Quick Overview
- 1#1: PandaDoc - Automates the creation, approval, and e-signing of proposals, contracts, and other business documents with dynamic content and integrations.
- 2#2: Templafy - Centralizes document templates and automates generation for enterprises with compliance and brand control.
- 3#3: HotDocs - Provides advanced document assembly using interviews and templates to generate personalized legal and business documents.
- 4#4: Conga - Delivers document generation, reporting, and contract management integrated with Salesforce and other CRMs.
- 5#5: Legito - Enables self-service document automation with smart clauses, workflows, and clause libraries for legal teams.
- 6#6: Formstack Documents - Merges data from forms, APIs, or spreadsheets into customizable templates to generate PDFs and docs.
- 7#7: Windward Studios - Powers high-volume document generation from any data source using pixel-perfect templates in Word or Excel.
- 8#8: Coda - Builds interactive, customizable documents combining text, tables, automations, and AI-powered features.
- 9#9: Canva - Designs visually stunning documents, reports, and presentations using drag-and-drop templates and AI tools.
- 10#10: Notion - Creates flexible, interconnected documents, wikis, and databases with AI assistance and templates.
These tools were selected based on functionality (automation, integration, and customization), user experience (intuitive design, support), and long-term value (scalability, cost-effectiveness), ensuring a comprehensive list for both new adopters and seasoned professionals.
Comparison Table
Document builder software streamlines professional document creation, and this comparison table explores top tools like PandaDoc, Templafy, HotDocs, Conga, and Legito, offering insights into their unique strengths. Readers will discover key features, integration options, and user experience to find the ideal solution for their specific needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PandaDoc Automates the creation, approval, and e-signing of proposals, contracts, and other business documents with dynamic content and integrations. | enterprise | 9.4/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 2 | Templafy Centralizes document templates and automates generation for enterprises with compliance and brand control. | enterprise | 9.1/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 3 | HotDocs Provides advanced document assembly using interviews and templates to generate personalized legal and business documents. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 9.3/10 | 7.1/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 4 | Conga Delivers document generation, reporting, and contract management integrated with Salesforce and other CRMs. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.5/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 5 | Legito Enables self-service document automation with smart clauses, workflows, and clause libraries for legal teams. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 6 | Formstack Documents Merges data from forms, APIs, or spreadsheets into customizable templates to generate PDFs and docs. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 7 | Windward Studios Powers high-volume document generation from any data source using pixel-perfect templates in Word or Excel. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 8 | Coda Builds interactive, customizable documents combining text, tables, automations, and AI-powered features. | general_ai | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 9 | Canva Designs visually stunning documents, reports, and presentations using drag-and-drop templates and AI tools. | creative_suite | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 10 | Notion Creates flexible, interconnected documents, wikis, and databases with AI assistance and templates. | general_ai | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 |
Automates the creation, approval, and e-signing of proposals, contracts, and other business documents with dynamic content and integrations.
Centralizes document templates and automates generation for enterprises with compliance and brand control.
Provides advanced document assembly using interviews and templates to generate personalized legal and business documents.
Delivers document generation, reporting, and contract management integrated with Salesforce and other CRMs.
Enables self-service document automation with smart clauses, workflows, and clause libraries for legal teams.
Merges data from forms, APIs, or spreadsheets into customizable templates to generate PDFs and docs.
Powers high-volume document generation from any data source using pixel-perfect templates in Word or Excel.
Builds interactive, customizable documents combining text, tables, automations, and AI-powered features.
Designs visually stunning documents, reports, and presentations using drag-and-drop templates and AI tools.
Creates flexible, interconnected documents, wikis, and databases with AI assistance and templates.
PandaDoc
enterpriseAutomates the creation, approval, and e-signing of proposals, contracts, and other business documents with dynamic content and integrations.
Real-time document analytics that provide pixel-perfect tracking of viewer engagement, page-by-page views, and mobile/desktop interactions
PandaDoc is a comprehensive document automation platform designed for creating, editing, tracking, and e-signing professional business documents like proposals, contracts, quotes, and presentations. It features a drag-and-drop editor, customizable templates, dynamic content blocks, and seamless integrations with CRMs such as Salesforce and HubSpot. The software streamlines sales workflows by enabling real-time analytics, payment collection, and electronic signatures, making it ideal for teams focused on document-heavy processes.
