# OpenWater vs SmarterSelect - 2026 Comparison - Software Advice > OpenWater vs SmarterSelect - See how these products stack up against each other with real user reviews, product feature comparisons and screenshots. Find out which one is best for your organization. Source: https://www.softwareadvice.com/virtual-event/openwater-profile/vs/smarterselect --- [Home](https://www.softwareadvice.com/) / [Grant Management Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com/nonprofit/grant-management-comparison/) / OpenWater vs SmarterSelect Software Advice offers objective insights based on verified user reviews and independent product and market research. When our advisors match you to a software provider, we may earn a referral fee. Updated June 17, 2026 # OpenWater vs. SmarterSelect: 2026 Comparison Skip hours of research. Get your top 5 matches from an expert in 15 minutes, 100% free. Free Expert Guidance Real Human Advice 1M + Businesses Helped Updated June 17, 2026 # OpenWater vs. SmarterSelect: 2026 Comparison Skip hours of research. Get your top 5 matches from an expert in 15 minutes, 100% free. Free Expert Guidance Real Human Advice 1M + Businesses Helped Product comparison Compare up to 3 products side-by-side + Add product [](https://www.softwareadvice.com/virtual-event/openwater-profile/) [OpenWater](https://www.softwareadvice.com/virtual-event/openwater-profile/) 4.6 [(73)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/virtual-event/openwater-profile/reviews/) Starting Price $5100.00per year Free trial Free version Pros: Not enough reviews Cons: Not enough reviews Who uses OpenWater Based on 73 reviews - Top use cases: Contest (29%), Grant Management (12%) and Scholarship Management (11%) 86% of users recommend this product [](https://www.softwareadvice.com/nonprofit/smarterselect-profile/) [SmarterSelect](https://www.softwareadvice.com/nonprofit/smarterselect-profile/) 4.4 [(227)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/nonprofit/smarterselect-profile/reviews/) Starting Price $2000.00per year Free trial Free version Pros: Not enough reviews Cons: Not enough reviews Who uses SmarterSelect Based on 227 reviews - Popular among: Small businesses - Most common industry: Public, Non-profit, & Religious Organizations (54%) - Top use cases: Scholarship Management (24%), Grant Management (16%) and Nonprofit (13%) 79% of users recommend this product [](https://www.softwareadvice.com/virtual-event/openwater-profile/) OpenWater 4.6 [(73)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/virtual-event/openwater-profile/reviews/) [](https://www.softwareadvice.com/nonprofit/smarterselect-profile/) SmarterSelect 4.4 [(227)](https://www.softwareadvice.com/nonprofit/smarterselect-profile/reviews/) + Add product Add product ## User satisfaction * * * 4.6 Based on 73 reviews Ease of use 4.2 Value for money 4.3 Customer support 4.9 Functionality 4.2 4.4 Based on 227 reviews Ease of use 4.1 Value for money 4.5 Customer support 4.5 Functionality 4.2 ## User interface * * * ## Key features Features selected based on 300 reviews from Grant Management * * * Applicant Portal N/A Applicant Tracking 4.0 Collaboration Tools 5.0 Commenting/Notes N/A Customizable Questions N/A Data Import/Export N/A Applicant Portal 4.1 Applicant Tracking 4.4 Collaboration Tools N/A Commenting/Notes 3.0 Customizable Questions 4.5 Data Import/Export 4.0 ### Wondering if these products fit your needs? Skip the manual research. Talk to a real advisor like Lexi to get a 100% free, personalized shortlist in 15 minutes. LexiAdvisor for 8 years ### Wondering if these products fit your needs? Skip the manual research. Talk to a real advisor like Lexi to get a 100% free, personalized shortlist in 15 minutes. LexiAdvisor for 8 years ## Integrations * * * [ Salesforce Sales CloudNot enough reviews ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/product/2764-Salesforce/)[ NetForum EnterpriseNot enough reviews ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/membership-management/netforum-enterprise-profile/)[ authorize.netNot enough reviews ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/online-payment/authorize-net-profile/) [ ZapierNot enough reviews ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/cloud-management/zapier-profile/) ## Reviews * * * LM Luis M.RightsCon Senior Program CoordinatorNon-Profit Organization Management, 51-200 employees "This also means that it fosters your learning curve because of the resources but also because of the great customer support they provide." Apr 15, 2026 VR Verified ReviewerAVPFinancial Services, 501-1000 employees "Another downfall has been the number of programs and what is considered "active" versus "Inactive". " Oct 28, 2025 AB Alicia B.Director, Grants and Data ManagementPhilanthropy, 2-10 employees "Over the past year, the team at IAAQLI was able to successfully build out the grant request platform with 6 different application forms for Round 1 of our inaugural grant awards which yielded more than 140 applications." Sep 15, 2022 BM Beth M.Director of Data & EvaluationNon-Profit Organization Management, 11-50 employees "It can be difficult to manage applications when you want to take into account multiple evaluations" Sep 16, 2022 ## Customer support * * * Email/Help Desk FAQs/Forum Knowledge Base Phone Support 24/7 Chat Email/Help Desk FAQs/Forum Knowledge Base Phone Support 24/7 Chat ## Training options * * * In Person Live Online Webinars Documentation Videos In Person Live Online Webinars Documentation Videos ## Popular Comparisons * * * [Awardify vs OpenWater](https://www.softwareadvice.com/compare/144613-openwater/vs/504486-Awardify/)[Award Force vs OpenWater](https://www.softwareadvice.com/contest/award-force-profile/vs/openwater/)[Givebutter vs SmarterSelect](https://www.softwareadvice.com/nonprofit/givebutter-profile/vs/smarterselect/)[Donorbox vs SmarterSelect](https://www.softwareadvice.com/nonprofit/donorbox-profile/vs/smarterselect/)