Float

Float is a finance platform for Canadian businesses that combines corporate cards, expense management, bill payments, business accounts, and currency exchange. It offers physical and virtual CAD and USD cards with individual controls. For expenses, Float collects receipts, codes transactions automatically, and syncs spending to accounting software. The platform also advertises domestic and international vendor payments, business accounts, and CAD/USD conversion. Listed integrations include QuickBooks Online, Xero, and NetSuite, plus HRIS tools and Slack for requests and approvals; Float notes that NetSuite requires extra manual setup. Float says it is SOC 2 Type 2 and PCI-DSS compliant and uses TLS 1.2 or higher encryption for sensitive data. It says customer funds are held in segregated trust accounts and eligible deposits have CDIC insurance subject to limits, while also stating that it is not a bank. Essentials is free and includes up to 20 physical and unlimited virtual cards. Professional is $10 /user/mo, with active-user pricing starting at $100/mo and including the first 10 users; it includes a 90-day free trial.

Float brings corporate spending, expenses, payments, accounts, and currency exchange into one platform for Canadian businesses. Compare plan pricing and conditions with the integrations and controls your team needs.

Float describes Essentials as intended for small businesses and startups, and Professional for growing teams. Businesses needing cards, expense workflows, and accounting integrations may find its combined offering relevant.

Float is a Canadian business-finance platform that combines cards, expenses, payments, accounts and currency conversion. It is most useful for startups and growing teams that want those functions coordinated, while businesses needing only a card program may find its wider scope unnecessary. The free Essentials tier lowers the entry cost, but per-user pricing, conditions and plan limits deserve close attention as usage expands.

Overview

Float brings physical and virtual CAD and USD corporate cards, card-level controls, receipt capture, transaction coding and accounting synchronization into one service. It also advertises business accounts, domestic and international vendor payments, and CAD/USD conversion. For a Canadian company managing employee spend and supplier payments together, that breadth can reduce handoffs between finance tools. It is less compelling when the requirement is limited to cards or reimbursement tracking.

Float says it is SOC 2 Type 2 and PCI-DSS compliant and protects sensitive data with TLS 1.2 or higher encryption. 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 control

Physical and virtual cards in both Canadian and US dollars cover different spending situations, while individual controls let administrators manage use at the card level. Receipt collection, automatic coding and accounting sync can reduce repetitive expense administration. Approval workflows, budgets and reimbursements add structure for teams that need spending decisions documented before or after a purchase.

Payments, accounts and integrations

Business accounts and domestic or international vendor payments extend Float beyond card spending. CAD/USD conversion is useful for companies operating across those currencies. QuickBooks Online and Xero connections suit common small-business accounting setups; NetSuite is supported on a higher tier but requires additional manual setup. HRIS integrations and Slack support requests and approvals, which can fit existing employee and communication processes.

Pricing

Essentials

Essentials is free at $0 CAD per user per month. It is aimed at small businesses and startups and includes up to 20 physical cards, unlimited virtual cards, and QuickBooks Online, Xero or custom exports. The physical-card ceiling may be adequate for a small team, but companies issuing cards broadly will need to weigh that limit and the stated conditions and fees.

Professional

Professional costs $10 CAD per user per month. Active-user pricing starts at $100 per month and includes the first 10 users, so the headline rate does not represent the minimum monthly outlay for a new account. The tier adds advanced controls and workflows and NetSuite integration, with a 90-day free trial. It fits growing teams that need more governance or NetSuite connectivity; the paid commitment and conditions make it a less attractive step for very small groups that can stay within Essentials.

Enterprise

Enterprise uses custom pricing. It adds custom pricing and cashback, custom implementation and data migration, premium support and a dedicated Customer Success Manager. This is the appropriate route for organizations requiring rollout assistance or a named service contact, but the lack of a published price means budgeting requires a direct quote.

Platforms

Float supports Android, iOS and web access, allowing finance work across mobile and desktop environments.

Who it's for

Essentials suits small businesses and startups that can operate within 20 physical cards and want a free starting point. Professional is better for growing teams that need advanced controls, workflows or NetSuite. Enterprise is for organizations prepared for a tailored implementation and negotiated commercial terms. A business seeking only basic card issuance may not benefit from paying for the broader payments and account platform.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Broad finance coverage: Cards, expenses, bill payments, accounts and currency conversion can be managed in one platform.
• Useful free entry tier: Essentials costs nothing per user and includes unlimited virtual cards.
• Accounting and approval connectivity: QuickBooks Online, Xero, HRIS and Slack integrations support established workflows.
• Canadian-dollar focus: CAD/USD cards and conversion address cross-border activity.
• Bilingual support: Customer service is offered in English and French.

Cons

• Essentials has a physical-card cap: Up to 20 cards may constrain larger issuing programs.
• Professional has a minimum spend: The $100 monthly active-user starting point can outweigh the $10 per-user headline for small teams.
• NetSuite needs extra setup: The connection is not entirely turnkey.
• Enterprise pricing is custom: Buyers cannot estimate the full cost from the published plan information.

Alternatives

Ramp AP is worth considering when a smaller team wants a free plan centered on accounts-payable features and automated invoice handling.

Brex suits buyers comparing a free Essentials tier or a $12-per-user Premium plan with entity and card-program limits.

Jeeves is an option for teams that want a free Basic plan for up to 10 users, with one card per user and unlimited virtual cards.

Mesh Payments offers a no-cost Pro tier for up to three users alongside paid and custom enterprise options.

Moss is an alternative for up to three users seeking free cards, invoice capacity and configurable approval steps.

Rho fits organizations seeking a free structure with no subscription, per-user or platform fees and a 1% foreign-currency transfer fee.

Airbase is a paid alternative with module coverage and workflow options sized by employee count.

GEP SMART Contract Management is a paid option focused on contract management.

Verdict

Choose Float if your Canadian business wants corporate cards, controlled expenses, vendor payments, accounts and CAD/USD activity in one service, especially while Essentials meets your card needs or Professional’s controls justify its minimum monthly charge. Look elsewhere if you need a smaller, single-purpose card tool, cannot accommodate the Professional minimum, or require a fully turnkey NetSuite connection.