Comparison

Grant search services compared

Published prices only, each linked to its source and checked on October 27, 2026. Prices change; confirm on each provider's site before you buy.

Quick answer: If you only need federal grants, start free on Grants.gov. Full-time nonprofit grant teams often use Instrumentl or Candid. If you're an individual, student, micro-business or small nonprofit who wants verified open grants with steps to apply, AGA's free plan or $9/month Plus plan costs far less than professional platforms.
ServicePublished priceBuilt forWhat you getSource
AGA (American Grant Association)Free plan; paid $9, $29 or $59/month (annual discount)Individuals, students, micro-businesses, small nonprofitsVerified matches by email with numbered steps, tracker, optional human application reviewAGA pricing
InstrumentlDiscover $299/mo billed annually ($349 monthly); Pre-Award $531/mo billed annually ($579 monthly); Full Lifecycle $999/mo billed annually; 14-day free trialNonprofit grant teams and consultantsLarge funder and RFP database, AI matching, pipeline tracking, collaboration and post-award toolsinstrumentl.com/pricing
Candid search (formerly Foundation Directory)Free tier; Premium $219/mo or from $1,199/yr; Ultimate from $1,699/yr (nonprofit-discounted rates)Nonprofits and fundraisers researching foundationsFunder profiles, giving history, nonprofit data; free access at partner locationscandid.org/pricing
GrantWatchFree membership (archives, newsletter); MemberPlus+ $22/7 days, $49/30 days, $100/90 days, $249/365 days; auto-renewsBroad audience: individuals, businesses, nonprofitsGrant listings with links to funders, research and AI writing toolsGrantWatch terms (pricing & refunds)
Grants.govFreeAnyone seeking federal grantsOfficial list of all federal grant opportunities and the federal application systemgrants.gov

How to choose

  • You write grants full-time for a nonprofit team: a professional database (Instrumentl or Candid) may be worth the cost.
  • You need foundation research on a budget: Candid's free tier and partner-location access.
  • You only apply for federal grants: Grants.gov is free and official.
  • You're an individual or small organization who wants it done simply: AGA Free or Plus.

What to check before you subscribe to any service

  • Does it auto-renew, and how do you cancel?
  • What is the refund policy? (Read the terms, not just the pricing page.)
  • Are listings linked to the official funder page?
  • Does it promise or imply guaranteed funding? That's a red flag.

AGA wrote this comparison and is one of the services listed. We've used only publicly published information and linked every price.

Questions

What is the cheapest alternative to Instrumentl?

For organizations that only need federal grants, Grants.gov is free. For foundation research, Candid has a free tier and free access at partner locations. AGA offers a free plan and paid plans from $9 a month aimed at individuals and very small organizations rather than full-time grant teams.

Is AGA a replacement for Instrumentl or Candid?

Not for every organization. Large grant teams that need a deep funder database, collaboration and post-award tools may be better served by those platforms. AGA is built for people who want a short list of verified, open grants with plain-language steps and optional human help.

Do any of these services guarantee grants?

None of them can. Funders decide awards. Be cautious of any service that promises funding.