--- {"title": "Grants.gov vs Pocketed in 2026", "description": "Grants.gov vs Pocketed compared for small-business owners: what each does, what is known about cost, how to start, and what to check first.", "url": "https://cdings.com/grants-gov-vs-pocketed/", "date": "2026-10-15"} --- Grants.gov vs Pocketed compared for small-business owners: what each does, what is known about cost, how to start, and what to check first. Raise Buddy lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding you may be able to apply for from a website or description of what you do. [^1] The facts reviewed here do not state what Grants.gov or Pocketed do, what they list, or what they cost, so check their own pages for those details. | Option | Free entry | Paid prices | Card payment fee | |---|---|---|---| | Grants.gov | Not published | Not published | Not published | | Pocketed | Not published | Not published | Not published | | Raise Buddy | Free plan opens programs up to $1,000 [^1] | Plus $14.99 a month (up to $5,000); Pro $199 a month (every program) [^1] | Not published | ## The short answer Raise Buddy takes your website or a short description of what you do and lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding you may be able to apply for. [^1] Each match says whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. [^1] The facts reviewed here do not state what Grants.gov or Pocketed do. Check each tool's own pages for the kinds of funding, countries, and costs they cover. ## What Grants.gov, Pocketed is built for The facts reviewed here do not state what Pocketed does, what it lists, or what it costs. Check Pocketed's own pages for which kinds of funding it covers and how it works. ## 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. [^1] Each match says whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. [^1] 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. [^1] It includes private foundations that take applications, read from their own Form 990-PF tax returns. [^1] 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. [^1] 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. [^1] ## Pricing and fees The sources reviewed here do not state a subscription price for Grants.gov or Pocketed, so check their own pricing pages before you commit. Raise Buddy's free plan opens programs up to $1,000. [^1] Plus is $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000. [^1] Pro is $199 a month and opens every program, with the advisors' review and the AI assistant connection. [^1] The first three matches in each section open on every plan. [^1] A guest's search list ends after 5. [^1] Neither Grants.gov, Pocketed nor Raise Buddy lists a card payment fee in the sources, so that part is not published. ## Getting started Grants.gov lists its next system maintenance as September 19-21, 2026. [^2] The facts reviewed here do not state the rest of the sign-up steps for Grants.gov or Pocketed. For Raise Buddy, no install is needed for the web app. [^1] The app works on the web and on phones. [^1] You paste your website or describe what you do, and the list of funding follows. [^1] If you have a tax form or IRS letter, you can add a photo or PDF and confirm the draft profile it produces. [^1] AI assistants connect by adding the connection address. [^1] On the Pro plan, an AI assistant such as Claude can search Raise Buddy, with ten tools to use. [^1] Only English is shown for now, even though five more languages are planned. [^1] ## Things to check before you choose - What does the plan you need cost each month, and is it published before you sign up? - Does the tool cover the kind of funding you want, such as grants, loans or prizes, and the country you operate in? - Does it say plainly whether your business can apply, and does it quote the funder? - Who writes the application: you, or the tool? Where do you complete the application? - What happens to your tax documents and identifiers when you upload them? - Is the interface in the language you work in? ## How to choose If you want a list of funding matched to a description of your business, with a verdict on whether you can apply, Raise Buddy's sources describe that. [^1] [^1] If you want options beyond grants, such as SBA loans or equity crowdfunding, Raise Buddy's sources say it covers 25 ways to raise money. [^1] If you want funding sources from outside the US, Raise Buddy's sources list programs from several countries. [^1] If you are looking at Grants.gov or Pocketed, check their own pages against the funding types, locations, and costs you need. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does Grants.gov have a free trial? The facts reviewed here do not state a free trial or subscription price for Grants.gov. Grants.gov lists its next system maintenance as September 19-21, 2026. [^2] Check Grants.gov's own pages for current access details and any costs before choosing it. ### How much does Raise Buddy cost? The free plan opens programs up to $1,000. [^1] Plus is $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000. [^1] Pro is $199 a month and opens every program, with the advisors' review and the AI assistant connection. [^1] The first three matches in each section open on every plan. [^1] ### Can Grants.gov list personal financial assistance? Grants.gov says federal agencies do not publish personal financial assistance opportunities on it. [^2] Check the federal programs you need and confirm where those opportunities are listed before choosing a search tool. ### Can Raise Buddy submit a grant application? Raise Buddy keeps track of where each of your applications stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. [^1] Each match says whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. [^1] ### How does someone start with Pocketed? The facts reviewed here do not state Pocketed's sign-up steps, features, or cost. Check Pocketed's own pages for which funding it lists, which countries it covers, and how it works before choosing it. 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. [^1] - [Visit Raise Buddy](/go/start) ## Sources [^1]: Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start) [^2]: Grants.gov, grants.gov, read 2026-10-07 (https://www.grants.gov)