Stock Plan Management

Stock plan management software built for people, not just processes

From first grant to global rollout, Qapita is the all-in-one stock option software for modern teams to simplify equity operations for founders, HR, finance, and legal, while putting employees first. Design, manage, and communicate stock plans with the clarity your team deserves.

Talk to an Expert

G2 Grid® for Equity Management Software | Summer 2025

Recognized as a Global Leader on G2

We are ranked the best in Customer Satisfaction, Enterprise and Mid-Market.

Benefits of Qapita's stock option software

Design equity for your company and your team

Set up your employee pool and stock plans with Qapita’s stock option management software, built to scale from early-stage grants to complex, multi-jurisdiction rollouts. Our employee stock option software supports custom vesting, grant agreements, transaction workflows, and all major award types: stock options, RSAs, RSUs, and phantom stock.

Built around the participant experience

Configurable dashboards, tax guides across 160+ countries, and employee education sessions in Qapita’s employee stock option software are built to engage your team. Because the success of your stock plan isn’t about the admin, it’s about helping your employees understand, value, and trust their equity.

Compliance that doesn’t get in the way

Stay ahead of your financial reporting and regulatory filing obligations. From ASC 718 expense reports to 83(b) elections and ISO 100k checks - Qapita keeps you compliant at every step. Generate reports in a few clicks and meet every deadline.

Stock options management key features

Plan Design & Setup

Start strong with stock plans that scale

Create your option pool and roll out stock plans faster with our employee stock option software. From day one, configure ISOs, NSOs, RSAs, RSUs, PSUs, and phantom shares with jurisdictional controls, rule definitions, and flexible vesting logic, plus support for cash instruments. Whether drafted by your lawyers, advisors, or Qapita’s equity compensation consultants, our stock plan administration software adapts to your process. You get a platform and a partner – to build it right the first time.

Grant Issuance & Approval Workflows

Issue grants with confidence and control

Qapita stock option software simplifies and streamlines the full grant issuance process: custom‑branded agreements, automated approval flows, grant templates, maker‑checker roles, board consents, and e‑signatures in a secure, auditable workflow. Support for international employees is built in, so you can issue compliant grants across borders with no additional tools. Every step is streamlined, controlled, and globally scalable.

Employee Experience & Education

Create the ownership culture

Make equity understandable for your employees with Qapita’s stock option software. Customizable dashboards let you communicate equity in your company’s voice - tailored to reflect your values, your language, and your goals. Share real-time valuations, milestone updates, and personalized views that show how equity grows with the company. Combine that with education sessions, local tax guides, and clear documentation to turn equity into a source of motivation, not confusion. Integrated stock option tracking software keeps every figure current.

Transaction & Exercise Worfklows

From promise to payout, empower every step

Pair Qapita’s stock option tracking software with action-ready workflows so employees can exercise options, submit 83(b) elections, and complete sell-to-cover in one place all while being secure and compliant. Admins can configure eligibility rules, blackout periods, approval flows, and exercise windows – ensuring that every transaction aligns with governance. Employee level tax rates, withholding calculations, payroll reporting, and supporting documentation are built-in, making equity real, trackable, and executable across every touchpoint.

Advanced Configuration for Global Scale

Equity infrastructure that grows with you

Qapita supports full flexibility – across instruments, plans, geographies, and roles. Run performance-based or milestone-triggered vesting, manage equity and cash-settled plans side by side, and integrate with HRIS, payroll for tax withholding calculations and mobility tracking. Dashboards aren’t one-size-fits-all either. Qapita lets you shape the employee experience to match your stage and equity philosophy – highlighting what matters most at each point in your journey. These design choices are shaped by decades of experience working with equity plans across regions and growth phases.

Software Built by Equity Experts

Decades of knowledge embedded in every workflow

Qapita is more than just a tool – it's built by a team that has designed over 1,000 equity incentive plans across regions and regulatory frameworks. Our expertise is embedded in every workflow, supporting HR, finance, and legal teams through plan administration, expense accounting, and audit prep. And platform access isn’t one-size-fits-all. Qapita lets you define secure, role-based permissions – by function, region, or business logic – so each stakeholder sees exactly what they need. When you use Qapita, you're not just using a flexible and secure platform – you're partnering with equity specialists who’ve seen it all and baked it into the product.

