Carta Pricing 2026: How Much Does Carta Really Cost?

Carta Pricing 2026: The Full Breakdown

If you are a startup founder evaluating cap table management tools, Carta is likely on your shortlist. But how much does Carta actually cost in 2026? The answer is not as straightforward as their marketing suggests.

In this guide, we break down every Carta pricing tier, reveal the hidden costs most founders miss until it is too late, and show you how OpenCap Stack delivers the same functionality at zero cost.

Carta's 2026 Pricing Tiers

Carta offers four pricing tiers, each designed for companies at different stages:

The Launch Plan: Free But Limited

Carta's Launch plan sounds appealing at $0, but the limitations are severe. You get a basic cap table with no scenario modeling, no 409A valuation support, and a hard cap of 25 stakeholders. Most startups outgrow this plan before they close their seed round.

The Build Plan: $3,000/Year

Once you need more than 25 stakeholders or want features like scenario modeling and waterfall analysis, you are looking at $3,000 per year. This tier includes electronic signatures and basic compliance tools, but 409A valuations remain an expensive add-on.

The Scale Plan: $7,000/Year

Series A companies typically need the Scale plan. At $7,000 per year, you get advanced reporting, portfolio analytics, and support for up to 200 stakeholders. Even at this price, several features remain behind additional paywalls.

Enterprise: Custom (Read: Expensive)

For companies with more than 200 stakeholders or complex multi-entity structures, Carta requires custom pricing. Based on industry reports, enterprise contracts typically start at $15,000 per year and can exceed $50,000 for larger organizations.

The Hidden Costs Carta Does Not Advertise

The sticker price is just the beginning. Here are the costs that surprise most founders:

409A Valuations: $3,500+ Per Valuation

Carta offers 409A valuations as an add-on service starting at $3,500 per valuation. Most startups need a new 409A at least annually, and any material event (fundraise, acquisition offer) triggers the need for a fresh one. That is $3,500 to $7,000 per year on top of your subscription.

Per-Stakeholder Fees

On the Build and Scale plans, adding stakeholders beyond your tier limit incurs per-stakeholder fees ranging from $20 to $50 per stakeholder per year. If you have 75 stakeholders on the Build plan, you are paying overages for 25 of them.

Electronic Signature Fees

While basic e-signatures are included, high-volume document signing (option grants, board consents, SAFEs) can trigger additional charges. Some founders report unexpected bills of $500 to $1,500 for signature packages.

Migration and Setup Costs

Moving your cap table to Carta is not free if you need assistance. Professional migration services start at $1,000 and can reach $5,000+ for complex cap tables with multiple rounds and convertible instruments.

What You Actually Pay: Real-World Examples

A startup that grows from pre-seed to Series A can easily spend $30,000 or more on Carta over three years.

OpenCap Stack: The Free Alternative

Why Founders Are Switching

The top reasons founders migrate from Carta to <a href="https://opencapstack.com/compare/carta">OpenCap Stack</a>:

When Does Carta Make Sense?

Carta does offer value for specific use cases. If you need a fully managed 409A valuation with audit support, Carta's integrated service can save time. Large enterprises with complex multi-entity structures may also benefit from Carta's dedicated support team.

But for the vast majority of startups -- from incorporation through Series A -- you can get everything you need from OpenCap Stack without spending a dollar.

The Bottom Line

Carta's pricing in 2026 ranges from free (with severe limitations) to $7,000+ per year, with hidden costs that can double your actual spend. Before you commit to a multi-year contract, <a href="https://opencapstack.com/cap-table-software">try OpenCap Stack for free</a> and see if it meets your needs.

Ready to Switch?