Head to head
BigFuture vs ScholarshipOwl: which scholarship site fits you?
Short answer
We score ScholarshipOwl but not BigFuture, so this page compares them on facts only: cost, stated database size, application shortcuts, own no-essay awards and data sharing. ScholarshipOwl charges a membership after a free trial; BigFuture is free.
By The Deadline Desk · Best Scholarship Sites · Published
Desk research from each site's public pages, app store listings and review profiles. Editorial assessment; we did not create accounts or apply for scholarships.
How do the facts compare?
| Fact | BigFuture | ScholarshipOwl |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | College Board (nonprofit) | Scholarship Services, Inc. (d/b/a ScholarshipOwl), Wilmington, Delaware |
| Cost | Free Free. | Paid after free trial Paid membership after a free trial. Plan prices are not on ScholarshipOwl's public pages. |
| Database, as stated | Over 24,000 scholarships, more than $1.5 billion a year | 10,000+ scholarships |
| Applying | Not read. | One application for many scholarships, one-click apply on many listings, and automatic reapplication to scholarships that pick winners more than once a year. |
| Own no-essay award | $40,000 and $500 BigFuture Scholarships: no essay, no minimum GPA or test score; entries earned by completing planning steps. | $50,000 No Essay Scholarship: a monthly random draw for four students at $1,000 each, plus two extra winners in December. Signing up enters you automatically; no fee. |
| Data sharing | Privacy terms not read. | Policy says "we may sell Identifiers generally" and may sell certain sensitive personal information, like ethnicity and citizenship, to third parties. |
| Ratings | Not read | Trustpilot: 4.2 from 1,260 reviews (claimed profile since May 2015; the profile notes a paid Trustpilot subscription). App Store (US): 4.7 out of 5 from 228 ratings |
| Scored on this site | Reviewed, not scored | Yes, 6.75 / 10 |
Source: BigFuture by College Board
Source: BigFuture about us
Source: ScholarshipOwl homepage
Source: ScholarshipOwl FAQ
Source: ScholarshipOwl on the App Store
Source: ScholarshipOwl /upgrade (returns 404)
Source: ScholarshipOwl terms of use
Source: ScholarshipOwl scholarships page
Source: ScholarshipOwl on Trustpilot
Which one should you choose?
Choose BigFuture if
Students who want no-essay drawings tied to college planning steps.
Run by the College Board, a nonprofit, and free.
Choose ScholarshipOwl if
Students who want to send many applications with little repeat work and are willing to pay after the trial.
What should you watch for?
- BigFuture: Its privacy terms were not read for this edition.
- ScholarshipOwl: It charges for membership after the free trial, its plan prices are not on its own public pages, and its terms say payments are non-refundable with limited exceptions.
Frequently asked questions
Which saves more time on applications, BigFuture or ScholarshipOwl?
BigFuture: Not read. ScholarshipOwl: One application for many scholarships, one-click apply on many listings, and automatic reapplication to scholarships that pick winners more than once a year.
Is BigFuture or ScholarshipOwl free?
BigFuture: Free. ScholarshipOwl: Paid membership after a free trial. Plan prices are not on ScholarshipOwl's public pages.
Do BigFuture and ScholarshipOwl sell student data?
BigFuture: Privacy terms not read. ScholarshipOwl: Policy says "we may sell Identifiers generally" and may sell certain sensitive personal information, like ethnicity and citizenship, to third parties. "Privacy terms not read" means we could not read the policy, not that the site does not share data.