ALTERNATIVES 2026

6 Best Bidhive Alternatives (2026 Top Picks)

Six Bidhive alternatives for UK bid teams, from answer-library platforms to SME tools that find, score and write tenders.

software · 29 September 2026 · 13 min read · by AI Tender Writer Editorial

Live on 29 September 2026278 open soft FM tenders59 closing this week35 buyers planning to tenderIn LondonSee them

The best Bidhive alternatives in 2026 are Loopio for teams that want a mature answer library and questionnaire automation, a soft FM specialist at #2 for cleaning, security and facilities contractors, and AI Tender Writer for UK SMEs that want matched tender alerts, fit scoring and AI drafting in one tool. Responsive, AutogenAI and mytender.io cover enterprise response management and dedicated AI bid writing. Frankly, most small teams don't need a full bid management system at all.

Bidhive is a capable bid management system, and teams that run lots of live bids often like its structure. People look for Bidhive alternatives when their main problem sits somewhere else: they want AI that writes full answers rather than helps manage the process, they want UK tenders delivered to them, or they want a price they can see before booking a demo. The six tools below are ranked on those needs, each with pricing, best-fit and limits sections.

Bidhive at a glance

Bidhive is a cloud bid management platform based in Australia. It digitises the bid process from opportunity through to post-bid review: planning, task management, compliance matrices, a content library, reporting and generative AI to help draft and review content. It links to SharePoint, Google Drive and Dropbox, and has included an opportunity search built on open contracting data covering the UK and Australian governments.

QuestionAnswer
What it isBid management platform with generative AI features
PricingNot published; sold on a quote basis
Free plan or trialCheck with the vendor; no public price list
Best suited toBid teams coordinating many live bids and wanting a structured process
UK tender feedOpportunity search based on open contracting data; not a matched UK alert service

Based on Bidhive's website, the Open Contracting Partnership case study and third-party reviews, checked September 2026.

Independent reviews describe Bidhive as strong on workflow and bid governance. The fair limits they raise are that it's quote-only, that it's less suited as a primary writing tool (one review suggests pairing it with a dedicated writing or library tool), and that UK and EU buyers should check data residency, since the company is based in Australia. Those are the gaps the alternatives below fill.

Bidhive vs the top alternatives
FeatureBidhiveLoopioCleanTenderAI Tender WriterResponsiveAutogenAI
Full AI drafting from your content
Bid workflow and task management
Matched UK tender alerts
AI bid/no-bid or fit scoring
Published pricing
Free plan

Based on each vendor's public website in September 2026. Features change often, so check before you buy.

How we picked these Bidhive alternatives

We picked tools that bid teams realistically compare with Bidhive: response and bid platforms with AI, and AI tender writers. We then rated them as a UK supplier would, bidding on Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, Public Contracts Scotland and Sell2Wales.

  • Writing: can the AI produce a full, evidenced answer, or only suggest snippets?
  • Workflow: tasks, reviews and deadlines for teams running several bids at once.
  • Finding work: matched UK tender alerts and a quick bid/no-bid check.
  • UK fit: Procurement Act 2023, PPN 002 social value and UK data handling.
  • Price transparency and a way to try it without a long sales cycle.
  • Set-up effort for a small team versus a large bid function.

1. Loopio: Best for teams answering repeat questionnaires

#1

Loopio

Best for teams answering repeat questionnaires

RFP response software built around a content library.

4.8 / 5

Pricing

Quote on request

Loopio is one of the most widely used response management platforms for RFPs, security questionnaires and due diligence forms. It pairs a governed answer library with review cycles, assignments and AI that suggests and auto-fills answers. It's the natural step for Bidhive users who want stronger content management with solid collaboration.

  • Answer library with review cycles
  • AI-suggested responses
  • Bulk auto-fill of questionnaires
  • Collaboration and assignments
  • CRM and document connections

Pros

  • Mature, widely used content library
  • Strong for repetitive questionnaires
  • Good collaboration and review features

Cons

  • No UK public-sector tender feed
  • Less suited to long narrative method statements

Verdict: The best Bidhive alternative for teams that live in a shared answer library.

