Float

Float is a Canadian business finance platform that brings company cards, expense handling, payments and accounts together. It is most compelling for startups and growing teams managing CAD and USD spend; businesses that only need card controls or expense tracking may find its wider scope unnecessary.

Overview

Float combines physical and virtual CAD and USD corporate cards, receipt collection, automatic transaction coding and accounting sync with business accounts, vendor payments and currency exchange. That breadth can consolidate several finance tasks in one platform, especially for teams handling both spending and payments. Individual card controls, approval workflows and budgets provide oversight, while reimbursements cover employee expenses.

Float says it meets SOC 2 Type 2 and PCI-DSS standards and encrypts sensitive data using TLS 1.2 or higher. It says customer funds are held in segregated trust accounts and eligible deposits have CDIC insurance subject to limits; Float is not a bank. Support is offered in English and French.

Key features

Cards and expense management

Physical and virtual cards in both CAD and USD give teams options for issuing and managing company spend. Receipt capture, automatic coding and accounting sync reduce manual categorization, while approval workflows, budgets and reimbursements support spend oversight. These tools make Float more than a card issuer, though organizations seeking only a narrow expense or card product may not need the full platform.

Payments and integrations

Business accounts, domestic and international vendor payments, and CAD/USD conversion broaden Float’s appeal for businesses handling routine payments across currencies. QuickBooks Online and Xero integrations, custom exports, and HRIS and Slack integrations connect finance workflows with accounting and team processes. NetSuite is available on Professional, but the connection requires additional manual setup, a practical drawback for teams expecting a straightforward implementation.

Pricing

Essentials

Essentials is free at no cost and is aimed at small businesses and startups. It includes up to 20 physical cards and unlimited virtual cards, plus QuickBooks Online, Xero or custom exports. The card allowance is a meaningful starting point for smaller teams, but conditions and fees apply.

Professional

Professional costs C$10 a month, billed at $10 /user/mo. Active-user pricing starts at $100/mo and includes the first 10 users, so the headline per-user price does not tell the whole cost story for a team. It adds advanced controls and workflows and NetSuite integration, and includes a 90-day free trial. This tier fits growing teams that need those controls or NetSuite; smaller businesses should weigh the minimum monthly starting cost against Essentials.

Enterprise

Enterprise has custom pricing. It adds custom implementation and data migration, cashback, premium support and a dedicated Customer Success Manager. It is the clearest fit for organizations seeking a tailored rollout and ongoing support, though the cost requires a direct quote.

Platforms

Float supports Android, iOS and web, covering mobile and browser access.

Who it's for

Float suits Canadian startups and small businesses that can make good use of company cards, expense automation and payments together, as well as growing teams that need advanced workflows or NetSuite integration. It is less suitable for businesses seeking only a basic card or expense tool, or for NetSuite teams unwilling to handle extra setup. Teams should also consider Professional’s $100/mo starting point and applicable conditions and fees before choosing a paid tier.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Combines CAD/USD cards, expense workflows, business accounts, vendor payments and currency exchange, which can bring several finance tasks into one platform.
• Pros: Essentials includes up to 20 physical and unlimited virtual cards at no subscription price, giving small businesses room to issue cards before moving to a paid plan.
• Pros: English and French support, plus Enterprise’s dedicated Customer Success Manager, gives teams support options suited to different levels of service need.
• Cons: Professional starts at $100/mo for the first 10 users despite its $10 /user/mo rate, which may be a significant step up for a small team.
• Cons: NetSuite requires additional manual setup, adding work for teams choosing Professional for that integration.
• Cons: Conditions and fees apply to plans, so the free tier’s $0 price does not by itself establish the full cost of using the service.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Spend Management Software or Corporate Card Software.

• Ramp AP is a freemium option with a free plan focused on accounts payable for smaller teams seeking to simplify finances.
• Brex offers a free Essentials tier at $0 user/month for up to two entities, including one global entity, and one local card program.
• Jeeves has a free Basic plan for up to 10 users, with one card per user plus unlimited virtual cards.
• Mesh Payments offers a no-cost Pro tier for up to three users, with a paid Premium tier at $13 a month billed per user, per month.
• Moss offers a free plan for up to three users, with unlimited cards, up to 20 invoices per month and a debit-only wallet.
• Rho is a free option with no subscription, per-user or platform fees, though it charges a 1% foreign-currency transfer fee.
• Airbase is a paid alternative with plans for organizations of different sizes and advanced integrations and workflows.
• Ivalua Contract Management is a paid enterprise contract lifecycle management option with custom pricing.

Verdict

Choose Float if your Canadian business wants cards, expense automation, payments and CAD/USD activity in one platform, with Essentials as a free starting point and Professional for more advanced workflows. Look elsewhere if you need only a narrow expense or card tool, or if Professional’s $100/mo starting point and NetSuite setup effort outweigh the value of the broader package.