Grantable Alternative: Why Expirely Replaces Two Tools with One Complete Solution (2025)
Quick Answer
Grantable is excellent at AI grant writing—but it has zero grant discovery features. You'll still need to pay for GrantStation ($600+/year) or Instrumentl ($2,148+/year) separately just to find grants.
Expirely combines both: 41,000+ foundation database + AI writing tools + full lifecycle management for $49-99/month (less than Grantable alone). One platform replaces both tools, saving you $732-1,920/year.
Grantable has earned its reputation as a powerful AI grant writing assistant used by organizations like the LA Philharmonic and University of Cincinnati. But here's the problem: Grantable only helps you write grants—it can't help you find them.
If you're searching for a Grantable alternative that combines discovery with writing, you're in the right place. This comprehensive comparison breaks down exactly where each platform wins, what they cost, and which one makes sense for your nonprofit. We'll show you why Expirely is becoming the preferred Grantable alternative for nonprofits that need both grant discovery AND AI writing tools.
What Grantable Does Well
Let's start with what Grantable genuinely excels at:
Hyper-Specialized AI Writing
Grantable's AI (called "Peter") learns from YOUR past proposals to generate new content in your authentic voice. Upload previous applications, and it drafts responses 5× faster while maintaining your organization's unique style and tone.
Precise Source Control
You can tell Grantable exactly which snippets from your content library to incorporate. This gives you fine-grained control over what the AI references, ensuring accurate and relevant outputs.
Low Entry Price
Grantable starts at $24/month (Starter) with a free forever tier. This makes it accessible for tiny nonprofits wanting to test AI grant writing without major commitment.
SOC Type 2 Compliance
Grantable is SOC Type 2 certified, providing enterprise-grade security for sensitive data. Your content is never used to train their AI models.
The Critical Gap: Grant Discovery
Here's where Grantable's specialization becomes a problem: it has zero grant discovery features.
❌ No foundation database
❌ No federal grant search (Grants.gov)
❌ No AI recommendations for best-fit funders
❌ No foundation research tools (giving patterns, 990-PF data)
According to their own product team, grant discovery is a "future feature" they're "gathering feedback" on. Translation: it's not coming anytime soon.
This means Grantable users face a choice:
- Manually search Google for grants (time-consuming, inefficient)
- Pay for a separate grant discovery tool like GrantStation or Instrumentl
Most organizations choose option #2, which leads to what I call the "two-tool tax."
The Two-Tool Tax Problem
Let's calculate what it actually costs to get both grant discovery AND AI writing with Grantable:
| Tool Combination | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Grantable Pro ($60-80/month) + GrantStation Basic ($600/year) | $1,320-1,560/year |
| Grantable Pro + Instrumentl Starter ($179/month) | $2,868-3,108/year |
| Expirely Growth (Discovery + AI Writing + Management) | $588/year |
💰 Annual Savings with Expirely
vs Grantable + GrantStation: $732-972/year saved
vs Grantable + Instrumentl: $2,280-2,520/year saved
And remember: Grantable's "$799/year bundle" with GrantStation is still more expensive than Expirely's Impact plan ($1,188/year) that includes MORE features.