Visit Loopio

Loopio pricing

PlanPriceWhat you get
Quote on requestPricing not publishedContact the vendor for a quote based on your team size and scope

When to choose Loopio

  • You answer lots of similar questionnaires, including security and due diligence forms.
  • You want answers owned, reviewed and kept current.
  • You need CRM and document connections for private-sector RFPs.

Where Loopio falls short

  • Pricing not published.
  • Library-first, so long public-sector method statements need more manual writing.
  • No UK tender feed or fit scoring.

2. CleanTender: Best for facilities management SMEs

#2

CleanTender

Best for facilities management SMEs

AI tender writing built for UK soft FM.

4.7 / 5

Pricing

Free plan (1 scan a month); Pro £99/month or £990/year

CleanTender runs the same AI engine as AI Tender Writer, specialised for cleaning, security, grounds maintenance, waste and catering contracts. It finds soft FM tenders, checks them against sector compliance requirements and drafts method statements in the language FM evaluators expect.

  • Soft FM tender feed
  • Compliance checks for BICSc, COSHH, SIA/ACS, BS 7858, HACCP, FHRS and waste carrier licences
  • NHS cleaning specification awareness
  • AI method statements and SQ answers
  • Social value generator
  • Free plan

Pros

  • Sector-specific compliance checks
  • Lowest published price on this list
  • Finds soft FM tenders as well as writing them

Cons

  • Soft FM only
  • Lighter bid workflow than Bidhive

Verdict: The best Bidhive alternative for cleaning, security and soft FM contractors.

Visit CleanTender

CleanTender pricing

PlanPriceWhat you get
Free£0Soft FM tender feed, 1 AI scan a month
Pro (monthly)£99/monthAI drafting, soft FM compliance checks and full tender feed
Pro (annual)£990/yearEverything in Pro, billed yearly

When to choose CleanTender

  • You bid for cleaning, security, grounds, waste or catering contracts.
  • You want sector compliance checked before you commit to a bid.
  • You want a low, published monthly price instead of a quote.

Where CleanTender falls short

  • Soft FM only, so it won't suit IT, construction or consultancy bids.
  • No multi-bid task management or approval workflow like Bidhive.
  • Drafts still need your own evidence and editing.

3. AI Tender Writer: Best for UK SMEs, tender to draft

#3

AI Tender Writer

Best for UK SMEs, tender to draft

Find, score and write UK government tenders with AI.

4.6 / 5

Pricing

Free plan (1 AI scan a month); Pro £149/month or £1,490/year

AI Tender Writer pulls every UK public-sector tender daily from Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, Public Contracts Scotland and Sell2Wales, emails you the matches, scores your fit in under a minute and drafts full tender and Selection Questionnaire answers from your evidence library, exported to Word.

  • Live UK tender feed refreshed daily
  • Matched email alerts
  • AI fit score and bid/no-bid check
  • AI tender and SQ drafting exported to Word
  • Social Value (TOMs) generator
  • Compliance Vault with certificate expiry reminders

Pros

  • Published pricing and a free plan
  • Unlimited bid drafting on Pro
  • Finds, qualifies and writes in one place

Cons

  • Lighter bid workflow and reporting than Bidhive
  • Drafts still need your review and real evidence

Verdict: The best Bidhive alternative for SMEs that need more tenders and faster drafts, not more process.

Start free
New UK tenders matching the supplier's profile arrive by email, each with a fit score.

AI Tender Writer pricing

PlanPriceWhat you get
Free£0Browse UK tenders, 1 AI scan a month, no card needed
Pro (monthly)£149/monthUnlimited bid drafting, 30 AI scans a month, all tools
Pro (annual)£1,490/yearEverything in Pro, billed yearly

When to choose AI Tender Writer

  • You're a UK SME in any sector and a full bid management system is more than you need.
  • You want matched UK tenders emailed to you with a fit score.
  • You want unlimited AI drafting at a fixed monthly price.

