HR Success Centre
FREE TOOL

Equity Offer Simulator

Compare offers as total compensation — salary plus what equity is really worth — and see the upside if the company grows. Built for recruiters and hiring managers presenting an offer, and for candidates weighing one. Nothing you enter here is saved or sent anywhere; every calculation runs in your browser.

Equity Basics
Current Share Price
$
e.g. last round price
Exercise Price (Strike)
$
price to buy each share
Vesting Period
years
Cliff
years
Spread today: $21.00 per share ($40.00$19.00 strike)
Company Valuation (optional)
$

Only needed to show your ownership stake. Your equity value and growth scenarios work from share price alone.

How total comp is calculated
  • • Option spread = Share Price − Strike
  • • Equity value = Options × spread
  • • Equity / year = Equity value ÷ Vesting years
  • • Total comp / year = Salary + Equity / year

Net uses the spread (what you gain after paying the strike). Grossuses the full share price. "No appreciation" means today's price — before any growth.

Compare Your Offers

Total annual comp assumes no share-price appreciation from today.

Offer
Cash Compensation
$
$
Options
Equity value today (net)$63,000$42,000
Equity / year (÷ 4 yrs)$15,750$10,500
Total Annual Comp
$145,750
$150,500Highest
📈 If the Share Price Grows
ScenarioShare PriceEquity over cashCash over equity
Today$40.00$63,000$42,000
2× today
×
$80.00$183,000$122,000
5× today
×
$200.00$543,000$362,000
10× today
×
$400.00$1,143,000$762,000
🗓 Vesting Timeline

Cumulative equity value (net) vested by the end of each year — 25% cliff at year 1, then monthly to 100% at year 4.

By end ofVestedEquity over cashCash over equity
Year 125%$15,750$10,500
Year 250%$31,500$21,000
Year 375%$47,250$31,500
Year 4100%$63,000$42,000
A note on what this shows. This tool illustrates how stock options work and how their value could change with company growth. It shows option value at each share price and does not account for liquidation preferences, dilution from future funding rounds, taxes, or the exact monthly vesting mechanics — all of which affect what options are actually worth at exit. Because it assumes a flat share count and no liquidation-preference stack, real payout at exit can be meaningfully lower than shown here. This is an educational illustration, not financial or legal advice, and not a guarantee of value.

This simulator is one of a growing set of free tools from HR Success Centre, built to make compensation conversations clearer for both sides of the table.

Explore more free tools →