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Nonprofits · head to head

Google Nonprofit Tools vs OpenGrants

Google Nonprofit Tools logo

Google Nonprofit Tools

Nonprofits

Free Google tools for nonprofits

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenGrants logo

OpenGrants

Nonprofits

Low-cost grant search across federal, state and private funders, with a paid consultant marketplace alongside

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Google Nonprofit Tools governmental entities and organizations are not eligible; OpenGrants coverage of private foundations is thinner and less curated than Candid or Instrumentl, so a prospect list built solely from OpenGrants will miss foundations that never post public opportunity notices.
  • They diverge on capability: Google Nonprofit Tools covers Email and collaboration, OpenGrants covers Grant search.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Nonprofit Tools and OpenGrants actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Nonprofit Tools and OpenGrants differ
AttributeGoogle Nonprofit ToolsOpenGrants
Pricing modelfreePer user per month
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidWeb
Founded1998Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Nonprofits).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Google Nonprofit Tools

  • Email and collaboration
  • Cloud storage
  • Ad Grants
  • Analytics
  • YouTube
  • Search Console
  • Google Workspace apps
  • Zapier

Only in OpenGrants

  • Grant search
  • Saved searches and alerts
  • Funder profiles
  • Opportunity tracking
  • Consultant marketplace
  • Free tier

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Google Nonprofit Tools

  • Email and productivity tools for nonprofits via Google Workspacenot OpenGrants
  • Online advertising credits through Google Ad Grantsnot OpenGrants
  • YouTube monetization for nonprofit contentnot OpenGrants

OpenGrants

  • A small nonprofit with no research budget that needs to know whether relevant grants exist before hiring anyonenot Google Nonprofit Tools
  • A startup hunting SBIR, state innovation and economic development funding across multiple agenciesnot Google Nonprofit Tools
  • A freelance grant writer covering several clients who cannot pass on a several-hundred-dollar monthly database costnot Google Nonprofit Tools
  • An organisation wanting to hire a grant writer for one application without running a procurementnot Google Nonprofit Tools

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Google Nonprofit Tools

  • Governmental entities and organizations are not eligible
  • Hospitals and health care organizations are not eligible, although their associated charitable arms or foundations are
  • Schools, academic institutions and universities are not eligible, although the philanthropic arms of educational organizations are
  • The organization must be registered as a charitable organization in one of the specific countries or regions where Google for Nonprofits has launched
  • Eligibility requirements vary by country, and every account must pass verification before access is granted

OpenGrants

  • Coverage of private foundations is thinner and less curated than Candid or Instrumentl, so a prospect list built solely from OpenGrants will miss foundations that never post public opportunity notices.
  • The index leans on public opportunity feeds, which means it is strongest on government funding and weakest on the relationship-driven private philanthropy that most nonprofits actually rely on.
  • Matching is keyword driven rather than fit-scored, so users receive alerts for opportunities they are ineligible for and must qualify each one by hand.
  • The consultant marketplace is a directory with variable quality rather than a vetted panel, so buyers carry the risk of choosing a weak grant writer themselves.
  • It is a US-focused index, offering little to organisations seeking UK, EU or Canadian funding.

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Nonprofit Tools

Free
  • Nonprofit ProgramFree
    • Google Workspace
    • Gmail
    • Drive

OpenGrants

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core grant search
    • Limited results and saved searches
    • No card required
  • Subscription$9/month
    • Full search access
    • Saved searches and alerts
    • Funder profiles

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Nonprofit Tools if

  • You need email and collaboration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want cloud storage.
Google Nonprofit Tools review

Choose OpenGrants if

  • You need grant search.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want saved searches and alerts.
OpenGrants review

Questions people ask

Is Google Nonprofit Tools or OpenGrants better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Nonprofit Tools starts at Free and OpenGrants at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Nonprofit Tools or OpenGrants?
Google Nonprofit Tools starts at Free and OpenGrants at Free.
Does Google Nonprofit Tools or OpenGrants run on more platforms?
Google Nonprofit Tools runs on Web, IOS, Android. OpenGrants runs on Web.
Can I use Google Nonprofit Tools for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Nonprofit Tools best used for?
Google Nonprofit Tools is most often used for email and productivity tools for nonprofits via google workspace, online advertising credits through google ad grants, youtube monetization for nonprofit content. Of those, email and productivity tools for nonprofits via google workspace and online advertising credits through google ad grants are not what OpenGrants is typically brought in for.
What can Google Nonprofit Tools do that OpenGrants cannot?
Google Nonprofit Tools covers Email and collaboration, Cloud storage, Ad Grants, Analytics. OpenGrants covers Grant search, Saved searches and alerts, Funder profiles, Opportunity tracking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Nonprofit Tools: How much do Google Nonprofit Tools cost?

Google Nonprofit Tools are provided at no cost to eligible organizations. Eligible nonprofit organizations can access a suite of no-cost and discounted tools.

Source
OpenGrants: How much does it cost?

$9 a month or $99 a year after a seven day trial, with a free tier of core search retained.

Google Nonprofit Tools: What organizations qualify for free Google Nonprofit Tools?

Organizations must be registered as charitable entities in one of 180+ participating geographies and verified through Goodstack, Google's validation partner.

Source
OpenGrants: Why is it so much cheaper than Candid?

Because it indexes public and semi-public opportunity feeds with automation rather than employing researchers to code foundation records from tax filings. You trade depth of private foundation intelligence for price.

Google Nonprofit Tools: What tools are included in Google Nonprofit Tools?

Included tools are Google Workspace for Nonprofits, Google Ad Grants, YouTube Nonprofit Program, and Google Maps Platform credits. Some Workspace editions also receive nonprofit-specific discounts.

Source
OpenGrants: Does it cover private foundations?

Partially. It is strongest on federal and state programmes. For systematic private foundation research, Candid remains the reference source.

OpenGrants: Is the consultant marketplace vetted?

It is a directory, not a vetted panel. Check references and past awards yourself.

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Related pages

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