Expirely's All-In-One Approach
Expirely was built specifically to solve the "two-tool tax" problem. Instead of forcing nonprofits to pay for discovery elsewhere, we combined everything into one affordable platform:
Grant Discovery Built-In
41,000+ foundation database (2× larger than Instrumentl's 20,000) with AI Smart Match recommendations
AI Writing Assistant
AI-powered proposal drafting, tone adjustment, and content generation (like Grantable)
Full Lifecycle Management
Kanban workflow, deadline tracking, document storage, post-award reporting
Research Center
IRS 990-PF data, foundation giving patterns, recipient analysis (Grantable has none of this)
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Grantable Pro | Expirely Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $60-80 | $49 |
| Grant Discovery | ||
| Foundation Database | ❌ None | ✅ 41,000+ |
| Federal Grant Search (Grants.gov) | ❌ | ✅ |
| AI Smart Match Recommendations | ❌ | ✅ |
| Foundation Research (990-PF Data) | ❌ | ✅ |
| AI Writing Tools | ||
| AI Grant Writing Assistant | ✅ Advanced | ✅ Standard |
| Content Library & Snippets | ✅ | ✅ |
| AI Learns Your Voice | ✅ | ⚠️ Standard |
| AI Foundation Analysis | ❌ | ✅ |
| Project Management | ||
| Kanban/Status Tracking | ✅ | ✅ Drag & Drop |
| Deadline Tracking | ✅ Dashboard | ✅ Email + SMS |
| SMS Deadline Alerts | ❌ | ✅ |
| Document Storage | ✅ Unlimited | ✅ Unlimited |
| CSV Import (GrantHub Migration) | ❌ | ✅ Dedicated Tool |
| Post-Award Management | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Full Suite |
| Collaboration | ||
| Team Collaboration | ✅ Unlimited | ✅ Unlimited |
| Multi-Client Workspaces | ✅ Agency Pricing | ⚠️ Standard |
When to Choose Grantable
Despite Expirely's better value for most nonprofits, Grantable is the right choice in these specific scenarios:
✅ You already have grant discovery covered
If you're already paying for Instrumentl or GrantStation and just need an AI writing upgrade, Grantable's $24-80/month could work. But verify the total cost—you might still save by switching both tools to Expirely.
✅ You're a grant consultant with multiple clients
Grantable's agency pricing and multi-workspace model is purpose-built for consultants managing client workspaces separately. Their wholesale pricing may beat Expirely's per-organization model.
✅ You only apply to corporate grants you already know about
If you apply exclusively to corporate grants through existing relationships (not foundations or federal), discovery may not matter. Grantable could suffice for pure writing assistance.
✅ You require SOC Type 2 certification
Enterprise/government users with strict compliance requirements may need Grantable's SOC Type 2 certification. Expirely is secure (Supabase/RLS) but doesn't currently hold this certification.
When to Choose Expirely
Expirely is the better choice for most nonprofits, especially if you:
✅ Need BOTH grant discovery AND writing tools
Instead of paying $1,320-3,108/year for two separate tools, get everything in one platform for $588-1,188/year. That's $732-1,920/year in savings.
✅ Want to discover new funding opportunities
41,000+ foundation database with AI Smart Match means you'll find foundations you didn't know existed. Many users discover 10-20 new prospects in their first week.
✅ Apply to federal grants (Grants.gov)
Expirely includes federal grant discovery. Grantable doesn't help you find federal opportunities—you'd need to search Grants.gov manually.
✅ Need full lifecycle management (discovery → post-award)
Expirely tracks the entire grant lifecycle: discovery, application, award, reporting, and compliance. Grantable focuses primarily on pre-award writing.
✅ Want SMS deadline alerts
Text message reminders ensure you never miss a deadline, even when you're away from your computer. Grantable only offers in-app notifications.
✅ Migrating from GrantHub
Expirely has a dedicated CSV import tool designed specifically for GrantHub migration. Move all your data in under 10 minutes—no manual re-entry required.
Real-World Scenario: Which Saves More?
Let's walk through a realistic scenario for a small nonprofit:
Scenario: Community Arts Nonprofit
Annual budget: $500K
Grant staff: 1 part-time development coordinator
Current process: Manually searching Google for foundation grants, spending 8-10 hours/week
❌ Option A: Grantable + GrantStation
- • Grantable Pro: $80/month
- • GrantStation Basic: $600/year
- • Total: $1,560/year
Still requires manually searching GrantStation's 10,000 grants, then writing in Grantable.
