FedReady vs SAM.gov: Why Not Just Use the Free Official Site?
Facts checked on from each product's own website. Prices and features change, so confirm on their sites.
SAM.gov is the official, free website where federal agencies post contract opportunities. Anyone can search it without an account, a free account lets you save searches and get email notices, and it's where you register your business to win federal contracts.
FedReady is built on the same SAM.gov notices, so it doesn't replace SAM.gov. It adds what a small business new to government work usually needs next: search in everyday words, notices ranked for your business, plain-English summaries, deadline tracking, and pages on who won similar work. You can use both: find and track contracts on FedReady, then register and confirm the details on SAM.gov.
Which one should you choose?
Choose SAM.gov if you know the keywords and NAICS codes for your work, you're comfortable reading notices in full, and you want only the free, official source. Save searches and turn on email notifications with a free account.
Choose FedReady if you're new to federal contracting and want notices ranked for your business, summed up in plain English, with your deadlines and bids tracked in one place. The Free plan covers search, matches, AI summaries and 1 saved search with email alerts.
Feature by feature
| Feature | SAM.gov | FedReady |
|---|---|---|
| PriceWhat it costs, as each company publishes it. | Free | Free plan; founder pricing, 50% off the list price for as long as you stay subscribed: Pro $24.50/mo or $245/yr; Pro + AI $74.50/mo or $745/yr. List price: Pro $49/mo or $490/yr; Pro + AI $149/mo or $1,490/yr |
| Free plan or trialWhether you can use it free, or try it before you pay. | Free; search without an account | Free plan, plus a 14-day Pro trial with no card |
| Registering your businessTo win a federal contract, your business must be registered on SAM.gov. It's free. | Yes: you register here, free, and get your Unique Entity ID (UEI) | No. A free step-by-step guide, and a tool that checks a business's registration status |
| SearchHow you find the notices that fit your work. | Keyword search and advanced search filters | The same kinds of filters, plus everyday words: "mowing" also finds "grounds maintenance", and "HVAC" finds "air conditioning" |
| Matched to your businessNotices ranked by how well they fit what you do, so the best ones come first. | Not listed: you build and run each search yourself | Every open notice ranked by fit to your NAICS codes, set-asides and location, with the reasons, on the free plan |
| DeadlinesKeeping track of when each response is due. | Each notice shows its response date; with a free account, follow a notice to see its changes | Days left on every notice, calendar sync for the bids you track, and "Track this notice by email" (no account) for changes and a reminder before it's due |
| Saved searches and email alertsSave a search once and get an email when new notices match it. | Yes, with a free account | 1 on Free, 20 on paid plans |
| AITools that read notices for you or write first drafts. | No | Free AI summaries on thousands of open notices; bid/no-bid briefs that say whether a notice fits you (1 a month on Free, 15 on Pro, 50 on Pro + AI) and proposal first drafts on paid plans (2 a month on Pro, 15 on Pro + AI) |
| Past awards and incumbentsWho won similar work before and for how much, which helps you price a bid and see who you're up against. | Award notices, and DataBank reports on past contract spending | Free pages on who won similar work, what agencies spend, and each contractor's federal contract history (USAspending) |
| ForecastsAn agency's list of what it plans to buy in the coming months, before the notice is posted. | Links to agency forecasts | Yes for 11 civilian agencies (from GSA's forecast tool, DHS, DOE and NASA); not Defense (Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps) or Health and Human Services (NIH, FDA, CDC). Free pages list planned buys by agency and NAICS code; the small business contact for each buy and the full search are on paid plans. Also a list of contracts ending soon, whose work will likely be bid again |
| Bid trackingA place to keep each contract you're going after and where it stands. Some tools call each one a pursuit, and the list a pipeline. | Follow notices with a free account; no bid tracker listed | 2 active bids on Free; unlimited on paid plans |
| Capability statement builderA one-page summary of your company that agencies and partners ask for. | No | Yes, on the free plan, with a public company profile |
| MarketsWhose contracts it lists: the federal government, states and cities, or other countries. | Federal contract opportunities | Federal contract opportunities (SAM.gov), plus small business research awards (SBIR/STTR, from SBIR.gov) and past awards (USAspending). No state and local |
| Built forWho each company says the product is for. | Everyone (the official site) | Small businesses new to federal contracting |
FedReady founder pricing: 50% off. Pro is $24.50/month or $245/year (the list price is $49/month or $490/year) for anyone who subscribes while the offer lasts. If you do, you keep the 50% discount for as long as you stay subscribed. See every plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does FedReady have the same contracts as SAM.gov?
Yes, for federal contract opportunities. FedReady's open notices come from SAM.gov's public Contract Opportunities data, refreshed every day. A notice can change on SAM.gov between refreshes, so always confirm the details there before you respond.
Do I still need SAM.gov if I use FedReady?
Yes. To be awarded a federal contract, your business must be registered on SAM.gov, and registration is free. SAM.gov is also the official record of every notice. FedReady helps you find the notices worth your time, understand them and keep track of your bids.
Can SAM.gov email me new contracts?
Yes. With a free SAM.gov account, save a contract opportunities search and turn on notifications, and SAM.gov emails you when a new opportunity matches it.
Is FedReady part of SAM.gov?
No. FedReady is an independent company and isn't affiliated with SAM.gov or any government agency. SAM.gov registration is always free, and you do it on SAM.gov itself.
Sources
GovWin IQ is a trademark of Deltek. GovTribe, HigherGov and SamSearch are trademarks of their owners. FedReady isn't affiliated with any company named here, or with SAM.gov or any government agency.