--- title: "SeedLegals vs Carta: which platform to choose for cap table, SEIS/EIS, funding and options" id: "410060" type: "post" slug: "seedlegals-vs-carta" published_at: "2024-10-11T08:51:59+00:00" modified_at: "2024-10-11T08:51:59+00:00" url: "https://seedlegals.com/resources/seedlegals-vs-carta/" markdown_url: "https://seedlegals.com/resources/seedlegals-vs-carta.md" excerpt: "The days of painstakingly tracking equity allocation on a series of spreadsheets are over. In this post, we explore two platforms you can use instead." taxonomy_category: - "SEIS EIS" - "Startup Guides" - "Funding Guides" - "Option Schemes" --- 6 min read Expert reviewed This article has been fact-checked by a SeedLegals subject matter expert. [Meet our experts](https://seedlegals.com/authors-and-experts/) and learn more about our review process and quality assurance in our [editorial policy](https://seedlegals.com/editorial-policy/) . # SeedLegals vs Carta: which platform to choose for cap table, SEIS/EIS, funding and options Published: Oct 11, 2024 Updated: Jun 18, 2026 Contents [Price: clear, capped costs with SeedLegals](#price-clear-capped-costs-with-seedlegals) [SeedLegals or Carta: ratings and reviews](#seedlegals-or-carta-ratings-and-reviews) [Cap table: Map, manage and model with SeedLegals or Carta](#cap-table-map-manage-and-model-with-seedlegals-or-carta) [Funding: SEIS/EIS investment agreements and fundraising support](#funding-seiseis-investment-agreements-and-fundraising-support) [Share option schemes: EMI, Unapproved and growth shares](#share-option-schemes-emi-unapproved-and-growth-shares) [Talk to the startup experts](#talk-to-the-startup-experts) [Kirsty MacSween](https://seedlegals.com/resources/author/kirsty/) The days of painstakingly tracking equity allocation on a series of spreadsheets are over. Today, startup founders can choose from platforms that help manage equity, issue shares, raise investment and run employee share schemes — all from a single dashboard. In this guide, we compare SeedLegals and Carta across the areas that matter most to UK startups: - Managing your [cap table](https://seedlegals.com/start/cap-table/) and shareholders - Navigating the [SEIS/EIS](https://seedlegals.com/start/seis-eis/) process, including Advance Assurance, confirming with HMRC and sending final certificates to investors - Creating the legal agreements you need to [take equity investment](https://seedlegals.com/raise/raise-a-round/) - Running EMI and other [share options](https://seedlegals.com/grow/share-options-scheme/) schemes - Getting experienced, to-the-point support when you need it There’s obviously no point hiding our bias😉 Carta is a well-known equity management platform used by companies around the world. SeedLegals was built specifically for startup founders and investors, with a strong focus on the practical realities of fundraising and company building in the UK. Here’s why we think SeedLegals is the better choice for UK startups – especially at an early stage: - Clear, transparent pricing - Unlimited support from startup specialists - Market-leading expertise in SEIS/EIS and fundraising - A founder and investor community designed to help you build momentum as you raise **Why choose SeedLegals?** - 1 in 6 early-stage funding rounds close on SeedLegals - £2 billion + closed on platform - 2 / 3 of all successful SEIS AA applications come through SeedLegals - A galaxy of 5-star ratings ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ## Price: clear, capped costs with SeedLegals Carta structures its plans around equity management and company growth stages. Its Launch plan is available free for eligible early-stage companies, with additional features available on higher-tier plans. SeedLegals separates pricing based on what founders are trying to achieve. Access gives you the essentials to run your company, including cap table management, legal documents, board tools and document signing. As your needs evolve, you can choose dedicated plans for fundraising (Funding) or employee share schemes (Options). This gives founders flexibility. If you’re not actively fundraising or running an option scheme, you don’t need to pay for those features. When you are ready, you can add specialist tools, support and discounts designed for that stage of your journey. For a full breakdown of the membership plans and services, head over to our [pricing page](https://seedlegals.com/pricing/) . Information accurate as of June 2026 For founders looking beyond cap table management, SeedLegals combines company administration, fundraising and employee equity tools with specialist support designed for UK startups. 