Certent Equity Management vs Empower Stock Plan Services

Certent Equity Management8.8Visit ESEmpower Stock Plan Services8.5Visit

Higher score Certent Equity Management #5 in Equity Compensation Management Software 8.8/10 Pricing on request ✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Certent

vs

ES Empower Stock Plan Services #8 in Equity Compensation Management Software 8.5/10 Pricing on request ✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Empower

• Certent Equity Management fits best

  Enterprises needing comprehensive equity compliance

• Empower Stock Plan Services fits best

  Employers needing managed plan and filing services

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Side by side

Feature	Certent Equity Management 8.8/10 Visit ↗	ESEmpower Stock Plan Services 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.8	8.5
Ranking	#5 in Equity Compensation Management Software	#8 in Equity Compensation Management Software
Best for	Enterprises needing comprehensive equity compliance	Employers needing managed plan and filing services
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	Pricing on request	Pricing on request
Free plan	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Integrations	3 integrations	2 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Certent Equity Management 3/3 · Empower Stock Plan Services 3/3
Employee portal	✓	✓
Tax reporting	✓	✓
Valuation support	✓	✓
Specs
Award types	Stock options, RSUs, RSAs, SARs, performance-based awards, ESPP, PIUs, profit interest units	Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), Nonqualified Stock Options (NSOs), Incentive Stock Options (ISOs), Performance Stock Units (PSUs), Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs), Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs), restricted stock, warrants
Vesting rule support	Advanced	Not checked yet
Recipient limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Covers cap tables, grants, ESPP, valuation, accounting, and reporting Supports SEC, FASB, IFRS, ASC 718, proxy, and Section 16 reporting Connects with payroll systems, HRIS systems, and brokerage firms	Supports options, RSUs, PSUs, SARs, ESPPs, restricted stock, and warrants Combines participant access, exercises, document management, and reporting Adds 409A valuation, 6039 filings, and 10b5-1 plan support
Cons	Pricing requires a sales request Available through the web platform only 409A valuations come from independent partners	Pricing requires a demo or contact-sales conversation The listed platform is web only Broker integrations are described around captive brokers
Our verdict	Certent Equity Management is a web-based platform for managing equity compensation across private and public companies. It brings together cap table management, funding-round and waterfall modeling, scenario analysis, grant creation,… Read the review →	Empower Stock Plan Services is a digital equity compensation administration platform for public and private companies. It is designed for employers managing stock options, restricted stock units, restricted stock, warrants, employee stock… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Certent Equity Management — where it wins

  • Covers cap tables, grants, ESPP, valuation, accounting, and reporting
  • Supports SEC, FASB, IFRS, ASC 718, proxy, and Section 16 reporting
  • Connects with payroll systems, HRIS systems, and brokerage firms

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires a sales request
  • Available through the web platform only
  • 409A valuations come from independent partners

• Empower Stock Plan Services — where it wins

  • Supports options, RSUs, PSUs, SARs, ESPPs, restricted stock, and warrants
  • Combines participant access, exercises, document management, and reporting
  • Adds 409A valuation, 6039 filings, and 10b5-1 plan support

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires a demo or contact-sales conversation
  • The listed platform is web only
  • Broker integrations are described around captive brokers

• Certent Equity Management8.8/10 · Pricing on request

  A broad web platform for equity, compliance reporting, accounting, and participant workflows.

  Visit CertentFull verdict →
• ESEmpower Stock Plan Services8.5/10 · Pricing on request

  A managed equity platform covering awards, participant access, reporting, valuation, and filings.

  Visit EmpowerFull verdict →