Where AI Tender Writer falls short

  • Fewer task, approval and reporting features than Bidhive.
  • Built for UK public-sector tenders, not global private-sector RFPs.
  • Drafts still need your editing and real evidence.

4. Responsive: Best for enterprise response automation

#4

Responsive

Best for enterprise response automation

Strategic response management, formerly RFPIO.

4.5 / 5

Pricing

Quote on request

Responsive, formerly RFPIO, is an enterprise response management platform for RFPs, security questionnaires and proposals. It combines a content library, project management, an AI assistant and analytics, with links into CRM and collaboration tools.

  • AI response assistant
  • Central content library
  • Project and task management
  • Connections to CRM and collaboration tools
  • Analytics

Pros

  • Built for large, multi-team response programmes
  • Wide range of connections to other tools
  • Workflow and content in one platform

Cons

  • Enterprise pricing and set-up
  • Not focused on UK public-sector tenders

Verdict: The enterprise Bidhive alternative when workflow and content both need to scale.

Visit Responsive

Responsive pricing

PlanPriceWhat you get
Quote on requestPricing not publishedContact the vendor for a quote based on your team size and scope

When to choose Responsive

  • You're a large organisation with sales, legal and bid teams contributing.
  • You want workflow, content and analytics in one enterprise platform.
  • Much of your volume is private-sector RFPs and questionnaires.

Where Responsive falls short

  • Enterprise pricing and a longer set-up.
  • No UK tender feed or public-sector specific features.
  • More than a small bid team needs.

5. AutogenAI: Best for enterprise bid teams

#5

AutogenAI

Best for enterprise bid teams

Generative AI built for bids, tenders and proposals.

4.4 / 5

Pricing

Quote on request

AutogenAI is a generative AI platform built for bid writing. It drafts, rewrites and improves answers from a company knowledge library and helps review drafts against the question. It suits teams whose Bidhive set-up handles process well but who want much stronger writing.

  • AI drafting and rewriting for bid answers
  • Company knowledge library
  • Tone, style and word-count controls
  • Research and summarising of tender documents
  • Team collaboration and review

Pros

  • Purpose-built AI writing for bids
  • Strong rewriting and editing tools
  • Widely used by large UK bidders

Cons

  • No built-in UK tender feed
  • Pricing not published and aimed at larger bid teams

Verdict: Choose it if writing, not workflow, is where your bid team loses time.

Visit AutogenAI

AutogenAI pricing

PlanPriceWhat you get
Quote on requestPricing not publishedContact the vendor for a quote based on your team size and scope

When to choose AutogenAI

  • You have an established bid team and want the most capable AI writing.
  • You already manage workflow elsewhere and need better drafts.
  • You're comfortable with an annual enterprise contract.

Where AutogenAI falls short

  • No UK tender feed or fit scoring.
  • Prices aren't published and suit larger teams.
  • Lighter on bid planning and task management than Bidhive.

6. mytender.io: Best for UK bid teams automating first drafts

#6

mytender.io

Best for UK bid teams automating first drafts

AI tender writing built around your past bids.

4.3 / 5

Pricing

Quote on request

mytender.io is a UK AI bid writing platform. You upload a tender pack, it pulls out the questions and requirements, and it drafts answers from your past bids and company documents, with compliance checks against the requirements.

  • Question and requirement extraction from tender documents
  • AI drafting from past bids
  • Content library
  • Compliance checking against requirements
  • Collaboration for bid teams

Pros

  • UK public-sector focus
  • Works directly from the tender pack
  • Suits smaller bid teams as well as larger ones

Cons

  • Pricing not published
  • Works best when you already have a strong library

Verdict: A UK-focused writing tool for teams that want drafts, not a full bid management system.

Visit mytender.io

mytender.io pricing

PlanPriceWhat you get
Quote on requestPricing not publishedContact the vendor for a quote based on your team size and scope

When to choose mytender.io

  • You want AI drafting from your past bids with a UK public-sector focus.
  • You'd like tender packs broken into questions automatically.
  • You don't need Bidhive-style task and approval workflow.

