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Nonprofits · head to head

Google Nonprofit Tools vs Submittable

Google Nonprofit Tools logo

Google Nonprofit Tools

Nonprofits

Free Google tools for nonprofits

From
Free
Rated
-
Submittable logo

Submittable

Nonprofits

Application, review and grant management for funders running open calls at volume

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Google Nonprofit Tools has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Google Nonprofit Tools governmental entities and organizations are not eligible; Submittable pricing is not published and tier jumps are steep, so an organisation that grows past a submission or form limit can face a renewal quote well above the previous year with limited negotiating room mid-programme.
  • They diverge on capability: Google Nonprofit Tools covers Email and collaboration, Submittable covers Configurable application forms.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Google Nonprofit Tools and Submittable differ
AttributeGoogle Nonprofit ToolsSubmittable
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidWeb
Founded1998Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Submittable

  • Configurable application forms
  • Blind and multi-stage review
  • Reviewer management
  • Grant payments
  • Impact reporting
  • Applicant messaging
  • API and integrations

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 Submittable
  • Online advertising credits through Google Ad Grantsnot Submittable
  • YouTube monetization for nonprofit contentnot Submittable

Submittable

  • A foundation running an open grant round where a volunteer panel must score hundreds of applications without seeing applicant identitiesnot Google Nonprofit Tools
  • A corporate giving team collecting employee-nominated grant requests and needing an audit trail for financenot Google Nonprofit Tools
  • An arts council managing fellowship and residency applications with multi-stage juriesnot Google Nonprofit Tools
  • A city agency distributing relief funds and required to show equitable review and decision recordsnot 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

Submittable

  • Pricing is not published and tier jumps are steep, so an organisation that grows past a submission or form limit can face a renewal quote well above the previous year with limited negotiating room mid-programme.
  • It is built around the application funnel rather than the funder's relationship with grantees, so long-term relationship management, pledge tracking and multi-year commitments are weaker than in a purpose-built grants CRM.
  • Applicant-facing forms are constrained by the platform's templates, and organisations wanting a fully branded application experience on their own domain will find the customisation shallow.
  • Reporting is serviceable for programme counts but limited for board-level financial reporting, so many finance teams still export to spreadsheets to reconcile awards against the general ledger.
  • Payment disbursement capability varies by tier and region, and organisations funding recipients outside the United States often still pay grants through their bank rather than through the platform.

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Nonprofit Tools

Free
  • Nonprofit ProgramFree
    • Google Workspace
    • Gmail
    • Drive

Submittable

On request
  • Submittable$undefined/year
    • Application forms and applicant portal
    • Reviewer workflow and scoring rubrics
    • Grant award and reporting modules on higher tiers

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.

Choose Submittable if

  • You need configurable application forms.
  • You also want blind and multi-stage review.

Questions people ask

Is Google Nonprofit Tools or Submittable better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Nonprofit Tools starts at Free and Submittable at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Nonprofit Tools or Submittable?
Google Nonprofit Tools has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Google Nonprofit Tools and On request for Submittable.
Does Google Nonprofit Tools or Submittable run on more platforms?
Google Nonprofit Tools runs on Web, IOS, Android. Submittable runs on Web.
Can I use Google Nonprofit Tools for free?
Yes. Google Nonprofit Tools has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Submittable starts at On request.
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 Submittable is typically brought in for.
What can Google Nonprofit Tools do that Submittable cannot?
Google Nonprofit Tools covers Email and collaboration, Cloud storage, Ad Grants, Analytics. Submittable covers Configurable application forms, Blind and multi-stage review, Reviewer management, Grant payments.

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
Submittable: What does Submittable actually cost?

It is not published. Reported entry points are in the low thousands of dollars a year, with price driven by submission volume, number of forms and seats. Get the tier limits written into the contract before signing.

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
Submittable: Is it a grants management system or a submission manager?

Both, depending on tier. The review side is its strength. Award tracking, payments and grantee reporting sit on higher tiers and are less deep than a dedicated grants CRM.

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
Submittable: Can reviewers work anonymously?

Yes. Blind review, staged rounds and conflict of interest flagging are core features rather than paid extras.

Submittable: Is there a nonprofit discount?

Nonprofit pricing exists but is applied inside the quote rather than published as a percentage, so compare quotes rather than assuming a standard rate.

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