🔍 To compare the services and functionalities SeedLegals and Carta offer for cap tables, fundraising and options, stay with us – we explain it all below. **Choose SeedLegals to…** ✓ Work with UK early-stage funding specialists ✓ Make smart decisions using our exclusive data insights ✓ Follow built-in guidance to create documents ✓ Find answers fast on live chat (average response time ✓ Get exclusive event invites to learn and network ✓ Access free online resources: articles, step-by-step guides, news and more ## SeedLegals or Carta: ratings and reviews SeedLegals has earned 100s of 5-star ratings, many of which celebrate our helpful, fast customer service and how simple we make it to get important things done. Check out our [Trustpilot page](https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.seedlegals.com) to see what UK founders are saying about us. Information accurate as of June 2026 ## Cap table: Map, manage and model with SeedLegals or Carta It all starts with your [cap table](https://seedlegals.com/start/cap-table/) . As the nerve centre of your business, a well-managed cap table keeps track of every stakeholder’s ownership, from your earliest investors to your expanding team. It also reflects the growth of your business, including capital injections and the creation of an option pool to incentivise your team with equity. Investors will look closely at your cap table – it needs to be clear, without any inconsistencies or red flags. Software solutions, like those offered by SeedLegals and Carta, make it easy to maintain a clean, up-to-date cap table, ensuring transparency and confidence as you scale your business. Information correct as of June 2026 **Read more from the SeedLegals blog** - [What’s a clean cap table and why does it matter?](https://seedlegals.com/resources/clean-cap-table/) - [Do investors really care about a messy cap table](https://seedlegals.com/resources/messy-cap-table/) ## Funding: SEIS/EIS investment agreements and fundraising support Both SeedLegals and Carta help founders manage fundraising and equity transactions. They also offer tools to support companies through the [SEIS/EIS](https://seedlegals.com/start/seis-eis/) process, helping founders make their investment opportunity more attractive to UK investors. Where SeedLegals stands out is its focus on the realities of fundraising for UK startups. With SeedLegals, founders can raise through [SeedFASTs](https://seedlegals.com/raise/raise-before-a-round/) (our version of an ASA, similar to a SAFE), complete a priced [funding round](https://seedlegals.com/raise/raise-a-round/) , issue follow-on investments and manage the legal documents needed throughout the process. Everything is designed to work together, helping founders move quickly while keeping their cap table and legal documents organised. Fundraising isn’t just about generating documents. Founders also need guidance on structuring their raise, navigating SEIS/EIS requirements and understanding the implications of the decisions they’re making. That’s why SeedLegals combines software with specialist support from experienced fundraising and legal teams. Information accurate as of June 2026 **Read more from the SeedLegals blog** - [Tips from investors for fundraising founders](https://seedlegals.com/ebooks/tips-from-investors/) - [Startup funding strategies for 2024](https://seedlegals.com/resources/startup-funding-strategies/) - [Complete guide to startup funding](https://seedlegals.com/ebooks/startup-funding-guide/) ### SeedLegals is fully tuned in to the UK early-stage startup scene When it comes to the UK early-stage startup scene, SeedLegals is completely in tune with the needs of founders. No one handles more SEIS applications, pre-seed or seed-stage rounds in the UK than SeedLegals, making it the go-to platform for early-stage companies. While Carta brings incredible insights into later-stage funding and larger rounds, our deep knowledge of SEIS/EIS tax relief schemes and early-stage fundraising sets us apart. SeedLegals is specifically designed for UK founders, with expert guidance and automated tools that simplify the process, helping startups secure investment and grow from the ground up. ### SeedLegals Funding – the complete fundraising package from £1,199/year + VAT The SeedLegals Funding plan gives founders everything they need to get investor-ready, reach out to investors, build momentum for their raise and close with confidence. Funding includes: - One free [SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance](https://seedlegals.com/start/seis-eis/) or [Compliance](https://seedlegals.com/raise/seis-eis-compliance/) application - Plus £100 off Compliance if you’ve already used your free Advance Assurance - Discounted [Flex credits](https://seedlegals.com/resources/raise-faster-with-seedlegals-flex/) for fundraising services - No engagement fee to open a funding round or create a Term Sheet - Dedicated support from your account manager - Priority fundraising support from the SeedLegals team - £100 off [SeedLegals Boost](https://seedlegals.com/raise/boost/) – the