Every few months a post goes viral claiming Estonia's e-residency is the first real European alternative to Delaware. It is a great story. Here is the honest version, and a tool to find where you should actually incorporate.
The claim being audited
"Estonia's e-residency is the first real European alternative to Delaware. Form a company in minutes, 0% tax, and it is where the unicorns are built."
A recurring linkedin / x framing. Paraphrased, because it shows up in a dozen versions. We checked every load-bearing part of it.
§ the honest read
§ where should you incorporate
The decision tool
The useful half. Answer up to four questions and get the honest pick for your situation, caveats included. Formation is the commodity everywhere, so the real question is what you are optimising for.
§ the comparison
Six jurisdictions, side by side
Delaware is the benchmark, not a European option. Tap any row for the full detail and sources.
jurisdiction
corporate tax
legal system
remote setup
vc familiarity
well sourced confirm live figure estimate / reasoning
Confidence dots reflect how firm each figure is. Tax rates and state fees move; treat the dotted cells as directional and check the primary source before you rely on a number.
§ references
Sources
Every figure is numbered to its source. Tap a number in the piece to jump here.
23House of commons library company registration briefing (cbp-10015)
24Gov.uk companies house
how current is this. figures were gathered mid 2026 from primary and near-primary sources (national tax boards, e-resident.gov.ee, pwc tax summaries, companies registries). tax rates, filing fees and id-verification rules change often. before you act, confirm the specific number you care about against the linked source. this is an editorial comparison, not legal or tax advice; for your own situation, talk to an advisor.