Top 28 RFP Tools & Software for 2026!

AI Deep Research, Analysis, and Ranking for 28 RFP Environments

DISCLAIMER:

The analysis and data are presented “as is” based on available information to provide a quick overview of market segments, options, and pricing as of January 6, 2026. The markets and models are changing - always independently verify the material (links to sources provided at the end). Enjoy!

Executive Summary

This competitive intelligence report provides a comprehensive analysis of the dynamic and rapidly evolving procurement and proposal software market. The landscape is characterized by a distinct segmentation between large, all-encompassing enterprise platforms and a vibrant ecosystem of specialized, best-of-breed solutions. The introduction of BidHawk AI, a novel player with a disruptive business model and technology approach, necessitates a re-evaluation of the competitive framework, market positioning, and future industry trajectories. This report integrates BidHawk AI into our comprehensive analysis, re-ranks the competitive field, introduces a new visualization model to better capture the market's structure, and incorporates an exhaustive analysis of competitor pricing models, which are a critical factor in strategic positioning and customer acquisition.

The market remains broadly divided between solutions targeting the Commercial sector and the highly regulated Government sector. The Commercial space is the most saturated, featuring established leaders in Business Spend Management (BSM) and Source-to-Pay (S2P) such as SAP Ariba and Coupa. These vendors offer extensive, high-cost platforms for large enterprises, with pricing models that are often opaque, quote-based, and represent significant annual investments starting in the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars [46, 41]. This segment also includes a fiercely competitive sub-market for Request for Proposal (RFP) response management, dominated by mature players like Responsive (formerly RFPIO) and Loopio. These companies provide deep functionality centered on content libraries and collaborative workflows, typically with multi-tiered subscription pricing that starts at a significant entry point, such as Loopio's Foundations plan beginning at $20,000 annually for ten users [1, 5]. The Government sector remains a specialized niche, with providers like Bonfire offering purpose-built platforms that address the unique compliance and procedural demands of public procurement, with pricing that, while quote-based, is understood to be in the mid-to-high tier to reflect its specialized value [144].

The most significant development in this updated analysis is the formal inclusion of BidHawk AI, a player that defies traditional categorization. Positioned as a Hybrid solution, BidHawk AI uniquely serves both buyers (procurement teams) and sellers (proposal teams) with a targeted, AI-driven tool for document analysis and comparison. Its pay-as-you-go pricing model, which offers new users free credits and allows for in-app credit purchases for continued use, and its function as a supplemental, workflow-enhancing tool—rather than a platform replacement—represent a significant departure from the subscription-based, high-commitment, all-or-nothing approach of most competitors [139]. This positioning creates a new "middle market" focused on a critical, high-pain stage of the procurement lifecycle: the review and evaluation of complex documents.

Our rankings place the comprehensive enterprise suites, SAP Ariba and Coupa, at the top, reflecting their unmatched scope and strategic importance to large corporations, which is supported by their premium, enterprise-grade pricing [46, 41]. However, the analysis highlights the increasing influence of AI-native innovators. BidHawk AI, with its accessible and specialized solution, emerges as a highly compelling innovator capable of disrupting established workflows by delivering immediate value with minimal organizational friction and a radically different cost structure [139].

Rank	Product Name	Annual Subscription	Minimum Term
1	SAP Ariba	$61,513 / Year (Median)	Multi-year
2	Coupa	$93,370 / Year (Median)	1 year
3	Responsive (RFPIO)	$14,000 (Median) ~ $499/Month (est start)	12 months
4	Loopio	$20,000 / Year (min est)	1 year
5	Bonfire	$1,000 / Year (min est)	1 year
6	Jaggaer	$45,000 / Year (min est)	2 years
7	Ivalua	$150,000 / Year (min est)	1 year
8	Zycus	$50,000 / Year (est)	❗Call Vendor
==9==	==BidHawk AI==	==✅ $0 Pay As Needed==	==✅ NONE==
10	QorusDocs	❗Call Vendor	❗Call Vendor
11	Proposify	$29 / Month ~ $228 / Year	Monthly / 1 year
12	PandaDoc	$19 / Month ~ $228 / Year	Monthly / 1 year
13	Qvidian	❗Call Vendor	1 year
14	Keelvar	❗Call Vendor	❗Call Vendor
15	Icertis	❗Call Vendor	Multi-year
16	DeepRFP	$75 / Month ~ $720 / Year	Monthly
17	Inventive AI	❗Call Vendor	❗Call Vendor
18	AutoRFP.ai	$899 / Month ~ $10,788 / Year	1 year
19	Qwilr	$39 / Month ~ $420 / Year	Monthly / 1 year
20	Expedience Software	❗Call Vendor	1 year
21	Better Proposals	$19 / Month ~ $156 / Year	Monthly / 1 year
22	RFP360	$500 / Month (est) ~ $6,000 / Year (est)	1 year
23	GetAccept	$25 / Month (eSign) ~ $300 / Year	1 year
24	Upland Software	❗Call Vendor	Multi-year
25	Vendorful	$1,000 / Month ~ $12,000 / Year	Monthly
27	Arphie	❗Call Vendor	❗Call Vendor
28	HeyIris.ai / Iris AI	❗Call Vendor	1 year

The key strategic insight is that the market is evolving beyond a simple dichotomy of platforms versus point solutions. A new category of specialized, AI-powered "accelerators" like BidHawk AI is emerging. These tools provide significant value without requiring costly and disruptive platform replacements, presenting both a threat to incumbent revenue models built on high annual contract values and a significant opportunity for organizations seeking to enhance their existing technology stack with targeted, high-ROI capabilities on a flexible, consumption-based cost model.

2.0 RFP Market Segmentation

The procurement and proposal technology market is segmented by the distinct characteristics and requirements of its target customers. Competitors have strategically aligned their products, go-to-market strategies, and crucially, their pricing models to serve these specific segments. Our analysis identifies four primary market segments: Government, Commercial, and two distinct types of Hybrid models, one based on sector and the other on user role. The introduction of BidHawk AI necessitates a more nuanced understanding of the Hybrid category, particularly in how its pricing and role-based function create a new market dynamic.

2.1 Government Segment

The Government segment is defined by its unwavering focus on regulatory compliance, process transparency, fairness, and robust security. Procurement cycles in this sector are notoriously long and governed by strict legal frameworks, creating substantial barriers to entry for vendors not purpose-built for this environment. Solutions must facilitate complex, multi-stage bidding processes, manage sealed bid submissions, provide comprehensive audit trails, and ensure equitable evaluation criteria are applied consistently. The core problem solved in this segment is the mitigation of compliance risk and the reduction of operational inefficiencies associated with manual, paper-based public sector procurement. The pricing for these solutions is typically in the mid-to-high enterprise range, reflecting the high-stakes, specialized nature of the software and the intensive support required.

Bonfire is the exemplary competitor dedicated exclusively to this segment. Its platform is engineered from the ground up for strategic sourcing within public sector entities, including government agencies and higher education institutions. Its value proposition is not merely workflow automation but deep domain expertise embedded in the software, ensuring that procurement activities adhere to public law and institutional policy. While its pricing is not publicly disclosed, it is understood to be a significant annual subscription, with sources indicating a starting point around $1,000 per year, though this likely represents a very basic entry point, with typical deployments for municipalities and educational institutions costing substantially more [144]. Competitive advantage in this niche is derived less from cutting-edge features and more from reliability, security, and a profound understanding of the client's non-negotiable procedural requirements, which justifies a premium price point.

2.2 Commercial Segment

The Commercial segment represents the largest, most diverse, and most competitive area of the market. It spans from mid-market companies to the world's largest multinational corporations. The primary business drivers are financial and operational: increasing revenue, reducing costs, improving efficiency, and gaining a competitive edge. Unlike the government sector, attributes like speed to value, user experience, and seamless integration with existing enterprise systems (particularly CRM and ERP) are paramount. The sheer size of this segment has led to the emergence of several distinct sub-segments based on functionality and pricing strategy.

2.2.1 Full-Suite Procurement Platforms (Source-to-Pay/Business Spend Management)

This sub-segment is dominated by enterprise software giants such as SAP Ariba, Coupa, Ivalua, and Zycus. These vendors provide comprehensive, end-to-end platforms designed to manage every aspect of corporate spending. Their solutions cover the entire "source-to-pay" (S2P) or "business spend management" (BSM) lifecycle.

