Carta vs CB Insights: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
Quick Verdict
Choose Carta if you...
are an early-stage founder
Choose CB Insights if you...
prefer a market intelligence platform
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Carta | CB Insights |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Cap Table & Equity | Market Intelligence |
| Starting Price | $84/mo | $9,800/year |
| Enterprise Price | Custom | Custom |
| Free Tier | Yes Basic cap table for <25 stakeholders | Yes Limited research access |
| Data Source | Customer cap table data + 409A valuations | Proprietary AI + public data |
| SEC Verified | No | No |
| Founder Facing | Yes | No |
| Grant Data | No | No |
| Accelerator Data | No | No |
| Warm Intro Paths | No | No |
Carta Strengths
- 1Industry-leading cap table management
- 2409A valuations included
- 3Investor connect marketplace
- 4Equity plan administration
CB Insights Strengths
- 1AI-powered trend analysis
- 2Industry research reports
- 3Company comparison tools
- 4Emerging technology tracking
Carta Weaknesses
- Investor database is a secondary feature
- Limited to Carta ecosystem investors
- No comprehensive VC fund directory
- No grant or accelerator data
CB Insights Weaknesses
- Enterprise pricing out of reach for startups
- Focused on corporate strategy teams
- Limited individual investor profiles
- No direct founder-to-investor tools
Explore Individual Alternatives
Consider Free Startup Funding — Built for Founders
The free, SEC-verified startup funding database. Unlike Carta and CB Insights, it is designed specifically to help founders find funding — not to serve investors or corporate strategy teams.
- SEC-verified VC data from Form D filings
- Federal grant database from Grants.gov
- Accelerator and angel network directory
- Free tier with 10 contact reveals per month
- Built specifically for founders, not investors
?Carta vs CB Insights: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carta or CB Insights better for early-stage founders?
Carta is more founder-facing. Carta targets founders directly, while CB Insights is primarily designed for institutional users. For founders who also need grants and accelerators, Free Startup Funding covers all three funding types at no cost.
How do Carta and CB Insights compare on pricing?
Carta starts at $84/mo with a free tier (Basic cap table for <25 stakeholders). CB Insights starts at $9,800/year and offers a free tier (Limited research access). Enterprise pricing for Carta is Custom vs Custom for CB Insights.
Does Carta or CB Insights use SEC-verified data?
Neither platform sources data directly from SEC Form D filings. Carta relies on customer cap table data + 409a valuations. CB Insights relies on proprietary ai + public data. Free Startup Funding verifies all VC data against SEC EDGAR Form D filings.
Which platform includes grant data — Carta or CB Insights?
Neither Carta nor CB Insights includes grant or non-dilutive funding data. If federal and state grants are important to your funding strategy, Free Startup Funding provides a comprehensive Grants.gov-sourced grant database at no additional cost.
What is the main difference between Carta and CB Insights?
Carta is a cap table & equity platform (cap table management and 409a valuations), whereas CB Insights is a market intelligence tool (technology market intelligence platform). Their data sources also differ: Carta uses customer cap table data + 409a valuations, while CB Insights relies on proprietary ai + public data.