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Scholarship platform fact table: compare 2 to 6 platforms side by side
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- Stated on the platform's pages
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| Fact | Appily (formerly Cappex) | Bold.org | Fastweb | Niche | ScholarshipOwl | Scholarships.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Path | a search database | a platform-run awards site | a search database | a platform-run awards site with some search database features | an apply-for-you service with some platform-run award features | a search database |
| Cost | Free account. Source: Appily scholarships page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Free. The homepage says "100% free no fees, ever". Source: Bold.org homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Free. The homepage says "Fastweb is a free scholarship search platform". Source: Fastweb homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Free account. Source: Niche scholarship information page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Paid membership after a free trial. ScholarshipOwl's FAQ says introductory services are free of charge and the full range of services is offered on a premium level, priced by the range of services. Source: ScholarshipOwl FAQ · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Free. The homepage says "100% free". Source: Scholarships.com 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 student plan on the pages we read. Source: Bold.org homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Free. No paid plan on the pages we read. Source: Fastweb homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Free. No paid plan on the pages we read. Source: Niche scholarship information page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Not published Not published on ScholarshipOwl's public pages. The homepage, FAQ and terms give no plan prices, the /upgrade page returned "404 NOT FOUND", and prices appear only in the signup flow, which we did not open. Source: ScholarshipOwl /upgrade page (returned 404) · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Free. No paid plan on the pages we read. Source: Scholarships.com 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 | "Thousands of Scholarships Exclusively Awarded on Bold.org", with exclusive new scholarships "published daily and matched to you". Source: Bold.org homepage · 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 | "We offer thousands of scholarships, many of which don't require an essay." Source: Niche scholarship information page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | The homepage says its algorithm checks your profile "against 10,000+ scholarships". Source: ScholarshipOwl homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 | "Over 3.7 million scholarships and grants totaling about $19 billion" in a "verified and continuously updated scholarship database". Source: Scholarships.com homepage · 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 | New scholarships are matched to your profile. Each scholarship page shows the funder, eligibility, the award and number of winners, the application deadline and the date winners are announced. Source: Bold.org scholarship page example · 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 | Get matched to "personalized scholarships you're eligible for" or browse by category, with filters. Source: Niche scholarships page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Matches come from your registration answers (GPA, major, background, interests, activities); application questions double as eligibility criteria. You can sort and filter matches and favorite or hide them. Source: ScholarshipOwl FAQ · Read 15 Oct 2026 | A free search for high school, college, graduate and non-traditional students. The app says "Nearly 50% of our database is location-based". Source: Scholarships.com on the App Store · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| One application, many scholarships | Not on the pages we read | Partly The App Store listing says "Apply with one tap (no-essay) or write a standout response". Source: Bold.org Scholarships on the App Store · Read 15 Oct 2026 | 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 | Stated The FAQ says you can apply to multiple scholarships "at once with ONE application" and that it uses your profile to "apply to multiple scholarships on your behalf". Source: ScholarshipOwl FAQ · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Not on the pages we read |
| Automatic reapplication | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read | Stated The homepage says you are "automatically reapplied to scholarships that select multiple winners year-round". Source: ScholarshipOwl homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Not on the pages we read |
| Runs its own no-essay award | Not on the pages we read | Partly Scholarships are hosted on Bold.org itself, and its App Store listing describes one-tap applications for no-essay awards. Source: Bold.org Scholarships on the App Store · Read 15 Oct 2026 | 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 | Stated Runs the "$50,000 No Essay Scholarship": a monthly random draw with four students receiving $1,000 each and two extra winners in December. Signing up enters you, with no fee. Source: ScholarshipOwl FAQ · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Not on the pages we read |
| Tracking and reminders | Not on the pages we read | 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 | Not on the pages we read | Stated The homepage says "Track all your applications in one place"; the App Store listing tracks bookmarked, in-progress and submitted applications and sends "Smart daily reminders". Source: ScholarshipOwl on the App Store · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Partly The privacy policy says it sends scholarship alerts. Application tracking is not described on the pages we read. Source: Scholarships.com privacy policy · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Essay help | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read | Partly The homepage says "One essay, multiple personalized applications". Essay review is listed only by a third party (see the price box). Source: ScholarshipOwl homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Not on the pages we read |