Testimonials

Words from our valued customers

Employee Dashboard is Amazing and Precise

Employee Dashboard provides a clear, concise view of both my vested and unvested awards, offering a summary of my equity awards and the current value. This feature keeps me well-informed about my stock options, making it effortless to track and understand my equity holdings. This gives me transparency and helps me make informed decisions.

Aparna S.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

Amazing Customer support

Ease of maintenance of captable + employee stock options. Amazing Customer support, Ease of use, Features, Integration, Audit proof.

Malay S.

Sr. Manager - HRBP COE

One of the best Employee Stock Options management partner

One of the best Employee Stock Options management partner. Quick Customer Support, ease of operations, user friendly application, very easy to implement, also integration is very easy

Anonymous

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

The Ultimate Equity Management Platform

User Friendly. comprehensive solution for equity. They have transformed our equity management process, making it more engaging and accessible for employees.

Bipinchandra J.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

Making CapTable and Stock Options Management easy!

User interface. Various reports. Easy to manage, Change in capital during a month if updated post a month gets updated prospectively and not from the date when it is effected.

Anonymous

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

Qapita as a platform is very intuitive and user friendly tool.

The team is very supportive in providing all the required support at any point of time. The data is managed properly and have a very clear distinction to manage different stock options. Qapita as a platform is very intuitive and user friendly tool. Help in managing the entire stock options and the grants with vesting and exercising as well. reports are clear and easy to access.

Anonymous

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

Value Added:
There are many ESOP consultants and software providers, but only Qapita has a turn key solution that supports the end-to-end ESOP journey. It helped us save time, making the entire process efficient.
‍
Pain Points Addressed:
‍We got a top-notch advisory from the region's most tenured ESOP consultants and software support. It would have been painful to do the entire process offline and work with different partners for advisory and software." Real-time Support: "Qapita team diligently hand-held us throughout the implementation process and were highly responsive. The team showed a very high level of ownership throughout the rollout process.

Satya Sharma

Co-Founder & CHRO, To The New

Qapita helps Locad/Logistech digitally manage Cap Tables and ESOP programs. We are looking at Qapita Marketplace for solutions for Shareholder and Employee liquidity. Now, we are able to manage all our stake holders easily. In Qapita we grant ESOPs easily and digitally, and it was a great addition to our compensation package.

Cheryl S

Manager - People, Locad

Great implementation team that was super helpful in kicking off our ESOP programme which included initial set up of workflow, migration of data, as well as hosting an employee townhall on our behalf.

Brandon Lee

Director of People, Mighty Jaxx

Seamless experience and user friendly platform.

Comprehensive features and customization. Other than the platform, the onboarding staff and account manager is really nice and friendly!

Jeroldine Lim

Group Senior Legal and IP Specialist

Employee Stock Option Plan Management via Qapita

Qapita’s customer support has been incredibly helpful, always responsive and solution-oriented, even during late hours. our customer success manager flags potential risks we should be aware of. The platform itself is intuitive and easy to navigate, with clear online instructions that make it easy to use even for first-time users.

Jinjin Z

Associate Manager,
Performance and Rewards

Ease of Use, Support & Responsiveness, Features & Value, Business Impact & Overall Satisfaction

Qapita has been an excellent partner in managing our ESOPs and equity-related processes. The platform is simple to use, transparent, and ensures compliance with ease. What really stands out is their support team, they are proactive, responsive, and always ready to guide us. With Qapita, we’ve been able to streamline employee communication on ESOPs and reduce manual errors significantly. I would highly recommend Qapita to any startup or growth-stage company looking for a reliable equity management solution.

Margaret Ignatius

Director - Human Resource

Exceptional service

"Really quick response and support from the team. ESOP communication to employees and transparency"

Alexandra Zhang

CEO & Cofounder, G2 - Factorem

"Very easy UI/UX to manage, review and communicate for both theissuing and managing party as well as the employee receiving andreviewing their ESOP issuances."

