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Business · last verified Oct 9, 2026

Carta startup credits: free cap table (2026)

Free cap table, equity issuance and SAFE fundraising tools for startups with up to 25 stakeholders and under $1M raised. No credit card, self-serve, set up in minutes.

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I quick answer

Carta's startup offer: free software plan (Carta publishes no dollar value; paid plans are priced per stakeholder with an annual minimum via sales).

No equity, no fees. No referral needed; apply directly.

Stage fit: Idea stage. Difficulty: easy.

II key facts

Carta at a glance

Max value
Free software plan (Carta publishes no dollar value; paid plans are priced per stakeholder with an annual minimum via sales)
Stage fit
Idea stage
Takes equity
No
Who files it
You (no code needed)
Geography
US-first (Carta is an SEC-registered transfer agent for US companies).
Referral needed
No
Difficulty
Easy
Review time
No application or approval step is described on Carta's pages
Credits expire
No fixed end date.
III available programs and tiers

What Carta actually gives you

  1. Launch (free)
    $0, no credit card. Per Carta's Launch plan card: cap table management, securities issuance, exercising and repurchasing, 83(b) form, ISO management (listed on the plan card but not ticked for Launch in Carta's comparison table), investor management, equity reporting, HRIS and payroll integration, SAFE modeling, SAFE fundraising and closings (Carta, YC or custom templates), email/chat/phone support. Carta's comparison table also ticks fundraising benchmarks, data rooms, board consents, investor updates and SEC transfer-agent functions for US companies. Per the Launch Plan Terms, you can issue and manage common stock, founders stock, option grants, convertible notes, SAFEs or preferred stock for up to 25 aggregate security holders.
    Private corporations with up to 25 stakeholders and less than US$1M raised in equity or debt
  2. Build (paid)
    Per-stakeholder pricing with an annual minimum (contact sales). Adds priced-round modeling, Deal Closings, Deal Pro Forma, white-glove onboarding, ISO management and add-ons per the comparison table.
    Up to 50 stakeholders on the US plans page (the Europe page lists unlimited); companies that outgrow Launch or are closing a priced round
  3. Grow (paid)
    Per-stakeholder pricing (contact sales). Adds 409A valuations and audit support, Form 3921, board meetings.
    Flexible stakeholder limit; companies that need a 409A to grant options
  4. Scale (paid)
    Per-stakeholder pricing (contact sales). Adds ASC 718 / US GAAP and IFRS reporting with audit support, Rule 701 management, exit modeling, IPO advisory, SSO for admins.
    Flexible stakeholder limit; later-stage companies with audit and compliance needs
IV eligibility

Who qualifies

You likely qualify if

  • Your cap table has 25 or fewer stakeholders (aggregate security holders). Carta's FAQ says 'under 25' and its pricing page says 'up to 25'; the binding Launch Plan Terms make 'exceeding twenty-five (25) aggregate Security Holders' the upgrade trigger.
  • Your company has raised less than US$1,000,000 in total equity or debt financing (or the equivalent in other currencies), counting all rounds, SAFEs and notes to date, regardless of instrument type.
  • Your company is legally incorporated and you can upload its certificate of incorporation.
  • You have an email address to register with (no credit card or payment details required).
  • You do not yet need a 409A subscription, premium accounting (ASC 718), modeling features such as scenario modeling and waterfalls, or compliance features (Rule 701, ASC 718, Form 3921). The Terms treat adding any of these as a Qualifying Event that moves you to a paid plan.
  • You are a private corporation. Launch is listed under Carta's Private Corporations plans (US and Europe pages); Carta's LLC plans page shows no free tier and routes to sales.
  • Carta markets Launch to founders in the US, UK/Europe and, since May 12, 2025, APAC and MENA. The Launch Plan Terms state no country restriction, but companies formed outside the US must accept extra terms (Carta is not your share registry or transfer agent, you handle tax withholding outside the platform, and Carta does not process equity payments).
  • You can sign up without any funds raised; a pre-revenue, pre-funding company qualifies.

You won't qualify if

  • Companies with more than 25 stakeholders on the cap table.
  • Companies that have raised US$1,000,000 or more in aggregate equity or debt financing.
  • Companies that need a 409A valuation, premium accounting (ASC 718/IFRS), modeling features (the Terms name scenario modeling and waterfalls; priced-round modeling, Deal Closings and Deal Pro Forma are Build and above), or compliance features (701, 718, 3921). Adding any of these is a Qualifying Event under the Terms.
  • Once a Qualifying Event happens you agree to upgrade at Carta's then-current pricing; Carta may disable access to the services and support until you pay for a paid subscription.
  • Support on Launch may be limited at Carta's discretion; white-glove onboarding is Build and above only.
  • LLCs: Carta's LLC plans page shows no free Launch tier (contact sales).
  • Carta may alter or discontinue the Launch Plan or its terms at any time.

