SAM.gov saved searches vs BidFox
Both tell you about new federal contract notices. One is the free official tool; the other does the sorting for you. Here is the honest difference.
The short answer
If you already know your exact NAICS codes and filters and you are happy to read every new notice, SAM.gov saved searches are free and official, and they are enough. If you want only the notices worth your time, ranked, with the reason each one fits and without repeats, that is what BidFox is for.
Side by side
| SAM.gov saved searches | BidFox | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $29 or $59 a month, 7 days free |
| Source | The official system | The same public SAM.gov data, downloaded every morning |
| Setup | You build each search: codes, places, notice types, set-asides | Pick your trade and states; the NAICS codes are grouped for you |
| Ranking | Results in the order the system returns them | Each notice scored 0 to 100 for you, best first |
| Why it fits | You read the notice to find out | One line with the reasons: your code, your state, set-aside, days left |
| Repeats | Amendments to the same solicitation can show up again | Each solicitation once; you never get the same one twice |
| Certifications | You filter set-aside types yourself | Notices reserved for certifications you don't hold are left out |
| Deadlines | Shown in each notice | Notices closing in under 2 days are left out |
| Bidding | On SAM.gov and the agency's instructions | The same: every alert links to the official notice |
Use both
Many contractors keep a saved search for one very specific code and use BidFox for everything else in their trade and states. BidFox never replaces the official notice: you read the solicitation and bid through the instructions it gives.
See it with your own trade
The quickest way to judge is to look at what BidFox would send you tomorrow, built from today's real notices.
BidFox is independent and not connected to SAM.gov or the U.S. Government. SAM.gov features described as of October 2026; check SAM.gov for its current options.