They solve the critical enterprise problem of fragmented, uncontrolled spending by creating a single, centralized system of record and control. Their pricing models are characteristically high-end, opaque, and quote-based, often starting at $50,000 to $150,000 annually and scaling significantly based on modules, spend volume, and user counts [116, 94].

For example, third-party data suggests a median annual cost for Coupa around $93,370 and for SAP Ariba around $61,513, with ranges extending well into the hundreds of thousands [41, 46]. Their value proposition is centered on delivering strategic value through cost savings, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency at a global scale, justifying the substantial investment.

2.2.2 RFP and Proposal Response Management

This highly competitive sub-segment focuses on the "sell-side" of the procurement equation, helping organizations win business more effectively. Market leaders Responsive (RFPIO) and Loopio, along with strong competitors like Qvidian and QorusDocs, provide specialized platforms to manage the complex process of responding to RFPs, RFIs, and security questionnaires.

The fundamental problem they solve is the chaotic, labor-intensive, and often repetitive nature of creating high-stakes proposals.

Their pricing is typically subscription-based with multiple tiers. For instance, Loopio's entry-level "Foundations" plan starts at $20,000 per year for 10 seats, while higher tiers with more features and integrations are custom-quoted [1]. Responsive follows a similar quote-based model with tiers like Lite, Emerging, Growth, and Enterprise, with a reported median annual cost of around $14,000, though this can vary widely [6, 8]. This mid-to-high pricing reflects the significant ROI these platforms provide in terms of time saved and increased win rates.

2.2.3 Proposal Creation and Document Automation

This sub-segment, featuring companies like Proposify, PandaDoc, Qwilr, and Better Proposals, is focused on the creation, delivery, and tracking of visually compelling sales documents. Their pricing is significantly more accessible and transparent, targeting a broader market that includes small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

These tools often feature free or low-cost entry-level plans and clear per-user, per-month pricing for higher tiers. For example, PandaDoc offers a free eSign plan, with paid plans starting at $19 per user per month (billed annually) [16]. Proposify's Basic plan is also $19 per user per month (annually) [11].

They solve the problem of inconsistent branding and a lack of insight into client engagement. Their key differentiators are often superior user experience, design flexibility, and powerful analytics that track prospect interaction, providing value at a much lower price point than RFP management platforms.

2.2.4 AI-Powered Niche Innovators

A dynamic and growing sub-segment is composed of new entrants with an "AI-first" DNA. Companies such as DeepRFP, Inventive AI, and AutoRFP.ai are focused almost exclusively on leveraging generative AI to automate the most time-consuming aspect of the RFP response process: drafting the initial answers.

Their pricing models are often more transparent and accessible than the legacy RFP platforms they aim to disrupt. DeepRFP, for example, offers a "Pro" plan at $75 per user per month [64]. AutoRFP.ai uses a project-based model, with its "Scale" plan costing $899 per month (billed yearly) for 24 projects and unlimited users, directly challenging the per-seat models of competitors [89].

These innovators address the critical market pain points of speed and resource constraints, promising to deliver a first-pass response in a fraction of the time.

2.3 Hybrid Segments: A Dual Definition

The term "Hybrid" applies to two different business models in this market. The first is a sector-based model, serving both Government and Commercial clients. The second, exemplified by BidHawk AI, is a role-based model, serving both buyers and sellers within the procurement process.

2.3.1 Sector-Based Hybrid Model (Government & Commercial)

This model is represented by vendors whose platforms are sufficiently powerful and configurable to meet the needs of both private enterprises and public sector organizations. Jaggaer is the primary example in this category. It offers a comprehensive S2P platform with the modularity and feature depth required to navigate both worlds. Its pricing reflects its enterprise focus, with a reported starting price of $45,000 annually and a complex, modular structure where costs for specific modules like Spend Analytics or Sourcing can range from tens to hundreds of thousands of pounds per year [34, 36, 37].

The value proposition of a sector-based hybrid player is its ability to serve as a single, unified procurement system for large, diversified organizations that operate across both public and private domains.

2.3.2 Role-Based Hybrid Model (Buyer & Seller)

BidHawk AI introduces and defines this new category of hybrid solution.

Its platform is not designed for one side of the transaction but for the interaction between them.

It serves buyers (procurement teams) by helping them rapidly and objectively evaluate multiple vendor proposals against a set of requirements. Simultaneously, it serves sellers (proposal teams) by allowing them to pre-evaluate their own proposals against an RFP's criteria, identifying gaps and weaknesses before submission.

This role-based hybrid approach is unique, and its pricing model is equally disruptive. Instead of a high-cost annual subscription, it uses a pay-as-you-go credit system, where new users get free credits to start [139].

This utility-based pricing makes it an impartial, AI-driven arbiter and analyst "in the middle," focused on improving the quality, speed, and objectivity of the evaluation phase for everyone involved with minimal financial commitment.

3.0 Detailed Competitor Pricing Analysis

A comprehensive understanding of the competitive landscape requires a detailed examination of each vendor's pricing strategy. Pricing not only reflects a company's perceived value and target market but also dictates customer accessibility, adoption friction, and overall business model.

The following analysis details the pricing structures for the 28 companies evaluated in this report, based on publicly available information and third-party data. Many enterprise-focused vendors employ opaque, quote-based pricing, while more accessible tools offer transparent, tiered plans.

3.1 SAP Ariba

Base Pricing: SAP Ariba does not publish standard pricing. Its model is entirely quote-based and tailored to large enterprise clients [44]. Third-party data indicates a median annual cost of approximately $61,513, but this figure can be misleading as the range is vast, from as low as $15,531 to over $371,134 per year [46]. The entry point for any significant deployment is substantial, reflecting its position as a strategic enterprise platform. There is no free trial available for its core modules [44].

Optional Pricing: Pricing is highly modular. Costs are determined by the specific modules licensed (e.g., Sourcing, Contracts, Buying & Invoicing, Supplier Management), usage metrics like annual spend volume or document count, and the number of named users [48]. For suppliers, the SAP Business Network has its own fee structure. While a "Standard Account" is free for transacting a limited number of documents (up to 4 per year) or below a certain value threshold (under $50,000 USD annually), the "Enterprise Account" for higher-volume suppliers involves a tiered annual subscription fee plus transaction fees [45, 47]. These transaction fees are typically a percentage of the transaction value (e.g., 0.155% of PO value), often with annual caps per relationship [47, 48].

Pricing Model: For buyers, the model is a multi-year enterprise subscription, with costs based on a combination of user licenses, transaction volume, and spend under management [48]. For suppliers, it is a tiered subscription plus a transaction fee model, which has been a significant point of contention and negotiation for many buying organizations [45].

Pricing Source: Pricing is not available on the official website and must be obtained via a custom quote [44]. The analysis is based on third-party procurement data and expert licensing analysis [46, 48].

3.2 Coupa

Base Pricing: Coupa's pricing is quote-based and aimed at mid-to-large enterprises. There is no publicly listed starting price for its Business Spend Management (BSM) platform [43]. Based on over 100 purchases, third-party data reveals a median annual cost of $93,370, with a wide range from approximately $21,844 to $244,270 [41]. Coupa does not offer a free trial for its core platform.

Optional Pricing: The final price is determined by factors such as invoice volume, number of users, and the specific modules required (e.g., Procurement, Invoicing, Expense Management, Treasury) [43]. For suppliers using the Coupa Supplier Portal (CSP), there are distinct plans. A "Registered Plan" is free. The "Verified Plan" is $549 per year for a verification badge. A "Premium Support Plan" starts at $499 per year, and an "Advanced Plan" with more invoicing features costs $4,800 per year [39].

Pricing Model: Coupa uses a customized annual subscription model for its enterprise customers. The cost structure is complex and highly negotiable [41]. For suppliers, it offers a freemium model with optional paid annual subscriptions for enhanced visibility and features [39].

Pricing Source: Pricing for the BSM platform is available only through direct consultation with the sales team [43]. Supplier pricing is listed on the Coupa Supplier Portal website [39]. Cost analysis is supplemented by third-party procurement data [41].