Where mytender.io falls short

  • No published price list.
  • No matched UK tender feed.
  • Output depends on how good your existing library is.

Bidhive alternatives pricing summary

ToolStarting priceFree planBest for
LoopioQuote on requestNoRepeat questionnaires
CleanTender£99/month or £990/yearYes (1 scan a month)Facilities management SMEs
AI Tender Writer£149/month or £1,490/yearYes (1 AI scan a month)UK SMEs, tender to draft
ResponsiveQuote on requestNoEnterprise response automation
AutogenAIQuote on requestNoEnterprise bid teams
mytender.ioQuote on requestNoUK bid teams automating first drafts
Bidhive (for reference)Quote on requestNot publishedEnd-to-end bid management

Prices from vendor websites, September 2026, excluding VAT.

How to choose a Bidhive alternative

Choosing a Bidhive alternative in five steps
  1. 1

    Decide what you're replacing

    Workflow, content library, AI writing or finding tenders? Few tools do all four equally well.

  2. 2

    Size it to your team

    A bid team of ten needs approvals and reporting. A two-person SME needs tenders and drafts.

  3. 3

    Test the writing

    Put a real quality question through each tool and compare with your last submitted answer.

  4. 4

    Check data and hosting

    Ask where content is stored and whether it trains models.

  5. 5

    Plan the move

    Export your library and templates, then time the switch around your renewal date.

What to check before you switch

  • Export everything. Take your content library, compliance matrices and templates out of Bidhive before you cancel.
  • Don't buy workflow you won't use. If your team is small, matched tenders and fast drafts matter more than approval chains.
  • Compare full yearly cost. Add seats, onboarding and any per-bid limits.
  • Check UK data handling. Ask each vendor where data is hosted and what their terms say about model training.
  • Record how you use AI. Under PPN 017 buyers can ask about AI use in your bid, so keep a note of your review steps.
  • Cover social value. PPN 002 sets a minimum 10% weighting for in-scope central government contracts, so a tool that helps draft it saves marks.

Related guides: bid management software, tender management software, bid tracking software, the bid management guide and the best AI tender software. Free tools: bid cost calculator, procurement threshold checker and bid answer grader.

Sources

  1. Bidhive: our story
  2. Australian Bidhive's winning approach to bid management, Open Contracting Partnership
  3. Bidhive review, TenderWatch
  4. Bidhive on Capterra Australia
  5. Loopio
  6. Procurement Policy Notes (PPN 002 and PPN 017)
  7. Procurement Act 2023 guidance

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Bidhive?
Loopio is the best-known alternative for teams that want a strong answer library and collaboration. UK SMEs that want matched tenders, fit scoring and AI drafting should look at AI Tender Writer, and soft FM contractors at the sector specialist ranked #2.
Is Bidhive worth it?
For teams running many bids at once, Bidhive's structured workflow, compliance matrices and reporting can be worth it. If your main need is writing full answers or finding tenders, a writing-first or feed-first tool is likely better value.
How much does Bidhive cost?
Bidhive doesn't publish a starting price. It's sold on a quote basis, so contact the vendor with your team size and bid volume.
What is cheaper than Bidhive?
AI Tender Writer publishes its prices: Pro is £149 a month or £1,490 a year, and there's a free plan. The soft FM specialist at #2 is cheaper still; the pricing table above lists every published price.
Is there a free Bidhive alternative?
Yes. AI Tender Writer has a free plan with one AI scan a month and no card needed, and so does the soft FM tool ranked #2. For simple bid tracking, a shared spreadsheet also works for very small teams.
Does Bidhive work for UK public sector tenders?
Yes. Bidhive is used for public-sector bids and its opportunity search has drawn on UK open contracting data. It's headquartered in Australia, so UK teams should check where data is hosted.
Do I need bid management software or AI writing software?
If you lose time coordinating people, deadlines and approvals, bid management software helps most. If you lose time writing answers or finding the right tenders, an AI tender writer with a tender feed will save more hours.