Tenders Direct alternative for small businesses that bid now and then
Tenders Direct is a yearly tender alert subscription. Tender Desk is a one-off check: £149 once, nothing renews, and up to 5 live tenders that suit a business your size, each with our verdict.
For small businesses in construction trades, training, transport, care, cleaning and catering. Rival facts below are from Tenders Direct's own pages, checked 30 Oct 2026. Sources.
What Tenders Direct does well
Tenders Direct, run by Proactis, sends tender alerts matched to the criteria you set. It says it scans 500+ sources every day and reviews every notice1, and it promises access to every relevant tender in the UK and Ireland2. Every plan includes a dedicated account manager, full database access and onboarding support, and its plans also list Opportunity Manager, advance tender alerts and competitor tracking alerts2. There's a 7-day free trial2.
Side by side
| Tenders Direct | Tender Desk | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From £1,359 a year plus tax (Basic). Core £2,044, Premium £2,31923 | £149 once |
| Renewal | Renews automatically each year unless you give notice within 30 days of the renewal invoice. The price can rise by up to 10% at renewal3 | One payment. Nothing renews |
| Leaving early | No cooling-off period. Cancelling mid-term is at their discretion, with a £299 plus tax charge3 | Nothing to leave. Late? You don't pay |
| What you get | Email alerts to the criteria you set, plus search and bid tools23 | Up to 5 live tenders that fit, from Find a Tender and Contracts Finder, each with our verdict. If none fit, we say so and why |
| Your readiness | Offers a separate Tender Readiness Check2 | Readiness check of your business: included (insurance, accreditations, Central Digital Platform), plus the three things to fix first |
| Where it looks | 500+ sources, UK and Ireland12 | Find a Tender and Contracts Finder |
| Help | Dedicated account manager2 | By email within 5 working days. No call |
When Tenders Direct is the better choice
If you bid most months, want every notice across the UK and Ireland, want early warning of contracts coming back to tender, or have several people working on bids, a yearly alert service like Tenders Direct is built for that. Tender Desk is a single check for a business that bids now and then and wants to know which live tenders are worth its week.
Already a subscriber?
Tenders Direct's terms say the renewal invoice is sent 28 days before your subscription ends, and that to stop it renewing you give notice within 30 days of the invoice date, to the email address given in those terms3. Check your own agreement for your dates.
Renewal invoice just landed? Before it renews for another year, get one done-for-you shortlist and readiness check for £149, and use it to decide.
What Tender Desk is
A one-off £149 diagnostic, done for you. We look at live tenders on Find a Tender and Contracts Finder, pick up to 5 that suit a business your size, give our verdict on each and tell you what to fix before you bid. It arrives by email within 5 working days of your form, with no call. No one can promise you'll win a contract; we help you choose where to spend your time. See what the diagnostic looks like or read more about Tender Desk.
Late? You don't pay. Full refund if it's not with you within 5 working days of your form. Go on to our Tender-Ready Pack within 60 days and the £149 comes off it.
One payment. Nothing renews. Your statutory rights and our terms apply.
Sources
Checked 30 Oct 2026. Prices and terms change, so check Tenders Direct's own pages before you decide. 1 Tenders Direct home page · 2 Tenders Direct plans and features (1-year prices) · 3 Tenders Direct subscription terms (tax, renewal, cancellation)
Tender Desk is not connected with Tenders Direct or Proactis. Product names belong to their owners.