Compare / HigherGov
OppBeacon vs HigherGov: a lighter, cheaper option for small federal contractors
HigherGov Starter is $500 a year. OppBeacon is free or $29/month and does one job: each morning, the new SAM.gov bids you can win, with a cited bid/no-bid.
Pick your industry and state. No UEI, no password, no card.
SAM.gov title: CON | Z2DA | REPLACE CHILLER 1 B104 | 580-24-111 | SOLICITATION
OppBeacon: Replace chiller 1 B104
In our data on Nov 4, 2026: 12,552 open SAM.gov notices, 3,721 set aside for small or certified businesses, 4,179 due within 7 days.
Side by side
| OppBeacon | HigherGov | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan · Solo $29/mo ($278/yr) · 14-day trial, no card | Starter $500/year, 1 user; Standard $2,500/year, up to 10 users; Enterprise custom |
| Coverage | Federal: SAM.gov contract opportunities, award notices, DHS and GSA forecasts | Federal opportunities and forecasts, state and local opportunities, grants |
| Readable titles | Plain-English title on every notice (codes like "Z1DA--" and solicitation numbers removed) | Not listed on the pricing page |
| Who can bid | "Who can bid" in plain words on every notice (e.g. "Service-disabled veteran-owned only") | Set-aside filters |
| Bid / no-bid | AI bid/no-bid on the solicitation files, each answer cited to file and page, plus a list of files it could not read | "AI Tools and Insights" listed in every plan |
| Follow one notice | "Track this bid": type your email on any notice, get amendment, deadline and award alerts | Unlimited searches, alerts and pipelines |
| Setup time | Pick industry and state; no UEI or password needed | Full platform with training and analyst support |
HigherGov details are from its public pages, checked Nov 4, 2026. Prices change; check the source links below.
Where HigherGov is the better pick
- Much wider data: state and local bids, grants, a vendor people database, labor pricing and M&A data (some on higher tiers).
- Team features, exports, API access and live analyst support.
Choose HigherGov if: You chase state and local work too, or need contacts, pricing and competitor research in one place.
Choose OppBeacon if: You are a small federal contractor who wants the right SAM.gov bids each morning and a quick, cited bid/no-bid, for less.
FAQ
How much does HigherGov cost?
HigherGov's pricing page lists Starter at $500 per year for 1 user and Standard at $2,500 per year for up to 10 users, with Enterprise on request (checked 2026-11-04).
Is there a cheaper HigherGov alternative for federal bids?
OppBeacon has a free plan; Solo is $29/month or $278/year with a 14-day trial, no card. It covers federal SAM.gov notices only.
Does OppBeacon cover state and local bids?
Not today. OppBeacon covers federal SAM.gov contract opportunities, SAM.gov award notices and DHS and GSA forecasts.
Can I use both?
Yes. Some teams use a broad platform for research and OppBeacon for the daily shortlist and first-pass bid/no-bid.
Sources
- HigherGov — Plans and Pricing (checked Nov 4, 2026)
- OppBeacon — Pricing (checked Nov 4, 2026)
Other comparisons
- OppBeacon vs SAM.gov saved-search email alerts
- OppBeacon vs GovTribe: daily SAM.gov matches without a $1,900 seat
OppBeacon is independent and not affiliated with SAM.gov, the U.S. government or the companies named here. Product names are trademarks of their owners.