What is float license?

A float license refers to a type of software licensing model where software licenses are not tied to specific users or devices but rather to a pool of licenses that can be shared by multiple users or devices. This allows organizations to optimize their software usage and reduce costs by ensuring that licenses are not sitting idle when they could be used by others.

Float licenses are commonly used for software that is used infrequently or only by a subset of users within an organization. For example, a company may purchase a certain number of float licenses for a video editing software, which can be used by any employee in the organization who needs it.

Unlike traditional license models which require a unique license for each user or device, float licenses offer greater flexibility and efficiency in managing software resources. They also simplify license management by eliminating the need to track who has access to a specific license and when it is being used.

However, float licenses require a mechanism to control access to the pool of licenses to ensure that they are not overused, particularly if the licensing agreement with the software vendor places limits on the number of users or devices that can access the software at any given time.