Updated January 2026

Free Government ContractTracking Software

Track government contract opportunities without paying for expensive subscriptions. Compare the best free tools for alerts, saved searches, and deadline tracking.

What Free Tools Can Do

Available Free

  • Search federal contract opportunities
  • Filter by NAICS, agency, location
  • View contract details and documents
  • Save searches (GCFinder free tier)
  • Email alerts (GCFinder free tier)
  • Basic AI Q&A (GCFinder free tier)

Typically Paid Features

  • Unlimited AI bid writing
  • Priority/real-time alerts
  • Team collaboration features
  • Market intelligence/analytics
  • Pipeline management
  • Historical data/trends

Free Contract Tracking Options

Compare what each free option offers

1

GovContractFinder (Free Tier)

Best Free Option

Modern contract search with saved searches, alerts, and basic AI assistance

Free

Features

  • β€’ Saved searches
  • β€’ Email alerts
  • β€’ AI Q&A
  • β€’ Mobile access
  • β€’ Browser extension

Limitations

  • β€’ Limited AI generations/month
  • β€’ Basic alert frequency
Best for: Contractors wanting modern tools with upgrade path when ready
2

SAM.gov

Official government contract database with basic search capabilities

Free

Features

  • β€’ Official federal data
  • β€’ Search filters
  • β€’ Award data
  • β€’ Vendor registration

Limitations

  • β€’ No saved searches
  • β€’ No email alerts
  • β€’ Dated interface
  • β€’ Manual checking required
Best for: Contractors who can check the site regularly and don't need alerts
3

USASpending.gov

Federal spending and contract award data

Free

Features

  • β€’ Award data
  • β€’ Spending analytics
  • β€’ Agency breakdowns
  • β€’ Download data

Limitations

  • β€’ Award data only (not opportunities)
  • β€’ No tracking features
  • β€’ Research tool, not tracking
Best for: Market research on past awards, not opportunity tracking
4

FedBizOpps Archives

Historical federal opportunity data (legacy)

Free

Features

  • β€’ Historical data
  • β€’ Archive searches

Limitations

  • β€’ Legacy system
  • β€’ Merged into SAM.gov
  • β€’ Limited functionality
Best for: Historical research only

When to Consider Paid Options

Signs you may need more:

  • You're missing opportunities due to slow alerts
  • You need to track 10+ opportunities at once
  • AI bid writing would save you significant time
  • You need team collaboration features

GovContractFinder Premium

$49 - $99/month

  • Unlimited AI
  • Priority alerts
  • Team features
  • Advanced filters

GovTribe

$99 - $299/month

  • Market intelligence
  • Pipeline tracking
  • Team collaboration

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there free government contract tracking software?

Yes! SAM.gov is completely free but has no alerts or saved searches. GovContractFinder offers a free tier that includes saved searches, email alerts, and basic AI assistanceβ€”the best free option for most contractors.

Does SAM.gov have email alerts?

No, SAM.gov does not offer email alerts or saved search notifications. You must manually check the site for new opportunities. Third-party tools like GovContractFinder add alert functionality on top of SAM.gov data.

What's the best free contract tracking tool?

GovContractFinder's free tier offers the best combination of features without paymentβ€”saved searches, email alerts, mobile access, and basic AI assistance. SAM.gov is also free but requires manual checking.

Can I track state and local contracts for free?

State and local contracts are harder to track for free since there's no unified government database. GovContractFinder's free tier focuses on federal opportunities. For comprehensive state/local tracking, paid tools like BidPrime are usually required.

Start Tracking Contracts for Free

Get started with GovContractFinder's free tierβ€”saved searches, alerts, and AI assistance at no cost.

Start Free