SBIR.gov alternatives in 2026: Top Grant Finders
Compare SBIR.gov alternatives for finding grants: GrantStation, Candid, GrantWatch, Grants.gov and Raise Buddy, with facts and questions to check.
CDings is published by the makers of Raise Buddy and ProductCost, which are compared here alongside other tools.
SBIR.gov alternatives for finding grants include GrantStation, Candid Foundation Directory, GrantWatch, Grants.gov and Raise Buddy. They differ in how they are priced, what they search and what they help with after you find a match. The sections below give each option's stated facts so you can match them to your situation.
| Option | Own fee or price | Card fee | Free way to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBIR.gov | not published | not published | not published |
| GrantStation | 41 cents a day [1] | not published | Free weekly funding updates [1] |
| Candid Foundation Directory | Premium monthly from $219/month [2] | not published | Free registration [3] |
| 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 [4] | not published | Free plan opens programs up to $1,000 [4] |
Why small-business owners look past SBIR.gov
SBIR.gov has no facts published on this page. Check its own site to see what funding opportunities it lists, how to search them, who can apply, and whether it charges any fees. The absence of published facts here means you must check its own site for what it lists and who can apply. Some small-business owners want a broader search tool, a lower-cost option, or options for funding beyond federal grants, and the options below differ on those points.
GrantStation: curated funding opportunities and planning tools
GrantStation advertises its GS Membership at 41 cents a day. [1] It offers free weekly funding updates and expert insights by sign-up. [1] Check its own site for other features and how the daily rate is billed.
Candid Foundation Directory: search organizations and grant data
Candid says its monthly plan includes unlimited searches and profile views. [2] Check on its site for its other search options, plans and data details.
GrantWatch: grant discovery through post-award reporting
Check on its site for what GrantWatch covers and details about its pricing plans.
Grants.gov: federal funding opportunities
Grants.gov is a federal portal. Check its own site for what it lists, how to search its opportunities, 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. [4] Each match says whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. [4] It includes private foundations that take applications, read from their own Form 990-PF tax returns. [4] It 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. [4] 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. [4] 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. [4] On the Pro plan, ten AI personas read your organisation and matches and write what to do first; none of them is a real person. [4] It keeps track of where each of your applications stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. [4] On the Pro plan, you can connect an AI assistant such as Claude so it can search Raise Buddy, with ten tools to use. [4] 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). [4] The app works on the web and on phones. [4] The web app needs nothing installed; you connect an AI assistant by adding Raise Buddy's address to it. [4] Only English is shown for now, even though five more languages are planned. [4]
How to pick the right SBIR.gov alternative
If you want funding updates by sign-up, look at GrantStation. [1] If you want to research organizations, check Candid Foundation Directory, whose plan includes unlimited searches and profile views. [2] If you want to look at GrantWatch, check its own site for what it covers and how it is priced.
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, and each match says whether you can apply. [4] [4]
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. Raise Buddy keeps track of where each of your applications stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. [4]
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to SBIR.gov?
Some options have a free way to start. GrantStation offers free weekly funding updates by sign-up. [1] Raise Buddy has a Free plan that opens programs up to $1,000. [4] Check what each free tier includes before relying on it.
What tools does GrantWatch include?
Check GrantWatch's site to see what it offers and how its tools work.
How much does GrantStation cost?
GrantStation advertises its GS Membership at 41 cents a day. [1] It offers free weekly funding updates and expert insights by sign-up. [1] It also offers a Decision Matrix to compare prospects. [1] Check on its site how that daily rate is billed and what other features the membership covers.
What does Candid Foundation Directory cost?
Candid lists a Premium monthly plan starting at $219/month, billed monthly. [2] It lists a Premium annual plan at $100/month starting price, $1,199 billed annually. [2] It also lists an Ultimate annual plan at $142/month starting price, $1,699 billed annually. [2] Its Ultimate plan adds a data visualization tool. [2]
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). [4] The first three matches in each section open on every plan. [4] Only English is shown for now. [4]
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. [4]
Try Raise BuddySources
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