and customizable options enhance workflows, making it valuable for organizations requiring automation, advanced workflows, and easy integration capabilities. While offering flexibility and configuration power, users note potential enhancements for integration, reporting, and interface updates.

What are the key features of RSA Archer?

Easy Implementation: Facilitates quick setup and deployment.
Automation: Streamlines routine tasks for efficiency.
Advanced Workflows: Allows configuration of complex processes.
Dashboards: Provides visual insights into organizational data.
Integration Capabilities: Ensures seamless connectivity with external systems.
Reporting Features: Generates detailed reports for informed decision-making.
Customizable Permissions: Enhances control over access and roles.

What benefits or ROI should be considered?

Streamlined Processes: Reduces time spent on regulatory compliance tasks.
Improved Data Integration: Offers cohesive and actionable insights.
Configuration Flexibility: Adapts to specific business requirements.
Risk Mitigation: Enhances the ability to manage potential risks proactively.
Enhanced Governance: Strengthens adherence to industry standards and policies.

In the finance, public, and IT sectors, RSA Archer is utilized for managing risk and compliance. Organizations leverage its capabilities for third-party risk, policy management, and security assessments, providing tailored solutions for regulatory compliance and operational risk management. Integration with platforms like ServiceNow enhances its utility within enterprise environments.

RSA

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

T-Systems, Bridge Point, Equifax, First Data, Global Imaging Company, Manulife Financial

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

Buyer's Guide

RSA Archer vs. Workiva Wdesk

August 2026

Free Report: RSA Archer vs. Workiva Wdesk

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