Computershare Employee Share Plans vs Empower Stock Plan Services

Computershare Employee Share Plans9.1Visit ESEmpower Stock Plan Services8.5Visit

Higher score Computershare Employee Share Plans #2 in Equity Compensation Management Software 9.1/10 Pricing on request ✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Computershare

vs

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

• Computershare Employee Share Plans fits best

  Large employers with global equity plans

• Empower Stock Plan Services fits best

  Employers needing managed plan and filing services

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Side by side

Feature	Computershare Employee Share Plans 9.1/10 Visit ↗	ESEmpower Stock Plan Services 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.5
Ranking	#2 in Equity Compensation Management Software	#8 in Equity Compensation Management Software
Best for	Large employers with global equity plans	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, Mobile	Cloud
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web
Support	Live chat, Phone, Docs · 24/7	Phone
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Computershare Employee Share Plans 3/3 · Empower Stock Plan Services 3/3
Employee portal	✓	✓
Tax reporting	✓	✓
Valuation support	✓	✓
Specs
Award types	ESPP, stock options, stock appreciation rights, notional cash, phantom plans, fund incentive plans, deferred shares/stock (RSU), restricted shares/stock (RSA), performance shares (PSU)	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	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Recipient limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Supports a wide range of equity award types and plan structures Combines live plan data, trading, tax support, payments, and reporting Offers employee access across web, iOS, Android, and EquateMobile	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	Contact-sales pricing makes self-serve cost comparison difficult Managed-service delivery may be more than smaller teams need Broad program coverage can be less suitable for narrow, simple plans	Pricing requires a demo or contact-sales conversation The listed platform is web only Broker integrations are described around captive brokers
Our verdict	Computershare Employee Share Plans is a managed administration and technology service for companies running employee equity programs across multiple countries. Its EquatePlus platform gives employees access to enrolment, plan… 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

• Computershare Employee Share Plans — where it wins

  • Supports a wide range of equity award types and plan structures
  • Combines live plan data, trading, tax support, payments, and reporting
  • Offers employee access across web, iOS, Android, and EquateMobile

  Where it doesn't

  • Contact-sales pricing makes self-serve cost comparison difficult
  • Managed-service delivery may be more than smaller teams need
  • Broad program coverage can be less suitable for narrow, simple plans

• 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

• Computershare Employee Share Plans9.1/10 · Pricing on request

  A broad managed service for complex, multinational employee equity programs.

  Visit ComputershareFull 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 →