Formstack Documents vs PDF API
Formstack Documents
formstack.comPDF API
pdfapi.devSide by side
| Figure | Formstack Documents | PDF API |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $31.99/mo | €15/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 10 | 8 |
| Spec score · HTML to PDF APIs | 8.1 (#12) | 8.1 (#14) |
| Compliance | The maker states that Formstack Documents is HIPAA compliant and runs on Amazon AWS data centers meeting HIPAA and GDPR security requirements. | GDPR |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Key features | 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 | HTML and CSS to PDF rendering · Raw HTML or saved-template rendering · JSON data injection with Handlebars-style variables · Configurable page size, orientation, margins, headers, and footers · Temporary, time-limited PDF download URLs · Reusable templates stored in the dashboard · Sandbox mode for testing and CI/CD · Webhooks for PDF generation, deletion, and quota events |
| Support | Customers can use the support site, 24/7 AI assistant, and live support Monday–Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. | Free includes community support, Starter standard email support, Pro priority email support, and Scale premium SLA and onboarding. |
| Support | docs, ticket | email, community, docs |
Plans
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
PDF API
- FreeFree
- Starter€15 a month
- Starter€190 a year
- Pro€82 a month
- Pro€990 a year
- Scale€249 a month
- Scale€2,990 a year
- FreeFree
In their own words
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.
PDF API
PDF API converts HTML templates and JSON data into PDFs through a cloud REST API. Developers can submit raw HTML or reuse dashboard templates with Handlebars-style variables, loops, and conditionals. Page size, orientation, margins, headers, and footers are configurable, while Chromium rendering supports modern CSS including Flexbox, Grid, and custom properties. Listed uses include invoices, receipts, contracts, financial reports, shipping labels, and tickets. The maker says a persistent Chromium pool and Rust backend generate documents in under 300ms. Webhooks report generation, deletion, and approaching quota limits, with authenticity checked through the X-PDF-Signature header. Generated files use temporary URLs and are removed when a URL expires, by default after 24 hours, or when deleted. Sandbox requests do not count toward quota, but sandbox files are watermarked and purged after one hour. The service is EU-hosted and GDPR compliant. Plans include Free at free for 500 PDFs monthly and paid plans from €15/mo.