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Nonprofits · head to head

OpenGrants vs TechSoup

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
T

TechSoup

Nonprofits

Technology solutions and discounts for nonprofits

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; TechSoup plus membership requires $200 annual commitment
  • They diverge on capability: OpenGrants covers Grant search, TechSoup covers Software marketplace.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenGrants and TechSoup actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenGrants and TechSoup differ
AttributeOpenGrantsTechSoup
Pricing modelPer user per monthfreemium
FoundedUnknown1987

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), 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 OpenGrants

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

Only in TechSoup

  • Software marketplace
  • Hardware discounts
  • Vendor directory
  • Technology resources
  • Training
  • Various vendors
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

OpenGrants

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

TechSoup

  • Business operationsnot OpenGrants
  • Productivitynot OpenGrants
  • Automationnot OpenGrants

Where each one falls short

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

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.

TechSoup

  • Plus membership requires $200 annual commitment
  • Advanced courses at high original cost ($5,900 valued)
  • Community networking limited to 10 members in dedicated space
  • Chat support only available to Plus members

Pricing, plan by plan

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

TechSoup

Free
  • TechSoup CoreFree
    • Up to 90% discounts on 100+ software and hardware
    • Basic and intermediate courses
    • Select webinars
  • TechSoup Plus$200/year
    • All Core benefits
    • Exclusive limited-time partner offers
    • Advanced courses at 80% discount

Which should you pick?

Choose OpenGrants if

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

Choose TechSoup if

  • You need software marketplace.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want hardware discounts.
TechSoup review

Questions people ask

Is OpenGrants or TechSoup better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenGrants starts at Free and TechSoup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenGrants or TechSoup?
OpenGrants starts at Free and TechSoup at Free.
Does OpenGrants or TechSoup run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use OpenGrants for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is OpenGrants best used for?
OpenGrants is most often used for a small nonprofit with no research budget that needs to know whether relevant grants exist before hiring anyone, a startup hunting sbir, state innovation and economic development funding across multiple agencies, a freelance grant writer covering several clients who cannot pass on a several-hundred-dollar monthly database cost, an organisation wanting to hire a grant writer for one application without running a procurement. Of those, a small nonprofit with no research budget that needs to know whether relevant grants exist before hiring anyone and a startup hunting sbir, state innovation and economic development funding across multiple agencies are not what TechSoup is typically brought in for.
What can OpenGrants do that TechSoup cannot?
OpenGrants covers Grant search, Saved searches and alerts, Funder profiles, Opportunity tracking. TechSoup covers Software marketplace, Hardware discounts, Vendor directory, Technology resources.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

TechSoup: How much does TechSoup cost?

TechSoup Core is free, while TechSoup Plus costs $200 per year and includes exclusive offers, advanced courses, expert consultations, and networking events.

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.

TechSoup: Is TechSoup free to join?

Yes, TechSoup Core membership is completely free and provides access to 100+ discounted software and hardware solutions from major partners like Microsoft, Adobe, and AWS.

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.

TechSoup: What additional benefits does TechSoup Plus provide?

TechSoup Plus ($200/year) adds exclusive partner offers, advanced courses at 80% discount, expert-led webinars, personalized tech audits, one-on-one consultations, and a dedicated community space.

Source
OpenGrants: Is the consultant marketplace vetted?

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

TechSoup: Who qualifies for TechSoup membership?

TechSoup is designed for nonprofits and provides discounted access to software from Microsoft, Adobe, Intuit, AWS, Cisco, Dell, and other technology partners.

Source
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