Side by side · Facts only
Appily (formerly Cappex) or Fastweb: which scholarship platform fits you?
Quick answer
By The Fit Desk · Scholarship Match Finder · Published
Sources: public platform pages, app store listings and review sites, read 15 October 2026.
How do Appily and Fastweb compare on the facts?
Scroll the table sideways
| Fact | Appily (formerly Cappex) | Fastweb |
|---|---|---|
| Path | a search database | a search database |
| Cost | Free account. Source: Appily scholarships page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Free. The homepage says "Fastweb is a free scholarship search platform". Source: Fastweb homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Price as published | Free. No paid student plan on the pages we read. Source: Appily scholarships page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Free. No paid plan on the pages we read. Source: Fastweb homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Size as stated | Appily calls it "the nation's largest, multi-billion dollar scholarship database". Source: Appily scholarships page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | "1.5 million college scholarships worth over $3.4 billion", seen by creating a free profile. Source: Fastweb About page · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| How matching works | A free account shows "personalized matches". Filters include deadline, minimum award, location, gender, ethnicity, enrollment level, first-generation, financial need, LGBTQIA, disability and non-US citizens. Source: Appily scholarships page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | A "quick questionnaire" (contact details, schools of interest, possible majors) gives personalized recommendations. You can add activities, jobs and parents' information to the profile. Source: Fastweb About page · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| One application, many scholarships | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| Automatic reapplication | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| Runs its own no-essay award | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| Tracking and reminders | Not on the pages we read | Partly The app lets you manage your scholarship list from your phone. Deadline reminders are not described on the pages we read. Source: Fastweb College Scholarships on the App Store · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Essay help | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| States scholarships are vetted | Not on the pages we read | Stated "Every scholarship in our database has been researched and vetted by a team of real people"; Fastweb says it works to keep the database "free of scholarship scams". Source: Fastweb About page · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Do-not-sell or privacy choices link | Partly Appily's pages describe how to opt out of data sharing with colleges and link a "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" page and a "Minor-Friendly Privacy Policy". Source: About Appily · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Stated The footer links "Your Privacy Choices" and "Ad Choices". Source: Fastweb homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Mobile app | Not on the pages we read | Stated iOS app "Fastweb College Scholarships" by Monster Worldwide, rated 2.7 out of 5 from 85 ratings. Source: Fastweb College Scholarships on the App Store · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Data | Data: shared with colleges Appily's pages say colleges can use your profile information "to share admission offers with students who match their criteria", and that opting out of data sharing with colleges is done through its Privacy Notice page. Source: Appily: Cappex is now Appily · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Data: policy mentions selling Fastweb's privacy policy (last updated December 17, 2025) says its free services are offered based on users' "willingness ... to be contacted by colleges or our marketing partners", that information "may be sold to colleges", and that it may be shared with colleges, employers, recruiters, "data aggregators, marketers". Source: Fastweb privacy policy · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Ratings | We did not read an app store or Trustpilot rating for Appily. | Trustpilot: 1.2 out of 5 from 232 reviews · Unclaimed profile · Read 15 Oct 2026 Source: Fastweb on Trustpilot · Read 15 Oct 2026 App Store (US): 2.7 out of 5 from 85 ratings · Read 15 Oct 2026 Source: Fastweb College Scholarships on the App Store · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Applicant counts | Not shown on the pages we read. | Not shown on the pages we read. |
| Operator | Owned by EAB, per Appily's pages Source: Appily: about page for AI tools · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Monster Worldwide bought Fastweb in 2001; the privacy policy is issued by Iron Corp US Inc. Source: Fastweb About page · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
Where do they differ?
Appily states, Fastweb does not
Nothing on our feature list.
Fastweb states, Appily does not
- a statement that listings are vetted
- a do-not-sell or privacy choices link
- a mobile app
- tracking and reminders partly
Which should you choose?
Choose Appily if
You want a free database with detailed filters and do not mind colleges contacting you.
Choose Fastweb if
You have time to search and apply one by one and want a very large free list with human vetting.
Look elsewhere than Appily if: You want a platform that applies for you, or you do not want colleges to see your profile.
Look elsewhere than Fastweb if: You want help applying, or you do not want colleges and marketers contacting you.
What does the match quiz say?
- A senior with a few hours a week who will write essays: Fastweb, ScholarshipOwl and Scholarships.com
- A college student with time to write, free tools only: Fastweb and Scholarships.com
- A younger student who does not want data sold: Fastweb and Scholarships.com
Frequently asked questions
Is Appily or Fastweb free?
Both are free to use, according to their own pages.
Which lists more scholarships, Appily or Fastweb?
Appily: Appily calls it "the nation's largest, multi-billion dollar scholarship database". It does not publish a count on the page we read. Fastweb: "1.5 million college scholarships worth over $3.4 billion", seen by creating a free profile. These are each platform's own figures, counted in different ways.
Which is more careful with my data, Appily or Fastweb?
Appily: Appily's pages say colleges can use your profile information "to share admission offers with students who match their criteria", and that opting out of data sharing with colleges is done through its Privacy Notice page. Fastweb: Fastweb's privacy policy (last updated December 17, 2025) says its free services are offered based on users' "willingness ... to be contacted by colleges or our marketing partners", that information "may be sold to colleges", and that it may be shared with colleges, employers, recruiters, "data aggregators, marketers".