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Head-to-head · Application Management Software

OpenWater vs Good Grants

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 7 checks side by side
Higher score OpenWater #1 in Application Management Software 9.3/10 Pricing on request ✓ 6 of 6 features Visit OpenWater
Good Grants #7 in Application Management Software 8.6/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 6 features Visit Good Grants

OpenWater leads on 0 checks, Good Grants on 0, and 7 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 7 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreOpenWater · 9.3/10
  • Free trialonly Good Grants
  • Most featuresOpenWater · 6 of 6

OpenWater scores higher on our rubric for application management software: 9.3 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #7.

OpenWater is the better fit for organizations running complex multi-program applications. Good Grants is the better fit for grant teams wanting transparent pricing.

  • OpenWater fits best

    Organizations running complex multi-program applications

  • Good Grants fits best

    Grant teams wanting transparent pricing

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Side by side

Feature OpenWater 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Good Grants 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.6
Ranking #1 in Application Management Software #7 in Application Management Software
Best for Organizations running complex multi-program applications Grant teams wanting transparent pricing
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price Pricing on request $3,950/yr
Free plan Not checked yet —
Free trial — 14 days
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Support Email, Live chat, Docs, Tickets Email, Tickets, Docs
Compliance SSO/SAML SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SSO/SAML, 2FA
Integrations 65+ integrations 16 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features OpenWater 6/6 · Good Grants 5/6
Scoring and rubrics ✓ ✓
Reviewer collaboration ✓ ✓
Applicant portal ✓ ✓
Workflow automation ✓ ✓
Reporting and analytics ✓ ✓
Payment collection ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Supported programs Not checked yet Grants
Our review
Pros
  • Supports grants, scholarships, awards, fellowships, and abstract management
  • Combines multi-round reviews, scoring, workflows, reporting, and fund tracking
  • Offers REST API access plus CRM, AMS, payment, and directory integrations
  • Configurable forms, conditional fields and auto-save support complex applications
  • Reviewer panels, scoring modes and multiple review rounds support structured evaluation
  • API, webhooks and integrations connect grant workflows with other platforms
Cons
  • Pricing requires contacting sales
  • Broad configuration may be more than a single-program team needs
  • AI features are available without further detail on their specific functions
  • No free plan; annual pricing starts at $3,950
  • Enterprise pricing requires a custom quote
  • The platform is web-based rather than offered as a desktop application
Our verdict

OpenWater is a web-based application and review management platform for associations, foundations, higher education institutions, and other organizations managing structured programs. It brings application forms, applicant portals,…

Read the review →

Good Grants is cloud-based grantmaking software for organisations running grant, scholarship, fellowship and corporate-giving programs. It brings applications, applicant management, moderation, reviewer assignments, scoring, awards,…

Read the review →
  1. OpenWaterApplication Management Software 9.3Pricing on request
  2. Good GrantsApplication Management Software 8.614-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • OpenWater — where it wins

    • Supports grants, scholarships, awards, fellowships, and abstract management
    • Combines multi-round reviews, scoring, workflows, reporting, and fund tracking
    • Offers REST API access plus CRM, AMS, payment, and directory integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires contacting sales
    • Broad configuration may be more than a single-program team needs
    • AI features are available without further detail on their specific functions

  • Good Grants — where it wins

    • Configurable forms, conditional fields and auto-save support complex applications
    • Reviewer panels, scoring modes and multiple review rounds support structured evaluation
    • API, webhooks and integrations connect grant workflows with other platforms

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan; annual pricing starts at $3,950
    • Enterprise pricing requires a custom quote
    • The platform is web-based rather than offered as a desktop application

More comparisons

All application management software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update