Side by side · Facts only
Appily (formerly Cappex) or Niche: 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 Niche compare on the facts?
Scroll the table sideways
| Fact | Appily (formerly Cappex) | Niche |
|---|---|---|
| Path | a search database | a platform-run awards site with some search database features |
| Cost | Free account. Source: Appily scholarships page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Free account. Source: Niche scholarship information page · 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: Niche scholarship information page · 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 | "We offer thousands of scholarships, many of which don't require an essay." Source: Niche scholarship information 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 | Get matched to "personalized scholarships you're eligible for" or browse by category, with filters. Source: Niche scholarships page · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| One application, many scholarships | Not on the pages we read | Partly Niche says you can "apply to several with just a few clicks". Source: Niche scholarship information page · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| 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 | Stated Niche runs the "$40,000 Niche No Essay Scholarship" ("Requirements None", one student) and links a "$2,000 No Essay Scholarship". Source: Niche scholarships page · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Tracking and reminders | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| Essay help | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| States scholarships are vetted | Not on the pages we read | Partly For Niche's own awards, winners are selected and notified by Votigo, "our official scholarship fulfillment partner", and Niche says official mail comes only from Niche or @votigo.com. Source: Niche scholarship information 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 | Partly You can opt in to sharing personal information with advertisers through your communication settings. Source: Niche privacy policy · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Mobile app | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| 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 Niche's privacy policy has a table of "Third Parties to Whom We Sell and/or Share" that lists identifiers (name, address, phone, email) going to "Advertising partners". Source: Niche privacy policy · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Ratings | We did not read an app store or Trustpilot rating for Appily. | We found a Trustpilot profile for niche.com, but it is filed under an unrelated category, so we do not quote it. We did not read an app store rating. |
| 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 | Niche (niche.com) Source: Niche scholarship information page · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
Where do they differ?
Appily states, Niche does not
Nothing on our feature list.
Niche states, Appily does not
- its own no-essay award
- one application for many scholarships partly
- a statement that listings are vetted partly
Which should you choose?
Choose Appily if
You want a free database with detailed filters and do not mind colleges contacting you.
Choose Niche if
You want quick no-essay entries and are also searching for colleges.
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 Niche if: You need deadline tracking, or you do not want your contact details shared with advertising partners.
What does the match quiz say?
- A senior who wants no-essay awards and free tools only: Niche
- A 10th grader exploring no-essay awards: Niche
Frequently asked questions
Is Appily or Niche free?
Both are free to use, according to their own pages.
Which lists more scholarships, Appily or Niche?
Appily: Appily calls it "the nation's largest, multi-billion dollar scholarship database". It does not publish a count on the page we read. Niche: "We offer thousands of scholarships, many of which don't require an essay." No exact count is published. These are each platform's own figures, counted in different ways.
Which is more careful with my data, Appily or Niche?
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. Niche: Niche's privacy policy has a table of "Third Parties to Whom We Sell and/or Share" that lists identifiers (name, address, phone, email) going to "Advertising partners".