Crunchbase alternatives for founders raising money

Crunchbase is a research tool for private companies: who raised, from whom, and when. Founders use it to find investors, but its plans are built around company research, and the work of reaching investors happens elsewhere. Here is how it compares with three tools made for founders who are raising.

Facts checked on 6 November 2026, on each company's own website.

Why founders look for a Crunchbase alternative

  • You need investors who back startups like yours, not company research.
  • You want to reach them, not only read about them.
  • You would rather not pay for company data you will not use.

Crunchbase compared with Gritt and two other tools

GrittCrunchbaseOpenVCSignal (NFX)
Built forGrittEarly-stage founders raising from VCs and angelsCrunchbaseResearching private companies ("research, discover, and act on private companies")OpenVCFounders raising from early-stage tech investorsSignal (NFX)Founders looking for investors, and investors ("a free tool for founders to find the right investors")
Finding investorsGritt49,000+ investor profiles, free to search by country, sector and stage; each lists the investments on recordCrunchbaseCompany profiles with their funding rounds and investorsOpenVC"16,000+ investors", searchable for freeSignal (NFX)Investor lists by sector and stage, for example "Top SaaS Seed Investors"
Investor contact detailsGrittAn email on file for 34,000+ investors, unlocked on a paid planCrunchbase"People and contacts" data on its Pro and Business plansOpenVCInvestors are reached through OpenVC itselfSignal (NFX)Finds "the strongest intro" to each investor
Writing and sending emailsGrittDrafts a personalised email to each investor that fits; you approve each one, or let Gritt approve them, and it sends from your GmailCrunchbaseNot listed; its Business plan connects to Salesforce, HubSpot, Zapier and OutreachOpenVCDeck sharing, a CRM and automatic follow-ups for free; Premium reaches "up to 5 investors per day directly via OpenVC"Signal (NFX)Not listed
Free useGrittSearch, your matched investors and every drafted email to preview; nothing is sentCrunchbaseA free account: company profiles and search, with usage limitsOpenVC"90% of OpenVC's features are available to all founders for free, forever"Signal (NFX)Free
Paid plansGrittStarter €50, Growth €100, Scale €200 a month (5, 12, 30 investors a day)CrunchbasePro $49 a month billed annually, or $99 billed monthly (7-day free trial); Business from $199 a month billed annuallyOpenVCPremium $99 a month or $299 a yearSignal (NFX)None listed

Quotes are each company's own words, from the pages listed under Sources. "Not listed" means the company's pricing page does not list the feature.

Gritt, for founders who are raising

Gritt is an investor database and an outreach tool in one. Search investors by country, sector and stage for free, and see the investments each one has made. Gritt ranks the investors who back startups like yours, drafts a personalised email to each one, and sends it from your Gmail once you approve it, or lets you switch on auto-approve so Gritt approves them for you.

Search investors free →About the investor database

When Crunchbase is the better choice

  • You research companies: competitors, markets, acquisitions.
  • You need funding rounds and financial data on private companies.
  • You sell to startups and want company lists for your sales team.

Questions

Yes. Gritt, OpenVC and Signal can all be searched for free. On Gritt, anyone can search investors by country, sector and stage, and see each investor's investments; investor emails unlock on a paid plan.
Crunchbase lists "people and contacts" data on its Pro and Business plans. Gritt has an email on file for most of its investors and unlocks them on a paid plan.
Crunchbase is for researching companies. Gritt is for founders who are raising: it matches you with investors who back startups like yours, drafts a personalised email to each one, and sends it from your Gmail once you approve it or let Gritt approve it.
Crunchbase Pro costs $49 a month billed annually, or $99 billed monthly. Gritt is free to search; its paid plans are Starter €50, Growth €100, Scale €200 a month (5, 12, 30 investors a day).

Other comparisons

Sources (checked on 6 November 2026)

Crunchbase, PitchBook, CB Insights, OpenVC, Signal and Visible are trademarks of their owners. Gritt is not affiliated with them. Something here out of date or wrong? Write to hello@gritt.io and it is corrected within 7 days.