CDings Plain comparisons of small-business tools

Candid Foundation Directory vs GrantStation in 2026

Candid Foundation Directory, GrantStation and Raise Buddy compared for small-business owners: what each does, what it costs, and what to check first.

By CDings ยท

CDings is published by the makers of Raise Buddy and ProductCost, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Candid says its search covers 1.9 million organizations by name, EIN, or keyword. [1] GrantStation advertises its GS Membership at 41 cents a day. [2] Raise Buddy lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding you may be able to apply for after you paste your website or describe what you do. [3]

OptionEntry priceAnnual or other price
Candid Foundation DirectoryPremium monthly starting at $219/month, billed monthly [4]Premium annual $100/month starting price, $1,199 billed annually [5]; Ultimate annual $142/month starting price, $1,699 billed annually [6]
GrantStationGS Membership advertised at 41 cents a day [2]not published
Raise BuddyFree plan opens programs up to $1,000; Plus $14.99 a month (up to $5,000); Pro $199 a month (every program) [7]not published

The short answer

Candid Foundation Directory says registration is free. [8] GrantStation advertises its GS Membership at 41 cents a day. [2] Raise Buddy lists funding you may be able to apply for after you paste your website or describe what you do. [3]

If you want annual billing, Candid lists an Ultimate annual plan at $142/month starting price, $1,699 billed annually. [6] If you want a low advertised daily price, GrantStation advertises 41 cents a day. [2] If you want a list built from a description of your business, see Raise Buddy. [3]

What Candid Foundation Directory and GrantStation say they offer

Candid Foundation Directory. Candid says registration is free. [8] It lists a Premium annual plan at $100/month starting price, $1,199 billed annually. [5]

GrantStation. GrantStation advertises its GS Membership at 41 cents a day. [2]

What Raise Buddy is built for

Raise Buddy is made by the team that publishes this site. You paste your website or describe what you do, and it lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding you may be able to apply for. [3] Each match says whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. [9]

It can read a Schedule C, Form 1120, 1065 or 990, or an IRS letter, from a photo or PDF into a draft profile you confirm, and it does not keep the EIN or the papers. [10] It includes private foundations that take applications, read from their own Form 990-PF tax returns. [11] It covers 25 ways to raise money, such as angel investors, SBA loans and equity crowdfunding, each with its official rules and a first step. [12] It keeps track of where each of your applications stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. [13]

Pricing and fees

Candid Foundation Directory. Candid lists a Premium monthly plan starting at $219/month, billed monthly. [4] Its Premium annual plan is listed at $100/month starting price, $1,199 billed annually. [5] Its Ultimate annual plan is listed at $142/month starting price, $1,699 billed annually. [6] Candid says registration is free. [8]

GrantStation. It advertises its GS Membership at 41 cents a day. [2]

Raise Buddy. The Free plan opens programs up to $1,000. [7] Plus is $14.99 a month (up to $5,000). [7] Pro is $199 a month and opens every program. [7] The first three matches in each section open on every plan. [7]

Getting started

Candid Foundation Directory. Candid says registration is free. [8] Check what registering alone gives you before you pay for a plan.

GrantStation. GrantStation advertises a GS Membership at 41 cents a day. [2] Check what the membership includes and how you begin using it.

Raise Buddy. You paste your website or describe what you do, and it lists funding you may be able to apply for. [3] The web app needs no install [14]. A guest's search list ends after 5. [15]

Things to check before you choose

How to choose

If you want a plan billed annually, Candid lists Premium annual at $100/month starting price, $1,199 billed annually. [5] If you want a low advertised daily price, GrantStation advertises 41 cents a day. [2]

If you want a list of funding from a description of your business, Raise Buddy gives each match a verdict: whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. [9] If you want options beyond grants, Raise Buddy covers 25 ways to raise money, such as SBA loans. [12]

Frequently asked questions

Is Candid Foundation Directory free?

Candid says registration is free. [8] Candid lists a Premium monthly plan starting at $219/month, billed monthly. [4] Check what registration alone gives you before you pay for a plan.

How much does GrantStation cost?

GrantStation advertises its GS Membership at 41 cents a day. [2] The facts available here give no other price or plan detail, so check its pricing page for the billing period and what the membership includes.

Is GrantStation a paid membership?

GrantStation advertises its GS Membership at 41 cents a day. [2] The facts available here give no other plan detail. Check the billing period, what the membership includes and whether the funders you care about are covered before you join.

What does Candid's Ultimate plan cost?

Candid's Ultimate annual plan is listed at $142/month starting price, $1,699 billed annually. [6]

Does Raise Buddy apply for grants for a business owner?

No. It keeps track of where each of your applications stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. [13] It lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding you may be able to apply for. [3]

Free plan opens programs up to $1,000; Plus is $14.99 a month (up to $5,000); Pro is $199 a month (every program, advisors' review, AI connection). The first three matches in each section open on every plan. [7]

Try Raise Buddy

Sources

  1. Candid Foundation Directory, candid.org, read 2026-10-07
  2. GrantStation, grantstation.com, read 2026-10-07
  3. Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  4. Candid Foundation Directory, candid.org/find-funding, read 2026-10-07
  5. Candid Foundation Directory, candid.org/find-funding, read 2026-10-07
  6. Candid Foundation Directory, candid.org/find-funding, read 2026-10-07
  7. Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  8. Candid Foundation Directory, candid.org, read 2026-10-07
  9. Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  10. Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  11. Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  12. Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  13. Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  14. Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  15. Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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