Hello Alice alternatives in 2026

Compare Hello Alice alternatives for finding funding: GrantStation, Candid, GrantWatch, Grants.gov and Raise Buddy with facts to check.

By CDings · 2026-10-12

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

Hello Alice alternatives usually get compared on price, on what each tool searches, and on what it does after a match. GrantStation, Candid Foundation Directory, GrantWatch, Grants.gov and Raise Buddy are the options with stated facts worth weighing against your situation.

Option	Own fee or price	Card fee	Free way to start
Hello Alice	not published	not published	Free tier available ^[1]
GrantStation	41 cents a day ^[2]	not published	Free weekly funding updates ^[2]
Candid Foundation Directory	Premium monthly from $219/month, billed monthly ^[3]	not published	Free registration ^[4]
GrantWatch	not published	not published	not published
Grants.gov	not published	not published	not published
Raise Buddy	Plus $14.99 a month, Pro $199 a month ^[5]	not published	Free plan opens programs up to $1,000 ^[5]

Why small-business owners look past Hello Alice

Hello Alice says it offers a free tier. ^[1] It also says users can start without setup or a credit card. ^[1] Hello Alice says its AI advisory board is backed by insights from 1.6 million founders. ^[1] Its facts here do not give more details about search coverage, pricing beyond the free tier, or what happens after a funding match. Check those points when comparing tools. Some owners want funding search, organization research, federal program listings, or help that goes beyond grants, and the options below differ on those points.

GrantStation: funding opportunities and planning tools

GrantStation advertises its GS Membership at 41 cents a day. ^[2] It offers free weekly funding updates and expert insights by sign-up. ^[2] Check its other features and coverage to see how they compare with your funding search needs.

Candid Foundation Directory: search organizations and grant data

Candid says registration is free. ^[4] Candid lists a Premium monthly plan starting at $219/month, billed monthly. ^[3] Check what research features and pricing details apply before choosing it.

GrantWatch: check grant and tracking options

Check GrantWatch's published details to see what grant search and tracking features match your needs.

Grants.gov: federal funding opportunities

Check Grants.gov's published pages for what it lists and whether your business type is covered.

Raise Buddy: match your business with funding sources

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. ^[5] Each match says whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. ^[5] It includes private foundations that take applications, read from their own Form 990-PF tax returns. ^[5] 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. ^[5] It keeps track of where each of your applications stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. ^[5] The Free plan opens programs up to $1,000, Plus is $14.99 a month (up to $5,000), and Pro is $199 a month (every program, advisors' review, AI connection). ^[5] Only English is shown for now, even though five more languages are planned. ^[5]

How to pick the right Hello Alice alternative

If you want funding updates by sign-up, look at GrantStation. ^[2] If you want a free registration option, look at Candid Foundation Directory. ^[4] If you want to evaluate GrantWatch, check its published details for the features that fit your needs.

If your business is looking at federal programs, check Grants.gov's own site for what it lists and whether your business type is covered. If you want funding beyond grants, such as loans, credits and prizes, matched from a description of your business, Raise Buddy does that. ^[5]

Before you choose, check what each tool charges for your business size, whether it covers your country, and whether you need tracking after you apply.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free alternative to Hello Alice?

Some options have a free way to start. Hello Alice says it offers a free tier. ^[1] Candid says registration is free. ^[4] GrantStation offers free weekly funding updates by sign-up. ^[2] Raise Buddy has a Free plan that opens programs up to $1,000. ^[5] Check what each free option includes.

How does Hello Alice compare with Raise Buddy?

Hello Alice says it offers a free tier and an AI advisory board backed by insights from 1.6 million founders. ^[1]^[1] Raise Buddy lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding you may be able to apply for after you paste a website or describe what you do. ^[5] Compare the type of funding search needed.

How much does GrantStation cost?

GrantStation advertises its GS Membership at 41 cents a day. ^[2] It also offers free weekly funding updates and expert insights by sign-up. ^[2] Check on its site how the membership is billed and what features are included before choosing it for funding research.

What does Candid Foundation Directory cost?

Candid lists a Premium monthly plan starting at $219/month, billed monthly. ^[3] Candid says registration is free. ^[4] Its table entry shows the published pricing details available here. Check which research features match the type of funding information needed.

What does Raise Buddy cost?

The Free plan opens programs up to $1,000, Plus is $14.99 a month (up to $5,000), and Pro is $199 a month (every program, advisors' review, AI connection). ^[5] The first three matches in each section open on every plan. ^[5] Check which plan includes the funding sources and tools needed.

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. ^[5]

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