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Resource Planning and PSA · Researched comparison

Best Resource Planning Software for IT Consultancies in 2026

By the TaskReports Editorial Team
Published 2 Nov 2026 · Updated 2 Nov 2026Last verified 2 Nov 2026How we score

TaskReports may earn a fee from some links on this page, and some placements are paid and labelled. Neither one decides the order. See our disclosure.

The short answer

The best pick for most IT consultancies is Float Starter. It gives you visual scheduling, capacity views and time off at $7 per scheduled person per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026. That mix fits firms of 10 to 150 consultants who juggle client projects and need to see who is free. Prices from the Float pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Best overall Float Starter is $7 per scheduled person per month billed annually, or $8.50 billed monthly. Pro is $12 per scheduled person per month billed annually. See the Float pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Also great Scoro Projects and Resources is $29 per user per month, with a 5-seat minimum. See the [Scoro pricing page](https://www.scoro.com/pricing/), checked 2 Nov 2026. Also great Productive Essential is $10 per user per month. Professional is $25 per user per month. Ultimate is by quote. See the Productive pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
On this page

Key takeaways

  • Float Starter is the best pick for most IT consultancies, at $7 per scheduled person per month billed annually.
  • Productive Professional is the pick when budgets and invoicing must sit with scheduling, at $25 per user per month.
  • Resource Guru Grasshopper is the cheapest start, at $4.16 per person per month billed annually.
  • Scoro is the pick for larger firms that need quotes, budgets and margin reports in one system.
  • Check placeholder fees and seat minimums before you buy, because they change the real monthly cost; Float prices come from Float's pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Comparison

How these compare
ToolBest forStandout featurePrice rangeFree plan/trial
FloatMost IT consultanciesVisual schedule with capacity views$7 per scheduled person per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 202630-day trial, no free plan
ScoroLarger firms with budgetsProjects, time and budgets in one systemFrom $29 per user per month, Projects and Resources, checked 2 Nov 202614-day trial, no free plan
ProductiveBudgets plus schedulingRate cards and recurring budgets$10 per user per month, checked 2 Nov 202614-day trial, no free plan
TeamworkClient work with workloadWorkload planner with time budgets$9.99 per user per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026Free plan, up to 5 users
WrikePortfolios with approvalsResource and capacity planning on Business$10 per user per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026Free plan
Resource GuruSimple scheduling on a budgetClean timeline with leave management$4.16 per person per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026Trial, no free plan stated

How we choose

We considered 10 tools and shortlisted 6. We compared pricing pages, feature docs and public reviews, and checked every price on 2 Nov 2026. We followed the criteria in how we score tools: scheduling and utilisation fit at 30, financial clarity at 25, price and plan clarity at 20, ease of setup and daily use at 15, and integrations and exports at 10. We also read the resource planning hub to keep this guide in line with our other planning guides.

IT consultancies need skills-based scheduling, tentative bookings for pipeline work, time off, and utilisation reports. A tool scored well only if it could show capacity by person and by skill, hold a tentative booking, and report utilisation without a spreadsheet.

Our full method

The shortlist

★ Best overall

Float

Best for most IT consultancies that want a clear visual scheduler.

  • The schedule shows who is booked, free or overloaded at a glance.
  • You pay only for people on the schedule, and guests are free.
  • Tentative bookings and placeholders help you plan pipeline work.

Skip it if skip Float if you need invoicing and margin reports in the same tool.

PriceStarter is $7 per scheduled person per month billed annually, or $8.50 billed monthly. Pro is $12 per scheduled person per month billed annually. See the Float pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
See Float pricing

Float lists Starter at $7 per scheduled person per month billed annually, Pro at $12 per scheduled person per month billed annually, and Enterprise by quote on its Float pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Its docs describe visual scheduling, capacity and time off, with time tracking on Pro. It offers a 30-day trial and no free plan.

Price: Starter is $7 per scheduled person per month billed annually, or $8.50 billed monthly. Pro is $12 per scheduled person per month billed annually. See the Float pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Who should skip it: skip Float if you need invoicing and margin reports in the same tool.

Unique element: Float bills only for scheduled people, so bench staff who are not on the schedule do not add to the bill.

Prices from the Float pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026

Watch out for

  • Time tracking needs Pro at $12, so Starter alone does not cover timesheets.
  • No native invoicing or full project budgeting, so finance needs another tool.
  • Reporting is clear but less deep than a full PSA tool.
2

Scoro

Best for larger IT firms that need projects, time and budgets in one system.
Projects and Resources is $29 per user per month, with a 5-seat minimum. See the [Scoro pricing page](https://www.scoro.com/pricing/), checked 2 Nov 2026.

