GrantStation vs Hello Alice in 2026
GrantStation and Hello Alice compared for small-business owners: what each does, what each says it costs, how to start, and what to check first.
CDings is published by the makers of Raise Buddy and ProductCost, which are compared here alongside other tools.
GrantStation says its database holds more than 150,000 funder records and more than 15,000 curated funding opportunities. [1] Hello Alice's sources reviewed here do not give a description of what it does for a small-business owner.
| Option | Free entry | Paid prices | Card payment fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| GrantStation | Free weekly funding updates by sign-up [1] | GS Membership at 41 cents a day [1] | Not published |
| Hello Alice | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Raise Buddy | Free plan opens programs up to $1,000 [2] | Plus $14.99 a month (up to $5,000); Pro $199 a month (every program) [2] | Not published |
The short answer
GrantStation says it helps you find funding matches among more than 150,000 funder records and more than 15,000 curated funding opportunities, with a Decision Matrix to compare prospects and rule out poor fits. [1] [1] Hello Alice's sources reviewed here do not describe what it does for a small-business owner, so check its own pages to see whether it fits your needs.
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. [2] Each match says whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. [2]
If you want a searchable database of funder records across the U.S., Canada and internationally, GrantStation's sources describe that. [1] If you want a list of funding matched to a description of your business, with a plain verdict on whether you can apply, Raise Buddy's sources describe that. [2] [2]
What GrantStation and Hello Alice are built for
GrantStation says its database holds more than 150,000 funder records and more than 15,000 curated funding opportunities across the U.S., Canada, and internationally, with AI-assisted tools to help refine your search. [1] [1]
It offers a Decision Matrix for comparing funding prospects and ruling out poor fits, so you can focus your time on the strongest opportunities. [1] It offers a Proposal Reviewer that helps identify strengths and gaps in a proposal before it is submitted. [1]
GrantStation says its funder research includes 990 data and giving history, so you can understand priorities, awards, and fit. [1] It says membership includes planning tools such as calendars, goal-setting tools, the Grant Diversification Assessment, and Benchmarker. [1] It says members can connect with a real Member Services person when they need help. [1]
Hello Alice's sources reviewed here do not describe what it is built for, so check its own pages.
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. [2] Each match says whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. [2]
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. [2] It includes private foundations that take applications, read from their own Form 990-PF tax returns. [2]
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. [2] It also covers 25 other ways to raise money, such as angel investors, SBA loans and equity crowdfunding, each with its official rules and a first step. [2]
It keeps track of where each of your applications stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. [2]
Pricing and fees
GrantStation advertises its GS Membership at 41 cents a day. [1] The sources reviewed here do not state a monthly or annual price for GrantStation beyond that daily figure, so check its own pricing page for the full terms before you commit.
Hello Alice's sources reviewed here do not state a price, so check its own pricing page.
Raise Buddy's free plan opens programs up to $1,000. [2] Plus is $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000. [2] Pro is $199 a month and opens every program, with the advisors' review and the AI assistant connection. [2] The first three matches in each section open on every plan. [2] A guest's search list ends after 5. [2]
None of the sources gives a card payment fee, so that part is not published for any of these tools.
Getting started
GrantStation says you can sign up for free weekly funding updates and expert insights. [1] Its sources reviewed here say nothing more about the sign-up steps for the full membership.
Hello Alice's sources reviewed here say nothing about the sign-up or setup steps, so check its own pages.
For Raise Buddy, no install is needed for the web app. [2] The app is built for the web and phones. [2] You paste your website or describe what you do, and the list of funding follows. [2] If you have a tax form or IRS letter, you can add a photo or PDF and confirm the draft profile it produces. [2]
AI assistants connect by adding the connection address. [2] On the Pro plan, Claude or any compatible AI assistant can search Raise Buddy, with ten tools to use. [2] Only English is shown for now, even though five more languages are planned. [2]
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 submit it?
- Does it track deadlines and spending after you win, and does it connect to the accounting software you already use?
- What happens to your tax documents and identifiers when you upload them?
- Is the interface in the language you work in?
- Can you reach a real person for help, and what does that help cover?
How to choose
If you want a searchable database of funder records across the U.S., Canada and internationally, GrantStation's sources describe that. [1]
If you want a tool to compare prospects and rule out poor fits, GrantStation says it offers a Decision Matrix for that. [1]
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. [2] [2]
If you want options beyond grants, such as angel investors or SBA loans, Raise Buddy's sources say it covers 25 other ways to raise money. [2]
If you want funding sources from outside the US, Raise Buddy's sources list programs from several countries. [2]
If you want to try before paying, GrantStation says it offers free weekly funding updates by sign-up. [1] Raise Buddy has a free plan. [2]
Frequently asked questions
How much does GrantStation cost?
GrantStation advertises its GS Membership at 41 cents a day. [1] The sources reviewed here do not give a monthly or annual total, so check GrantStation's own pricing page for the full terms before you sign up.
How much does Raise Buddy cost?
The free plan opens programs up to $1,000. [2] Plus is $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000. [2] Pro is $199 a month and opens every program, with the advisors' review and the AI assistant connection. [2] The first three matches in each section open on every plan. [2]
Does GrantStation help with proposals?
GrantStation says it offers a Proposal Reviewer that helps identify strengths and gaps in a proposal before it is submitted. [1] The sources reviewed here say nothing more about how it handles the rest of the proposal process, so check how much of the writing you still do yourself.
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. [2] Each match says whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. [2]
Does GrantStation cover funders outside the US?
GrantStation says it covers funders in the U.S., Canada, and internationally, with AI-assisted tools to help refine your search. [1] The sources reviewed here do not list which countries or regions are included beyond that, so ask before you sign up if you need a specific country.
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. [2]
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