Alternatives
Best Float Alternatives for Agencies (2026)
By Red Kite Search Agency Created Updated 7 min read
Summary
Float is a solid choice, but it does not fit every agency. Teamwork: Project management built for client work. Productive: Agency-focused operations: projects, budgets, time, and profitability. Harvest: Time tracking, expenses, and invoicing in one simple tool. Prices and ratings below were checked in October 2026.
What are the best Float alternatives for agencies in 2026?
Float is a clear, focused capacity planner, but it is not a full project manager and its time tracking and reporting sit on Pro.
The three alternatives below cover more of the delivery picture: an agency project tool, an agency operations platform, and a time tracker.
The shortlist is Teamwork, Productive, Harvest. The table puts them next to Float.
| Tool | Editorial score | Review-site ratings | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Float | 4.2 / 5 | G2 4.3 | 30-day free trial. Starter $7 and Pro $12 per scheduled person per month; Enterprise is quoted. | Small to large agencies |
| Teamwork | 4.4 / 5 | G2 4.4 | Free forever plan and a 14-day free trial on paid plans. Basics $9.99 and Accelerate $24.99 per user per month, billed yearly; Optimize and Enterprise are quoted. | Small to mid-size agencies |
| Productive | 4.3 / 5 | Capterra 4.6, G2 4.6 | 7-day free trial on Essential. Essential about $10-$12 and Professional about $25-$29 per user per month; Ultimate is quote-based. | Mid-size agencies |
| Harvest | 4.1 / 5 | G2 4.3, Capterra 4.3 | Free for 1 seat. Teams $9 and Enterprise $14 per seat per month (billed annually). | Freelancers and small agencies |
Why do agencies look for Float alternatives?
Agencies usually look beyond Float when they want planning, tasks, and billing in one tool. Float plans people but does not manage the work itself.
Others want deeper budgeting or want to avoid a separate tool for time tracking.
A third group wants one login for everything. Running a planner next to a project tool and a time tracker means three places to update, so some agencies consolidate into a single platform even if the scheduling view is less polished.
Common limitations of Float
- It plans resources but is not a full task and project manager.
- Time tracking, rate cards, and reporting need the Pro plan.
- Enterprise is quote-based and aimed at teams of 100 or more.
- Billing terms for annual versus monthly payment were not stated.
Is Teamwork a good Float alternative for agencies?
Teamwork covers delivery, time, budgets, and invoicing, with workload planning on Accelerate. It is heavier and has minimum seats.
Teamwork is a project management platform built for client services teams, with time tracking in every plan, client users, budgets and retainers, invoicing from logged time, and workload and resource planning on higher plans.
Who it suits: Agencies that bill clients by project or retainer and want delivery, time, and budgets in one tool.
Teamwork pros
- Time tracking, billable time, and client users built in.
- Retainers, time budgets, and invoicing from logged time on Accelerate.
- Workload planning and resource scheduling on higher plans.
- A free forever plan and SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001 certifications.
Teamwork cons
- Basics requires 3 users and Accelerate requires 5.
- Financial budgets, advanced invoicing, and resource scheduling need Optimize, which is quoted.
- Client users are not available on the free plan.
- Support is stated Monday to Friday, with limited weekend cover.
Is Productive a good Float alternative for agencies?
Productive combines tasks, budgets, and profitability for agencies. It costs more than Float and has a smaller review base.
Productive is built for agencies and professional services. It combines project and task management, budgeting, resource planning, time tracking, and reporting in one system.
Who it suits: Agencies of roughly 10 to 200 people that want to see project profitability, utilization, and budgets without stitching several tools together.
Productive pros
- Budget and profitability tracking by client, project, and service.
- One flow from deal to project to time to invoice integration.
- Resource planning and time tracking on every plan.
- Reviewers praise responsive support and an intuitive interface.
Productive cons
- Setup and onboarding can take days.
- Less customizable than ClickUp or monday.com, and notes on tasks are limited.
- The sales pipeline is lighter than a dedicated CRM.
- Advanced time tracking and revenue forecasting are on the top plan.
Is Harvest a good Float alternative for agencies?
Harvest tracks time and invoices clearly. It does not plan capacity, so it works alongside Float rather than replacing it.
Harvest tracks time and expenses and turns them into invoices, with a mobile timer and a large integration list. Profitability reports and timesheet approvals sit on the Enterprise plan.
Who it suits: Freelancers and small to mid-size agencies that bill by time or project and want tracking and invoicing in one product.
Harvest pros
- Simple, quick timer and manual entry, plus a well-liked mobile app.
