For many startups, choosing a cap table provider is an important decision because the platform eventually becomes the central record of ownership, equity plans, securities, and valuation information. As a company grows, its needs can also move beyond basic cap table management.
Eventually, you may find yourself looking for better cost efficiency, easier access to 409A valuations, financial modeling, or a platform that supports more complex equity structures. A switch should therefore offer more than a different place to manage the same cap table. It should improve the way your company manages equity as it grows.
Eqvista, Carta, Ledgy, Cake Equity, and Shareworks are among the leading Pulley competitors in 2026. Eqvista is our top overall choice for companies that want cap table management combined with 409A valuations, financial modeling tools, and liquidity solutions. Carta is particularly strong for investor and fundraising workflows, while Ledgy is well suited to European companies managing international equity.
In this article, we compare Pulley with leading cap table platforms to help you find the right alternative for your company.
Top Pulley Alternative Platforms Compared
| Platform | Best for | Why consider it instead of Pulley | Entry pricing | Key strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eqvista | Private companies wanting broader equity and valuation capabilities | Broader valuation and modeling capabilities | Free for fewer than 20 stakeholders Premium from $2/stakeholder/month | Cap table & equity management 409A & broader valuation services Real-time company valuation Financial modeling & compliance Liquidity solutions |
| Carta | Startups focused on deal support and investor management | Strong fundraising and investor workflows | Free Launch plan for up to 25 stakeholders and $1 million raised | Fundraising workflows HRIS and payroll integrations |
| Ledgy | Growing European companies | Stronger multi-entity and HRIS capabilities | Free for up to 50 stakeholders | Multi-entity management Equity plan automation |
| Cake Equity | Early-stage companies with straightforward equity needs | Startup-focused equity and fundraising tools | Free for up to 5 stakeholders | Financial modeling Stakeholder communication |
| Shareworks | Companies with complex global equity needs | Advanced global plans and reporting | Not disclosed | Global equity plans Real-time HRIS data sharing through APIs |
Which Pulley Alternative Should You Choose?
We studied each platform using publicly available pricing, product documentation, customer support, 409A capabilities, customer ratings, financial modeling tools, and suitability across different startup stages. Pricing and product information were reviewed in August 2026.
In our opinion, the right decision depends on where your company is in its growth journey. For pre-seed startups, Eqvista stands out because its free plan supports companies with fewer than 20 stakeholders. For seed and Series A companies, Eqvista becomes compelling when recurring 409A valuations and equity management are important. For growth and later-stage companies, the comparison becomes more nuanced. Eqvista offers a wider range of valuation and financial management capabilities, while Carta can be attractive for companies that place greater emphasis on investor support and fundraising workflows.
Taken together, Eqvista and Carta are the strongest overall options, but for different reasons. Eqvista has a broader value proposition around equity management, valuation, and financial modeling. Carta has a strong ecosystem for companies that prioritize fundraising and investor-related workflows.
1. Eqvista
Eqvista is the strongest overall Pulley alternative for startups and private companies whose needs extend beyond basic cap table management. Its platform combines cap table and ESOP management with vesting schedules, stakeholder accounts, funding round modeling, waterfall analysis, compliance tools, and liquidity solutions. Beyond equity management, Eqvista provides 409A valuations as well as broader business and specialized valuation services for companies with more complex valuation needs.
Its free plan makes Eqvista accessible to very early-stage companies with fewer than 20 stakeholders, while the Premium plan supports companies as their equity management needs grow. Companies can also access unlimited 409A valuations performed by NACVA-certified valuation analysts, alongside Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation® for an ongoing view of company value. The main limitation is that the freemium offering is intended for smaller teams.
Eqvista may be a better choice than Pulley for companies that want to combine cap table management with valuation, financial modeling, compliance, and liquidity capabilities in one platform.
2. Carta
Carta is a strong Pulley alternative for startups that need cap table management alongside fundraising support, investor management, and HRIS and payroll integrations. Companies can try Carta’s free launch plan if they have up to 25 stakeholders and $1 million in funding.
