Contracts Finder vs Find a Tender vs TenderLedger
UK government suppliers often ask which tender portal they should use — Contracts Finder, Find a Tender, or a commercial platform like TenderLedger. The short answer: it depends on what you're selling and how seriously you pursue government contracts. This guide compares these three options honestly, covering data coverage, features, limitations and when each makes sense in 2026.
Put this into practice
TenderLedger combines the coverage of both free portals with AI-powered intelligence. See the difference.
Why this matters commercially
Using only one free portal means missing half the market.
Neither free portal provides intelligence needed for strategic bidding.
Time spent manually checking both portals has quantifiable cost.
Commercial platforms pay for themselves through time savings and better qualification.
Understanding limitations prevents false confidence in coverage.
How suppliers usually do this manually
Checking Contracts Finder daily without realising large tenders are elsewhere.
Using Find a Tender but missing below-threshold opportunities.
No systematic way to track opportunities across both portals.
Manual document download and review without AI assistance.
Duplicate effort researching buyers and competitors for each opportunity.
Signals worth tracking
Below-threshold focus → Contracts Finder primary (but check FTS too).
Large contract focus → Find a Tender primary (but check CF too).
Serious government sales operation → Commercial platform aggregating both.
Time constraints → AI-powered platform for faster qualification.
Strategic planning needs → Platform with buyer and competitor analytics.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming one free portal covers everything.
Paying for commercial platforms without utilising intelligence features.
Treating commercial platforms as 'premium Contracts Finder' only.
Not trialling platforms before annual commitment.
Ignoring framework opportunities that appear on neither free portal.
How TenderLedger supports this workflow
Aggregates Contracts Finder, Find a Tender and framework sources.
AI summaries for rapid document review.
Opportunity scoring for qualification decisions.
Buyer profiles with spend and incumbent data.
Competitor tracking across all sources.
Example in practice
A facilities firm used only Contracts Finder for two years, missing £8M in above-threshold opportunities that appeared only on Find a Tender.
A consultancy switched to TenderLedger and reduced portal-checking from 5 hours/week to 30 minutes, plus gained buyer intelligence that shaped their account strategy.
Practical workflow
Always use both free portals if not paying for aggregation.
Set up alerts on both Contracts Finder and Find a Tender.
Trial commercial platforms if checking both portals takes >2 hours/week.
Evaluate commercial platforms on intelligence features, not just aggregation.
Calculate ROI: time saved × hourly rate vs. subscription cost.
Why teams trust TenderLedger
- - Built for UK public procurement suppliers and bid teams
- - Uses official sources including Find a Tender and Contracts Finder
- - Designed for qualification, not just notice volume
About this data
TenderLedger aggregates UK public procurement signals from official sources including Find a Tender (FTS) and Contracts Finder. We combine notice metadata, contracting authorities, and award history into a consistent opportunity view for suppliers.
For these pages, we structure insights using procurement patterns commonly visible in award notices, framework call-offs, and DPS activity. The examples below are designed to mirror how supplier teams qualify bids day-to-day.
Author: TenderLedger Research Team
Last updated: 21 September 2026
FAQs
What's the threshold between Contracts Finder and Find a Tender?
Generally ~£215k for services, ~£5.4M for works (2026 thresholds). Below goes to Contracts Finder; above to Find a Tender. Some overlap exists.
Do I need to check both free portals?
Yes, if you want complete coverage of UK public sector opportunities. Each has contracts the other doesn't publish.
What does TenderLedger add beyond the free portals?
AI document summaries, opportunity scoring, buyer profiles with spend and incumbents, competitor tracking, and qualification workflows.
Is TenderLedger worth paying for?
If government contracts are strategic revenue and you bid more than 5–10 times/year, time savings and better qualification typically justify the cost.
Can I use free portals alongside TenderLedger?
Yes. Many suppliers use TenderLedger as their primary tool and verify against free portals occasionally.
Related pages
Suggested next reads
For a practical starting point, read UK contract renewal playbook and Find contracts likely to re-tender soon. Then compare Public procurement intelligence platform and Contract award tracking for a pipeline view. Finally, see Healthcare procurement intelligence for sector examples and qualification signals.
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