--- {"title": "GrantForward vs Skip vs Raise Buddy in 2026", "description": "GrantForward vs Skip compared for small-business owners: what each does, what each says it costs, how to start, and what to check first.", "url": "https://cdings.com/grantforward-vs-skip/", "date": "2026-10-14"} --- GrantForward vs Skip compared for small-business owners: what each does, what each says it costs, how to start, and what to check first. GrantForward says it provides a free search option and an AI-driven recommendation service for grant opportunities. [^1] [^1] Skip says its AI Cofounder helps businesses start, run, and grow, and it says Cofounder includes grant application tools. [^2] [^2] Raise Buddy lists funding options from a business description and gives application fit details. [^3] [^3] | Option | Free entry | Paid prices | Card payment fee | |---|---|---|---| | GrantForward | Free search option [^1] | Institution trial and home subscription; price not published [^1] | Not published [^1] | | Skip | AI Cofounder for free [^2] | Not published [^2] | Not published [^2] | | Raise Buddy | Free plan opens programs up to $1,000 [^3] | Plus $14.99 a month (up to $5,000); Pro $199 a month (every program, advisors' review, AI connection) [^3] | Not published [^3] | ## The short answer GrantForward says it offers a free search option and an AI-driven recommendation service for grant opportunities. [^1] [^1] Skip says its AI Cofounder helps businesses start, run, and grow, and it says Cofounder includes grant application tools. [^2] [^2] Raise Buddy takes a website or description of what a business does and lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding that may be possible to apply for. [^3] Each match says whether an application is possible, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, using the funder's own words. [^3] If the goal is to search grant opportunities with an AI recommendation service, GrantForward's sources describe that. [^1] If the goal is to use a business tool with grant application tools through Cofounder, Skip's sources describe that. [^2] ## What GrantForward, Skip is built for GrantForward says it provides an AI-driven recommendation service and a free search option for grant opportunities. [^1] [^1] GrantForward says it offers an institution trial and a home subscription. [^1] Skip says its AI Cofounder helps businesses start, run, and grow. [^2] Skip says it offers grant application tools through Cofounder. [^2] Skip says it provides tools to create images, videos, products, and content for businesses. [^2] Skip says businesses can create profiles, showcase products, and get discovered through its business network. [^2] ## What Raise Buddy is built for Raise Buddy is made by the team that publishes this site. [^3] 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. [^3] 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. [^3] It includes private foundations that take applications, read from their own Form 990-PF tax returns. [^3] Its program list includes the UK's Find a Grant, Australia's GrantConnect, France's Aides-territoires, Japan's jGrants, Spain's BDNS and Austria's Transparenzportal. [^3] 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. [^3] ## Pricing and fees GrantForward says it offers an institution trial and a home subscription. [^1] GrantForward says it offers a free search option. [^1] The sources reviewed here do not state GrantForward's subscription price, so check its own pricing information before choosing. [^1] Skip says it offers AI Cofounder for free. [^2] The sources reviewed here do not state other Skip prices, so check its own pricing information before choosing. [^2] Raise Buddy's free plan opens programs up to $1,000. [^3] Plus is $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000. [^3] Pro is $199 a month and opens every program, with advisors' review and the AI assistant connection. [^3] The first three matches in each section open on every plan. [^3] A guest's search list ends after 5. [^3] ## Getting started GrantForward says it offers an institution trial, a home subscription, and a free search option. [^1] [^1] GrantForward says its service uses an AI-driven recommendation service for grant opportunities. [^1] Skip says it offers AI Cofounder for free and says Cofounder includes grant application tools. [^2] [^2] Raise Buddy's web app needs nothing installed. [^3] The app works on the web and on phones. [^3] You paste your website or describe what you do, and the list of funding follows. [^3] If you have a tax form or IRS letter, you can add a photo or PDF and confirm the draft profile it produces. [^3] AI assistants connect by adding Raise Buddy's address. [^3] On the Pro plan, Claude or any compatible AI assistant can search Raise Buddy, with ten tools to use. [^3] Only English is shown for now, even though five more languages are planned. [^3] ## Things to check before you choose What type of funding do you want to find, and does the tool describe that type of funding? [^3] What information does the tool use to match opportunities to a business or organisation? [^1] Does the tool show why a funding option may fit or what step stands in the way? [^3] Who completes the application and where is it made? [^3] What happens to documents or identifiers added to the tool? [^3] ## How to choose If you want an AI-driven recommendation service for grant opportunities, GrantForward's sources describe that. [^1] If you want a business tool with grant application tools through Cofounder, Skip's sources describe that. [^2] If you want funding matches from a business description and a verdict on whether you can apply, Raise Buddy's sources describe that. [^3] [^3] If you want options beyond grants, Raise Buddy's sources say it covers 25 ways to raise money. [^3] ## Frequently asked questions ### Does GrantForward have a free option? GrantForward says it offers a free search option. [^1] GrantForward also says it offers an institution trial and a home subscription. [^1] The sources reviewed here do not state the subscription price, so check GrantForward's own pricing information before choosing. ### Does Skip help with grant applications? Skip says it offers grant application tools through Cofounder. [^2] Skip says its AI Cofounder helps businesses start, run, and grow. [^2] Check which parts of the funding process the tool covers before choosing. ### How much does Raise Buddy cost? Raise Buddy's free plan opens programs up to $1,000. [^3] Plus is $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000. [^3] Pro is $199 a month and opens every program, with advisors' review and the AI assistant connection. [^3] ### Can Raise Buddy submit grant applications? Raise Buddy keeps track of where each application stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. [^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. [^3] ### Does GrantForward recommend grant opportunities? GrantForward says it provides an AI-driven recommendation service for grant opportunities. [^1] GrantForward says it offers a free search option. [^1] Check whether the recommendation method matches the type of funding search needed before choosing. 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. [^3] - [Visit Raise Buddy](/go/start) ## Sources [^1]: GrantForward, grantforward.com, read 2026-10-10 (https://www.grantforward.com) [^2]: Skip, helloskip.com, read 2026-10-10 (https://helloskip.com) [^3]: Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start)