Geography. US-first (Carta is an SEC-registered transfer agent for US companies). Launch also appears on Carta's UK and Europe plans page and, since May 12, 2025, is marketed to founders in APAC and MENA. The Terms state no country restriction; companies formed outside the US accept extra terms (Carta is not the share registry or transfer agent, tax withholding is handled outside the platform, and Carta does not process equity payments).

V how to apply

How to apply to Carta Launch

  1. 01Go to carta.com/launch (redirects to carta.com/equity-management/launch/) and click 'Get started for free', which opens app.carta.com/launch/create-account/.
  2. 02Create your account with an email address. Carta says no payment info is required.
  3. 03Enter your company information and upload your certificate of incorporation. Carta's older onboarding release note (dated about 2021) also mentions common stock purchase agreements if founders already hold shares.
  4. 04Follow the guided onboarding. The older release note describes Company details, Founder Shares, then Users & Roles; the live signup page sits behind a Cloudflare bot check and was not read, so confirm the current steps in-app.
  5. 05Electronically accept the Carta Launch Plan Terms (they take effect on your e-signature and run until you or Carta terminate).
  6. 06Build your cap table, issue shares or SAFEs, and start fundraising. If you work with a law firm that partners with Carta, the Launch FAQ says they can help you through the process.
  7. 07When you pass 25 stakeholders or US$1M raised, or need a 409A or other premium features, upgrade in-product to Build, Grow or Scale (pricing via sales).

Review time: No application or approval step is described on Carta's pages. Signup is self-serve with an email address and certificate of incorporation, and Carta's APAC/MENA blog says you can set up a cap table within minutes. Account activation steps on the live signup page were not read.. Apply at app.carta.com/launch/create-account.

VI what changed

What changed in 2025 and 2026

May 12, 2025: Carta announced Launch for founders in APAC and MENA. No change to the 25-stakeholder / US$1M thresholds or the Qualifying Events found on the Launch Plan Terms, the Launch page or the US and Europe plans pages as of 2026-10-09. The US plans page lists Build at up to 50 stakeholders (the Europe page lists unlimited). Self-serve onboarding dates from a Carta release note about 5 years old and is not a 2025-26 change.

Dated change log for every program →

VII the AWS angle

Carta credits and your AWS bill

Carta Launch does not reduce your AWS bill or provide AWS credits; it is a free back-office perk that sits alongside AWS Activate in a typical pre-seed stack. AWS Activate has no cap-table requirement, so Launch is not a prerequisite for any AWS program.

VIIIfaq

Carta startup credits, answered

How much does Carta give startups?

Carta's startup offer: free software plan (Carta publishes no dollar value; paid plans are priced per stakeholder with an annual minimum via sales). There are 4 tiers: Launch (free): $0, no credit card; Build (paid): Per-stakeholder pricing with an annual minimum (contact sales); Grow (paid): Per-stakeholder pricing (contact sales); Scale (paid): Per-stakeholder pricing (contact sales).

Does Carta take equity?

No. Carta Launch is a credits program, not an investment; you keep 100% of your company. No referral needed; apply directly.

Who qualifies for Carta Launch?

Stage fit: Idea stage, pre-seed and early seed: from incorporation until you pass US$1M raised or 25 stakeholders, or need a 409A or other premium features. You usually qualify if: your cap table has 25 or fewer stakeholders (aggregate security holders). Carta's FAQ says 'under 25' and its pricing page says 'up to 25'; the binding Launch Plan Terms make 'exceeding twenty-five (25) aggregate Security Holders' the upgrade trigger.; your company has raised less than US$1,000,000 in total equity or debt financing (or the equivalent in other currencies), counting all rounds, SAFEs and notes to date, regardless of instrument type.; your company is legally incorporated and you can upload its certificate of incorporation. You will not qualify if: companies with more than 25 stakeholders on the cap table.; companies that have raised US$1,000,000 or more in aggregate equity or debt financing.

How long does Carta take to approve credits?

No application or approval step is described on Carta's pages. Signup is self-serve with an email address and certificate of incorporation, and Carta's APAC/MENA blog says you can set up a cap table within minutes. Account activation steps on the live signup page were not read. Difficulty: easy, a short form, no referral for the base tier.

When do Carta credits expire?

No fixed end date. Free for as long as you are on the Launch plan until a Qualifying Event (more than 25 aggregate security holders, US$1M or more raised, or adding a 409A subscription or premium accounting, modeling or compliance features).

Can I combine Carta credits with AWS credits?

Carta Launch does not reduce your AWS bill or provide AWS credits; it is a free back-office perk that sits alongside AWS Activate in a typical pre-seed stack. AWS Activate has no cap-table requirement, so Launch is not a prerequisite for any AWS program. On AWS, CloudRoute matches you for free with a vetted partner who can file MAP, POC or IW funding when the workload qualifies and AWS approves it. The Carta application you submit yourself.

Verified against carta.com/equity-management/launch on Oct 9, 2026 (confidence: high). Programs change; always confirm on the official page. 7 sources checked.