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Adobe Document Generation API vs Carbone

Adobe Document Generation API

developer.adobe.com

Carbone

carbone.io

Side by side

FigureAdobe Document Generation APICarbone
Price fromFreeFree
Free planYesYes
Free trial—Yes
Open source—Yes
WebYesYes
Windows—Yes
macOS—Yes
Linux—Yes
API—Yes
Self-hosted—Yes
Plans published218
Spec score · Document Generation Software7.1 (#22)9.4 (#1)
Spec score · PDF Creation Software7.1 (#34)9.4 (#1)
Spec score · Mail Merge Software7.1 (#24)9.4 (#1)
Founded19822013
HeadquartersSan Jose, California, United StatesBellevigny, France

Plans

Adobe Document Generation API

  • Free TierFree
  • Paid PlansPriced on request

Adobe Document Generation API pricing →

Carbone

  • Cloud FreeFree
  • FreeFree
  • On-Premise CommunityFree
  • On-Premise FreeFree
  • Amazon Web Services$0.15, paid once
  • Cloud Essential$29 a month
  • Essential€29 a month
  • Cloud Essential Plus$95 a month
  • Essential Plus€95 a month
  • Advanced€159 a month

Carbone pricing →

In their own words

Adobe Document Generation API

Adobe Document Generation API has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.

Visit developer.adobe.com

Carbone

Carbone merges JSON data into document templates to generate files such as PDF, DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX. Templates can use formats including DOCX, ODT, ODS, XLSX, XML, Markdown, and HTML. Its conversion API handles more than 100 formats and supports LibreOffice, OnlyOffice, and Chromium. API access and bulk generation are listed, with Cloud, On-Premise, Private Cloud, and AWS deployment options. The pricing page lists free Cloud and On-Premise plans, plus a free 30-day trial for self-hosted On-Premise use. Cloud Essential costs $29.00 per month; documents are counted for each 1 MB of injected JSON and images, and additional documents beyond a plan allowance are invoiced separately. Carbone says Cloud stores templates for reuse but does not retain submitted JSON or generated documents beyond what rendering and delivery require. It says it has no access to customer templates, data, or generated documents in on-premise deployments. The service also offers an MCP server and an open-source Carbone Skill for connecting AI assistants and generating templates. Its listed platform options include API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows.

Visit carbone.io