- Time, expenses, and invoices live together, so billing is fast.
- Integrations with Asana, Basecamp, Slack, and QuickBooks.
- Free plan for one seat and two projects.
Harvest cons
- Reporting is less flexible than some agencies need, so many export to a spreadsheet.
- Profitability reporting and timesheet approval require the Enterprise plan.
- Accounting and payment integrations start on the Teams plan.
- Permissions and recurring-entry options are limited.
What is the quick verdict on each Float alternative?
If you only have a minute, this table gives our verdict on each alternative to Float, based on the research above.
| Tool | Verdict | Editorial score |
|---|---|---|
| Teamwork | The most agency-specific project tool in this group, with time tracking, retainers, invoicing, and client users built in. Per-user pricing with minimum seats on paid plans, and the best finance features on quote-based tiers. | 4.4 / 5 |
| Productive | The strongest fit here if profitability is your problem. Smaller teams that just need tasks and a timer will find it more than they need. | 4.3 / 5 |
| Harvest | The easiest way to get from tracked hours to a sent invoice. Pick Toggl Track if you just want time data, or Productive if you want budgets and profitability across the whole agency. | 4.1 / 5 |
How much do Float and its alternatives cost?
Float Starter lists at $7 per scheduled person per month. Teamwork Accelerate costs $24.99 per user, Productive Professional costs $25, and Harvest Teams costs $9.
| Tool | Pricing summary |
|---|---|
| Float | 30-day free trial. Starter $7 and Pro $12 per scheduled person per month; Enterprise is quoted. |
| Teamwork | Free forever plan and a 14-day free trial on paid plans. Basics $9.99 and Accelerate $24.99 per user per month, billed yearly; Optimize and Enterprise are quoted. |
| Productive | 7-day free trial on Essential. Essential about $10-$12 and Professional about $25-$29 per user per month; Ultimate is quote-based. |
| Harvest | Free for 1 seat. Teams $9 and Enterprise $14 per seat per month (billed annually). |
What do reviewers say about Float and its alternatives?
Review-site scores are a useful signal for how happy teams are after the first few months. They are snapshots from October 2026, and review counts differ widely between tools.
| Tool | Source | Rating | Number of reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Float | G2 | 4.3 / 5 | 2,091 |
| Teamwork | G2 | 4.4 / 5 | 1,215 |
| Productive | Capterra | 4.6 / 5 | 108 |
| Productive | G2 | 4.6 / 5 | 86 |
| Harvest | G2 | 4.3 / 5 | 843 |
| Harvest | Capterra | 4.3 / 5 | 367 |
Which Float alternative suits which kind of agency?
The right pick depends mostly on team size, how clients interact with the tool, and whether you need money data. This table maps common situations to a recommendation.
| Agency situation | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small agencies | Harvest | Time tracking and invoicing. |
| Mid-size agencies | Teamwork | Delivery and billing. |
| Finance-led agencies | Productive | Budgets and profitability. |
How hard is it to switch away from Float?
Export schedules and time off from Float before you leave. Booking history may not transfer.
Rebuild projects and rates in the new tool and check workload views.
Run both tools in parallel for a month to compare capacity views.
Before you leave Float
- List the planning views you use.
- Check capacity and time-off features in the new tool.
- Compare per-person and per-user pricing.
- Export schedules.
- Overlap for a billing cycle.
How do you choose the right Float alternative?
Decide whether you need a planner or a full delivery platform.
Count scheduled people versus total users to compare pricing models.
Check which plan includes time tracking, rate cards, and reporting in each tool.
Test how each tool connects to the project tool you already use.
Run a two-week pilot on live client work before you move your schedule.
A quick decision guide
- Choose Teamwork for delivery, time, and billing together.
- Choose Productive for agency budgets and profitability.
- Choose Harvest for simple time tracking and invoicing.
- Stay with Float for clear capacity planning.
- Pair Float with your project tool.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best Float alternative?
- Teamwork for delivery and billing, Productive for agency profitability, and Harvest for time tracking.
- Why do agencies look beyond Float?
- It is a planner, not a full project manager, and time tracking sits on Pro.
- Which alternative plans capacity?
- Teamwork and Productive both offer workload and resource planning.
- Can I use Float with another tool?
- Yes. It integrates with tools such as Trello, ClickUp, and Wrike.
- Does Float have a free trial?
- Yes, 30 days.
Sources
Prices, plan limits, and ratings were gathered in October 2026 from:
- Float pricing page
- Teamwork pricing page
- Productive pricing page
- Harvest pricing page