Gust Review 2026

Gust's feature set spans three tiers. On the Start plan ($450/year), you get Delaware C-Corp incorporation, post-incorporation setup (bylaws, EIN), founder stock issuance with the 83(b) election filed automatically, a digital cap table, a business banking connection through Brex, and a registered agent in Delaware.

Upgrade to Accelerate ($1,250/year) and you unlock Founder IP Assignment agreements, unlimited NDAs, contractor agreements, and advisor agreements. This tier also adds cap table modeling, the ability to issue SAFEs and convertible notes digitally, access to Gust's Startup Legal Network, and dedicated support.

The top Raise plan ($3,500/year) is where stock option functionality lives. It includes your option plan creation, a 409A valuation performed by Gust's in-house analysts, option issuance, and option exercise workflows. Gust says its 409A valuations are audit-defensible and delivered next-day.

Across all plans, Gust automatically organizes executed contracts and provides educational content, compliance reminders, and access to partner discounts from service providers. The platform also includes a Corporate Diligence Review tool that flags structural red flags before fundraising.

We found the incorporation workflow straightforward. Gust guides you through each field with tooltips and FAQ links. You cannot bring an existing entity onto Gust Launch. You must incorporate through the platform, because its standardized workflows depend on a specific corporate structure from day one.

Delaware filing typically completes in 2 to 3 business days. If you do not have a Social Security number, the EIN process takes longer. After incorporation, Gust handles post-incorporation setup including bylaws, board resolutions, and initial stock issuance.

The major limitation: Gust only forms Delaware C-Corps. No LLCs. No S-Corps. No other state filings. If you need to register in your home state for foreign qualification, Gust notes that additional state fees apply but does not handle those filings directly.

The Start plan includes a Delaware registered agent, and the $450/year renewal fee covers maintaining that agent plus platform access. This is competitive with standalone registered agent services that typically charge $100 to $300/year, though you are paying for the platform bundle rather than just the agent.

There are no separate registered agent add-on fees within Gust. But because Gust locks you into an annual subscription, you cannot easily switch to a cheaper standalone agent without leaving the platform entirely.

Gust requires a US-based mailing address (no P.O. boxes). The platform stores your corporate documents, cap table data, and executed agreements. We did not find evidence of aggressive data brokering or selling user data to third parties. Standard financial platform practices apply. Your company profile data can be shared with investor groups if you opt in through Gust's matching features.

Gust's pricing page is clear about what each tier includes, but the platform heavily incentivizes upgrades by gating essential fundraising features. You cannot model a cap table scenario, issue a SAFE, or generate a convertible note on the $450 Start plan. Those require the $1,250 Accelerate tier.

The jump to $3,500/year for the Raise plan is significant. A 409A valuation alone from a third-party provider typically costs $1,000 to $5,000, so bundling it with option plan tools is not unreasonable in isolation. But paying $3,500/year as a recurring subscription for what many startups need only once or twice a year feels steep.

Foreign qualification fees in your home state are disclosed but not quantified on the pricing page. Delaware annual franchise taxes (minimum $400/year) and the state's annual report fee ($50) are also your responsibility outside of Gust's subscription.

Gust offers email and phone support. The Accelerate and Raise plans include dedicated support. On the Start plan, support is more general. Users on G2 report that the team is responsive when questions arise during incorporation. One independent review noted that support was less knowledgeable on complex legal matters, which is expected from a software platform rather than a law firm.

Gust also provides a knowledge base, FAQs, and educational webinars. Its Startup Legal Network connects founders to vetted law firms, but legal consultations cost extra.

Gust has limited third-party review coverage. There is no Trustpilot profile, and the BBB gives Gust LLC an A+ rating, though the company is not BBB accredited. We found zero CFPB complaints on file.

On G2, users describe the platform as a straightforward way to handle incorporation and basic equity without hiring a lawyer. One user noted that Gust helped them avoid costly legal fees for equity management. Community sentiment on Reddit is mixed: founders appreciate the speed and investor network access, but experienced founders warn that the rigid structure and annual fees become frustrating as legal needs grow more complex.

The most common complaints we found across review sources: Gust only supports Delaware C-Corps with no LLC option, annual fees feel high for basic post-incorporation maintenance, and standardized documents lack flexibility for custom equity structures.

Gust fits three founder profiles well. First, first-time tech founders who need guided incorporation as a Delaware C-Corp without hiring a startup lawyer upfront. The platform walks you through every step and automates the 83(b) election, which is a detail many new founders miss.

Second, startups seeking angel investment. Gust's ecosystem connects you to over 800,000 founders and 85,000 investment professionals. If you are actively looking for angel groups or accelerators, the network access has real value.

Third, founders who want standard legal agreements generated quickly. NDAs, advisor agreements, and contractor agreements are templated and can be executed in a few clicks on the Accelerate plan.

Avoid Gust if you want to form an LLC, incorporate outside Delaware, need highly customized legal documents, or want to avoid recurring annual software fees for what is fundamentally a one-time filing process.

Carta is the standard for more mature cap table and equity management, but it uses custom pricing that typically exceeds Gust's rates for early-stage companies. If you expect to grow past a seed round and need 409A valuations, ASC 718 reporting, and multi-round modeling, Carta scales better.

Clerky charges roughly $800 as a one-time bundle for incorporation and post-incorporation documents. There is no recurring subscription, which makes it significantly cheaper long-term. Clerky also allows lawyers to review and edit documents within the platform. The trade-off: Clerky does not offer cap table software or investor network access.

SeedLegals starts at $49/month (about $588/year) and is strongest for funding rounds and EMI option schemes. It is more popular with UK-based startups. For US-only Delaware C-Corp needs, Gust or Clerky are more appropriate.

Stripe Atlas is another competitor at $500 one-time. It includes C-Corp formation, a bank account, and basic post-incorporation support, but does not offer the depth of equity management tools that Gust provides.