3.3 Responsive (RFPIO)

Base Pricing: Responsive (formerly RFPIO) does not publicly disclose its pricing [6]. It offers four editions (Lite, Emerging, Growth, Enterprise) on a quote-based system [6]. Third-party data suggests a median annual cost of $14,000, with a reported range of $5,022 to $29,380 per year [8]. Some sources have historically cited a starting point of around $499 per user per month, but this is not confirmed on the official site [10]. Responsive does not offer a free trial [10].

Optional Pricing: Higher-tier plans unlock more advanced features. The "Growth" edition adds Intake Request, Lookup, eSignature, and the AI Agent Studio [6]. The "Enterprise" edition includes Guided Projects, content translation, a custom report builder, and multi-business unit support [6]. Professional services for onboarding, training, and premium consulting are available as add-ons and represent additional costs [6]. The AI tool itself can account for a significant portion of the total contract value [8].

Pricing Model: The primary model is a per-user, per-month annual subscription [22]. Costs scale with the number of users, the feature edition selected, and the inclusion of advanced AI capabilities and premium integrations [22].

Pricing Source: Pricing is available by requesting a quote through the official Responsive website [6]. Cost estimates are derived from third-party procurement data and market analysis reports [8, 23].

3.4 Loopio

Base Pricing: Loopio's pricing is primarily quote-based, but it does provide a specific starting point. The entry-level "Foundations" plan starts at $20,000 USD per year, which includes 10 user seats [1]. This plan is targeted at smaller teams and includes core features like unlimited projects and generative AI [1]. Loopio does not offer a free trial [1].

Optional Pricing: Loopio offers "Enhanced," "Advanced," and "Enterprise" plans with custom pricing [1]. These higher tiers add features like multi-language libraries, confidential projects, advanced integrations with CRMs like Salesforce, and support for separate business units [1, 2]. Add-on options that increase the total cost include project translations, enhanced onboarding packages, and premium customer success, which can cost around $3,500 [1, 5]. A Salesforce integration can be a standalone cost of about $2,400 if not bundled [5].

Pricing Model: Loopio uses a seat-based annual subscription model [2, 5]. The cost is heavily influenced by the number of users, the selected pricing tier, and any optional add-ons [2]. Third-party data indicates a median annual payment of around $22,786 [3].

Pricing Source: The starting price for the "Foundations" plan is listed on Loopio's official pricing page [1]. Details for other plans and add-ons require a custom quote [1].

3.5 Bonfire

Base Pricing: Bonfire, a platform focused on the public sector, has a starting price listed by some third-party sources as $1,000 per year [144, 145, 146]. However, this likely represents a very minimal configuration. As a strategic sourcing tool for government and public entities, typical deployments are significantly more expensive and are determined by a custom quote [144]. A free trial is not typically offered.

Optional Pricing: Pricing is personalized based on the needs of the public entity, which could include the number of users, projects, and specific modules like contract management or performance management [144]. The platform's value is in its deep compliance and workflow capabilities for the public sector, which are reflected in a premium, customized price structure.

Pricing Model: Bonfire operates on an annual subscription model [144]. The price is determined through a consultative sales process to tailor the solution to the specific size and complexity of the government agency or educational institution.

Pricing Source: The starting price is cited on third-party software review sites [144, 145, 146]. However, for an accurate price, organizations must contact Bonfire directly for a personalized quote.

3.6 Jaggaer

Base Pricing: Jaggaer's pricing is complex, modular, and quote-based, targeting large commercial and public sector organizations [34]. While some sources indicate a starting price of $45,000 annually, this is a general estimate [34, 37]. The platform is sold as a series of modules with a minimum two-year commitment for many [36]. A free trial is not available [38].

Optional Pricing: Costs are highly dependent on the modules selected. For example, a UK government pricing template shows annual costs for "Sourcing+" starting at £21,400 for 5 users, "Contracts+" starting at £18,300 for 5 users, and "Spend Analytics+" starting at over £100,000 for organizations with up to £250M in spend [36]. User count and organizational spend are major factors in scaling the price for each module [36].

Pricing Model: Jaggaer uses a multi-year subscription model with annual payments in advance [36]. The pricing is tiered based on user count, spend volume, and the specific S2C (Source-to-Contract) or P2P (Procure-to-Pay) modules licensed [36].

Pricing Source: Pricing is not publicly available on the main company website. Detailed module pricing examples are available through public documents like the UK's G-Cloud Digital Marketplace [36]. All other pricing requires a custom quote.

3.7 Ivalua

Base Pricing: Ivalua is an enterprise-grade Source-to-Pay platform with a starting price of $150,000 per year [92, 94, 95]. This high entry point reflects its focus on large, complex organizations. The pricing is quotation-based, and the company does not offer a free trial or a free version [94, 95].

Optional Pricing: The final subscription cost is customized based on the specific modules a client selects from its comprehensive suite (e.g., Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Management, Contract Lifecycle Management, eProcurement), the number of users, and the level of configuration required [95]. The platform's high degree of flexibility and configurability is a key value driver that influences its premium pricing.

Pricing Model: Ivalua operates on a custom annual subscription model [94]. The total cost is determined through a consultative process to match the platform's capabilities with the client's specific spend management needs.

Pricing Source: The starting price of $150,000 per year is reported by third-party software directories [92, 94, 95]. Specific quotes must be obtained directly from Ivalua's sales team.

3.8 Zycus

Base Pricing: Zycus offers a quote-based pricing model for its AI-powered procurement suite, with a typical starting point of around $50,000 annually [114, 116]. Some sources suggest a potential annual range of $50,000 to $250,000, depending on the deployment [114]. A free trial is not offered [117].

Optional Pricing: The total cost is contingent on the specific modules chosen (e.g., spend analysis, e-sourcing, contract management), the number of users, and the complexity of implementation [114]. Implementation and consulting services are typically quoted separately from the software subscription, representing a potential additional cost [114].

Pricing Model: Zycus provides flexible pricing models, including a per-user subscription (most common), a per-transaction model, or a hybrid approach combining both [114]. This allows organizations to choose a model that best aligns with their usage patterns.

Pricing Source: Pricing information is not published on the Zycus website. The figures are based on third-party analysis and software review sites, but a formal quote must be obtained from Zycus [114, 116].

3.9 ,BidHawk AI

Base Pricing: BidHawk AI utilizes a unique and highly accessible pricing model. New users receive 25 free credits upon registration in the "Entry User" tier, allowing them to use the fully functional platform without any cost or obligation [139]. This serves as a fully functional free trial.

Optional Pricing: The platform operates on a pay-as-you-go basis. Users can purchase additional credits in-app. The "Business User" tier provides 100 credits, and the "Professional User" tier includes 1,000 credits [139]. For large-scale needs, an "Enterprise" option is available via direct contact, which allows for discussions on self-hosting, custom model integration, and Single Sign-On (SSO) integrations [139].

Pricing Model: The model is pay-as-you-go, based on credits. One credit is consumed for approximately every 500 words of document content analyzed [139]. This utility-based pricing is a significant departure from the mandatory annual subscriptions of most competitors.

Pricing Source: All pricing information, including the free credit offer and the pay-as-you-go structure, is clearly listed on the BidHawk AI official website [139].

3.10 QorusDocs

Base Pricing: QorusDocs does not publicly disclose its pricing [31, 33]. It operates on a subscription model and requires potential customers to request a quote [31]. While no specific numbers are available, user reviews have noted that the software offers necessary functionality at a "comfortable price point" [29]. A free trial is available [30].

Optional Pricing: As a quote-based service, pricing is tailored to the size of the business (from small business to large enterprise), the number of users, and the specific features required [30]. The deep integration with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem and platforms like Salesforce is a core part of its value proposition, and the level of integration required would likely influence the final price [31].

Pricing Model: QorusDocs uses a custom, quote-based subscription model [30].

Pricing Source: Pricing information is not available on the company's website or on third-party review sites [31, 33]. Information must be obtained by contacting QorusDocs for a demo and a custom quote.

3.11 Proposify

Base Pricing: Proposify offers transparent, tiered pricing. The "Basic" plan costs $19 per user per month when billed annually ($29 if billed monthly) [11]. This plan is for up to 2 users and allows for 5 document sends per month [11]. A 14-day free trial of the "Team" plan is available [11].

