Operating.app vs. Float.com – Key Differences: A Clear Comparison

Choosing the right resource management platform can be daunting. In this article, we compare two well established platforms: Float.com and Operating.app. These take distinct approaches to planning and staffing. Float focuses on fast, calendar-based scheduling for agencies. Operating.app is purpose-built allocation management and capacity planning platform for consulting firms that need accurate forecasting, real-time visibility, and a direct connection between sales and delivery.

Operating.app is designed to support project staffing with both confirmed and tentative work, across timeframes that matter to consulting teams—daily, weekly, or monthly. It also integrates deeply with CRMs and HR systems, making it easy to plan and staff from the moment a deal enters the pipeline.

If your team is growing and needs a better view of capacity, deal flow, and delivery alignment, here’s how the two platforms compare.

Core Resource Management Capabilities

Both platforms offer visual resource planning, but their use cases are different. Float uses a calendar-style layout that works well for creative teams managing fragmented tasks across short timelines. Operating.app uses a timeline-based interface with support for confirmed and tentative allocations, which is better suited for long-form, multi-project consulting work that doesn't need within-a-day level planning. Both have their places.

Operating.app provides visibility across days, weeks, or months depending on the granularity you need. It supports real project staffing, not just surface-level scheduling. This makes it easier to see gaps, overbooking, or long-range needs as you plan ahead. Operating.app provides purpose-built views for listing consultants based on their availability, making it easy to clear to bench. Also, Operating.app has built functionality for staffing teams to organize their work within the application.

Both platforms include basic budgeting features, but Operating.app stands out with forecasting tools designed for utilization planning and revenue visibility.

Integration Ecosystem and Workflow Fit

This is where the difference becomes clearer. Float.com focuses on integrations with project management platforms: tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday. It’s designed to sit close to task management and execution.

Operating.app connects with CRMs like HubSpot and Pipedrive, and HR systems like HiBob, to support project staffing from the moment deals are marked as potential. Its REST API enables deeper, custom integrations for firms that want their staffing, delivery, and headcount to stay in sync. Operating strives away from task level resource planning, while enables task level time tracking, trying to reduce busywork when it comes to planning upcoming work. Timelines often change, and it's hard to make a solid plan on a task-level in beforehand.

The result: Float fits well into agencies with task-oriented workflows. Operating.app is better suited for consulting teams that want to align sales, hiring, and delivery.

Key Takeaways

User Experience and Interface

Operating.app provides a structured view with high information density. You see roles, teams, sites, and availability in one place. While the interface presents more context, it’s still clear and easy to navigate. Views can be saved to focus on specific groups, locations, or project types.

Float emphasizes simplicity. The calendar layout is intuitive and fast, making it easy for new users to get started. It excels at helping smaller teams manage weekly or daily scheduling needs with minimal ramp-up.

Both platforms allow filtering and search, but Operating.app’s structure—based on sites, roles, groups, tags, and seniority levels—gives it an edge in larger, distributed organizations.

Pricing, Support, and Integration

Pricing models

Float is priced per seat, with two tiers. It’s accessible for small teams and agencies. Operating.app is tiered for growth, with pricing that reflects increasing need for forecasting, CRM integration, and reporting depth.

Support

Float offers in-app chat support and a strong self-service knowledge base. Operating.app provides tailored onboarding and support, especially for mid-size firms and larger teams who need change management or system integration help.

Integration scope

Float is focused on creative workflows and offers wide plug-and-play support for project and task tools. Operating.app is centered around CRM, HR, and strategic resourcing. Its API is built for companies that want to tightly integrate staffing with business operations.

Scalability and Use Case Fit

Consulting and client-facing work

Operating.app is designed for consulting. It supports the planning complexity that comes from tentative work, multi-month timelines, cross-project teams, and deal-stage planning. It’s also built to scale—whether your firm has 10 or 300 consultants.

Agencies and internal teams

Float is a strong fit for creative teams managing short-term assignments and fast-moving schedules. It’s a good upgrade from spreadsheets for teams that don’t need deep financial planning or hiring visibility.

Tech and product teams

Float works well for internal teams needing quick visibility and drag-and-drop scheduling. Operating.app is geared toward client-facing work where forecasting and margin visibility matter.

Invoicing and PSA Capabilities in Operating.app

Operating.app also includes invoicing features, making it possible to go from planning to billing without switching platforms. This means teams can handle staffing, time tracking, margin forecasting, and invoicing in one place.

For consulting firms, this brings Operating.app closer to a full PSA system, without the overhead or rigidity that often comes with enterprise platforms. You can match people to projects, plan across teams, track actuals, and bill clients, all in a single workflow and with lower price tag.

Float remains focused on scheduling and time tracking, without billing or financial capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Float easier to use?
Float’s interface is very simple, but the functionality is steered for smaller teams. Operating.app has more depth and is built to stay clean and navigable as your team grows.

Do both platforms include time tracking?
Yes. Both Operating.app and Float include built-in timesheets.

Which platform is better for growing consulting firms?
Operating.app is designed specifically for consulting. It connects your pipeline to your people and supports planning across teams, timeframes, and project types.

Which platform supports capacity planning and project staffing better?
Operating has built-in views for consultancy bench management, and functionality for staffing managers and resourcing managers to organize their work, so in general, Operating.app is the better alternative for capacity planning and staffing.

Can Operating.app handle project invoicing?
Yes. Operating.app now includes invoicing tools, allowing teams to generate invoices based on actuals or planned work, directly inside the platform.

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