Formstack Documents vs PlainMerge

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.

PlainMerge creates batches of personalized PDFs by combining a PDF template with rows from an Excel spreadsheet. Users can drag spreadsheet headers into positions on a template or match them to native PDF form fields. The app supports native forms, custom fonts, multi-page PDFs, and QR code rendering, and accepts.xlsx,.xls, and.ods files. Outputs can be personalized PDFs, emails with PDF attachments, or both. Its desktop app works offline on macOS, Windows, and Linux. The maker also links to Mergram, a browser-based PDF merging service that requires no installation. PlainMerge is described as open source, and its GitHub repository displays an AGPL-3.0 license. The PlainMerge plan costs $59 as a one-time purchase as a one-time fee. There is no free plan, though the maker offers a trial version for personal use without stating its duration. Support is available by email and GitHub Discussions. The privacy policy says personal information is collected when provided through support email and may be retained indefinitely, including in backups; the product page says purchases are not refundable.