Optional Pricing: The "Team" plan costs $41 per user per month (annually) and includes unlimited documents, CRM integrations, and custom URLs [11]. The "Business" plan starts at $3,900 annually for 5 users, with additional users costing $780 per year [11]. This enterprise-focused plan adds features like user roles, approval workflows, and SSO [11]. Add-ons for Salesforce and Aspire integrations are available for the Business plan at an additional $9 per user per month [11].

Pricing Model: Proposify uses a tiered, per-user-per-month subscription model with discounts for annual billing [11].

Pricing Source: All pricing details for the Basic, Team, and Business plans, including feature breakdowns and add-on costs, are publicly available on the Proposify website's pricing page [11].

3.12 PandaDoc

Base Pricing: PandaDoc is highly accessible, offering a "Free eSign" plan that allows for unlimited legally binding eSignatures and up to 5 documents sent per month [16]. Its paid plans start with the "Starter" plan at $19 per user per month (billed annually), which includes templates and real-time tracking [16]. A 14-day free trial is available for the Starter plan [16, 19].

Optional Pricing: The "Business" plan is priced at $49 per user per month (annually) and adds CRM integrations, a content library, and custom branding [16]. An "Enterprise" plan with custom pricing is available for organizations needing advanced features like SSO, CPQ functionality, and API access [16]. Optional add-ons for the Business and Enterprise plans include web forms and bulk sending [16].

Pricing Model: PandaDoc employs a freemium and tiered, per-user-per-month subscription model [16]. It offers significant discounts (up to 46%) for annual billing compared to monthly [16, 19].

Pricing Source: Detailed pricing for the Free, Starter, and Business plans is clearly listed on the PandaDoc website's pricing page [16]. The Enterprise plan requires a custom quote.

3.13 Qvidian

Base Pricing: Qvidian, an Upland Software product, does not have public pricing [49]. It operates on a custom, quote-based model [52, 53]. Some third-party sites list a placeholder starting price of "$1.00 per year," which is not representative of the actual cost [50, 53]. Qvidian is an enterprise-grade solution, and its pricing reflects that. No free trial is offered, but demos are available [52].

Optional Pricing: Pricing is tailored based on the number of users, required features (such as advanced AI automation and analytics), and the level of integration with platforms like Salesforce and Microsoft 365 [49]. As an enterprise tool trusted by major financial institutions, its pricing would include robust security and compliance features [49].

Pricing Model: Qvidian uses a custom annual subscription model, with pricing determined through direct consultation with the sales team [52].

Pricing Source: No pricing is available on the official Upland Software or Qvidian product pages [49]. All pricing must be obtained via a custom quote.

3.14 Keelvar

Base Pricing: Pricing information for Keelvar is not publicly available in the provided source materials. As a specialized, AI-powered sourcing optimization and automation tool for enterprise procurement teams, it is certain to have a custom, quote-based pricing model.

Optional Pricing: The cost would likely be determined by the complexity of sourcing events, the spend categories being managed (especially in logistics and transport), and the level of AI bot automation required.

Pricing Model: Keelvar likely operates on a custom enterprise subscription model, with pricing reflecting the high strategic value and ROI of its sourcing optimization capabilities.

Pricing Source: No pricing information was available in the provided research data. A quote must be obtained directly from Keelvar.

3.15 Icertis

Base Pricing: Icertis, a market leader in Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM), does not publish its prices [129, 131]. Its platform is a premium, enterprise-level solution, and pricing is entirely customized [129]. There is no free trial available [133].

Optional Pricing: The pricing for the Icertis Contract Intelligence (ICI) platform is influenced by several factors, including the volume of user licenses, the number of contracts being managed, the specific modules and AI features selected, and the chosen deployment style (cloud, on-premises, or hybrid) [129]. Additional costs can be incurred for customizations, data migration, training, and premium support packages [129].

Pricing Model: Icertis uses a personalized, **multi-year enterprise subscription model **[129]. The total cost of ownership is determined through a consultative sales process tailored to large organizations with complex contracting needs.

Pricing Source: Pricing is not publicly available. All cost information must be obtained by requesting a custom quote from the Icertis sales team [129, 131].

3.16 DeepRFP

Base Pricing: DeepRFP offers transparent, user-based pricing. Its "Pro" plan is priced at $75 per user per month [64]. The company offers a 20% discount for annual billing [64]. A 7-day free trial is available without requiring a credit card [64].

Optional Pricing: DeepRFP has an "Elite" plan at $125 per user per month [64]. This higher tier includes all features of the Pro plan plus advanced customizations, such as custom instructions for the AI agents (Proposal Writer, RFP Analyzer), the ability to use files within tools, and priority support [64].

Pricing Model: DeepRFP uses a tiered, per-user-per-month subscription model with a "cancel anytime" policy, which offers more flexibility than the long-term contracts of many competitors [64].

Pricing Source: All pricing details for the Pro and Elite plans are clearly and publicly listed on the DeepRFP website's pricing page [64].

3.17 Inventive AI

Base Pricing: Specific pricing plans or cost structures for Inventive AI are not publicly disclosed [71, 73]. As an AI-powered platform for RFP and security questionnaire response, it likely follows a subscription model tailored to business needs. Interested parties are encouraged to book a demo [71].

Optional Pricing: Pricing would likely be based on the number of users, the volume of RFPs processed, and the level of access to its suite of AI agents and the Unified Knowledge Hub [71]. Integrations with internal data systems like Google Drive and SharePoint would also be a factor [71].

Pricing Model: Inventive AI most likely uses a custom, quote-based subscription model, common for B2B SaaS solutions in this specialized vertical.

Pricing Source: No pricing information was available in the provided research data. A quote must be obtained by contacting Inventive AI directly.

3.18 AutoRFP.ai

Base Pricing: AutoRFP.ai provides transparent, project-based pricing. The "Scale" plan costs $899 per month (when paid yearly) and includes 24 projects per year [89]. A key feature across all plans is an unlimited number of users [89]. A free trial is available, and the company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee [89, 90].

Optional Pricing: The "Accelerate" plan is priced at $1,299 per month (paid yearly) and includes 50 projects per year [89]. An "Enterprise" plan with flexible, scalable pricing is available for businesses with larger needs, which includes bespoke implementation and terms [89]. The company explicitly states there are no paid add-ons; all features like SSO, integrations, and AI are included in all plans [89].

Pricing Model: AutoRFP.ai uses a tiered, project-based annual subscription model [89]. This is a significant differentiator from the common per-user pricing of its competitors, making it potentially more cost-effective for large teams.

Pricing Source: All pricing details for the Scale and Accelerate plans are publicly available on the AutoRFP.ai website's pricing page [89].

3.19 Qwilr

Base Pricing: Qwilr offers clear, tiered pricing. The "Business" plan costs $35 per user per month when billed annually ($39 monthly) [54]. This plan is suitable for smaller teams and includes core features like the content editor, e-signatures, and analytics [54]. A 14-day free trial of the Business plan is available without a credit card [54].

Optional Pricing: The "Enterprise" plan costs $59 per user per month (billed annually) and has a 10-user minimum [54]. This plan is targeted at larger teams and adds a dedicated account manager, custom branding, team permissions, and Salesforce integration [54]. Qwilr also offers paid add-ons, such as "Identity Verification" and "Custom Branding," for an additional $10 per user per month (with a 5-user minimum) [54]. API access is also available as a paid add-on requiring a custom quote [54].

Pricing Model: Qwilr uses a tiered, per-user-per-month subscription model with discounts for annual billing [54].

Pricing Source: All pricing for the Business and Enterprise plans, as well as for the optional add-ons, is listed publicly on the Qwilr website's pricing page [54].

3.20 Expedience Software

Base Pricing: Pricing information for Expedience Software is not publicly available in the provided source materials. Given its focus on providing proposal automation directly within the Microsoft Office suite for mid-to-large enterprises, it almost certainly uses a custom, quote-based pricing model.

Optional Pricing: The cost would likely depend on the number of users, the level of implementation support required, and the scale of the content library integration within the Microsoft Word ribbon.

Pricing Model: Expedience Software likely operates on a custom annual subscription model, with** pricing determined after a consultation** and demo.

Pricing Source: No pricing information was available in the provided research data. A quote must be obtained directly from Expedience Software.

