Compare/Head to head

Carta vs Gusto

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Carta

Sales-quoted

Cap table and equity management for private companies. Launch is free up to 25 stakeholders and $1M raised; paid plans are quote-based.

Where Carta fits

Startups setting up a first cap table
Companies that need 409A valuations
Finance teams handling ASC 718 reporting
HR teams syncing equity with HRIS and payroll

Gusto

$49/mo

US small-business payroll, benefits and onboarding in one stack, from around $49/mo plus a per-seat charge.

Where Gusto fits

US small companies running payroll in-house
HR teams that want benefits next to pay
Desks that want MCP on payroll data
A first HRIS after spreadsheets

At a glance

Detail	Carta	Gusto
Starting price	Sales-quoted	$49/mo
Free tier	–No	–No
MCP server	✓Yes	✓Yes
Public API	✓Yes	✓Yes
Listed under	Compensation	Benefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Payroll, Time & attendance
Capterra	Not enough reviews	4.6 from 4,225 reviews

Where they pull apart

Carta

Stands out: A free Launch plan for early cap tables, then Build, Grow and Scale with 409A valuations and ASC 718 reporting.

Watch out: Paid plans have no published price. Each has a per-stakeholder rate and a minimum annual fee, and add-ons like Total Compensation cost extra.

Not the right fit for

Buyers who need a published paid price
Public companies needing full stock admin

Gusto

Stands out: Payroll sitting next to HR for US small companies, with a first-party MCP.

Watch out: It is US-only, so it is not a route to hiring people in other countries.

Not the right fit for

Global employer-of-record buyers
Enterprise HRIS selection processes

Pros and cons

Carta

Free plan for early-stage cap tables
409A and ASC 718 on higher plans
Public API and official MCP servers

No published price for paid plans
Minimum annual fee on paid plans
Add-ons sold separately

Gusto

Payroll, benefits and onboarding in one US stack
MCP and API available
Fits small-business HR and finance buyers

US-only
Per-person charges on top of the base
Recruiting is basic: no interview scheduling or automated candidate emails

What each one costs

Carta

Sales-quoted

Free plan; paid plans are sales-quoted. Launch is free for up to 25 stakeholders and $1 million raised. Build, Grow and Scale are priced per stakeholder with a minimum annual fee, and add-ons such as Total Compensation and Liquidity cost extra. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Gusto

$49/mo

Simple is $49/mo plus $6 per person, Plus is $80/mo plus $12 per person, and Premium is $180/mo plus $22 per person. Gusto Recruiting (job posting to 100+ boards, applicant tracking and offer letters) is included on Plus and Premium. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try Carta or Gusto for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Does Carta or Gusto have an MCP server?

Carta and Gusto ship a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?