Freedom251 › Scholarship Management Software
SmarterSelect
What SmarterSelect is
SmarterSelect is application-management software for organizations running scholarship, grant, award, and similar programs. It covers the process from collecting applications through applicant management, evaluation, and award tracking. Forms support varied question types, file attachments, and layouts that adapt to phones, tablets, and laptops. Teams can use automatic scoring, calculations, reminders, email and text notifications, and award tracking. Reviewers have scoring and rubric tools, while administrators can create reports and export applicant or evaluation data as CSV or PDF. Through Zapier, application data can connect without programming to more than 2,000 applications, including Salesforce and other CRM systems. Single sign-on accepts credentials from a CRM or member-management system. The web and API service offers applicant portals, reviewer collaboration, workflow automation, reporting, analytics, and payment collection. Plans are paid, starting at $2,000 / year, with no free plan. A no-card trial has no time limit but allows ten users for testing.
Who it suits
It suits community foundations, nonprofits, schools, associations, and private organizations managing scholarship, grant, or award processes. It is intended for teams needing structured reviews, applicant communication, and award administration.
What it does well
- Responsive forms support attachments
- Automatic scoring and notification tools
- Zapier connects over 2,000 applications
- CSV and PDF exports
- Applicant portal and reviewer collaboration
What to know first
- No free plan
- Plans start at $2,000 / year
- API access limited to certain tiers
- Trial limited to ten users
Limits
The free trial has no time limit but is limited to ten users. The Create plan allows 500 users per year, 5MB maximum file uploads and 1,000 survey responses per year.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Create | annually at $2,000 / year · 500 users/year · unlimited programs · 5MB max file upload · 1,000 survey responses/year · support included | $2,000 a year |
| Enhance | annually at $5,000 / year · 2,500 users/year · unlimited programs · 10MB max file upload · 5,000 survey responses/year · support included | $5,000 a year |
| Enterprise | annually at $7,500 / year · 10,000 users/year · unlimited programs · 20MB max file upload · 20,000 survey responses/year · support included | $7,500 a year |
As smarterselect.com lists them, read 30 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the SmarterSelect website
- Start the no-credit-card trial
- Create application forms with questions and attachments
- Configure scoring, rubrics and reviewer collaboration
- Set notifications, reminders and award tracking
- Connect applications through Zapier or enable single sign-on where available
Verdict
SmarterSelect brings application intake, review, automation, reporting, and awards into one service. Its paid plans and tier limits should be checked against program size and integration needs.
Questions
How much does SmarterSelect cost?
Create costs $2,000 per year, Enhance costs $5,000 per year and Enterprise costs $7,500 per year, billed annually.
Is there a free plan?
No. A free trial is available without a credit card and has no time limit, with testing limited to ten users.
Which platforms does it support?
SmarterSelect supports web and API access. API access is available in certain service tiers.
Can it connect to other applications?
Yes. Zapier can share application data with more than 2,000 applications, including Salesforce and other CRM systems, without programming.
Does it support single sign-on?
Yes. Users can access SmarterSelect with credentials from a CRM or member-management system.
What exports are available?
Applicant and evaluation data can be exported as CSV and PDF files.
Facts from SmarterSelect's own pages
- API
- API access is available in certain service tiers, and excessive or abusive request volumes can lead to suspension or termination. · smarterselect.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Application forms
- Application forms support multiple question types, file attachments and responsive layouts for phones, tablets and laptops. · smarterselect.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Audience
- SmarterSelect is most suitable for community foundations, private organizations, nonprofits, schools and associations running scholarship, grant or award processes. · info.smarterselect.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Automation
- The platform supports automatic scoring, calculations, email and text notifications, reminders and award tracking. · smarterselect.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Core workflow
- The platform helps organizations collect applications, manage applicants, evaluate submissions and track awards. · smarterselect.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Founded
- 2007 · smarterselect.com, 28 Sept 2026
- GDPR
- SmarterSelect states that it supports access, erasure and data portability requests and will notify supervisory authorities within 72 hours of discovering a security breach. · smarterselect.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Dallas, Texas, United States · smarterselect.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- SmarterSelect can share application data with more than 2,000 applications, including Salesforce and other CRM systems, through Zapier without programming. · smarterselect.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Privacy
- SmarterSelect says it does not sell or share personal information in connection with providing its services. · smarterselect.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- SmarterSelect is application-management software for scholarships, grants, awards and other programs. · smarterselect.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Reports and exports
- Users can create custom reports and export applicant or evaluation data as CSV and PDF files. · smarterselect.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Security
- SmarterSelect says it maintains technical, physical, administrative and organizational security measures and industry-standard procedures for detecting and responding to attacks and failures. · smarterselect.com, 30 Sept 2026
- SSO
- Single sign-on lets users access SmarterSelect with credentials from a CRM or member-management system. · smarterselect.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Support
- Support is included with subscriptions; support hours are 8 AM to 6 PM Central US Monday through Friday, with live chat for Enhance and Enterprise and email ticketing for Create. · smarterselect.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Trial
- The trial requires no credit card, has no time limit and is limited to ten users for testing. · smarterselect.com, 30 Sept 2026
Where SmarterSelect stands on Freedom251
- Scholarship Management Software#7 of 25
- Application Management Software#11 of 31