3.21 Better Proposals

Base Pricing: Better Proposals offers transparent, tiered pricing. The "Starter" plan is its most basic offering, priced at $13 per user per month (billed annually) or $19 per user per month (monthly) [79]. This plan includes core features but limits users to 10 document sends per month [82]. A 14-day free trial is available for all plans [79].

Optional Pricing: The "Premium" plan costs $21 per user per month (annually) and increases the document limit to 50 per month while adding CRM integrations and custom domain features [79]. The "Enterprise" plan, at $42 per user per month (annually), offers unlimited documents, content locking, manager approvals, and advanced user permissions for larger sales teams [79].

Pricing Model: Better Proposals uses a tiered, per-user-per-month subscription model with discounts for annual commitments [79].

Pricing Source: All pricing details for the Starter, Premium, and Enterprise plans are publicly available on the Better Proposals website's pricing page [79].

3.22 RFP360

Base Pricing: RFP360, which has been rebranded as part of Responsive, does not have public pricing [24]. Third-party sources provide estimates suggesting a subscription model with significant costs that scale with user count. One source estimates a starting price of **$500 per month for a single user **[25]. **No free plan or free trial is available **[27].

Optional Pricing: Costs escalate significantly with more users, with estimates reaching $4,000 per month for 10 users and $30,000 per month for 100 users [25]. As part of the broader Responsive platform, pricing would be folded into their tiered, quote-based structure (Lite, Emerging, Growth, Enterprise), with **costs dependent on the feature set required **[6].

Pricing Model: RFP360 operates on a custom, quote-based annual subscription model, priced per user [25, 26].

Pricing Source: Pricing is not publicly available. The cost estimates are from third-party software directories and are not confirmed by the vendor [24, 25, 26, 27]. An official quote must be obtained from Responsive.

3.23 GetAccept

Base Pricing: GetAccept offers a tiered pricing structure starting with the "eSign" plan at **$25 per user per month **[103]. This plan is designed for smaller teams and **focuses on e-signature and basic document workflow **[103].

Optional Pricing: The "Professional" plan is priced at $49 per user per month with a 5-user minimum and provides a full Digital Sales Room experience, including advanced branding and integrations with CRMs like HubSpot [103]. The "Enterprise" plan requires a custom quote and adds features like contract management, CPQ, SSO, and premium integrations with Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics [103].

Pricing Model: GetAccept uses a tiered, per-user-per-month subscription model, with annual payment typically required for the Professional and Enterprise plans [103].

Pricing Source: Pricing for the eSign and Professional plans is listed on the GetAccept website's pricing page [103]. The Enterprise plan requires direct contact with sales for a custom quote.

3.24 Upland Software

Base Pricing: Upland Software is a portfolio company that owns Qvidian, among other enterprise software. It does not have a single pricing model. The pricing for its solutions, including Qvidian, is quote-based and tailored to enterprise customers [49].

Optional Pricing: Costs are determined by the **specific product being licensed **(e.g., Qvidian for proposal automation), the number of users, the feature set, and the level of support and implementation services required. Upland's strategy often involves cross-selling products from its portfolio, which could lead to bundled pricing arrangements.

Pricing Model: Upland's products are typically sold via custom, multi-year enterprise subscription agreements.

Pricing Source: Pricing is not publicly available and must be obtained by contacting the sales team for the specific product of interest, such as Qvidian [49].

3.25 Vendorful

Base Pricing: Vendorful's vendor lifecycle management solution has a listed starting price of $1,000 per month [124, 127]. The platform is sold via a subscription model, and a free trial is available [124].

Optional Pricing: The pricing can be structured "per feature" and "per month," suggesting a modular approach where customers can select the components they need (e.g., eRFX, Reverse Auctions, Vendor Management, Contracts Administration) [124]. An alternative or related service, Fastbreak RFP, offers a "Pro" plan at $300 per core user per month, indicating a potentially different pricing structure for specific functionalities [128].

Pricing Model: Vendorful primarily uses a monthly subscription model, with the possibility of modular, per-feature pricing [124].

Pricing Source: The starting price is listed on third-party software review sites like GetApp and Software Advice [124, 127]. For detailed, customized pricing, a direct quote is necessary.

3.26 Arphie

Base Pricing: Arphie does not publicly disclose its pricing plans [97]. The company operates on a subscription-based model and indicates that **pricing is available "upon request" **[96, 98]. A free trial is offered, and qualified buyers may be eligible for a no-risk proof of concept [97, 98].

Optional Pricing: As a quote-based service, the price for Arphie would be customized based on the number of users (from freelancers to large enterprises), the volume of proposals, and the extent of live **integrations required **with systems like Google Drive, SharePoint, and Confluence [97, 98]. Enterprise agreements can include Zero Data Retention (ZDR) for enhanced security [97].

Pricing Model: Arphie uses a custom, quote-based subscription model [96].

Pricing Source: No pricing is listed on the company's website or on third-party directories [97]. Information must be obtained by requesting a quote from the Arphie sales team.

3.27 HeyIris.ai / Iris AI

Base Pricing: Pricing information for HeyIris.ai / Iris AI is not publicly available in the provided source materials. As an emerging AI platform designed to automate the RFP and proposal management process, it likely follows a custom, quote-based subscription model.

Optional Pricing: Costs would likely be determined by the number of users, the volume of documents processed, and the level of AI automation and integration required.

Pricing Model: HeyIris.ai / Iris AI most likely operates on a custom annual subscription model, which is standard for B2B SaaS competitors in this space.

Pricing Source: No pricing information was available in the provided research data. A quote must be obtained directly from the company.

3.28 Qorus

Base Pricing: Qorus, which is functionally identical or extremely similar to QorusDocs, does not have separate public pricing. It operates on a quote-based plan [113]. A free trial is available [113].

Optional Pricing: Pricing is customized based on the needs of the organization, including the number of users and the required level of integration with Microsoft 365 and CRM platforms [112]. The solution is designed for a range of industries, including professional services, law firms, and IT consulting, and pricing would be tailored accordingly [112].

Pricing Model: Qorus uses a custom, quote-based subscription model [113].

Pricing Source: Similar to QorusDocs, no pricing is publicly listed. A quote must be obtained directly from the vendor.

4.0 Comparative Analysis Table

The following table presents a detailed comparative analysis of the 28 companies evaluated in this report. The analysis includes the integration of BidHawk AI and provides inferred assessments for other competitors based on their known market positions and product categories. The "Overall Score/Ranking" is a qualitative measure reflecting the solution's comprehensiveness, market fit, innovation, and strategic importance. The table includes available Base Pricing and Optional Pricing (when available) based on the detailed research conducted.

