Calendar & Time Management · head to head
Float vs Google Calendar
Float
Calendar & Time Management
Resource management for agencies and teams
- From
- $6/month
- Rated
- -
Google Calendar
Calendar & Time Management
Smart scheduling for the modern workforce
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Google Calendar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Float web-only platform without native desktop applications; Google Calendar no AI-driven scheduling assistance or automatic meeting time optimization
- They diverge on capability: Float covers Resource scheduling, Google Calendar covers Event scheduling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Float and Google Calendar actually diverge.
| Attribute | Float | Google Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $6/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows |
| Founded | 2011 | 1998 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Calendar & Time Management).
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 Float
- Resource scheduling
- Capacity planning
- Time tracking
- Project planning
- Reports
- Asana
- Jira
- Teamwork
Only in Google Calendar
- Event scheduling
- Multiple calendars
- Reminders and notifications
- Event sharing
- Video conferencing integration
- Gmail
- Google Meet
- Google Tasks
Both cover
- Slack
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Float
- Scheduling
- Appointment booking
- Time tracking
- Resource management
- Team coordination
Google Calendar
- Scheduling
- Appointment booking
- Time tracking
- Resource management
- Team coordination
Both are used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management, team coordination, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Google Calendar
- No AI-driven scheduling assistance or automatic meeting time optimization
- Lacks built-in appointment booking pages or payment integrations for scheduling
- Limited mobile support for shared calendars and unreliable push notifications on phones
- No native task management or project tracking features within the calendar interface
- Limited offline functionality on the web (read-only mode only)
- Strict usage limits (maximum 60 calendars, 750 shares per time period)
Pricing, plan by plan
Float
$6/month- Starter$6/month
- Resource scheduling
- Time off
- Basic reports
- Pro$10/month
- Time tracking
- Budget tracking
- Advanced reports
Google Calendar
Free- PersonalFree
- Event scheduling
- Sharing
- Notifications
- Google Workspace Business Starter$7/month
- All personal features
- Team collaboration
- 30GB storage
Which should you pick?
Choose Float if
- You need resource scheduling.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want capacity planning.
Choose Google Calendar if
- You need event scheduling.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- You also want multiple calendars.
Questions people ask
- Is Float or Google Calendar better?
- Neither clearly leads. Float starts at $6/month and Google Calendar at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Float or Google Calendar?
- Google Calendar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $6/month for Float and Free for Google Calendar.
- Does Float or Google Calendar run on more platforms?
- Float runs on Web, Ios, Android. Google Calendar runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- Can I use Google Calendar for free?
- Yes. Google Calendar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Float starts at $6/month.
- What is Float best used for?
- Float is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management.
- What can Float do that Google Calendar cannot?
- Float covers Resource scheduling, Capacity planning, Time tracking, Project planning. Google Calendar covers Event scheduling, Multiple calendars, Reminders and notifications, Event sharing. Both handle Slack, Web support, Ios support, Android 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.
SourceGoogle Calendar: Can I use Google Calendar offline?
Yes. On the web, Google Calendar works in read-only mode offline for cached events. On iOS and Android, the Google Calendar app automatically caches recent events and lets you create, edit, and respond to events offline. Changes sync automatically when you reconnect to the internet.
SourceFloat: 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.
SourceGoogle Calendar: Can I export my calendar data?
Yes. Google Calendar exports as ICS files through Settings > Import & export > Export. ICS files are readable by Outlook, Apple Calendar, Thunderbird, and most other calendar applications.
SourceFloat: 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.
SourceGoogle Calendar: Does Google Calendar integrate with video conferencing?
Yes. Google Calendar integrates natively with Google Meet and Zoom. When you create an event, you can add a video conference link directly. Other platforms like Webex and GoTo Meeting can be integrated via Zapier or third-party automation.
SourceGoogle Calendar: Can I share my calendar with teams?
Yes. You can share individual calendars with specific people or make them publicly viewable. However, accessing shared calendars on mobile devices has limitations, and push notifications for shared calendars may not work reliably on phones.
SourceGoogle Calendar: Does Google Calendar work with Outlook?
No direct integration. You can manually import/export using ICS files or use third-party tools like Zapier to sync events. This is different from Outlook, which integrates seamlessly within Microsoft 365.
SourceGoogle Calendar: Is there a cost to use Google Calendar?
Google Calendar is free for personal use. Google Workspace plans (which include Calendar) start at $7 per user per month for business use.
Source