Carta vs Qapita
Choose Carta if you want cap table management with published email, chat, and phone support on every plan; choose Qapita if you want published annual prices for its first two paid plans. Both offer free plans for small startups and paid options for valuations, reporting, and more complex equity administration. The deciding questions are what happens when you outgrow the free tier and which services you need included in your next plan.
Last updated October 27, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Carta | Qapita |
|---|---|---|
| Paid pricing | Contact sales; priced by plan and stakeholders | Surge $1,600/year; Growth $3,000/year |
| Paid-plan stakeholder limits | Build up to 50; Grow and Scale flexible | Surge up to 40; Growth up to 50 |
| Free plan | Launch: up to 25 stakeholders and $1M raised | Spark: up to 25 stakeholders and under $1M raised |
| Support | Email, chat, and phone on all plans | Email on Surge; admin phone on Enterprise |
| Integrations | HRIS and payroll in core plans; admin SSO on Scale | HRIS integration as paid add-on; SSO on Enterprise |
| 409A valuations | Included on Grow and Scale | Included on Growth and Enterprise; lower-tier add-on |
| Financial reporting | ASC 718 and IFRS on Scale | ASC 718 and IFRS on Enterprise |
| Fundraising tools | SAFE modeling and closings in core plans | Funding-round modeling on Spark |
| Data room | Data rooms listed in plan features | Included on Spark |
| Equity administration | Equity plan management and securities issuance | Equity plan management; full-service option |
| Onboarding | White-glove onboarding from Build | Onboarding and migration support from Surge |
| Platform access | Online company and stakeholder accounts | Online administrator and employee portals |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Carta if
- Startups that want email, chat, and phone support on the free plan
- Teams that need SAFE fundraising and closings in the core plan
- Companies that want HRIS and payroll integrations in the core plan
- Companies seeking Carta's SEC-registered transfer-agent services
Choose Qapita if
- Buyers who want published prices for initial paid plans
- Teams that need a data room on the free plan
- Companies considering full-service equity plan administration
- Teams that want a 409A valuation included in the published $3,000-per-year Growth plan
The verdict
Carta is the better fit when support access, SAFE fundraising workflows, and HRIS and payroll integrations in its core plans matter most. Qapita is the better fit when you need a published price before contacting sales: it lists $1,600 per year for Surge and $3,000 per year for Growth, while Carta directs buyers to sales for paid pricing. Compare the specific plan you would buy, since 409A valuations and advanced financial reporting sit in different tiers.
Carta vs Qapita: common questions
- Are Carta and Qapita close competitors?
- Yes. Carta and Qapita both sell software for cap tables and equity plans, with free startup plans and paid tiers for more complex needs.
- Which has a free plan?
- Both do. Carta Launch lists up to 25 stakeholders and $1 million raised; Qapita Spark lists up to 25 stakeholders and less than $1 million raised. Check each vendor's eligibility terms before signing up.
- Which publishes paid prices?
- Qapita publishes $1,600 per year for Surge and $3,000 per year for Growth, with additional per-stakeholder charges above each plan's stated allowance. Carta says paid pricing depends on the plan and stakeholder count and directs buyers to sales.
- Which includes 409A valuations?
- Carta lists 409A valuations on Grow and Scale. Qapita lists a 409A valuation report on Growth and Enterprise and offers it as an add-on for lower plans.
- Which offers more support on its free plan?
- Carta lists email, chat, and phone support on Launch. Qapita's pricing page lists email support from its paid Surge plan and administrator phone support on Enterprise.
- Can either handle ASC 718 and IFRS reporting?
- Yes. Carta lists ASC 718 and IFRS reporting on Scale; Qapita lists GAAP ASC 718 and IFRS reporting on Enterprise.
- Which is better suited to SAFE fundraising?
- Carta is the clearer fit if SAFE fundraising workflows are decisive: it lists SAFE modeling, fundraising, and closings in its core plans. Qapita lists funding-round modeling on its free Spark plan.
- Which offers outsourced equity administration?
- Qapita lists full-service equity plan administration on Enterprise and as an add-on for certain paid plans. Carta lists equity management software, onboarding, and separate advisory add-ons; confirm the scope of any hands-on service with the vendor.