Side by side · Facts only
Niche or Scholarships.com: 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 Niche and Scholarships.com compare on the facts?
Scroll the table sideways
| Fact | Niche | Scholarships.com |
|---|---|---|
| Path | a platform-run awards site with some search database features | a search database |
| Cost | Free account. Source: Niche scholarship information page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Free. The homepage says "100% free". Source: Scholarships.com homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Price as published | Free. No paid plan on the pages we read. Source: Niche scholarship information page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Free. No paid plan on the pages we read. Source: Scholarships.com homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
| Size as stated | "We offer thousands of scholarships, many of which don't require an essay." Source: Niche scholarship information page · 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 | Get matched to "personalized scholarships you're eligible for" or browse by category, with filters. Source: Niche scholarships page · 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 | Partly Niche says you can "apply to several with just a few clicks". Source: Niche scholarship information page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | 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 | 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 | Not on the pages we read |
| Tracking and reminders | Not on the pages we read | 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 |
| States scholarships are vetted | 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 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 You can opt in to sharing personal information with advertisers through your communication settings. Source: Niche 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 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: 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 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 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: 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 pages we read. |
| Operator | Niche (niche.com) Source: Niche scholarship information page · Read 15 Oct 2026 | Scholarships.com, LLC Source: Scholarships.com homepage · Read 15 Oct 2026 |
Where do they differ?
Niche states, Scholarships.com does not
- its own no-essay award
- one application for many scholarships partly
Scholarships.com states, Niche 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 Niche if
You want quick no-essay entries and are also searching for colleges.
Choose Scholarships.com if
You want the biggest free list, including local and graduate awards, and are ready to apply one by one.
Look elsewhere than Niche if: You need deadline tracking, or you do not want your contact details shared with advertising partners.
Look elsewhere than Scholarships.com if: You want a service that applies for you or tracks every application.
What does the match quiz say?
- A senior with a few hours a week who will write essays: Fastweb, ScholarshipOwl and Scholarships.com
- A senior who wants no-essay awards and free tools only: Niche
- 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
- A graduate student who will write essays: Scholarships.com
- A 10th grader exploring no-essay awards: Niche
Frequently asked questions
Is Niche or Scholarships.com free?
Both are free to use, according to their own pages.
Which lists more scholarships, Niche or Scholarships.com?
Niche: "We offer thousands of scholarships, many of which don't require an essay." No exact count is published. Scholarships.com: "Over 3.7 million scholarships and grants totaling about $19 billion" in a "verified and continuously updated scholarship database". These are each platform's own figures, counted in different ways.
Which is more careful with my data, Niche or Scholarships.com?
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". Scholarships.com: 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.