| States scholarships are vetted | Not on the pages we read | Partly Every scholarship page names its funder, and the App Store listing describes "Real scholarships from real donors". A separate vetting process is not described on the pages we read. Source: Bold.org scholarship page example · Read 15 Oct 2026 | 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 | 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 | Stated The homepage calls it a "one-stop platform for vetted scholarships", and the App Store listing says every scholarship shows award amounts, deadlines, requirements "and a credibility score". Source: ScholarshipOwl on the App Store · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Stated The homepage says "Vetted scholarship opportunities" and a "verified and continuously updated scholarship database". Source: Scholarships.com homepage · 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 | Not on the pages we read | Stated The footer links "Your Privacy Choices" and "Ad Choices". Source: Fastweb homepage · 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 | Stated The site links "Do not sell or share my personal information". Source: ScholarshipOwl privacy policy · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Stated The footer links "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" and a Trust Center. Source: Scholarships.com homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Mobile app | Not on the pages we read | Stated iOS app by Bold.org, Inc., rated 4.7 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings. Source: Bold.org Scholarships on the App Store · Read 15 Oct 2026 | 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 | Not on the pages we read | Stated iOS app by Scholarship Services Inc., rated 4.7 out of 5 from 228 ratings (US store). The listing says "Many scholarships are one-click apply". Source: ScholarshipOwl on the App Store · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Stated iOS app by Scholarships.com, LLC, rated 5.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings; the footer also links Google Play. Source: Scholarships.com 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 Bold.org's privacy policy (effective August 29, 2024) says: "We may sell to or share your information with, and generate revenue from, scholarship providers, applicable academic institutions". It may sell to educational institutions named in your profile and takes part in "partner advertising programs". Source: Bold.org privacy policy · 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 | 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 | Data: policy mentions selling ScholarshipOwl's privacy policy (last revised December 23, 2025) says "we may sell Identifiers generally" and "We may also sell certain Sensitive Personal Information, like ethnicity and citizenship, to Third Parties". It does not sell text-message opt-in data, and it shares your information with third parties to apply for scholarships when you direct it to. Source: ScholarshipOwl privacy policy · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Data: policy mentions selling Scholarships.com's privacy policy (updated April 17, 2026) says "We may sell or share personal information", including for marketing and advertising. With your consent it shares information with "education-related partners", provides it "to colleges and universities" and sends marketing. Source: Scholarships.com privacy policy · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Ratings | We did not read an app store or Trustpilot rating for Appily. | Trustpilot: 4.8 out of 5 from 218 reviews · Claimed profile since May 2026 · Read 15 Oct 2026 Source: Bold.org on Trustpilot · Read 15 Oct 2026 App Store (US): 4.7 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings · Read 15 Oct 2026 Source: Bold.org Scholarships on the App Store · Read 15 Oct 2026 | 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 | 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. | Trustpilot: 4.2 out of 5 from 1,260 reviews · Claimed profile since May 2015 · Paid Trustpilot subscription · Read 15 Oct 2026 Source: ScholarshipOwl on Trustpilot · Read 15 Oct 2026 App Store (US): 4.7 out of 5 from 228 ratings · Read 15 Oct 2026 Source: ScholarshipOwl on the App Store · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Trustpilot: 2.9 out of 5 from 2 reviews · Claimed profile since March 2021 · Read 15 Oct 2026 Source: Scholarships.com on Trustpilot · Read 15 Oct 2026 App Store (US): 5.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings · Read 15 Oct 2026 Source: Scholarships.com on the App Store · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Applicant counts | Not shown on the pages we read. | Not shown on the scholarship page we read. | Not shown on the pages we read. | Not shown on the pages we read. | Not shown on the public pages we read. ScholarshipOwl's scholarship list needs a login. | 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 | Bold.org, Inc. Source: Bold.org Scholarships on the App Store · 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 | Niche (niche.com) Source: Niche scholarship information page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Scholarship Services, Inc. (d/b/a ScholarshipOwl), Wilmington, Delaware Source: ScholarshipOwl FAQ · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Scholarships.com, LLC Source: Scholarships.com homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I sort by a total?
Because there is no total. Sort by what matters to you: cost, essays, reminders or privacy.
Where do these facts come from?
Each platform's own pages, its App Store listing and its Trustpilot profile, read on 15 October 2026. Every cell links to its source.