Frederik Krass

Co-Founder & COO, Zenyum

Qapita: Simplicity in ESOP management

Qapita has an intuitive user interface which makes it really easy for admin of the company's ESOP scheme. Not only that, the ESOP holder also gets access to allow them to view their holdings, vesting profile and value of company options.

The support team at Qapita is also very responsive.

Geoff Logan

CFO, G2 - BondbloX

Presence

Helping you elevate your equity management

Private Companies

2,400+

Equity Under Management

US $55B+

Equity Plans Designed

1,400+

Stakeholders

500,000+

Companies Served

2400+

Countries Covered

60+

Stakeholders on Platform

500,000+

Equity Plans Designed

1000+

Valuation Reports per Year

500+

Qapita works with companies across the globe from Seed Stage to Listing and Beyond

Equity your team can actually understand!

Simplify complex equity into clear, actionable insights for every employee.

Get a Demo

See Pricing

Stock Plan Management 101

What is stock options management?

Stock options management (also called stock option administration or employee stock option management) covers the operational work required to run equity awards correctly across the full lifecycle. In practice, this means keeping a reliable record of grants, vesting schedules, exercises, and approvals so both the company and employees can clearly understand what’s issued, what’s vested, and what actions are available.

What it includes:

Stock plan administration: Setting up plan rules, option pools, grant terms, and vesting structures.

Stock option tracking: Monitoring vested vs unvested options, exercise windows, and changes like refresh grants or offboarding updates.

Grant issuance & governance: Managing approvals, documentation, and auditable workflows around creating and issuing grants.

Employee experience: Giving employees a clear view of their options and what they’re worth, plus education to reduce confusion.

Compliance & reporting: Supporting the operational inputs needed for obligations like stock-based compensation reporting and related filings/workflows.

Why use stock option management software?

Stock option management software helps companies run employee stock options accurately as they scale by replacing ad-hoc spreadsheets with a consistent way to administer grants, vesting, exercises, and reporting. It also makes stock option tracking and stock plan administration easier to run across teams, entities, and countries while giving employees clearer, self-serve visibility into their grants and vesting.

Key benefits:

Reduce manual errors by standardizing grant issuance, approvals, and audit trails across your stock options management process.

Automate vesting schedules and support more complex setups like performance or milestone-triggered vesting.

Streamline exercises and other employee actions with controlled workflows (e.g., windows, approvals, blackout periods).

Stay on top of compliance and finance needs with support for ASC 718 expense reporting, 83(b) election workflows, and ISO 100k checks.

Support global equity plans with tools designed for multi-country equity administration, tax guides, and payroll integration for withholding and reporting.

Common types of stock plans and awards

Equity (and equity-like) awards generally fall into three buckets: stock options, full-value awards (like RSAs/RSUs/PSUs), and value-linked awards (like SARs and phantom stock), sometimes with cash settlement.

Stock options (ISOs and NSOs)

Stock options give an employee the right (not the obligation) to buy company shares later at a fixed “exercise/strike” price, usually after the options vest. ISOs (incentive stock options) and NSOs (non-qualified stock options) are two common option types, and they often differ in eligibility rules and tax treatment depending on jurisdiction.

Key considerations typically include vesting schedule design (cliff vs graded), exercise windows (especially post-termination), and the administrative complexity of tracking vesting, exercises, cancellations, and expiries.

RSAs and RSUs (full-value awards)

Restricted Stock Awards (RSAs) generally involve granting actual shares that are subject to vesting-based restrictions, while Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) are typically a promise to deliver shares (or cash equivalent) once vesting conditions are met. Compared to options, RSAs/RSUs are often described as “full-value” awards because they can retain value even if the share price doesn’t rise above a strike price.

Common considerations include vesting triggers (time-based vs milestone/performance), settlement mechanics (share issuance vs cash), and the need for clear employee communication about what is earned at each vesting event.

PSUs (performance stock units)

Performance Stock Units (PSUs) are awards where vesting depends on meeting specific performance goals, milestones, or business outcomes (sometimes alongside time-based vesting). Companies often use PSUs when they want a stronger pay-for-performance link than standard time-vested equity provides.

Key considerations include defining measurable metrics, handling partial achievement, documenting governance/approvals, and communicating outcomes so employees understand what drives payout.

