# 1 Best Open Source Alternative for Carta

Canonical: https://caniforkit.com/carta
Last updated: 2026-11-07

Looking for the best open source alternative for Carta? Compare 1 verified free and open source alternatives to Carta (Malak) with license details, self-hosting requirements, and practical trade-offs.

## Carta Overview & Subscription Cost
- **Product**: Carta
- **Category**: [forms](https://caniforkit.com/category/forms)
- **Paid Subscription Price**: $15/month per seat
- **1-Seat Annualized Cost**: $180/year
- **5-Person Team Annualized Cost**: $900/year
- **10-Person Team Annualized Cost**: $1,800/year
- **Can I Vibe-Code / Rebuild It Myself?**: NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens)
- **Rebuild Verdict**: Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Carta or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 1 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Malak.

## Verified Free & Open Source Alternatives

| Alternative | Type | License | Runs On | GitHub Stars | Head-to-Head |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Malak](https://caniforkit.com/fork/malak) | Open Source | Open Source | Local | ★ 61 | [Compare vs Carta](https://caniforkit.com/vs/carta-vs-malak) |

## In-Depth Alternative Profiles

### Malak
- **Fork Page**: [Malak Profile](https://caniforkit.com/fork/malak)
- **Head-to-Head Comparison**: [Carta vs Malak](https://caniforkit.com/vs/carta-vs-malak)
- **Official Website**: https://malak.vc
- **Source Code Repository**: https://github.com/ayinke-llc/malak
- **License**: Open Source
- **Runs On**: Local
- **GitHub Stars**: 61
- **Maintenance Activity**: nov 2026
- **Supported Platforms**: desktop, cross-platform, one-click install
- **Summary**: Open source platform for managing investor updates, KPIs, fundraising pipeline and data rooms. Keep stakeholders informed and organized.
- **The Catch vs Carta**: Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
- **Installation**: Clone https://github.com/ayinke-llc/malak or deploy with Docker Compose
- **Setup**: Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- **Data Storage**: All application data lives locally on your own machine.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the best free alternative to Carta?
The top free alternative to Carta is Malak (open source, Open Source). Open source platform for managing investor updates, KPIs, fundraising pipeline and data rooms. Keep stakeholders informed and organized.

### How much does switching from Carta to a free alternative save?
Carta starts at $15/month per seat ($180/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Malak saves $900 per year in software subscription fees.

### What is the catch when switching away from Carta?
While Malak replaces core Carta features without subscription fees, the real-world trade-off is: Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.

## Related

- [forms Software Category Hub](https://caniforkit.com/category/forms)
- [All Paid SaaS Alternatives Index](https://caniforkit.com/alternatives)
- [Self-Hosted Software Directory](https://caniforkit.com/self-hosted)
- [Homepage](https://caniforkit.com)