Scoro prices by app combination on its Scoro pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Combinations start from 15 euros per user per month. Its Projects and Resources combination, which covers Do, Deliver, Track and Resource, is $29 per user per month with a 5-seat minimum. Its docs describe quoting, project budgets, time tracking and resource scheduling.

Price: Projects and Resources is $29 per user per month, with a 5-seat minimum. See the Scoro pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Who should skip it: skip Scoro if your firm is under ten people.

Unique element: Scoro sells eight core apps you can mix, so two firms on Scoro can pay different prices for different combinations.

What we like

  • One system holds projects, time, budgets and invoices.
  • Resource scheduling shows capacity across client projects.
  • Dashboards report margin and utilisation in one view.

Watch out for

  • The modular price is hard to compare, because the headline rate buys only a starting combination.
  • The 5-seat minimum means a small firm pays for five seats.
  • Setup is heavy and needs an operations person.

Skip it if skip Scoro if your firm is under ten people.

Prices from the Scoro pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026

See Scoro pricing
3

Productive

Best for consultancies that need rate cards, budgets and invoicing with scheduling.
Essential is $10 per user per month. Professional is $25 per user per month. Ultimate is by quote. See the Productive pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Productive lists Essential at $10 per user per month, Professional at $25 per user per month, and Ultimate by quote on its Productive pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Its docs describe project and task management, time tracking, budgeting, resourcing and invoicing. It needs at least three seats, and it offers a 14-day trial.

Price: Essential is $10 per user per month. Professional is $25 per user per month. Ultimate is by quote. See the Productive pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Who should skip it: skip Productive if you only need scheduling and you do not need budgets.

Unique element: Productive needs at least three seats on every plan, so a two-person firm cannot buy a single seat.

What we like

  • Rate cards and recurring budgets sit close to scheduling.
  • Billable time approvals start on Professional.
  • Reports link logged hours to project profit.

Watch out for

  • Professional at $25 is more than double Essential at $10.
  • No free plan, so you must use the 14-day trial to test it.
  • Ultimate is quote only, so advanced forecasting has no public price.

Skip it if skip Productive if you only need scheduling and you do not need budgets.

Prices from the Productive pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026

See Productive pricing
4

Teamwork

Best for consultancies that run client work with workload planning and time budgets.
Basics is $9.99 per user per month billed annually, or $13.99 billed monthly. Accelerate is $24.99 per user per month billed annually, or $29.99 billed monthly. See the Teamwork pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Teamwork lists a free plan for up to 5 users. Basics is $9.99 per user per month billed annually with a 3-seat minimum, and Accelerate is $24.99 per user per month billed annually with a 5-seat minimum on its Teamwork pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Its docs describe Gantt charts, time tracking, workload planning and invoicing. Workload planning and timesheets start on Accelerate.

Price: Basics is $9.99 per user per month billed annually, or $13.99 billed monthly. Accelerate is $24.99 per user per month billed annually, or $29.99 billed monthly. See the Teamwork pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Who should skip it: skip Teamwork if you only need simple scheduling.

Unique element: Teamwork includes free client users, so a client can view a project without a paid seat.

What we like

  • Workload planner shows capacity across client projects.
  • Time budgets link hours to a project or a retainer.
  • Free client users help when a client needs to view progress.

Watch out for

  • Workload planning needs Accelerate at $24.99, not Basics.
  • The 5-seat minimum on Accelerate raises the cost for small firms.
  • Timesheet approval needs the sales-quoted Optimize plan.

Skip it if skip Teamwork if you only need simple scheduling.

Prices from the Teamwork pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026

See Teamwork pricing
5

Wrike

Best for consultancies that need portfolios, approvals and resource planning together.
Team is $10 per user per month billed annually. Business is $25 per user per month billed annually. See the Wrike pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Wrike lists a free plan, Team at $10 per user per month billed annually for 2 to 15 users, and Business at $25 per user per month billed annually for 5 to 200 users on its Wrike pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Its docs describe Gantt charts, dashboards, approvals, proofing and resource planning. Business adds resource management and workflow automation.

Price: Team is $10 per user per month billed annually. Business is $25 per user per month billed annually. See the Wrike pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Who should skip it: skip Wrike if your firm is under five people.

Unique element: Wrike states that Business plans and above are sold only as annual subscriptions.

What we like

  • Resource and capacity planning start on Business.
  • Approval workflows fit client sign-off on deliverables.
  • Folder structure suits multiple clients and portfolios.

Watch out for

  • Business at $25 is a large jump from Team at $10.
  • Advanced capacity planning needs Pinnacle, which is quote only.
  • The interface has many settings for new admins.

Skip it if skip Wrike if your firm is under five people.

