Best Equity Compensation Management Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Cake Equity is ranked #1 of 29 as of 7 October 2026, ahead of Eqvista and Vquity. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Eqvista. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Eqvista at $2/mo.
Equity compensation software helps teams administer awards and give recipients information about their grants. Compare award types and vesting rule support to see which plans an option covers, then consider valuation support and tax reporting for related administrative needs. An employee portal and recipient limit add detail about how recipients interact with the software and how many it accommodates. Cake Equity, Eqvista, and Vquity are among the named options to examine against those criteria. Free-plan availability and the paid-from price provide cost context alongside the capabilities your organization needs.
29 equity compensation management software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
29ranked
6free plans on this page
$2/molowest paid tier
7 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Equity Compensation Management Software 25 channels on this page · 142 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromAward typesVesting rule supportEmployee portalTax reportingValuation supportRecipient limit Spec sheet Score
01 Cake Equity Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAward typesISO, NSO, RSU, RSA, SAFEs, convertible notes, warrants, common shares, preferred sharesVesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limit25 recipients 7/8spec lines stated 7.4
02 Eqvista Free planYesPaid from$2/moAward typescommon stock, preferred stock, options, warrantsVesting rule supportcustomEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limit20 recipients 8/8spec lines stated 7.3
03 Vquity Free planYesPaid from$99/moAward typesstocks, stock options, SAFEs, warrants, convertible notes, KISSVesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limit10 recipients 8/8spec lines stated 7.2
04 Astrella Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAward typesstock options, RSAs, PIUs, RSUs, convertibles, warrants, SAFEsVesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limit25 recipients 7/8spec lines stated 7.1
05 EquityList Free planYesPaid from$100/moAward typesESOP, RSU, SARVesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limit10 recipients 8/8spec lines stated 7.1
06 Ledgy Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAward typesESOP, VSOP, LTIP, EMI, CSOP, RSUs, options, warrants, growth/hurdle shares, BSPCE, SARs, STAKVesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limit50 recipients 7/8spec lines stated 7.1
07 Empower Health and Welfare Benefits Administration Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAward typesRestricted Stock Units (RSUs), Nonqualified Stock Options (NSOs), Incentive Stock Options (ISOs), Performance Stock Units (PSUs), Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs), Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs), restricted stock, warrantsVesting rule supportnot statedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limitnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 7.0
08 Fidelity Private Shares Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAward typesfounder’s stock, common stock, preferred stock, stock options, SAFEs, convertible notes, warrantsVesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limit25 recipients 7/8spec lines stated 7.0
09 Computershare BoardWorks Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAward typesESPP, stock options, stock appreciation rights, notional cash, phantom plans, fund incentive plans, deferred shares/stock (RSU), restricted shares/stock (RSA), performance shares (PSU)Vesting rule supportnot statedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limitnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.9
10 Equilay Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAward typesESOPs, stock optionsVesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limit10 recipients 7/8spec lines stated 6.7
11 Xumane Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAward typesESOP, RSU, SAR, phantom stock, ESPP, RSAVesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limit40 recipients 7/8spec lines stated 6.7
12 Salary.com CompXL Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAward typesStock options, RSUs, PSUs, SARsVesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingnot statedValuation supportYesRecipient limitnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.6
13 Vestd Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAward typesEMI options, CSOPs, growth shares, unapproved options, phantom shares, ordinary sharesVesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limit5 recipients 7/8spec lines stated 6.5
14 OptionTrax Free planNoPaid from$200/moAward typesstock options, RSAs/RSUs, SARs, performance awards, phantom awards, warrants, ESPPsVesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limitnot stated 7/8spec lines stated 6.4
15 Carta Total Compensation Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAward typesnot statedVesting rule supportnot statedEmployee portalnot statedTax reportingnot statedValuation supportnot statedRecipient limitnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.2
16 Global Shares Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAward typesStock options, restricted stock, phantom shares, tax-advantaged share plansVesting rule supportnot statedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limitnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
17 EsopNxt Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAward typesstock options (ESOPs)Vesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limitnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
18 Tabulate Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAward typesstock optionsVesting rule supportbasicEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportnot statedRecipient limitnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
