Softwr

Nonprofits · head to head

OpenGrants vs VolunteerHub

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
VolunteerHub logo

VolunteerHub

Nonprofits

Volunteer management platform for nonprofits

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenGrants has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; VolunteerHub both published plans are billed annually and carry a set up fee on top of the monthly figure
  • They diverge on capability: OpenGrants covers Grant search, VolunteerHub covers Volunteer database.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenGrants and VolunteerHub actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenGrants and VolunteerHub differ
AttributeOpenGrantsVolunteerHub
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, IOS, Android
FoundedUnknown2011

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 OpenGrants

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

Only in VolunteerHub

  • Volunteer database
  • Scheduling
  • Task management
  • Communication tools
  • Reporting
  • Zapier
  • Google Calendar
  • Slack

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 VolunteerHub
  • A startup hunting SBIR, state innovation and economic development funding across multiple agenciesnot VolunteerHub
  • A freelance grant writer covering several clients who cannot pass on a several-hundred-dollar monthly database costnot VolunteerHub
  • An organisation wanting to hire a grant writer for one application without running a procurementnot VolunteerHub

VolunteerHub

  • Scheduling and self-registration for volunteer shifts and eventsnot OpenGrants
  • Tracking volunteer hours and generating custom reportsnot OpenGrants
  • Recruiting volunteers through branded opportunity landing pagesnot 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.

VolunteerHub

  • Both published plans are billed annually and carry a set up fee on top of the monthly figure
  • The entry Plus plan starts at $143 per month and Pro at $288 per month, both quoted as starting prices
  • Plans carry a user limit; only volunteers inactive for a full twelve months stop counting against it
  • Single Sign-On is an optional paid add-on on every tier including Enterprise, not an included feature
  • Background check integrations with Sterling Volunteers and PeopleFacts are optional paid add-ons on every tier
  • CRM integrations such as Raiser's Edge are optional add-ons rather than included
  • Volunteer fundraising is optional on Plus and Pro and carries a processing fee when used
  • The Enterprise tier has no published price and requires contacting sales

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

VolunteerHub

On request
  • Starter$75/month
    • Volunteer database
    • Scheduling
  • Professional$150/month
    • Advanced reporting
    • Mobile app
    • Integrations

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 VolunteerHub if

  • You need volunteer database.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want scheduling.
VolunteerHub review

Questions people ask

Is OpenGrants or VolunteerHub better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenGrants starts at Free and VolunteerHub at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenGrants or VolunteerHub?
OpenGrants has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenGrants and On request for VolunteerHub.
Does OpenGrants or VolunteerHub run on more platforms?
OpenGrants runs on Web. VolunteerHub runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use OpenGrants for free?
Yes. OpenGrants has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. VolunteerHub starts at On request.
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 VolunteerHub is typically brought in for.
What can OpenGrants do that VolunteerHub cannot?
OpenGrants covers Grant search, Saved searches and alerts, Funder profiles, Opportunity tracking. VolunteerHub covers Volunteer database, Scheduling, Task management, Communication tools.

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.

VolunteerHub: What is VolunteerHub's least expensive plan?

The Plus plan starts at $143 per month when billed annually, plus a setup fee.

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.

VolunteerHub: What additional costs might apply with VolunteerHub's Pro plan?

The Pro plan starting at $288/month includes most core features, but advanced features are marked as optional, suggesting additional costs may apply for add-ons like group management and data import/export.

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.

VolunteerHub: Are there any limitations on users or reports with VolunteerHub?

No, all three VolunteerHub tiers (Plus, Pro, and Enterprise) include unlimited users and unlimited event configuration.

Source
OpenGrants: Is the consultant marketplace vetted?

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

VolunteerHub: What integrations does VolunteerHub support?

All VolunteerHub plans include integration with Zapier and access to CRM and background check integrations.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on OpenGrants

More on VolunteerHub

Keep looking

Other head to heads