Head to head
BigFuture vs Scholly: which scholarship site fits you?
Short answer
We review both on facts only, so this page compares them side by side without scores. Both are free to use.
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 | Scholly |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | College Board (nonprofit) | Sallie Mae (branded "Scholly Scholarships by Sallie"); acquisition date not read |
| Cost | Free Free. | Free Free to search, find and apply, per Sallie Mae. |
| Database, as stated | Over 24,000 scholarships, more than $1.5 billion a year | "Thousands of scholarships" (no exact count) |
| Applying | Not read. | "Scholly Easy Apply" scholarships use one form. |
| Own no-essay award | $40,000 and $500 BigFuture Scholarships: no essay, no minimum GPA or test score; entries earned by completing planning steps. | $5,000 Grad School No Essay Scholarship and $2,000 No Essay Scholarship. |
| Data sharing | Privacy terms not read. | Privacy terms not read. |
| Ratings | Not read | Not read |
| Scored on this site | Reviewed, not scored | Reviewed, not scored |
Source: BigFuture by College Board
Source: BigFuture about us
Source: Scholly scholarship search
Source: Scholly Scholarships by Sallie
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 Scholly if
Students who want a free search plus no-essay awards from a lender's scholarship brand.
Free, with a one-form Easy Apply option.
What should you watch for?
- BigFuture: Its privacy terms were not read for this edition.
- Scholly: We could not read its privacy terms.
Frequently asked questions
Which saves more time on applications, BigFuture or Scholly?
BigFuture: Not read. Scholly: "Scholly Easy Apply" scholarships use one form.
Is BigFuture or Scholly free?
BigFuture: Free. Scholly: Free to search, find and apply, per Sallie Mae.
Do BigFuture and Scholly sell student data?
BigFuture: Privacy terms not read. Scholly: Privacy terms not read. "Privacy terms not read" means we could not read the policy, not that the site does not share data.