Grata vs Banker Buddy
Grata is the leading private company database. Banker Buddy is an end-to-end AI deal sourcing agent. Here's an honest look at how they compare — and when each one is the right choice.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Grata | Banker Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing (annual cost) | $25,000–$50,000/yr per seat | $46,000–$108,000/yr (full service, no per-seat) |
| Setup time | 2–4 weeks onboarding | 1–2 weeks to first deliverable |
| Ongoing human effort | High — you need an analyst to run searches, filter, export, and follow up | Minimal — AI handles research, enrichment, and outreach drafts |
| Data sources | 19M+ private company profiles, proprietary database | Multiple public and proprietary sources, web-scraped and AI-verified |
| Lead verification | Self-serve — you verify manually | AI-verified with human QA layer |
| Contact enrichment | Basic contact data included; advanced CRM sync is extra | Decision-maker contacts with verified emails and phones included |
| ICP customization | Keyword + AI similar-company search | Custom thesis-driven targeting built with your team |
| Geographic coverage | Global (strongest in US) | US, Canada, UK, Europe (expanding) |
| Output format | Platform dashboard, CSV exports (with limits) | CRM-ready spreadsheets, direct CRM integration |
| Support model | Dedicated CSM for enterprise; email support for others | Dedicated AI team with direct Slack/email access |
| Best for | Mid-to-large PE firms and corp dev teams with analyst capacity | Boutique banks, solo bankers, and lean deal teams who need more pipeline without more headcount |
Where Grata Wins
Massive proprietary database
Grata has 19M+ private company profiles with deep firmographic data. If you need a self-serve database to explore on your own, it's one of the best in the market.
Brand recognition in PE
Grata is well-known and trusted by large PE firms. If you need a tool your LP's and partners already recognize, Grata carries weight.
Self-serve exploration
If your team enjoys hands-on research and wants to run their own searches and build their own lists, Grata's interface is built for that.
Conference & live deal features
Grata recently added conference attendee lists, sell-side teasers, and M&A comps — useful add-ons for active deal teams.
Where Banker Buddy Wins
End-to-end automation
Banker Buddy doesn't just find companies — it researches them, verifies contacts, writes outreach, and delivers a ready-to-work pipeline. Grata stops at the database.
No analyst required
Grata requires someone to run it. Searches, filtering, exporting, follow-up — that's a full-time job. Banker Buddy replaces that workflow entirely.
Faster time to pipeline
Get verified, enriched deal targets in days, not weeks. No learning curve, no configuration, no training.
Dedicated AI team
You get a team that understands your thesis and continuously refines targeting. Not a login and a help article.
Cost Comparison
Grata Total Cost
Banker Buddy Total Cost
Choose Grata If…
- You have a team of analysts who enjoy hands-on database research
- You need a self-serve platform for ad-hoc company lookups across your whole firm
- Your budget supports $20K+ per seat and you have the staff to use it
- You want access to conference attendee lists and live deal teasers
- You need a recognized brand name for partner or LP reporting
Choose Banker Buddy If…
- You're a lean team (1–10 people) and can't afford a full-time sourcing analyst
- You want verified, ready-to-contact deal targets — not a database to search yourself
- You need pipeline fast and don't have weeks to learn a new platform
- You want outreach drafts and contact enrichment included, not just company names
- You'd rather pay for outcomes than for seats
See how we compare with your specific thesis.
Get a free sample deal list — no commitment, no sales pitch.
Or email us at ted@banker-buddy.com