Formstack Documents vs ReportLab
Formstack Documents
formstack.comReportLab
reportlab.comSide by side
| Figure | Formstack Documents | ReportLab |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $31.99/mo | £144/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 10 | 10 |
| Spec score · PDF Creation Software | 8.1 (#11) | 8.1 (#12) |
| Audience | Formstack describes its products as no-code productivity solutions for organizations and teams that automate document generation and data-driven processes. | ReportLab says its document-generation tools serve business and marketing needs and lists financial, digital print, university, travel, and sport sectors. |
| Deployment | cloud | The company says solutions can be deployed in-house or run on its servers using a modular json2pdf approach. |
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
ReportLab
- ReportLab open-sourceFree
- ReportLab PLUS — up to 30,000 pages/month (Non-Financial)£1,728 a year
- ReportLab PLUS — 30k–100k pages/month (Non-Financial)£3,456 a year
- ReportLab PLUS — up to 30,000 pages/month (Financial)£3,456 a year
- ReportLab PLUS — 100k–300k pages/month (Non-Financial)£6,912 a year
- ReportLab PLUS — 30k–100k pages/month (Financial)£6,912 a year
- ReportLab PLUS — 100k–300k pages/month (Financial)£13,824 a year
- ReportLab PLUS — 300k–1 Million pages/month (Non-Financial)£13,824 a year
- ReportLab PLUS — 300k–1 Million pages/month (Financial)£27,648 a year
- ReportLab PLUS — 1 Million+ pages/monthPriced on request
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.
ReportLab
ReportLab Toolkit is a Python library for creating PDF documents and graphics. Its open-source edition is free for commercial use; ReportLab PLUS adds XML markup for template-based PDF production and commercial support. The tools can create charts and diagrams for print or web, and documents can be delivered through print, on-demand web creation, or email. Listed inputs include RML/XML, Python objects and variables, CSV, images, and existing PDFs. DocEngine is a hosted business offering with multiple inputs, validation tools, user access controls, and audit trails. Deployments can run in-house or on ReportLab servers using a modular json2pdf approach. PLUS licences are annual, priced by output-page volume, and intended for server-side use; embedding the software for resale is not permitted under the standard licence. The open-source toolkit is community-supported, while PLUS customers receive support with same-working-day responses during UK working hours. The free toolkit is listed at free. Non-financial PLUS plans include £1,728 a year for up to 30,000 pages per month. Platforms include API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows.