Why this comparison?
Anyone looking to find public tenders systematically will sooner or later run into DTAD and auftrag.ai. Both platforms share the same goal – helping companies win public contracts – but take fundamentally different approaches.
DTAD is an established provider with more than 25 years of market experience. auftrag.ai is a younger provider that consistently bets on AI-driven matching and transparent pricing.
This comparison is meant to help you make the right decision for your company. We aim to stay factual – even though as the auftrag.ai team we are of course not entirely neutral.
The platforms at a glance
DTAD
DTAD (Deutscher Tender Ausschreibungsdienst) is one of the best-known tender services in Germany. The company was founded in the late 1990s and has built an extensive database and broad customer base over the decades. Reference customers include companies like Siemens, Bosch and Deutsche Telekom. Over 5,500 customers use the platform.
auftrag.ai
auftrag.ai is an AI-driven platform for tender search and analysis. The focus is on automated matching, relevance scoring and market data. The platform targets companies of every size looking to make the research process more efficient.
Comparison: The key criteria
Pricing and transparency
| Criterion | auftrag.ai | DTAD |
|---|
| Prices public | Yes, on the website | No, only on request |
| Entry price | From €49/month | Only on request |
| Free trial | 30 days, full feature set | Not publicly communicated |
| Contract lock-in | Monthly cancelable | Individual |
One of the biggest differences lies in price transparency. auftrag.ai publishes all prices on the website – you know what you pay before signing up. DTAD relies on individual quotes, meaning you only find out about the costs after a sales call.
For companies wanting to decide quickly, that can be a relevant factor. On the other hand, DTAD's individual pricing model allows adaptation to specific requirements.
AI and matching technology
| Criterion | auftrag.ai | DTAD |
|---|
| AI-based matching | Yes, semantic matching with relevance score | Keyword-based search and filters |
| Automatic relevance scoring | Yes, for every tender | Not known |
| AI-driven competitive analysis | Yes | Not known |
| Requirements checklists | Automatically generated | Not known |
auftrag.ai uses AI to analyze tenders semantically and match them against your company profile. Every tender gets a relevance score estimating how well it fits your profile. Add automatically generated requirements checklists and an AI-driven competitive analysis.
DTAD bets on an extensive, manually curated database with classic search and filter features. The advantage: data quality built up over years with editorial processing. Those looking for a system that evaluates relevance on its own and detects patterns will find more automation at auftrag.ai.
Database and source coverage
| Criterion | auftrag.ai | DTAD |
|---|
| Source coverage | 300+ procurement platforms | Very extensive database |
| Data freshness | Near real-time | Daily update |
| Historical data | Yes, incl. award information | Yes, extensive history |
| Market data dashboard | Yes, publicly accessible | Partially |
DTAD has built one of Germany's most extensive tender databases over 25 years. That's a genuine competitive advantage a younger provider cannot close overnight. DTAD customers benefit from this experience especially on historical data and dataset depth.
auftrag.ai partially offsets this disadvantage through automated data capture and faster update cycles. Coverage of over 300 procurement platforms is solid, and the publicly accessible market data dashboard offers a transparent view of the procurement market.
User interface and operation
| Criterion | auftrag.ai | DTAD |
|---|
| Setup time | Under 10 minutes | Sales call + onboarding |
| Modern interface | Yes, responsive web app | Rather classic portal design |
| Notifications | Real-time via email and in-app | Email notifications |
| API access | Planned | On request |
auftrag.ai bets on a modern, self-explanatory interface. Setup takes a few minutes: create profile, describe services, and the AI begins matching. Notifications about new relevant tenders arrive in real time.
DTAD offers personal onboarding with consultation. That can be an advantage if you want support during setup. The interface is functional but feels somewhat dated compared to more modern platforms.
Target audience and company fit
| Company size | auftrag.ai | DTAD |
|---|
| Sole proprietors/freelancers | Well suited (low entry cost) | Less suited (pricing structure) |
| SMBs (10-250 employees) | Well suited | Well suited |
| Large enterprises/corporates | Suited | Very well suited (reference customers) |
DTAD has established itself over the years especially with larger companies and corporates. The reference list with names like Siemens, Bosch and Deutsche Telekom speaks for itself. For companies seeking an established provider with personal support, DTAD is a solid choice.
auftrag.ai targets companies of every size and offers especially SMBs and smaller companies an affordable entry point. The self-service approach enables a fast start without sales calls.
What DTAD does better
Fairly, there are areas where DTAD has advantages:
- Market position and trust: 25+ years of experience and 5,500 customers create trust that a younger provider first has to build
- Personal support: Individual onboarding and personal contacts for customers who prefer that
- Enterprise readiness: Proven processes for integration into the structures of large organizations
- Database depth: Historical data built over decades, hard to replicate at this depth
What auftrag.ai does better
- AI-driven matching: Automatic relevance scoring instead of manual search – the system finds tenders you would miss with a keyword search
- Price transparency: All prices openly on the website, no hidden costs, monthly cancelable
- Fast start: Ready in under 10 minutes, no sales call
- Modern technology: Real-time notifications, responsive design, AI competitive analysis
- Low entry barrier: 30-day free trial, entry from €49/month
Conclusion: Which platform fits you?
The decision depends on your requirements:
DTAD is the right choice if you are a larger company that values personal support, looks for an established provider with a long track record and is willing to invest in an individual quote.
auftrag.ai is the right choice if you want a fast, uncomplicated start, prefer AI-driven matching over manual search, prefer transparent pricing and care about modern technology.
Best to try it yourself. You can test auftrag.ai for 30 days free and without commitment – no credit card, no sales call.
This comparison is based on publicly available information (as of March 2026). We researched the information carefully but cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of information about third-party providers. DTAD is a registered trademark of DTAD GmbH.