Carta also offers equity reporting, SAFE modeling, deal closings, and priced round modeling. These features can make it a suitable choice for companies that want to connect equity management closely with fundraising activities.
However, pricing for its paid plans is not currently disclosed. This can make budgeting more difficult once a company moves beyond the free Launch plan.
3. Ledgy
Ledgy may be a stronger Pulley alternative for companies with increasingly complex or international equity structures. Its multi-entity cap table management, extensive HRIS integrations, equity plan automation, and valuation services make it more suitable for companies that need more operational depth.
Its Scale offering adds features such as data rooms, document folders, automated granting, vesting workflows, e-signing integrations, investor and employee dashboards, automated share certificates, and UK Companies House reporting.
The tradeoff is that many of its advanced capabilities are designed for companies operating at greater scale. Its self-serve free tier is useful for smaller teams, while advanced functionality moves into a more enterprise-oriented offering starting at €5,000 per year.
4. Cake Equity
Cake Equity focuses on making equity administration accessible to early-stage startups. Its free plan is designed for founders and pre-team companies, while the Build plan adds broader cap table, fundraising, and equity administration capabilities.
It may be a useful Pulley alternative for startups that need an accurate cap table, including SAFE and convertible round support, option grants, board approval flows, and stakeholder communication.
The main limitation is that companies with more sophisticated equity or compliance requirements may need capabilities beyond its core startup-focused offering.
5. Shareworks
Shareworks may be a stronger Pulley alternative for companies that need comprehensive equity administration across complex plans. Its platform is designed to support both private and public organizations with equity management, reporting, regulatory requirements, and global plans.
Its main strengths include custom global plans, robust reporting, scenario modeling, and real-time data sharing through HRIS APIs. These capabilities can make Shareworks suitable for organizations that need a more advanced operational and reporting environment.
However, Shareworks’ broader capabilities are less relevant for smaller startups looking for a simpler cap table solution.
Why Eqvista Is a Strong Alternative to Pulley
Switching from Pulley can make sense when a company wants its equity platform to do more than maintain a cap table. Eqvista combines equity management with valuation, financial modeling, compliance, and liquidity solutions, giving companies a broader platform that can support them as their needs become more complex.
More Than Cap Table Management
Eqvista provides cap table and equity management, including ESOP management, stakeholder accounts, vesting schedules, and real-time ownership updates. Round modeling and waterfall analysis help founders understand dilution, model future financing scenarios, and evaluate potential exit outcomes.
Valuation is also built more deeply into the Eqvista offering. Companies can access unlimited 409A valuations performed by NACVA-certified valuation analysts, alongside broader business and specialized valuation services for needs beyond equity compensation.
Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation® adds another layer by providing an AI-powered dashboard, built with oversight from experienced valuation professionals, that gives companies an ongoing view of company value between formal valuation cycles.
For companies issuing equity compensation, Eqvista also provides stock-based compensation reporting to support ASC 718 compliance.
Eqvista extends beyond equity administration into private-company liquidity solutions, including Controlled Tender Offers that can provide structured liquidity opportunities for shareholders and employees.
These capabilities let companies manage ownership, understand company value, model financial outcomes, meet compliance requirements, and provide liquidity without relying on multiple platforms.
White-Glove Migration from Pulley
Migration is one of the biggest concerns when changing cap table providers. A company should not have to recreate years of historical ownership information manually just to move to a different platform.
Eqvista provides white-glove migration from Pulley, with our migration team handling the transfer, reconstruction, and validation of your cap table data. You can review the migrated cap table before approving the switch, so there is no commitment until you are satisfied everything transferred correctly.
For companies moving from Pulley, our current offer includes free white-glove migration, the first year of Eqvista cap table management at no cost, and a $500 credit toward the first 409A valuation.
How to Migrate from Pulley to Eqvista?