Company Name	Target Market	Problem Solved (Business Justification)	Core Capabilities/Features	Base Pricing	Optional Pricing	Key Differentiators	Overall Score/Ranking
SAP Ariba	Commercial	Manages total enterprise spend and complex global supply chains, providing visibility and control to reduce costs and mitigate risk.	Comprehensive source-to-pay suite, procurement, spend management, supply chain collaboration, extensive vendor network.	Quote-Based (Median ~$61k/yr) [46]	Modular pricing for Sourcing, Contracts, P2P; Supplier network fees (subscription + transaction-based) [45, 48].	Massive global supplier network; deep, native integration with SAP ERP systems; end-to-end process coverage from sourcing to payment.	1
Coupa	Commercial	Unifies and simplifies business spend management across procurement, invoicing, and expenses to maximize value and control through a user-friendly platform.	Business Spend Management (BSM) platform, procurement, invoicing, expense management, spend analysis, treasury management.	Quote-Based (Median ~$93k/yr) [41]	Modular pricing; Supplier plans from free to $4,800/yr for advanced features [39].	Strong focus on user-centric design ("usability"); comprehensive platform approach to all categories of spend; emphasis on measurable value and savings.	2
Responsive (RFPIO)	Commercial	Alleviates the manual, chaotic, and time-consuming process of responding to RFPs, RFIs, and security questionnaires for sales and proposal teams.	Strategic Response Management, AI-powered answer recommendations, centralized content library, collaboration workflows, project management.	Quote-Based (Median ~$14k/yr) [8]	Tiered plans (Emerging, Growth, Enterprise); Add-ons for AI, professional services [6].	Market leadership and maturity in the response management space; strong AI capabilities for content suggestion; comprehensive workflow and project management tools.	3
Loopio	Commercial	Streamlines and automates the RFP response process, enabling teams to collaborate effectively and produce high-quality, winning responses faster.	RFP response automation, centralized content library ("Magic"), project tracking, collaboration tools, duplicate question detection, AI assistance.	Starts at $20,000/yr (10 users) [1]	Custom-quoted Enhanced, Advanced, Enterprise plans; Add-ons for translations, integrations [1, 5].	Exceptional focus on user experience and collaboration; intelligent content library management with automated content refresh cycles; established leader in the RFP software category.	4
Bonfire	Government	Modernizes and digitizes the procurement process for public sector entities, ensuring compliance, transparency, and strategic sourcing outcomes.	Strategic sourcing platform, e-procurement for public sector, bid and proposal management, complex evaluation tools, contract management.	Quote-Based (Starts ~$1k/yr) [144]	Custom pricing based on agency size, user count, and modules (e.g., contract management).	Exclusive focus on the government and public sector, providing purpose-built tools for compliance, sealed bids, and complex evaluation workflows.	5
Jaggaer	Hybrid (Sector)	Provides a unified, comprehensive procurement platform for large, complex organizations that operate in both commercial and public sectors.	Comprehensive source-to-pay suite, supplier management, sourcing, contract lifecycle management, e-procurement, research material management.	Quote-Based (Starts ~$45k/yr) [34, 37]	Highly modular pricing for Sourcing, Contracts, etc., with costs scaling by users and spend [36].	Serves both commercial and government markets with a single, flexible platform; deep functionality across the entire procurement lifecycle; strong in education and manufacturing.	6
Ivalua	Commercial	Offers a unified, highly flexible platform to manage all categories of enterprise spend and all suppliers, from sourcing to payment.	Unified source-to-pay platform, direct and indirect spend management, supplier relationship management, contract management, quality management.	Quote-Based (Starts at $150,000/yr) [92, 94]	Custom pricing based on selected modules, user count, and required configuration.	High degree of platform configurability and flexibility; strong capability in managing complex direct materials procurement alongside indirect spend.	7
Zycus	Commercial	Delivers a comprehensive suite of AI-powered procurement solutions to drive cognitive procurement, performance, savings, and compliance.	Source-to-pay procurement suite, spend analysis, e-sourcing, contract management, supplier management, procure-to-pay with AI features.	Quote-Based (Starts ~$50k/yr) [114, 116]	Flexible models (per-user, per-transaction); implementation and consulting quoted separately [114].	Strong emphasis on embedding AI across its entire suite of procurement tools ("cognitive procurement"); comprehensive, modular approach to procurement transformation.	8
BidHawk AI	Hybrid (Role)	Solves the problem of slow, subjective, and inefficient proposal and procurement review processes for both buyers and sellers.	AI-powered document analysis, automated proposal ranking, gap identification, executive summaries, drag-and-drop interface.	Free (25 credits for new users) [139]	Pay-as-you-go credit purchases (e.g., 100 or 1,000 credits); Custom Enterprise plan [139].	Pay-as-you-go pricing model; serves both buyers and vendors; acts as a supplemental tool, not a replacement; extreme ease of use.	9
QorusDocs	Commercial	Empowers sales and proposal teams to create high-quality, personalized proposals and RFP responses quickly within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.	AI-powered proposal and RFP management, content management, collaboration, deep integration with Microsoft Office and CRM systems.	Quote-Based (Free Trial available) [30, 33]	Custom subscription pricing based on user count, features, and integration needs.	Strong AI capabilities for content personalization and creation; deep, native integration within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem (Word, PowerPoint, Teams).	10
Proposify	Commercial	Enables sales teams to streamline the creation, sending, tracking, and signing of professional-looking proposals, quotes, and contracts.	Proposal creation software, content library, design templates, interactive quoting, analytics and tracking, e-signatures.	$19/user/mo (annual) [11]	Team Plan ($41/user/mo); Business Plan (from $3,900/yr); Salesforce add-on ($9/user/mo) [11].	Strong focus on design, branding consistency, and visual appeal for sales proposals; excellent analytics on prospect engagement with documents.	11
PandaDoc	Commercial	Simplifies the creation, management, and e-signing of all business documents, including proposals, quotes, and contracts, for a wide range of businesses.	Document automation software, proposal and contract templates, e-signatures, document tracking, payment processing, CRM integrations.	Free eSign Plan [16]	Starter ($19/user/mo); Business ($49/user/mo); Custom Enterprise plan [16].	Broad document automation capabilities beyond just proposals; strong, integrated e-signature functionality; serves a very broad market from SMB to enterprise.	12
Qvidian	Commercial	Automates and manages the creation of RFP responses and proposals for enterprise sales and proposal teams, with a focus on compliance and security.	RFP and proposal automation, content library and management, compliance tools, collaboration workflows, part of the Upland Software suite.	Quote-Based [49, 52]	Custom enterprise pricing based on users, features, and required integrations.	Long-standing presence in the market; focus on enterprise-grade security and compliance features; stability from being part of a larger software portfolio (Upland).	13
Keelvar	Commercial	Uses AI-powered sourcing bots to optimize and automate complex sourcing events, helping procurement teams make better, faster award decisions.	Sourcing optimization and automation, AI-powered sourcing bots, advanced sourcing for logistics, transport, and packaging categories.	Quote-Based	Custom enterprise pricing based on sourcing event complexity and volume.	Unique focus on AI for sourcing optimization (not just automation), particularly for complex spend categories where award decisions are non-trivial.	14
