Anvil PDF Generation API vs Docxtemplater
Anvil PDF Generation API
useanvil.comDocxtemplater
docxtemplater.comSide by side
| Figure | Anvil PDF Generation API | Docxtemplater |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $99/mo | €41.67/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 6 |
| Spec score · Docs Automation | 8.6 (#4) | 9.1 (#3) |
| Spec score · Document Template Management Software | 8.7 (#5) | 9.1 (#2) |
| Deployment | cloud | Docxtemplater supports full on-premise deployment with the APPLIANCE license and is compatible with air-gapped environments. |
| Integrations | Zapier | Code integration is done with JavaScript, and examples are provided for Node.js, browser, React, Angular, Vue and Next.js. |
| Security | Anvil says it encrypts signed documents with a 2048 RSA private key stored in a secure Hardware Security Module, which its developers cannot access. | The library performs no outbound network requests during document generation and processes data locally without transmitting it to third parties. |
| Support | Standard support is available by email at [email protected], while the pricing page lists priority support for Enterprise. | Paid plans include email support, with stated average response times under 48 hours for PRO and under 24 hours for Enterprise. |
| What it does | The API generates PDFs on demand by converting HTML and CSS or Markdown to PDF. | Docxtemplater is a JavaScript library that fills Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OpenDocument templates with JSON or JavaScript data. |
Plans
Anvil PDF Generation API
- FreeFree
- AI Pack$99 a month
- Product Pack$425 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
- PDF fill / generation over API$0.10, paid once
Docxtemplater
- Open sourceFree
- One module€500 a year
- PRO€1,250 a year
- ENTERPRISE€3,000 a year
- Premium€9,000 a year
- Perpetual ENTERPRISE feature set€12,250, paid once
In their own words
Anvil PDF Generation API
Anvil PDF Generation API creates PDFs on demand from HTML and CSS or Markdown. For HTML, it supports full CSS, custom TTF fonts, page dimensions and margins, headers and footers, page numbers, and fillable forms. Markdown conversion applies a default theme, and callers can provide CSS of their own. The API can also generate variable-length documents and merge data into PDFs. Anvil lists SDKs for C#/.NET, JavaScript, Python, and TypeScript; Go, Java, PHP, and Ruby are marked as coming soon. A Zapier integration can automate paperwork workflows, including filling a PDF or starting or pre-filling a Workflow. It is a cloud service with API and web access, email support, and listed SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance. Test mode is free and unlimited on every plan, though test documents are watermarked and use demo signatures. API PDF fill or generation costs $0.10 per use; enabling metered usage with a valid credit card provides 2,500 starter credits. The Free plan is free and UI-only; API key access requires a credit card or upgrade. Custom fonts must be TTF; OTF and WOFF are not supported.
Docxtemplater
Docxtemplater is a JavaScript library that generates Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OpenDocument files by filling templates with JSON data. Users add tags such as {user} to a Word or PowerPoint template, and the engine replaces them with supplied values. The core library is open source under MIT/GPLv3 and includes basic templating; advanced features are available through paid modules sold individually, in a four-module PRO pack, or through ENTERPRISE. The library is tested with active Node.js versions 12 through 24 and common browsers. Its Docker API accepts a template and JSON data over HTTP and produces DOCX, PPTX, or XLSX files. The ENTERPRISE Docker image supports use from several programming languages, while code integration uses JavaScript with examples for common frameworks. Generation runs locally without outbound network requests; on-premise deployment and air-gapped environments are supported with the APPLIANCE license. Developers configure the library, while office users can create templates with their existing document skills. Paid plans start at €500 a year. Rendering DOCX page layout and page breaks is outside its scope.