Float vs Smartsheet: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Float and Smartsheet comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Float wins this matchup. Our overall Project Management pick is Jira. Our free Project Management pick is MantisBT. Pick Smartsheet if you need project management.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Float
Optimize resource allocation, plan projects profitably, and gain financial insights for your team.
Best for you if:
- • You want increases resourcing efficiency and on-time delivery
- • You want provides clear visibility into team availability and project profitability
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-based project management for complex enterprise workflows
Best for you if:
- • You want spreadsheet-like PM
- • You want good for Excel users
| At a Glance | Float | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $700/moStarter | $9/moPro |
Best For | Resource Planning | Project Management |
Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.1/5 |
Free plan | No | No |
Choose Float or Smartsheet?
Choose Float if
Optimize resource allocation, plan projects profitably, and gain financial insights for your team.
- You want increases resourcing efficiency and on-time delivery
- You want provides clear visibility into team availability and project profitability
- Your work is resource planning-shaped, not project management-shaped
Choose Smartsheet if
Spreadsheet-based project management for complex enterprise workflows
- You want spreadsheet-like PM
- You want good for Excel users
- Your work is project management-shaped, not resource planning-shaped
| Feature | Float | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| User Rating | ★4.4/5 45 reviews | ★4.1/5 26,330 reviews |
| Categories | Resource PlanningProject Management | Project ManagementProductivity |
In-Depth Analysis
Float
Optimize resource allocation, plan projects profitably, and gain financial insights for your team.
Float's pricing is on the expensive side, especially for smaller teams.
Strengths
- +Increases resourcing efficiency and on-time delivery
- +Provides clear visibility into team availability and project profitability
- +Helps prevent double-booking and overworking team members
- +Flexible for various work arrangements (full-time, part-time, contractors)
- +User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality
Weaknesses
- -Float's built-in reporting is thin, so teams that need in-depth project budget or financial analysis often end up exporting data to CSV and rebuilding the numbers in a spreadsheet.
- -Float is a pure resource scheduler with no real project or task management, lacking task dependencies and hierarchies, so it usually has to be paired with a separate PM tool for the actual execution work.
- -Because you pay per scheduled person and capabilities like actuals tracking, advanced reporting, SSO, and multi-currency are gated to the $12-per-person Pro tier, costs scale steeply as headcount grows.
- -Larger teams report the schedule becomes cumbersome at scale, citing heavy horizontal scrolling and project managers finding recurring timesheet entry tedious once dozens of people are on it.
Key features
Smartsheet
Spreadsheet-based project management for complex enterprise workflows
Smartsheet's pricing is on the higher side, especially for smaller teams, with the Pro tier at $9/member/month and Business at $24/member/month.
Watch out
Business tier requires 3+ members minimum
Strengths
- +Spreadsheet-like PM
- +Good for Excel users
- +Automation features
- +Enterprise ready
- +Good templates
Weaknesses
- -Expensive
- -Can be confusing
- -Less flexible than others
- -Mobile app limited
- -Learning curve
Key features
Pricing: Float vs Smartsheet
| Plan | Float | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $700 USD per scheduled person/month Starter | $9 Pro |
| Tier 2 | $1200 USD per scheduled person/month Pro | $24 Business |
| Tier 3 | Contact us for pricing Enterprise | Custom Enterprise |
| Tier 4 | N/A | Custom Advanced Work Management |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Float pricing and Smartsheet pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are paid. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Float
Want the highest-rated option?
Float: 4.4/5 (45 reviews). Smartsheet: 4.1/5 (26,330 reviews).
Go with: Float
Value user reviews?
Float: 45 reviews (4.4/5). Smartsheet: 26,330 reviews (4.1/5).
Go with: Smartsheet
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are paid. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Float is a resource planning tool. Smartsheet is in project management. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Float is rated higher: 4.4/5 vs 4.1/5.
Key Takeaways
Float
- Higher user rating: 4.4/5 vs 4.1/5
- Our pick for this comparison
Smartsheet
- Larger review base (26,330 reviews)
- Better fit for project management
The Bottom Line
Float wins this matchup. Our overall Project Management pick is Jira. Our free Project Management pick is MantisBT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Float or Smartsheet better?
Float is rated in our evaluation. Both are paid.
What are Float and Smartsheet used for?
Float: Optimize resource allocation, plan projects profitably, and gain financial insights for your team.. Smartsheet: Spreadsheet-based project management for complex enterprise workflows.
What does Float cost vs Smartsheet?
Float is a paid tool. Smartsheet is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.