✅ Option B: Expirely Growth
- • Expirely Growth: $49/month
- • Everything included
- • Total: $588/year
Saves $972/year + AI Smart Match finds better prospects from 41,000 foundations
💰 ROI Calculation
If Expirely's Smart Match helps this nonprofit discover and win just ONE additional $10,000 grant per year:
- • Cost: $588/year
- • Return: $10,000 grant
- • ROI: 17:1 (1,700% return)
Migration Guide: Moving from Grantable to Expirely
If you're currently using Grantable and want to consolidate tools, here's how to migrate:
Export Your Grantable Content
Download your grant applications and content library from Grantable. Use their Word export feature for each document.
Time estimate: 15-20 minutes for typical users
Set Up Your Expirely Account
Sign up for Expirely's 14-day free trial. Complete the organization profile wizard to enable AI Smart Match recommendations.
Time estimate: 5 minutes
Upload Documents & Explore New Features
Upload your exported documents to Expirely's Writing Center. Then explore features Grantable didn't have: search 41,000 foundations, get AI Smart Match recommendations, and set up SMS alerts.
Time estimate: 10 minutes upload + 20 minutes exploration
✅ Total Migration Time: ~50 minutes
Unlike GrantHub (which shut down), Grantable isn't going anywhere. Take your time, test Expirely during the 14-day trial, and cancel Grantable only when you're confident in the switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Expirely's AI writing as good as Grantable's?
Grantable's AI is more specialized for learning your unique writing voice, while Expirely's AI focuses on standard grant writing best practices and templates. For pure writing sophistication, Grantable has an edge. However, Expirely's AI also analyzes foundation priorities and giving patterns to help you tailor proposals—something Grantable can't do without a foundation database.
Can I use both tools together?
Yes, but it defeats the purpose of saving money. Some users might use Expirely for discovery/research and Grantable for final writing, but that's $109-129/month total—more expensive than Expirely alone. Most users find Expirely's AI writing sufficient once they discover better-fit foundations through Smart Match.
Does Expirely have a free plan like Grantable?
No, but Expirely offers a 14-day free trial (no credit card required). Grantable's free plan is great for exploring AI writing, but you'll still hit the discovery wall immediately. Expirely's trial gives you full access to the entire platform so you can test discovery + writing + management before committing.
What if I'm already paying for GrantStation or Instrumentl?
Compare databases side-by-side during your trial. Expirely's 41,000 foundations is 2× larger than Instrumentl's 20,000 and 4× larger than GrantStation's 10,000. Many users find Expirely's AI Smart Match discovers better prospects than manual searching on other platforms. If you switch, you'll save $600-2,148/year by canceling those subscriptions.
How accurate is Expirely's foundation database?
Expirely's database is built from IRS 990-PF filings (the same source as Instrumentl and GrantStation). We update quarterly with new foundation registrations and giving data. Our Research Center shows exactly which organizations each foundation funded in previous years—verified, real-world data, not AI hallucinations.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Both Grantable and Expirely allow you to cancel anytime with full access through your current billing period. No long-term contracts or cancellation fees.
Why Expirely is the Best Grantable Alternative
For Most Nonprofits: Expirely Wins
Unless you're a grant consultant with specialized needs or already have discovery covered, Expirely delivers significantly better value.
- More features: Discovery + Writing + Management vs Writing-only
- Lower price: $49/month vs $60-80/month
- Massive savings: $732-1,920/year vs Grantable + discovery tool
- Better discovery: 41,000 foundations with AI Smart Match
Grantable excels at one thing. Expirely excels at everything you need.
Ready to Consolidate Your Grant Tools?
Try Expirely free for 14 days. Search 41,000+ foundations, test AI writing tools, and see if you can replace both Grantable AND your discovery tool with one affordable platform.
No credit card required • 14-day free trial • Cancel anytime
💡 Pro Tip for Current Grantable Users
Don't cancel Grantable immediately. Run both platforms side-by-side during Expirely's free trial. Use Expirely's Smart Match to discover 10-20 new foundation prospects, test the AI writing tools, and verify you're comfortable with the platform. Only cancel Grantable once you're confident—you'll still save $732-972 in year one even if you overlap for a month.