Icertis	Commercial	Manages the entire contract lifecycle with AI, with capabilities for handling RFx and proposals as a precursor to contract creation.	Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) platform, contract intelligence, AI-driven risk analysis, proposal and RFx management as part of the pre-award process.	Quote-Based [129, 131]	Custom enterprise pricing based on contract volume, users, modules, and deployment style [129].	Market leader in the CLM space; views proposals and RFPs through the lens of the contracting process, ensuring seamless transition from award to contract.	15
DeepRFP	Commercial	Leverages generative AI to fully automate the RFP response process, aiming to generate high-quality draft responses with minimal human effort.	AI-powered RFP response platform, automated answer generation from a knowledge base, content analysis.	$75/user/mo (Free Trial available) [64]	Elite Plan ($125/user/mo) for advanced customizations and priority support [64].	"AI-first" approach focused purely on automating the question-answering portion of the RFP process, promising significant time savings.	16
Inventive AI	Commercial	Provides an AI-driven platform to automate responses for both RFPs and complex security questionnaires, which are often handled by the same teams.	AI-powered RFP and security questionnaire response software, automated content generation, learning from user edits.	Quote-Based [71, 73]	Custom subscription pricing based on user count and RFP volume. Demo available.	Dual focus on both RFPs and security questionnaires, addressing a common combined workflow for many technology and service companies.	17
AutoRFP.ai	Commercial	An AI tool designed specifically to automate the workflow of responding to RFPs, reducing manual data entry and content searching.	AI-powered RFP response automation, workflow automation, project management features.	$899/mo (24 projects/yr, unlimited users) [89]	Accelerate Plan ($1,299/mo for 50 projects); Custom Enterprise plan [89].	Strong focus on using AI to automate the process and workflow of an RFP response, not just generating the content.	18
Qwilr	Commercial	Enables the creation of interactive, mobile-responsive, and web-based sales documents like proposals and quotes, presented as web pages.	Interactive sales collateral software, web-based proposal creation, analytics, quoting tools, e-signatures.	$35/user/mo (annual) [54]	Enterprise Plan ($59/user/mo, 10-user min); Add-ons for branding and security ($10/user/mo) [54].	Differentiates through the creation of interactive web pages instead of static PDF documents, enhancing client engagement and providing deep analytics.	19
Expedience Software	Commercial	Provides proposal automation that works directly within the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), requiring no new application interface.	Proposal automation for Microsoft Office, content library integration directly in the Word ribbon, RFP answer automation.	Quote-Based	Custom pricing for mid-to-large enterprises based on user count and implementation needs.	Native integration with Microsoft Office, allowing users to work in a familiar environment without switching applications, which drives adoption.	20
Better Proposals	Commercial	Online software focused on the simple creation, sending, and tracking of professional business proposals to help users close deals faster.	Proposal creation software, templates, tracking, payment integration, e-signatures.	$13/user/mo (annual, 10 docs/mo) [79, 82]	Premium Plan ($21/user/mo); Enterprise Plan ($42/user/mo) for unlimited docs and advanced features [79].	Simplicity and ease of use, targeting freelancers and small businesses who need to create clean, effective proposals without a steep learning curve.	21
RFP360	Commercial	Offers a dual-purpose platform for both issuing RFPs (procurement side) and responding to them (sales side) in a single system.	RFP and proposal management software, tools for both issuers and responders, collaboration, vendor comparison.	Quote-Based (Est. from $500/mo/user) [25]	Pricing scales significantly with user count (e.g., est. $4k/mo for 10 users) [25].	Unique two-sided platform that serves both buyers and sellers in the RFP process, offering a holistic perspective on the transaction.	22
GetAccept	Commercial	A sales engagement platform that includes proposal creation, tracking, and e-signatures as part of a broader digital sales room toolkit.	Sales engagement platform, proposal creation, contract management, e-signatures, video messaging, content tracking.	$25/user/mo [103]	Professional Plan ($49/user/mo, 5-user min); Custom Enterprise plan with CPQ and advanced integrations [103].	Positions proposal creation as one component of a larger sales engagement and "digital sales room" experience, focused on the entire deal cycle.	23
Upland Software	Commercial	A portfolio company that owns Qvidian and other business software, offering a suite of tools for various enterprise functions.	Diversified enterprise software suite, including RFP/proposal automation (Qvidian), project management, and knowledge management.	Quote-Based [49]	Custom enterprise pricing for its portfolio products, with potential for bundled deals.	Offers a broad portfolio of integrated solutions, allowing for cross-selling and a single vendor relationship for multiple business needs.	24
Vendorful	Commercial	A platform focused on streamlining vendor management, strategic sourcing events, and the RFP process from the buyer's perspective.	Vendor management and sourcing platform, RFP management, reverse auctions, vendor relationship management, scorecarding.	Starts at $1,000/mo (Free Trial available) [124, 127]	Per-feature, per-month pricing structure; custom quotes for larger needs [124].	Primary focus on the buyer's side of the transaction, with an emphasis on vendor relationship management and strategic sourcing events.	25
Icertis	Commercial	Manages the entire contract lifecycle, with some capabilities for handling RFx and proposals as a precursor to contract creation.	Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM), contract intelligence, proposal and RFx management as part of the pre-award process.	Quote-Based [129]	Custom enterprise pricing based on contract volume, users, modules, and deployment style [129].	Market leader in the CLM space; views proposals and RFPs through the lens of the contracting process.	26
Arphie	Commercial	An AI platform that assists in both creating and managing RFP responses and proposals, leveraging AI for content assistance and workflow automation.	AI-powered RFP and proposal software, content creation assistance, response management.	Quote-Based (Free Trial available) [96, 98]	Custom subscription pricing based on user count, integrations, and feature requirements [97].	An emerging AI-focused player aiming to assist with the entire proposal creation and management lifecycle, competing with other AI-native tools.	27
HeyIris.ai / Iris AI	Commercial	An AI platform designed to automate and streamline the RFP and proposal management process, focusing on efficiency and speed.	AI-powered RFP software, proposal management automation, content generation.	Quote-Based	Custom subscription pricing based on user count and feature needs.	An emerging competitor in the crowded AI-for-RFP space, focused on automation and process streamlining to reduce manual effort.	28
Qorus	Commercial	A proposal management software that helps sales teams create customized proposals and presentations faster, often with strong Microsoft integration.	Proposal management, content library, personalization tools, integration with Microsoft Office. (Note: Similar name/function to QorusDocs).	Quote-Based (Free Trial available) [113]	Custom subscription pricing based on user count and integration needs [112].	Focus on sales enablement and content personalization within familiar Microsoft tools.	29
GetAccept	Commercial	A sales engagement platform that includes proposal creation, tracking, and e-signatures as part of a broader digital sales room toolkit.	Sales engagement platform, proposal creation, contract management, e-signatures, video messaging.	$25/user/mo [103]	Professional Plan ($49/user/mo, 5-user min); Custom Enterprise plan [103].	Positions proposal creation as one component of a larger sales engagement and "digital sales room" experience.	30

