123 Tenders vs Tussell
Tussell is a UK public sector market intelligence provider, widely used for analysing public spending, buyers and supplier activity. 123 Tenders helps SMEs find opportunities, prepare bids, handle business admin and get found online. They are usually bought for different jobs. This page is written by 123 Tenders, so it details our own offer and directs you to Tussell for theirs.
This comparison is written by 123 Tenders. We describe our own features and avoid asserting specifics about other products. Please check Tussell's own website for their current features and pricing.
Two different jobs
Market intelligence answers questions like which buyers spend in my market, how has that spend moved, and who currently holds the contracts. Bidding software answers a narrower question: what is open now that I could win, and how do I respond to it. Which you need depends on whether you are planning a market strategy or working through this quarter's opportunities.
What 123 Tenders is built for
The workflow of a small supplier deciding and writing:
- Live notices from Find a Tender, Contracts Finder and Public Contracts Scotland
- Match Score and Tender X-Ray to triage a shortlist quickly, included with Pro and Business
- Bid/No-Bid verdict with a recorded rationale, on Pro and Business
- Bid Co-Pilot and Bid Pack for drafting the response
- Renewal Radar to spot contracts expiring in 6 to 12 months so you can approach the buyer early
- Self-serve pricing published on the site
When a market intelligence platform is the right buy
If your questions are about market sizing, buyer targeting, competitor share or supply chain analysis, or you need a dataset for a board pack, a dedicated intelligence provider is the appropriate tool and 123 Tenders is not a substitute for it.
How to decide
Write down the three questions you most need answered this quarter. If they are strategy questions, look at intelligence platforms and request their pricing directly. If they are all of the form should I bid on this and how do I write it, that is what 123 Tenders does.
Start with the live notices
Browse open contracts free, then add the analysis tools if they fit your workflow.
Frequently asked questions
Is 123 Tenders an alternative to Tussell?
Only partly. Both use UK public procurement data, but Tussell is positioned as market intelligence while 123 Tenders helps SMEs find opportunities, prepare bids and run practical business admin. For strategy and market analysis, look at an intelligence provider.
Which is cheaper?
We publish our prices on our pricing page. We will not state another company's pricing, so request a quote from them directly and compare against what you would actually use.
Does 123 Tenders show historic spend and award data?
We ingest published award notices, which powers Renewal Radar for expiring contracts. We do not position this as a full market intelligence dataset.
Can a small business use both?
Yes, though most SMEs start with the bidding workflow and add market intelligence later if strategy questions justify it.
Related sectors
- Construction tenders
- Commercial cleaning tenders
- Social and domiciliary care tenders
- Facilities management tenders
See all tenders by sector, browse live contracts or read the tendering guides.
Estimate and drafting tools only. Not legal, financial or bid-writing advice. You are responsible for reviewing and finalising anything you submit.