Going Merry shut down. Here are the best alternatives.
Last updated October 2026 · By the Scholarly team
Short answer
Going Merry is gone: Earnest, its parent company, stopped accepting applications on March 5, 2026 and shut the platform down at the end of that month. The closest free replacement is Bold.org, which also lets you apply inside one platform with a saved profile. If what you liked was applying to lots of scholarships from one profile, Scholarly does that across providers for $59.99 a year on the web.
We make Scholarly, so weigh our take accordingly. Every fact about another company on this page links to its source at the bottom, checked in October 2026. Prices and features change; confirm on their site before you pay.
What happened to Going Merry
Earnest posted a closing FAQ. The dates that matter:
- March 5, 2026: last day to log in and finish in-progress applications. After that, no new applications or edits.
- March 6, 2026: the site was no longer accessible.
- End of March 2026: official shutdown.
Incomplete applications were deleted. Submitted ones still count, and providers contact winners directly. Earnest says user data stays with Earnest and won't be sold or shared, and tax statements for past awards come from Navient. The FAQ doesn't say why it closed. As of October 2026, goingmerry.com no longer resolves, though the old iPhone app listing is still up.
One practical thing: your saved matches went with it. If you were relying on Going Merry's list, rebuild it now, especially the local awards your school had loaded, by asking your counselor for the current list.
Going Merry alternatives
If you used Going Merry to apply in bulk: fills in applications from one profile, across scholarships from many providers, not only partners.
- Takes Going Merry's best idea, fill out a profile once and apply without retyping
- You approve each application before it goes out
- Paid, and there's no free trial
Price: $59.99 a year or $19.99 a month on the web, App Store pricing on iPhone
See apps that apply for you for how it compares with ScholarshipOwl.
The closest free option: you apply to all of its scholarships on-site with one profile.
- Hosts its own scholarships, funded by donors and paid out by its nonprofit foundation
- One profile across its applications, the part of Going Merry it replaces best
- Expect to write short essays for many awards
For finding scholarships: the College Board's free search.
- 43,513 listings in October 2026, with clear labels for essay requirements
- High schoolers can earn entries into $40,000 no-essay drawings
- Doesn't apply for you
A more curated free directory, plus its own $10,000 no-essay award.
- Vetted directory
- Runs its own $10,000 no-essay award
- Its privacy policy discloses selling some user information
A bigger free database that sends deadline reminders.
- Large database
- Email reminders
- Its privacy policy discloses selling some user information
Your counselor and community foundation
Local awards, often the ones your school loaded into Going Merry.
- Ask your counselor for the current list, especially the local awards your school had loaded
Questions people ask
Did Going Merry shut down?
Yes. Earnest, Going Merry's parent company, announced that Going Merry would shut down at the end of March 2026. Logins ended March 5, 2026, and the site stopped being accessible on March 6, 2026.
What happened to applications I submitted through Going Merry?
Earnest says submitted applications are still considered and providers will contact winners directly. Applications that were incomplete on March 5, 2026 were deleted and won't be considered.
What happened to my Going Merry data?
Earnest says your data is handled by Earnest and will not be sold or shared with any third party.
Is the Going Merry app still available?
The iPhone listing was still visible on the U.S. App Store in October 2026, last updated February 27, 2026, but the service behind it is closed. Don't download it expecting it to work.
What's the best free alternative to Going Merry?
Bold.org is the closest match for applying inside one platform with a saved profile, and it's free. For free searching, BigFuture from the College Board is the strongest option.
What's the closest paid alternative?
Scholarly. Like Going Merry's in-platform applications, it fills in applications from one saved profile, but across scholarships from many providers, and it submits them after you approve each one. It costs $59.99 a year on the web.
Try Scholarly free
If Going Merry was how you applied, Scholarly is free to set up. Build your profile, see your matches, then decide.
More comparisons
Best scholarship websites (2026-27)Ten sites ranked, free ones included
Scholarship apps that apply for youWhat auto-apply can and can't do
Scholly alternativesScholly now lives on Sallie.com
Scholarly vs Bold.orgExclusive donor awards vs applying everywhere
Scholarly vs FastwebA free database vs an app that applies
Scholarly vs ScholarshipOwlTwo paid auto-apply services
Scholarly vs Scholarships360Free vetted listings vs auto-apply
Scholarly vs NicheSweepstakes scholarships vs real applications
Scholarly vs Award ScholarTwo apply-for-you tools, one very new
Scholarly vs BigFutureCollege Board's free search vs auto-apply
Best scholarship appsThe short version, apps only
Browse scholarshipsOpen awards with amounts and deadlines
Free toolsCalculators and checklists, no signup
Sources
Checked October 19, 2026.
- Earnest: Going Merry closing FAQs: www.earnest.com/blog/going-merry-closing-faqs
- Going Merry Scholarships on the App Store (last updated Feb 27, 2026): apps.apple.com/us/app/id1483037600
- Bold.org llms.txt (nonprofit status, fund count, May 2026 figures): bold.org/llms.txt
- BigFuture Scholarship Search: bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
- BigFuture Scholarships ($40k and $500 drawings, no essay): bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/bigfuture-scholarships
- Scholarships360 homepage (100% free, 6,000+ vetted programs): scholarships360.org
- Scholarships360 $10,000 No Essay Scholarship: scholarships360.org/scholarships/10000-no-essay-scholarship
- Scholarships360 privacy policy (updated Feb 17, 2026): scholarships360.org/privacy-policy
- Fastweb homepage (1.5 million opportunities, free, human-vetted): www.fastweb.com
- Fastweb privacy policy (Iron Corp US Inc., data sales disclosure, updated Dec 17, 2025): www.fastweb.com/content/privacy
- Scholarly on the App Store (rating, in-app purchase prices): apps.apple.com/us/app/id6761978211