This thread thread569-85004 will give you a bit of an insight into the capabilities etc. If your only objective is to carry out linear static analyses, then workbench is the ideal tool. Version 8.1 is better than ever (brilliant mesher, utterly seamless CAD integration, great analysis tools for loads/BCs/etc., very nice GUI), and is now a very nice analysis tool which is childish-easy to use. If you have other issues to consider (which you don't mention) then of course you would need to take these on board - there are usually many, many other factors you need to take into account. I have used workbench for some years now, mainly for the "no-brainer" type analyses that I need to get a quick answer for and which we have the geometry handy. A lot of the earlier bugs have been ironed out and I don't mind using it now. For the more advanced analyses I still use good ol' ANSYS, since workbench has its limitations when jobs get more and more "complex". I haven't used Algor and can't comment unfortunately - try a demo of both to satisfy yourself (it will be free usually for a period of about one month).
-- drej --