Anvil PDF Generation API vs Formstack Documents
Anvil PDF Generation API
useanvil.com
Formstack Documents
formstack.comSide by side
| Figure | Anvil PDF Generation API | Formstack Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $99/mo | $31.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 10 |
| Spec score · HTML to PDF APIs | 8.7 (#2) | 8.1 (#12) |
| Spec score · PDF Creation Software | 8.6 (#3) | 8.1 (#11) |
| Spec score · Docs Automation | 8.6 (#4) | 7.9 (#15) |
| Spec score · Document Template Management Software | 8.7 (#5) | 8.0 (#12) |
| Compliance | Anvil states it is SOC 2 Type II, GDPR/DPA, and HIPAA compliant and maintains Business Associate Agreements. | The maker states that Formstack Documents is HIPAA compliant and runs on Amazon AWS data centers meeting HIPAA and GDPR security requirements. |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Integrations | Zapier | Formstack connects its products to more than 250 software tools, including Salesforce, Amazon S3, HubSpot, Airtable, and Microsoft. |
| Key features | Generate PDFs from HTML and CSS · Generate PDFs from Markdown, including tables and images · Set PDF page dimensions and margins · Add page headers, footers, and page numbers · Use custom TTF fonts · Generate dynamic, variable-length documents · Create PDFs with fillable form fields · Fill reusable PDF templates with supplied data | Create templates with a builder or upload existing templates · Populate templates with data from business systems · Use conditional sections to show or hide document content · Generate multiple documents from one data source · Combine files through document routing · Generate documents through a REST API · Use merge fields and modifiers to format populated data · Output builder-created documents as PDF, DOCX, XLSX, HTML, XML, JPG, or text |
| 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. | Formstack Documents uses SSL, encryption, firewall protection, secure downloads, and document encryption; no merged data is stored. |
| Support | Standard support is available by email at [email protected], while the pricing page lists priority support for Enterprise. | Customers can use the support site, 24/7 AI assistant, and live support Monday–Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. |
| Support | docs, ticket | |
| What it does | The API generates PDFs on demand by converting HTML and CSS or Markdown to PDF. | Formstack Documents is a no-code document generation tool that automates the document lifecycle and turns raw data into professional, dynamic documents. |
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
Formstack Documents
- Suite$250 a month
- Salesforce SolutionsPriced on request
- Enterprise SolutionsPriced on request
- Micro$31.99 a month
- Starter$91.66 a month
- Teams$183.33 a month
- Professional$219.99 a month
- Pro$366.66 a month
- Business$439.99 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
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.
Formstack Documents
Formstack Documents is a cloud, no-code document generation service that turns business data into dynamic files. Users can create templates with the AI-powered Document Builder or upload DOCX, PPTX, PDF and CSV templates. Data from CRMs, form builders, databases and other business systems populates those templates. Conditional logic can show or hide sections, while routing can combine files or generate multiple documents from one source. CRM data can produce proposals, contracts, invoices and reports. Bulk generation, data merging and an open REST API support larger workflows. Documents can be sent to Formstack Sign or DocuSign for electronic signatures. Listed protections include SSL, encryption, firewall protection, secure downloads and document encryption; Formstack says merged data is not stored. HIPAA and GDPR compliance are listed. The service runs on the web and through an API, with documentation and ticket support. A free trial is available, but there is no free plan.