Formstack Documents vs PDFMonkey
Formstack Documents
formstack.com
PDFMonkey
pdfmonkey.ioSide by side
| Figure | Formstack Documents | PDFMonkey |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $31.99/mo | €5/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 10 | 12 |
| Spec score · PDF Creation Software | 8.1 (#11) | 8.4 (#7) |
| Spec score · HTML to PDF APIs | 8.1 (#12) | 8.5 (#3) |
| Spec score · Mail Merge Software | 8.1 (#9) | 8.5 (#6) |
| Spec score · Document Generation Software | 8.1 (#13) | 8.5 (#7) |
| Spec score · Document Template Management Software | 8.0 (#12) | 8.4 (#9) |
| Spec score · Docs Automation | 7.9 (#15) | 8.5 (#5) |
| API | The Documents API is an open REST API for generating custom documents with application data. | The REST API uses Bearer authentication and exposes CRUD operations for documents and templates, with examples in curl, Ruby, Node.js, Python, and PHP. |
| Compliance | The maker states that Formstack Documents is HIPAA compliant and runs on Amazon AWS data centers meeting HIPAA and GDPR security requirements. | PDFMonkey says it is GDPR-aligned and offers DPA documents, but has no SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification. |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Integrations | Formstack connects its products to more than 250 software tools, including Salesforce, Amazon S3, HubSpot, Airtable, and Microsoft. | Official integrations and connectors include Zapier, Make, n8n, Workato, Bubble, Glide and InvoiceBerry. |
| 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 | Browser-based PDF template editor · JSON data merge into templates · REST API for document generation · Bulk document generation from datasets · Reusable templates with versioning · Downloadable generated PDF files |
| Security | Formstack Documents uses SSL, encryption, firewall protection, secure downloads, and document encryption; no merged data is stored. | PDFMonkey states that connections use HTTPS/TLS, payload data is encrypted at rest, generated files are private S3 objects, and download URLs expire after one hour. |
| 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. | Support is provided through in-app chat and [email protected], with typical replies within a few hours during Central European business hours. |
| Support | docs, ticket | docs |
| What it does | Formstack Documents is a no-code document generation tool that automates the document lifecycle and turns raw data into professional, dynamic documents. | PDFMonkey turns JSON data and reusable templates into PDF or image documents through a web dashboard, REST API, or no-code integrations. |
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
PDFMonkey
- 30-day TrialFree
- 30-day TrialFree
- FreeFree
- FreeFree
- Starter€5 a month
- Starter€5 a month
- Pro€15 a month
- Pro€15 a month
- Pro+€60 a month
- Pro+€60 a month
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.
PDFMonkey
PDFMonkey is a cloud document-generation API that turns templates and dynamic data into files. Templates can be built in a visual drag-and-drop editor or written in HTML, CSS, and Liquid; JSON data can be sent through the REST API to generate documents. Its Chrome-based renderer supports JavaScript, external fonts, images, charts, and other web technologies. Outputs include PDF, PNG, WebP, and JPG, and bulk generation from datasets is supported. Connectors include Zapier, Make, n8n, Workato, Bubble, Glide, and InvoiceBerry; developer tools include Ruby and Node.js SDKs and webhooks. API traffic uses HTTPS/TLS, dynamic data is stored in encrypted database columns, and generated files are kept in private S3 buckets with one-hour presigned URLs. PDFMonkey states that it has no formal SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification. The free plan allows 20 documents per month with one-day retention and a 30-second generation limit, and excludes external images, fonts, CSS, and JavaScript. Paid plans start at €5/mo.