Schwab StockPlanManager vs Certent Equity Management

SSSchwab StockPlanManager8.7Visit Certent Equity Management8.4Visit

Higher score SS Schwab StockPlanManager #6 in Stock Plan Administration Software 8.7/10 Pricing on request ✓ 5 of 6 features Contact Schwab

vs

Certent Equity Management #8 in Stock Plan Administration Software 8.4/10 Pricing on request ✓ 5 of 6 features Visit Certent

• Schwab StockPlanManager fits best

  Enterprises managing insider filings and global tax

• Certent Equity Management fits best

  Companies needing compliance reporting and grant workflows

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Side by side

Feature	SSSchwab StockPlanManager 8.7/10 Visit ↗	Certent Equity Management 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	8.4
Ranking	#6 in Stock Plan Administration Software	#8 in Stock Plan Administration Software
Best for	Enterprises managing insider filings and global tax	Companies needing compliance reporting and grant workflows
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
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Schwab StockPlanManager 5/6 · Certent Equity Management 5/6
Employee grants	✓	✓
ESPP administration	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Option exercise	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Tax withholding	✓	✓
Participant portal	✓	✓
Reporting and exports	✓	✓
Specs
Participant limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Web-based SEC Forms 3, 4, and 5 filing tools and an insider holdings database Blackout controls and restrictions for selected employees EquiView tracks global tax withholding for mobile employees	Creates, approves, vests, and digitally signs equity grants with audit trails Supports participant exercise modeling, tax elections, and document access Files Section 16 forms directly with the SEC and supports SEC, FASB, and IFRS reporting
Cons	EquiView is available to employers using Schwab's full or co-sourced administration Administration arrangements are tailored to each plan Grant, vesting, and exercise administration receives limited detail	Pricing is quote-based and requires contacting sales Its broad administration and reporting scope may exceed basic grant-tracking needs The platform is cloud-based and web-only
Our verdict	Schwab StockPlanManager is a web-based platform for employers and stock plan administrators managing company equity programs. It combines secure exchange of employee award information with participant communications, reporting, and tools… Read the review →	Certent Equity Management supports stock plan and equity administration for private and public companies, with a scope that spans cap table management, grants, accounting outputs, reporting, and participant access. Companies that need… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Schwab StockPlanManager — where it wins

  • Web-based SEC Forms 3, 4, and 5 filing tools and an insider holdings database
  • Blackout controls and restrictions for selected employees
  • EquiView tracks global tax withholding for mobile employees

  Where it doesn't

  • EquiView is available to employers using Schwab's full or co-sourced administration
  • Administration arrangements are tailored to each plan
  • Grant, vesting, and exercise administration receives limited detail

• Certent Equity Management — where it wins

  • Creates, approves, vests, and digitally signs equity grants with audit trails
  • Supports participant exercise modeling, tax elections, and document access
  • Files Section 16 forms directly with the SEC and supports SEC, FASB, and IFRS reporting

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing is quote-based and requires contacting sales
  • Its broad administration and reporting scope may exceed basic grant-tracking needs
  • The platform is cloud-based and web-only

• SSSchwab StockPlanManager8.7/10 · Pricing on request

  StockPlanManager pairs equity-plan workflows with Section 16 filings and global tax reporting.

  Contact SchwabFull verdict →
• Certent Equity Management8.4/10 · Pricing on request

  A full-lifecycle stock plan platform with participant workflows and public-company reporting.

  Visit CertentFull verdict →