Prices from the Wrike pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026

See Wrike pricing
6

Resource Guru

Best for small consultancies that want simple scheduling at a low price.
Grasshopper is $4.16 per person per month billed annually, or $5 billed monthly. See the Resource Guru pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Resource Guru lists Grasshopper at $4.16 per person per month billed annually, or $5 billed monthly, on its Resource Guru pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Its docs describe visual scheduling, leave management, and reporting. Higher plans add timesheets, approvals and single sign-on.

Price: Grasshopper is $4.16 per person per month billed annually, or $5 billed monthly. See the Resource Guru pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Who should skip it: skip Resource Guru if you need budgets and invoicing in the same tool.

Unique element: Resource Guru charges extra per placeholder and per non-human resource, so a plan with many placeholders costs more than the headline rate.

What we like

  • Lowest entry price in this guide, at $4.16 per person per month.
  • The timeline is clean and easy to read, with little setup.
  • Leave management is included, so holidays show on the schedule.

Watch out for

  • Timesheets need a higher plan, so time tracking costs more.
  • Placeholder and non-human resources add cost, so model your real headcount.
  • Reporting is simpler than a full PSA tool, and finance features are thin.

Skip it if skip Resource Guru if you need budgets and invoicing in the same tool.

Prices from the Resource Guru pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026

See Resource Guru pricing

Which resource planning tool is cheapest for an IT consultancy?

Resource Guru Grasshopper is the cheapest start, at $4.16 per person per month billed annually. Float Starter is next at $7 per scheduled person per month. If you need time tracking as well, Float Pro at $12 is the cheapest useful plan that covers scheduling plus time. Always count placeholders, because some tools charge extra for them. Prices from the Resource Guru pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.

Which tool is best for skills-based scheduling?

Float and Wrike are the strongest here. Float shows capacity by person, with time off and part-time hours factored in, and tentative bookings let you hold a skill for pipeline work. Wrike adds resource planning on Business, with workload charts that show allocated effort against capacity. If you need skills as a filter, confirm the vendor docs list skill fields on the plan you buy.

Which tool is best for utilisation reporting?

Scoro and Productive are the strongest here. Scoro dashboards report utilisation and margin in one view, with project budgets linked to logged time. Productive links logged hours to rate cards and recurring budgets, so profit shows as hours are logged. Float reports utilisation from scheduled hours, which is simpler but less tied to money. Pick a full PSA tool if margin matters as much as capacity.

Which tool scales best from 10 to 150 consultants?

Float scales best for scheduling alone, because you pay only for scheduled people and the view stays clear as headcount grows. Productive scales best for finance, because budgets, rates and invoicing grow with the firm. Wrike Business covers 5 to 200 users, so it fits the full range in this guide. Check the top of each plan, because some tools move you to a quote-only tier above 100 users.

What to check before you buy

  • Skills and placeholders: confirm you can tag skills, hold tentative bookings, and see what placeholders cost.
  • Seat minimums: confirm the minimum seats, and whether a small firm pays for seats it does not use.
  • Utilisation reports: confirm utilisation reports sit on the plan you buy, not on a higher tier.
  • Time off: confirm holidays and part-time hours reduce capacity in the schedule.
  • Data export: test the export for schedules and reports before you commit.
  • Trial terms: confirm the trial length, and test the schedule with real project data.

FAQ

Which resource planning tool is best for an IT consultancy?

Float is the best fit for most IT consultancies because Starter gives visual scheduling, capacity views and time off at $7 per scheduled person per month billed annually, checked 2 Nov 2026. It is fast to set up, and it shows who is free or overloaded. Small firms can test it with a 30-day trial.

How much does resource planning software cost for a consultancy?

Entry paid plans in this guide start at $4.16 per person per month billed annually for Resource Guru Grasshopper, and $7 for Float Starter. Mid plans run $10 to $25 per user per month. A firm of 25 on a mid plan should budget $3,000 to $7,500 per year before tax, plus any fees for placeholders.

What is utilisation, and why does it matter for a consultancy?

Utilisation is the share of a consultant's available hours that are booked to client work. It matters because it links staffing to revenue and to burnout. Low utilisation means bench time you pay for. High utilisation means no room for sales, training or leave. Aim for a clear target, and review it each week.

Should a consultancy pick a focused scheduler or a full PSA tool?

Pick a focused scheduler if you only need to plan people and see capacity. Pick a full PSA tool if you also need budgets, rates, invoicing and margin reports in one place. A focused tool is faster to set up and cheaper to start. A full tool costs more, but it removes the need to join data from two systems.

What should an IT consultancy check before it buys?

Check skills-based scheduling, tentative bookings, time off, and whether utilisation reports sit on the plan you buy. Ask about seat minimums, placeholder fees, and data export. Confirm the price on the vendor pricing page, and test the schedule with real project data during the trial.

Sources we checked

See best project management software for research teams and best timesheet software for video production agencies.

Related guides

How we score

Need the method behind these picks?

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