Comparison

ReliefScout vs GiveInstead

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ReliefScout

Instantly find local nonprofit and charity resources based on your needs and zip code. Discover opportunities for financial, medical, educational, housing, and career assistance. Save your favorite programs for easy access.

Highlights
  • Explore free and reduced cost resources
  • Get matched to opportunities
  • Locate support by zip code
  • Save favorite programs
  • Find financial assistance
  • Discover medical programs
Features
Read full description

ReliefScout instantly connects you to resources from nonprofits, charities, and other organizations in your area. The app works by analyzing your needs and locating relevant opportunities within your zip code. Find assistance with finances, education, medical needs, housing, career, food, and so much more. Key Features: +Explore free and reduced cost resources +Get matched to opportunities +Locate support easily based on zip code +Save your favorite programs for later use What You’ll Find: +Financial Assistance +Benefit Programs +Career Support +Childcare Help +Education Grants +Medical Programs ReliefScout is completely free to download and use

About

GiveInstead

This app facilitates charitable giving by allowing users to donate funds they would have otherwise spent on non-essential purchases. It offers a unique way for individuals to practice generosity and for charities to receive additional support.

Highlights
  • Redirect planned spending to charities
  • Support favorite charities
  • Track charitable giving
  • Ministry-focused giving
  • Simple donation process
Features
Read full description

GiveInstead helps givers give and charities receive in a new, unique way. Anecdotes are best. I'm on my way to work and plan to stop by for a froofy coffee on the way. I know I'm called to give as God has given so generously, and to be a good steward of what He's provided. So, I decide to pop open the GiveInstead app, type $5.87 into the amount field and - because my favorite charity is already defaulted - I just touch "Give", and I move on. I just gave ... instead of buying something I wanted but did not really need. What a concept! GiveInstead is a simple app for giving, helping generous people give in moments where they planned to spend money either way, but wish to choose giving over consuming. Imagine the result... hundreds or dollars (thousands?) given each month rather than buying stuff, "where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal" (Matt 6:19). And if you're one of the charities involved, imagine receiving more donations, on top of one-time gifts and monthly recurring giving. This app - in short - is a ministry intended to prime our collective pumps for GIVING as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave so fully and sacrificially. GiveInstead is a ministry of HowGiving. Learn more at GiveInstead.app or HowGiving.org.

Screenshots

ReliefScout4 screens
GiveInstead3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: GiveInstead at 5.0 against ReliefScout's 4.3. GiveInstead also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported). ReliefScout's advantage is ratings volume (46 vs 3) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

GiveInstead holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ReliefScout has 46 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ReliefScout ships an update monthly, GiveInstead every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
ReliefScout versus GiveInstead: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReliefScoutGiveInstead
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (46 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings46 — better3
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB24 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperModaramoHowGiving LLC

Customer experience

ReliefScout

All ratings46 ratings
Positive80.4%
Neutral4.3%
Negative15.2%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

GiveInstead

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

ReliefScout

No in-app purchases

None

GiveInstead

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ReliefScout free?
ReliefScout is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GiveInstead free?
GiveInstead is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ReliefScout or GiveInstead?
GiveInstead is rated higher. ReliefScout averages 4.3 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while GiveInstead averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do ReliefScout or GiveInstead have ads?
Neither ReliefScout nor GiveInstead shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ReliefScout or GiveInstead?
ReliefScout ships an update monthly, and GiveInstead every 3 months. Most recently, ReliefScout was updated on October 2, 2026 and GiveInstead on September 23, 2026.

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