fundraising package that helps you reach the right investors, build credibility and strengthen your SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance application - Discount on your [R&D tax credit](https://seedlegals.com/grow/rd-tax-credit-claim/) opening fee, so you can start your claim for less - Founder community access and invitations to exclusive events Unlike a traditional legal engagement, Funding gives founders a predictable way to access fundraising tools, support and services throughout their raise. No matter whether you’re raising through a SeedFAST, preparing for a priced round or managing follow-on investments, SeedLegals gives you the tools and support to keep momentum high and fundraising costs under control. ## Share option schemes: EMI, Unapproved and growth shares [Option schemes](https://seedlegals.com/grow/share-options-scheme/) reward employees with equity, giving them a stake in the business’s success. It’s a powerful way to align the team’s long-term incentives and attract top talent without upfront cash outlays. Using platforms like SeedLegals or Carta makes this process seamless. These platforms handle all the complex legal documents, valuations, and compliance, allowing founders to focus on building their business while ensuring their team is motivated and invested in its future. Companies have a few choices when it comes to option scheme types. - **EMI** (Enterprise Management Incentives): A tax-advantaged option scheme designed for UK startups with fewer than 250 employees, offering significant tax benefits to both the company and employees. - **Unapproved Options**: Flexible options for companies that don’t qualify for EMI or need to grant options to international employees or advisors, though without the same tax advantages. - **CSOP** (Company Share Option Plan): A scheme aimed at larger companies (typically beyond the startup phase), offering tax advantages but with stricter eligibility criteria and higher limits on grant sizes. - **Growth Shares**: These are typically used to reward employees for growth above a set valuation, aligning incentives with company performance, often in later-stage companies. The [SeedLegals Options](https://seedlegals.com/grow/share-options-scheme/) plan covers all your employee equity requirements for just £2,699/ year + VAT, including unlimited EMI and unapproved option schemes, EMI valuations, and all the required legal documents​. With Carta, you’ll need the Grow plan to create an EMI share option scheme and build an EMI valuation. **Read more on the SeedLegals blog** - [EMI or Unapproved: which option scheme is right for you?](https://seedlegals.com/resources/emi-or-unapproved-share-option-scheme-which-is-best-for-you/) - [Peek inside hundreds of UK option schemes: explore trends](https://seedlegals.com/reports/share-options-report/) - [What are growth shares?](https://seedlegals.com/resources/growth-shares/) ## Talk to the startup experts Fast and affordable access to top-quality legal documents and unlimited legal support – we make it simple to get SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance, all funding deal legals and option schemes done. ✅ Live platform chat support, plus unlimited task-specific support ✅ Fundraising strategy support from your dedicated account manager (with a Funding plan) ✅ Data insights from the 60,000 companies using SeedLegals – see how we use our data to help you make the right decisions for your business on the [Termometer](https://seedlegals.com/termometer/) ✅ Guided workflow with built-in tutorials ✅ An invite to our exclusive Founder WhatsApp group ✅ A full programme of free webinars and events, plus networking opportunities and discounts on ticket prices ✅ Access to 500+ articles and guides, packed with expert insights from investors and successful entrepreneurs ✅ [Exclusive offers and perks worth over £45k](https://seedlegals.com/marketplace/) We’ve supported over 60,000 companies to raise over £2B to date. Book a demo to find out how we can help you too. From our experts to your inbox Sign up for upcoming events, new ebooks, templates and more. Related articles [– SeedLegals vs Vestd: comparing equity management platforms](https://seedlegals.com/resources/seedlegals-vs-vestd/) [– SeedLegals vs FounderCatalyst: which funding platform to choose](https://seedlegals.com/resources/seedlegals-vs-foundercatalyst/) [– SeedLegals Flex: Raise an unlimited number of investments for one fixed price](https://seedlegals.com/resources/raise-faster-with-seedlegals-flex/) ## Related posts [3 min read New: AI Health Check for SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance applications 🎉 Introducing the AI Health Check – a smart, 2-minute step that helps you get your SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance applicatio... 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