- Share Your Pulley Data: Provide our team with read-only access to your Pulley account, or export your cap table and supporting equity information and securely share the files with us.
- We Migrate Your Cap Table: Our team transfers your data to Eqvista in 3–5 business days, including historical issuances and transactions, capitalization history, stakeholder details, equity plans, vesting information, common and preferred shares, warrants, SAFEs, and other securities.
- We Validate the Data: If we identify any discrepancies or issues, we review them with you to ensure all information is accurately recorded in Eqvista.
- Review Before You Commit: Once the migration is complete, you can review your reconstructed cap table and verify that everything has been transferred correctly before approving the switch.
- Approve and Go Live: Once you are satisfied with the migrated cap table, approve it and start managing your equity on Eqvista.
FAQs About Pulley Alternatives
Why do companies look for alternatives to Pulley?
Companies may consider Pulley alternatives when looking for lower costs, easier access to 409A valuations, broader valuation capabilities, or additional financial modeling and liquidity tools. The right alternative depends on the company’s stage, cap table complexity, valuation needs, and the level of support it requires.
Is there a free alternative to Pulley?
Yes. Eqvista offers a free cap table management plan for companies with fewer than 20 stakeholders. This can make it a practical Pulley alternative for early-stage companies that want to manage their cap table without committing to a paid plan.
Does Pulley include 409A valuations?
Yes. Pulley offers 409A valuations through its Growth and higher-tier plans. Its Growth plan starts at $3,500 per year. Companies comparing Pulley alternatives should consider not only whether 409A valuations are available, but also how they are priced, whether additional valuations are included, and what level of valuation and audit support is provided.
What is the best Pulley alternative for startups?
The best Pulley alternative depends on what a startup needs from its equity platform. Eqvista is a strong overall option for companies that want cap table management combined with unlimited 409A valuations, real-time company valuation, financial modeling, broader valuation capabilities, and liquidity solutions. Carta may be attractive for companies focused on fundraising and investor workflows, while Ledgy is well suited to companies with international or multi-entity equity requirements.
How do I migrate my cap table from Pulley to Eqvista?
Eqvista provides white-glove migration from Pulley, so you do not need to manually rebuild your cap table. You can provide our team with read-only access to your Pulley account or export your cap table and supporting equity data. Our migration specialists then transfer, reconstruct, and validate your stakeholders, securities, equity plans, vesting schedules, historical transactions, and other cap table information before you go live on Eqvista.
How long does it take to migrate from Pulley to Eqvista?
Most Pulley migrations can be completed in 3–5 business days, depending on cap table complexity and the data provided. Eqvista’s migration specialists handle the transfer, reconstruction, and validation process and work with you to resolve any discrepancies before the migrated cap table goes live.
Does Eqvista offer free migration from Pulley?
Yes. Companies switching from Pulley can currently get free white-glove migration, their first year of Eqvista cap table management at no cost, and a $500 credit toward their first 409A valuation.
Do I have to commit to Eqvista before my Pulley cap table is migrated?
No. You can review your reconstructed cap table and verify the migrated data before approving the switch to Eqvista.
Don’t Just Switch Cap Table Providers. Upgrade What Your Cap Table Can Do.
Choosing a Pulley alternative should be about finding the platform that best supports your company’s next stage of growth. Carta can be a strong fit for companies that place greater emphasis on deal closings and investor management. Ledgy is well suited to companies with complex international and multi-entity requirements, while Cake Equity focuses on straightforward startup equity administration and Shareworks provides greater depth for complex global equity programs.
For companies that want more than cap table management, Eqvista brings cap table management, 409A and broader valuation services, real-time company valuation, financial modeling, compliance, and liquidity capabilities into one platform. For companies moving from Pulley, free white-glove migration, the first year of Eqvista cap table management at no cost, and a $500 credit toward the first 409A valuation make the transition easier.
Contact us to learn more about switching from Pulley to Eqvista.