SARs, phantom stock, and cash-settled awards

Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) provide value based on the increase in share price over time, usually without requiring the employee to pay an exercise price like a traditional option.

Phantom stock (phantom shares) is an equity-like benefit that mirrors share value but is typically paid in cash (or sometimes shares) based on a future event or vesting schedule.

Cash-settled awards are often used when a company wants equity-style incentives without issuing shares, but they can increase the importance of well-defined payout formulas, vesting rules, and clear settlement timing.

Benefits of stock options

Here are some advantages offered by stock options for employees as well as employers

For employees

Ownership participation: Stock options give employees a chance to benefit directly if the company’s value grows over time, rather than only through salary and bonuses. This can make people feel more invested in long‑term decisions and outcomes.

Upside potential with limited upfront cost: Employees do not pay anything at grant; they only pay the strike price if they choose to exercise after vesting, which can offer meaningful upside if the share price increases.

Alignment with company success: Because the value of options is tied to the company’s equity value, employees are naturally rewarded for helping the business hit milestones such as revenue growth, profitability, or a successful exit event.

Retention and career growth: Multi‑year vesting schedules mean employees earn more of their option grant by staying longer, which can pair well with career development, promotions, and refresh grants.

Portfolio diversification of rewards: For many professionals, options sit alongside salary, bonus, and benefits, creating a more diversified compensation mix where part of the potential reward is performance‑linked.

For employers

Attracting talent in competitive markets: Startups and growth companies often use employee stock options (ESOs) to compete with larger employers that can pay higher cash salaries, especially for senior or hard‑to‑hire roles.

Aligning incentives with long‑term value: Because options become valuable when the company’s equity value rises, they encourage decisions that support sustainable growth, profitability, and eventual liquidity events such as IPOs or acquisitions.

Supporting retention and reducing turnover: Time‑based vesting and post‑vesting value potential give employees a reason to stay through key stages: product launches, fundraising rounds, or scaling phases, rather than leaving early.

Preserving cash in early stages: Granting stock options instead of equivalent cash compensation helps companies conserve cash for operations, product development, and go‑to‑market while still offering a compelling total rewards package.

Flexible plan design: Employers can tailor vesting schedules, performance conditions, cliffs, and exercise windows to fit their stage, hiring strategy, and governance preferences, and can combine options with RSUs, RSAs, PSUs, SARs, or phantom stock in a single equity plan.

Stock plan management software built for people, not just processes

Recognized as a Global Leader on G2

Benefits of Qapita's stock option software

Design equity for your company and your team

Built around the participant experience

Compliance that doesn’t get in the way

Stock options management key features

Start strong with stock plans that scale

Issue grants with confidence and control

Create the ownership culture

From promise to payout, empower every step

Equity infrastructure that grows with you

Decades of knowledge embedded in every workflow

Words from our valued customers

Helping you elevate your equity management

Equity your team can actually understand!

From granting to exercising, make every step seamless

409A Valuations

Cap Table Management

Equity Compensation Advisory

Stay ahead of the curve

Frequently asked questions

How does Qapita simplify Stock Plan Management for growing companies?

What kind of equity plans can Qapita support?

Will employees be able to understand their equity better with Qapita?

Can Qapita handle equity changes like exits or refresh grants?

Is Qapita compliant with U.S. tax and legal standards like 409A?

What is stock options management?​

What it includes:​​

Why use stock option management software?​

Key benefits:​

Common types of stock plans and awards​

Stock options (ISOs and NSOs)​

RSAs and RSUs (full-value awards)​

PSUs (performance stock units)​

SARs, phantom stock, and cash-settled awards

How do stock options work​

Grant (option grant issuance)

Vesting (vesting schedule & cliff)

Exercise (buying shares)​

Sale / liquidity (secondary, tender offer, IPO)

Benefits of stock options​

For employees

For employers​

Engage Your Team with Smarter Stock Option Management

What is stock options management?

What it includes:

Why use stock option management software?

Key benefits:

Common types of stock plans and awards

Stock options (ISOs and NSOs)

RSAs and RSUs (full-value awards)

PSUs (performance stock units)

How do stock options work

Exercise (buying shares)

Benefits of stock options

For employers