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Design Tools · head to head

Affinity Designer vs Float

Affinity Designer logo

Affinity Designer

Design Tools

Professional graphic design software for everyone

From
$69.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Float logo

Float

Calendar & Time Management

Resource management for agencies and teams

From
$6/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Affinity Designer sold as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription: the Windows or macOS edition was priced at CA$94.99, the cross-platform Universal License at CA$224.99, and the standalone iPad edition at CA$24.99 (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024); Float web-only platform without native desktop applications
  • They diverge on capability: Affinity Designer covers Vector drawing, Float covers Resource scheduling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Affinity Designer and Float actually diverge.

Attributes where Affinity Designer and Float differ
AttributeAffinity DesignerFloat
Starting price$69.99/one-time$6/month
Pricing modelone-timesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Macos, IosWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryDesign ToolsCalendar & Time Management
Founded19942011

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Affinity Designer

  • Vector drawing
  • Bezier tools
  • Gradient tools
  • Typography
  • Pixel-perfect editing
  • Artboards
  • Symbols
  • Non-destructive effects

Only in Float

  • Resource scheduling
  • Capacity planning
  • Time tracking
  • Project planning
  • Reports
  • Asana
  • Jira
  • Teamwork

Both cover

  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Affinity Designer

  • Logo designnot Float
  • Vector illustrationnot Float
  • Icon designnot Float
  • Brandingnot Float

Float

  • Schedulingnot Affinity Designer
  • Appointment bookingnot Affinity Designer
  • Time trackingnot Affinity Designer
  • Resource managementnot Affinity Designer
  • Team coordinationnot Affinity Designer

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Affinity Designer

  • Sold as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription: the Windows or macOS edition was priced at CA$94.99, the cross-platform Universal License at CA$224.99, and the standalone iPad edition at CA$24.99 (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2024)

Float

  • Web-only platform without native desktop applications
  • No offline mode for resource planning
  • Limited reporting customization on lower-tier plans
  • No built-in payroll or invoicing features

Pricing, plan by plan

Affinity Designer

$69.99/one-time
  • Standard$69.99/one-time
    • Full version
    • All features
    • Lifetime updates

Float

$6/month
  • Starter$6/month
    • Resource scheduling
    • Time off
    • Basic reports
  • Pro$10/month
    • Time tracking
    • Budget tracking
    • Advanced reports

Which should you pick?

Choose Affinity Designer if

  • You need vector drawing.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Ios.
  • You also want bezier tools.
Affinity Designer review

Choose Float if

  • You need resource scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want capacity planning.
Float review

Questions people ask

Is Affinity Designer or Float better?
Neither clearly leads. Affinity Designer starts at $69.99/one-time and Float at $6/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Affinity Designer or Float?
Affinity Designer starts at $69.99/one-time and Float at $6/month.
Does Affinity Designer or Float run on more platforms?
Affinity Designer runs on Windows, Macos, Ios. Float runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Affinity Designer best used for?
Affinity Designer is most often used for logo design, vector illustration, icon design, branding. Of those, logo design and vector illustration are not what Float is typically brought in for.
What can Affinity Designer do that Float cannot?
Affinity Designer covers Vector drawing, Bezier tools, Gradient tools, Typography. Float covers Resource scheduling, Capacity planning, Time tracking, Project planning. Both handle Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Float: What does Float pricing start at?

Float's Starter plan begins at $7 per user per month for basic resource scheduling and capacity management. The Pro plan costs $12 per user per month with advanced features like estimates and actuals tracking.

Source
Float: Is Float independent or backed by investors?

Float is independent and self-funded. The company is a B Corp certified since 2024 and is profitable. It has never raised venture funding and operates with a fully remote team.

Source
Float: What platforms does Float support?

Float is a web-based platform accessible through modern browsers. It provides visual resource management, scheduling, capacity planning, time tracking, and forecasting tools.

Source
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Related pages

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