Honest Comparison

Granted AI vs. Hiring a Grant Writer

An honest comparison of cost, speed, quality, and when each option makes the most sense for your organization.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature	Professional Grant Writer	Granted AI
Cost per proposal	$5,000–$15,000	$29/month (unlimited)
Turnaround time	2–6 weeks	Hours
Available 24/7	No (business hours)	Yes
Knows your RFP	After reading & meetings	Instant AI analysis
Revision rounds	1–2 included	Unlimited
Agency expertise	Varies by writer	NIH, NSF, EPA, USDA, DARPA, DOD + more
Learning curve	None (they do the work)	~30 minutes
Your involvement	Interviews + reviews	Answer coaching questions + review draft

When to hire a grant writer

→You need a relationships-based approach with a specific funder
→Compliance requirements are extremely complex or novel
→The grant is over $5M and the stakes justify the investment

When to use Granted AI

✓Your budget is limited and every dollar matters
✓You need a proposal fast — days, not weeks
✓You write multiple proposals per year and need volume
✓You want to build your own grant writing skills over time

The Best Approach

Many organizations use both

The smartest grant teams are not choosing one or the other. They use Granted AI for first drafts and high-volume proposals, then bring in a professional writer for final polish on high-stakes grants. This hybrid approach cuts costs while keeping quality where it matters most.

Not sure which grants to apply for?

Use our free grant finder to search active federal funding opportunities by agency, eligibility, and deadline.

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Try the $29/month alternative

Upload your RFP, answer a few coaching questions, and get a full draft in hours — not weeks. Start with a free 7-day trial.

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