19 Certent Equity Management Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAward typesStock options, RSUs, RSAs, SARs, performance-based awards, ESPP, PIUs, profit interest unitsVesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limitnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.8
20 Diligent Equity Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAward typesstocks, options, warrants, convertible notesVesting rule supportnot statedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limitnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
21 Hissa Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedAward typesESOP, SAR, ESPP, Phantom equity, RSUVesting rule supportcustomEmployee portalYesTax reportingnot statedValuation supportYesRecipient limitnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
22 OptionsAhoy Free planYesPaid fromnot statedAward typesSupports planning for ISOs, NSOs, and RSUs; grant administration is not verifiedVesting rule supportnot statedEmployee portalnot statedTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limitnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
23 Pulley Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAward typesRSUs, ISOs, NSOs, RSAs, warrants, phantom grantsVesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limit25 recipients 7/8spec lines stated 5.8
24 Qapita ESOP Management Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAward typesESOPs, SARs, phantom stock, profit interestsVesting rule supportadvancedEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limitnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 5.8
25 SeedLegals Options Free planNoPaid fromnot statedAward typesEMI options; unapproved optionsVesting rule supportcustomEmployee portalYesTax reportingYesValuation supportYesRecipient limitnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 5.8
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Award types | Vesting rule support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cake Equity | 7.4 | Free plan | $83.33/mo | Yes | — | ISO, NSO, RSU, RSA, SAFEs, convertible notes, warrants, common shares, preferred shares | advanced |
| 2 | Eqvista | 7.3 | Free plan | $2/mo | Yes | 2 /mo | common stock, preferred stock, options, warrants | custom |
| 3 | Vquity | 7.2 | Free plan | $40.83/mo | Yes | 99 /mo | stocks, stock options, SAFEs, warrants, convertible notes, KISS | advanced |
| 4 | Astrella | 7.1 | No | $100/mo | No | — | stock options, RSAs, PIUs, RSUs, convertibles, warrants, SAFEs | advanced |
| 5 | EquityList | 7.1 | Free plan | $8.33/mo | Yes | 100 /mo | ESOP, RSU, SAR | advanced |
| 6 | Ledgy | 7.1 | Free plan | €250/mo | Yes | — | ESOP, VSOP, LTIP, EMI, CSOP, RSUs, options, warrants, growth/hurdle shares, BSPCE, SARs, STAK | advanced |
| 7 | Empower Health and Welfare Benefits Administration | 7.0 | No | — | — | — | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), Nonqualified Stock Options (NSOs), Incentive Stock Options (ISOs), Performance Stock Units (PSUs), Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs), Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs), restricted stock, warrants | — |
| 8 | Fidelity Private Shares | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | founder’s stock, common stock, preferred stock, stock options, SAFEs, convertible notes, warrants | advanced |
| 9 | Computershare BoardWorks | 6.9 | No | — | — | — | ESPP, stock options, stock appreciation rights, notional cash, phantom plans, fund incentive plans, deferred shares/stock (RSU), restricted shares/stock (RSA), performance shares (PSU) | — |
| 10 | Equilay | 6.7 | No | — | No | — | ESOPs, stock options | advanced |
| 11 | Xumane | 6.7 | No | — | No | — | ESOP, RSU, SAR, phantom stock, ESPP, RSA | advanced |
| 12 | Salary.com CompXL | 6.6 | No | — | — | — | Stock options, RSUs, PSUs, SARs | advanced |
| 13 | Vestd | 6.5 | No | £25/mo | No | — | EMI options, CSOPs, growth shares, unapproved options, phantom shares, ordinary shares | advanced |
| 14 | OptionTrax | 6.4 | No | $449/mo | No | 200 /mo | stock options, RSAs/RSUs, SARs, performance awards, phantom awards, warrants, ESPPs | advanced |
| 15 | Carta Total Compensation | 6.2 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 16 | Global Shares | 6.0 | No | — | — | — | Stock options, restricted stock, phantom shares, tax-advantaged share plans | — |
| 17 | EsopNxt | 5.9 | No | — | — | — | stock options (ESOPs) | advanced |
| 18 | Tabulate | 5.9 | No | — | — | — | stock options | basic |
| 19 | Certent Equity Management | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | Stock options, RSUs, RSAs, SARs, performance-based awards, ESPP, PIUs, profit interest units | advanced |
| 20 | Diligent Equity | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | stocks, options, warrants, convertible notes | — |
| 21 | Hissa | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | ESOP, SAR, ESPP, Phantom equity, RSU | custom |
| 22 | OptionsAhoy | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Supports planning for ISOs, NSOs, and RSUs; grant administration is not verified | — |
| 23 | Pulley | 5.8 | No | $100/mo | No | — | RSUs, ISOs, NSOs, RSAs, warrants, phantom grants | advanced |
| 24 | Qapita ESOP Management | 5.8 | No | — | No | — | ESOPs, SARs, phantom stock, profit interests | advanced |
| 25 | SeedLegals Options | 5.8 | No | £224.92/mo | No | — | EMI options; unapproved options | custom |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which equity compensation management software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Cake Equity is ranked #1 of 29 with a score of 7.4. Eqvista is second and Vquity third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Eqvista has the lowest first paid tier we found: $2/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
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