5.0 Company Rankings and Justifications

The ranking is a qualitative assessment based on a holistic analysis of each company's solution comprehensiveness, market leadership, innovation, strategic importance to its target customer, and the overall strength and accessibility of its value proposition as reflected in its pricing model.

SAP Ariba: Remains the most compelling solution for large, global enterprises due to its unmatched breadth and depth. Its premium, quote-based pricing, with a median annual cost around $61,513, is justified by its role as a strategic platform for managing trillions of dollars in commerce [46]. Its end-to-end source-to-pay functionality and integration into the core SAP ERP system provide a level of control and visibility that is mission-critical for its target market.
Coupa: A very close second, Coupa is highly compelling for its success in challenging the enterprise software status quo with a focus on user experience. Its high-end, quote-based pricing, with a median annual cost around $93,370, reflects its comprehensive Business Spend Management (BSM) platform [41]. Its "usability-first" philosophy drives higher adoption and delivers measurable value faster, making it a preferred, albeit premium, choice for many modern enterprises.
Responsive (RFPIO): As the definitive leader in the dedicated Strategic Response Management market, Responsive is exceptionally compelling. It solves a specific, high-pain business problem with a mature, AI-driven platform. Its quote-based, mid-to-high tier pricing, with a median annual cost of about $14,000, represents a significant but justifiable investment for any organization where winning business through RFPs is critical [8].
Loopio: Ranked nearly on par with Responsive, Loopio is another powerhouse in the RFP response space. Its compelling nature stems from its relentless focus on user experience and collaboration. Its pricing model, which starts at a significant $20,000 per year for 10 users, positions it firmly in the mid-to-high tier, reflecting the comprehensive and highly effective solution it provides for response management [1].
Bonfire: Bonfire's high ranking reflects its absolute dominance and perfect product-market fit within its chosen niche. While not as broad as an enterprise suite, it is the most compelling solution for government and public sector procurement. Its quote-based pricing is tailored to the public sector, and its purpose-built platform for compliance and transparency gives it a deep competitive moat that justifies its mid-to-high tier positioning.
Jaggaer: As a leading hybrid player, Jaggaer offers a compelling and comprehensive source-to-pay solution. Its high-cost, modular, and quote-based pricing, starting around $45,000 annually, underscores its focus on large, complex organizations (like universities and manufacturing conglomerates) that operate in diverse regulatory environments and require its deep, flexible functionality [34, 37].
Ivalua: Ivalua is a highly compelling contender in the full-suite procurement space. Its primary strength lies in its exceptional platform flexibility. This is reflected in its premium, quote-based pricing, which starts at $150,000 per year, making it a powerful and strategic choice for manufacturing and other industries with complex supply chains that can justify the significant investment [92, 94].
Zycus: With its forward-thinking emphasis on "cognitive procurement," Zycus is a compelling and innovative player. It differentiates itself by embedding AI capabilities across its entire suite. Its quote-based pricing, starting around $50,000 annually, positions it as a premium enterprise solution for companies looking to build a next-generation, data-driven procurement function [114, 116].
BidHawk AI: The highest-ranked new entrant, BidHawk AI is extremely compelling due to its disruptive model. It solves a critical pain point for both buyers and sellers. Its pay-as-you-go pricing, starting with free credits, and its function as a non-disruptive "accelerator" tool make it highly attractive [139]. It offers immediate ROI without the cost and friction of the high annual contracts typical of its competitors, representing a new, highly efficient way to inject AI into the procurement process.
QorusDocs: As a leading challenger in proposal management, QorusDocs is compelling due to its powerful AI and deep integration with Microsoft 365. Its quote-based subscription model, which includes a free trial, suggests a flexible approach to capturing mid-market and enterprise teams that operate primarily within the Microsoft ecosystem and are looking for a seamless, intelligent workflow [30].
Proposify: Proposify is the most compelling solution in the dedicated "proposal creation" sub-segment. Its value is centered on enabling sales teams to create visually stunning proposals. Its transparent pricing, starting at an accessible $19 per user per month, makes it a critical and affordable tool for sales-led organizations focused on presentation and persuasion [11].
PandaDoc: PandaDoc is compelling for its versatility and broad market appeal, underscored by its freemium model. The free eSign plan provides an easy entry point, while paid plans starting at $19 per user per month offer a complete document automation solution [16]. This accessible pricing makes it a strong all-in-one choice for a wide range of businesses, from SMBs to enterprise departments.
Qvidian: As a long-standing veteran in the RFP automation market, Qvidian offers a solid, reliable, and enterprise-grade solution. Its compelling nature for large, risk-averse organizations comes from its focus on security and compliance, which is reflected in its custom, quote-based enterprise pricing model [49].
Keelvar: Keelvar is a highly compelling innovator due to its unique application of AI to sourcing optimization. It tackles the extremely complex challenge of determining the best award strategy in sourcing events. Its custom, quote-based enterprise pricing reflects the high strategic value and ROI its AI "bots" provide, a capability standard e-sourcing tools cannot match.
Icertis: As the market leader in CLM, Icertis is compelling because it treats proposals as a precursor to the contract. Its premium, quote-based enterprise pricing is justified by its "contract intelligence" platform, which provides a holistic view of the entire commercial relationship, a powerful proposition for legal and finance-centric organizations [129].
DeepRFP: This company is compelling as a pure-play AI innovator. Its singular focus on using generative AI to automate RFP answers represents the cutting edge. Its transparent and flexible pricing, starting at $75 per user per month with a "cancel anytime" policy, makes it a powerful and disruptive option for teams under extreme time pressure [64].
Inventive AI: Similar to DeepRFP, Inventive AI is a compelling innovator. Its key distinction is its dual focus on automating responses for both RFPs and security questionnaires. Its quote-based pricing model targets teams that handle these combined workflows and seek a unified, practical AI solution [71].
AutoRFP.ai: This AI-native tool is compelling for its focus on automating the entire RFP response workflow. Its project-based pricing (starting at $899/month for unlimited users) is a direct challenge to the per-seat models of competitors, making it a financially attractive and process-oriented solution [89].
Qwilr: Qwilr's innovative approach of transforming proposals into interactive web pages makes it a compelling niche solution. Its transparent pricing, starting at $35 per user per month, makes it an accessible choice for marketing and sales teams focused on delivering a modern, high-impact digital experience [54].
Expedience Software: The compelling feature of Expedience is its native integration with Microsoft Office. Its quote-based pricing targets organizations that are resistant to adopting new standalone applications and are willing to pay for a solution that offers proposal automation without the friction of learning a new interface.
Better Proposals: The compelling aspect of Better Proposals is its simplicity and accessibility. Its transparent pricing, starting at just $13 per user per month, is designed for freelancers and small businesses, lowering the barrier to entry for professional proposal creation [79].
RFP360: The unique two-sided platform serving both RFP issuers and responders is what makes RFP360 compelling. Now part of Responsive, its pricing is quote-based and scales with users, making it an option for organizations that want a holistic view of the RFP process or for consultants working on both sides of the transaction [25].
GetAccept: GetAccept is moderately compelling. Its proposal tools are part of a larger sales engagement platform. Its tiered pricing, starting at $25 per user per month, makes it an accessible option for sales teams looking for an all-in-one solution to manage the entire digital deal cycle, though it is less focused as a pure proposal tool [103].
Upland Software: As the parent company of Qvidian, Upland is compelling as a portfolio provider. Its value lies in offering a broad suite of enterprise tools under custom, quote-based agreements, allowing customers to consolidate vendors.
Vendorful: A solid niche player, Vendorful is compelling for procurement teams. Its starting price of $1,000 per month positions it as a mid-market tool, and its strengths in vendor relationship management and strategic sourcing make it a useful, albeit focused, platform [124, 127].
Arphie: As an emerging AI player with a quote-based model and a free trial, Arphie is entering a competitive field [96, 97]. It is currently less compelling than more established AI innovators as its differentiation and pricing position are not yet clearly defined.
HeyIris.ai / Iris AI: Similar to Arphie, this is an emerging AI-for-RFP solution with undisclosed pricing. It is ranked lower due to the intense competition and the lack of a clearly articulated unique value or pricing differentiator in the available information.
Qorus: (Duplicate or near-duplicate of QorusDocs). Assuming it is a distinct but similar entity with a quote-based model, it is less compelling than the more clearly defined QorusDocs without a strong differentiator [113].

6.0 Key Insights

These insights reflect the evolving dynamics of the market and highlight emerging strategic opportunities and threats tied directly to cost and business models.

6.1. A New Category is Emerging: The AI-Powered "Workflow Accelerator".** **The market is no longer a simple binary of massive, high-cost platforms versus specialized point solutions. A new category, exemplified by BidHawk AI, is emerging: the "workflow accelerator." These are lightweight, highly specialized AI tools designed to solve a single, high-friction step within an existing process.

Unlike platforms that demand replacement of existing systems and six-figure annual commitments, these accelerators integrate into workflows, delivering immediate value with minimal cost and organizational change. BidHawk AI accelerates the review and evaluation phase without replacing the S2P suite or the RFP creation tool.

This model poses a significant threat to incumbents who rely on "all-or-nothing" suite sales and creates an opportunity for vendors to "unbundle" AI features into high-ROI, standalone products.

6.2. Business Model Innovation is Becoming a Key Differentiator.** **For years, the dominant business model has been the multi-year SaaS subscription, often with significant upfront implementation costs and opaque, quote-based pricing. BidHawk AI's pay-as-you-go credit model is a direct challenge to this paradigm [139]. It dramatically lowers the barrier to entry, eliminating the need for budget approval cycles for a large annual contract. This "utility" pricing aligns cost directly with value received and eliminates shelf-ware, a common problem with underutilized enterprise software. This insight suggests that flexible consumption models could become a powerful competitive weapon, forcing established players like Loopio (with its $20,000 entry point) and Responsive to reconsider their rigid subscription-only strategies to avoid losing customers at the margins who have infrequent but critical needs [1].

6.3. The Buyer-Seller Divide is Being Bridged by Neutral, AI-Driven Tools.** ** Historically, procurement technology has been starkly divided between "buy-side" platforms (like SAP Ariba) and "sell-side" tools (like Loopio). This creates an information and efficiency gap. BidHawk AI's role-based hybrid model represents a significant step in bridging this divide. By providing a neutral, objective analysis tool that benefits both parties, it creates a common ground for evaluation. A seller can use it to ensure compliance and quality before submission, and a buyer can use it to ensure a fair and rapid evaluation. This creates a more efficient and transparent ecosystem. The strategic opportunity lies in creating more tools and platforms that facilitate collaboration and data sharing across the buyer-seller interface, rather than reinforcing silos with separate, high-cost systems for each side.

6.4. The AI Arms Race is Shifting from "Presence" to "Practicality" and "Price Accessibility".** Simply having "AI-powered" features is no longer a differentiator; it is table stakes. The competitive battleground is shifting from the presence of AI to its practicality and price_ _accessibility**. The market is beginning to distinguish between complex, "black box" AI embedded in expensive enterprise suites and practical, explainable AI that solves a clear business problem at a reasonable cost. The success of focused tools like DeepRFP ($75/user/mo) and the promise of BidHawk AI (pay-as-you-go) highlight a demand for tangible outcomes without a massive financial commitment [64, 139].

The key insight is that the most successful AI implementations will be those that are easy to use, transparent in their function, and deliver a clear, measurable return on investment, whether through time saved, costs reduced, or win rates increased.

6.5. The Underserved Small Business (SMB) and Mid-Market Remain a Key Battleground.** **This updated analysis reinforces that while the high-enterprise market is dominated by SAP Ariba and Coupa, the SMB and mid-market segments are fiercely contested and still present opportunities. The transparent, low-cost monthly pricing of tools like PandaDoc (freemium model), Proposify ($19/user/mo), and Better Proposals ($13/user/mo) makes them highly attractive to smaller organizations [16, 11, 79]. However, these tools primarily address proposal creation. The emergence of accessible, pay-as-you-go models like BidHawk AI's and project-based pricing like AutoRFP.ai's ($899/mo for unlimited users) suggests that the technology and business models now exist to profitably serve the mid-market with more sophisticated capabilities beyond simple document generation [139, 89]. The opportunity to create a lightweight, affordable, and integrated "Business-in-a-Box" for procurement and sales remains substantial.