CaptivateIQ vs Carvd: Commission Software Compared (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of CaptivateIQ and Carvd for sales commission management. Compare pricing, features, implementation time, and which tool fits your team size.
Quick Verdict
CaptivateIQ is a full-suite incentive compensation platform that combines commission automation, sales planning, territory management, and ML-powered forecasting. It is built for mid-market to enterprise organizations with complex compensation structures and the budget to match. Carvd is the better fit for growing teams that need flat, tiered, or per-product commission tracking with setup in under an hour and a 14-day free trial. For a 20-rep team, Carvd costs $1,188/year compared to an estimated $13,200+/year on CaptivateIQ.
At a glance
| Feature | CaptivateIQ | Carvd |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Custom quote (~$660/seat/year per Vendr data) | $49/mo (Starter) to $199/mo (Scale) — flat-rate, no per-seat fees |
| Cost for 20 reps (annual) | ~$13,200/year (estimate based on $660/seat) | $1,188/year (Growth plan) |
| Pricing transparency | Requires sales call for custom quote | Published on website, self-serve signup |
| Free tier | No | 14-day free trial on all plans |
| Implementation time | 8-12 weeks typical | Under 1 hour |
| Sales planning and territory management | Yes (CaptivateIQ Planning module) | Not currently available |
| ML-powered forecasting | Yes (Catalyst — account scoring, attainment forecasting) | Not currently available |
| Commission plan complexity | Advanced — tiers, accelerators, bonuses, SPIFs, draws, eligibility rules | Standard — flat, tiered, and per-product plans |
| Flat-rate commission plans | Yes | Yes |
| Tiered commission plans | Yes | Yes |
| Rep self-serve portal | Yes | Yes |
| Dispute workflow | Available | Yes, with categorized disputes and audit trail (Pro) |
| Payroll export | Yes | Yes (CSV export) |
| Best for | Mid-market to enterprise with complex plans and planning needs | Growing teams wanting flat-rate pricing and fast setup |
What is CaptivateIQ?
CaptivateIQ is a mid-market to enterprise incentive compensation management platform founded in 2017 (Y Combinator W18). It combines commission calculation, sales planning, territory management, and quota setting in a single AI-infused workspace. Over 800 companies use CaptivateIQ, including Forbes Cloud 100 clients.
CaptivateIQ does not publish fixed pricing. Based on third-party procurement data (Vendr, as of March 2026), seat-based pricing starts at approximately $660/seat/year, with typical annual costs ranging from $20,000 to $120,000+ depending on team size and modules selected. Implementation typically takes 8-12 weeks for mid-market teams. The platform includes CaptivateIQ Incentives for commission automation, CaptivateIQ Planning for capacity and territory management, and CaptivateIQ Catalyst for ML-powered forecasting. It holds a 4.8/5 rating on Capterra based on 840+ reviews (as of March 2026).
What is Carvd?
Carvd is a modern commission management platform for growing sales teams. Import your deals from HubSpot, Pipedrive, or CSV, set up comp plans with flat, tiered, or per-product rates, and let Carvd calculate every payout automatically. Reps get a self-serve portal to track earnings in real time, and managers get a dashboard to review, approve, and export payroll-ready reports.
Pricing
| Detail | CaptivateIQ | Carvd |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | $20,000-$120,000+/year depending on team size and modules | Free / $49/mo |
| Custom Quote | ~$660 (/seat/year (third-party estimate via Vendr)) | Free – $49/mo |
| Add-Ons | Varies | Free – $49/mo |
| Cost after 1 year | $20,000-$120,000+/year depending on team size and modules | $0 – $588 |
| Cost after 3 years | $20,000-$120,000+/year depending on team size and modules | $0 – $1,764 |
| Implementation | Varies | None — self-serve CSV upload |
Which to choose
Frequently Asked Questions
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