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Comparison · PM

Float vs OpenProject

A side-by-side editorial comparison of Float and OpenProject — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

Float vs OpenProject: at a glance

FeatureFloatOpenProject
SectorPMPM
Velocity score6.36.3
Sparks · 30d11
Top themesresource-management, scheduling, ai-matching, rate-cardsproject-management, mcp, ai-integration, open-source
Last editorial update3h ago15d ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is Float?

Float adds AI experience profiles and multi-currency rate cards — expanding from scheduling into project economics.

Float is a resource scheduling and time-tracking platform for agencies and professional services teams, shipping roughly every 2–3 weeks. The last 90 days show two substantive sparks: AI-powered experience profiles that surface who on the team has done similar work before, and multi-currency rate cards that bring consistent billing across clients and regions. Supporting releases added a dedicated Rates tab, Zapier project templates, people codes, and new API endpoints for project templates and rate cards.

Read the full Float trajectory →

What is OpenProject?

OpenProject's MCP Server gains write access — AI agents can now create tasks, add comments, and manage relations.

OpenProject 17.8.0 marks the most significant AI integration milestone in the product's history: the MCP Server can now create and update work packages, add comments, and manage relations — moving from a read-only query layer to a write-capable AI agent interface. The same release adds multiple target versions per work package, sprints and milestones to the project timeline, and relation display in the free Community edition. OpenProject 17.7.0 laid the organizational management foundation: departments, work-related user attributes, and individual work schedules for capacity planning.

Read the full OpenProject trajectory →

Float vs OpenProject: editorial side-by-side

F6.3

Float adds AI experience profiles and multi-currency rate cards — expanding from scheduling into project economics.

◆ Current state

Float is a resource scheduling and time-tracking platform for agencies and professional services teams, shipping roughly every 2–3 weeks. The last 90 days show two substantive sparks: AI-powered experience profiles that surface who on the team has done similar work before, and multi-currency rate cards that bring consistent billing across clients and regions. Supporting releases added a dedicated Rates tab, Zapier project templates, people codes, and new API endpoints for project templates and rate cards.

◆ Where it's heading

Float is building the financial layer of resource management — rate cards, multi-currency support, and a Rates tab form a coherent billing workflow that didn't exist six months ago. In parallel, AI experience profiles signal entry into talent-matching territory: the product can now answer 'who has done this type of work before' rather than just 'who is available.' These two vectors together position Float as a project economics tool, not just a scheduling view. The API expansion follows the financial features, suggesting partner and integration investment.

◆ Prediction

The most likely next move is connecting AI experience profiles directly into project assignment — auto-suggesting matches during scheduling based on past work. On the billing side, rate card data likely feeds a revenue or margin reporting view as the next logical release.

O6.3

OpenProject's MCP Server gains write access — AI agents can now create tasks, add comments, and manage relations.

◆ Current state

OpenProject 17.8.0 marks the most significant AI integration milestone in the product's history: the MCP Server can now create and update work packages, add comments, and manage relations — moving from a read-only query layer to a write-capable AI agent interface. The same release adds multiple target versions per work package, sprints and milestones to the project timeline, and relation display in the free Community edition. OpenProject 17.7.0 laid the organizational management foundation: departments, work-related user attributes, and individual work schedules for capacity planning.

◆ Where it's heading

The two-track development pattern is clear: broader project management capabilities for enterprises (resource management, capacity planning, PM² methodology support) and a rapidly maturing AI interface through the MCP Server. The progression from read-only MCP to write-capable MCP is a qualitative shift — AI assistants become active project participants rather than passive query tools. The XWiki integration in 17.6.0 shows the platform also extending into enterprise knowledge management.

◆ Prediction

The logical next step is workflow automation via the MCP Server — AI agents that can trigger status transitions, query resource availability from the 17.7.0 capacity data, or auto-assign work packages based on department membership. The data model is in place; the automation layer is the missing piece.

Alternatives to Float and OpenProject

Other PM products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Float or OpenProject.

See all Float alternatives → · See all OpenProject alternatives →

Recent activity from Float and OpenProject

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 17d agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.8.0
  2. 23d agoFloatFloat is the #1 resource management software, 8 seasons running
  3. 26d agoFloatRates tab, Zapier project templates, and people code
  4. 29d agoFloatSmart insights: know who’s done this work before, with AI experience profiles
  5. 1mo agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.7.2: bug fix release
  6. 1mo agoFloatNew API endpoints: project templates and rate cards, and Zapier project updates
  7. 1mo agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.7.1: bug fix release
  8. 1mo agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.7.0
  9. 2mo agoFloatRate cards and multi-currency: consistent billing across every client and region
  10. 2mo agoFloatA new look: updates to the sidebar navigation
  11. 2mo agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.6.0
  12. 3mo agoOpenProjectOpenProject 17.5.1: bug fix release

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Float and OpenProject?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Float and OpenProject are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 6.3 vs 6.3, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is Float better than OpenProject?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Float and OpenProject are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 6.3 vs 6.3, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other PM products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to Float?

Top Float alternatives in PM are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Float alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/float for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to OpenProject?

Top OpenProject alternatives in PM are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "OpenProject alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/openproject for the full list with editorial commentary on each.