Head to head
ScholarshipOwl vs Scholly: which scholarship site fits you?
Short answer
We score ScholarshipOwl but not Scholly, 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; Scholly 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 | ScholarshipOwl | Scholly |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Scholarship Services, Inc. (d/b/a ScholarshipOwl), Wilmington, Delaware | Sallie Mae (branded "Scholly Scholarships by Sallie"); acquisition date not read |
| Cost | Paid after free trial Paid membership after a free trial. Plan prices are not on ScholarshipOwl's public pages. | Free Free to search, find and apply, per Sallie Mae. |
| Database, as stated | 10,000+ scholarships | "Thousands of scholarships" (no exact count) |
| Applying | One application for many scholarships, one-click apply on many listings, and automatic reapplication to scholarships that pick winners more than once a year. | "Scholly Easy Apply" scholarships use one form. |
| Own no-essay award | $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. | $5,000 Grad School No Essay Scholarship and $2,000 No Essay Scholarship. |
| Data sharing | 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. |
| Ratings | 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 | Not read |
| Scored on this site | Yes, 6.75 / 10 | Reviewed, not scored |
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
Source: Scholly scholarship search
Source: Scholly Scholarships by Sallie
Which one should you choose?
Choose ScholarshipOwl if
Students who want to send many applications with little repeat work and are willing to pay after the trial.
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?
- 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.
- Scholly: We could not read its privacy terms.
Frequently asked questions
Which saves more time on applications, ScholarshipOwl or Scholly?
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. Scholly: "Scholly Easy Apply" scholarships use one form.
Is ScholarshipOwl or Scholly free?
ScholarshipOwl: Paid membership after a free trial. Plan prices are not on ScholarshipOwl's public pages. Scholly: Free to search, find and apply, per Sallie Mae.
Do ScholarshipOwl and Scholly sell student data?
ScholarshipOwl: Policy says "we may sell Identifiers generally" and may sell certain sensitive personal information, like ethnicity and citizenship, to third parties. Scholly: Privacy terms not read. "Privacy terms not read" means we could not read the policy, not that the site does not share data.