Pros
- Powerful drag-and-drop editor with extensive template library and dynamic fields
- Advanced real-time analytics and recipient tracking for sales insights
- Robust integrations with CRMs, payment processors, and collaboration tools
Cons
- Higher pricing can be steep for small teams or solo users
- Steeper learning curve for advanced automation and custom workflows
- Some advanced features locked behind Enterprise plans
Best For
Sales, marketing, and agency teams in mid-to-large businesses that require professional document creation, tracking, and e-signing to accelerate deal closures.
Pricing
Starts at $19/user/month (Essentials, annual billing), $49/user/month (Business), with custom Enterprise pricing; 14-day free trial available.
Templafy
enterpriseCentralizes document templates and automates generation for enterprises with compliance and brand control.
BrandGuard AI-powered compliance engine that automatically enforces branding rules across all generated documents
Templafy is an enterprise-grade document automation platform that centralizes template management, enabling teams to create, automate, and distribute compliant documents at scale. It integrates with CRM, HR, and other systems to pull data dynamically into templates, supporting complex workflows like proposals, contracts, and reports. The platform emphasizes brand consistency through features like automatic formatting and approval processes, making it ideal for large organizations.
Pros
- Robust template management with version control and approvals
- Seamless integrations with Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and more
- Advanced brand compliance tools like BrandGuard for consistent styling
Cons
- Enterprise pricing can be steep for SMBs
- Initial setup requires IT involvement for complex integrations
- Advanced automation features have a learning curve
Best For
Large enterprises and teams needing scalable, compliant document automation with strong integrations.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing based on users and features; typically starts at $10-20/user/month with annual contracts, minimums apply.
HotDocs
enterpriseProvides advanced document assembly using interviews and templates to generate personalized legal and business documents.
HotDocs Computation language, enabling programming-like logic and advanced calculations directly within templates
HotDocs is a robust document automation platform designed for creating intelligent templates that assemble personalized documents from user inputs via interactive interviews or data integrations. It excels in handling complex logic, computations, and conditional content, making it ideal for high-volume document generation in regulated industries. With support for Word, PDF, and web outputs, it streamlines workflows by automating repetitive tasks and minimizing errors.
Pros
- Advanced computation engine and scripting for intricate document logic
- Sophisticated interview designer for guided data collection
- Enterprise-grade scalability and integrations with CRM/ERP systems
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring developer expertise
- High cost with quote-based enterprise pricing
- Less intuitive for non-technical users compared to no-code alternatives
Best For
Large law firms, financial institutions, and enterprises requiring sophisticated automation for complex, high-volume document assembly.
Pricing
Quote-based enterprise pricing; typically starts at $5,000+ annually for cloud subscriptions, with on-premise options available.
Conga
enterpriseDelivers document generation, reporting, and contract management integrated with Salesforce and other CRMs.
Conga Composer engine for merging data from multiple disparate sources into pixel-perfect, complex documents
Conga Document Builder, part of the Conga Suite, is a powerful document automation platform designed for generating personalized documents like proposals, contracts, and reports from dynamic data sources. It excels in Salesforce-native environments, allowing users to merge data from CRM records, spreadsheets, and external APIs into highly customizable templates using HTML or advanced XSL-FO formatting. The tool supports high-volume generation, e-signatures, and seamless workflow integration for sales, legal, and finance teams.
Pros
- Deep Salesforce integration for seamless data merging
- Advanced templating for complex, multi-page documents
- Scalable enterprise features like versioning and audit trails
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Limited flexibility outside Salesforce ecosystem
- Custom quote-based pricing can be expensive for small teams
Best For
Enterprise Salesforce users needing sophisticated, high-volume document automation for sales contracts and proposals.
Pricing
Quote-based pricing, typically starting at $30-50/user/month for basic document generation, scaling with volume, users, and advanced features like e-sign.
Legito
enterpriseEnables self-service document automation with smart clauses, workflows, and clause libraries for legal teams.
AI Legito Drafting combined with Visual XML Editor for lego-like clause assembly
Legito is a powerful document automation platform tailored for legal, compliance, and business teams, enabling the creation of dynamic templates using a visual XML editor. It features an extensive clause library, AI-assisted drafting, and collaborative workflows to streamline complex document generation. The software integrates with CRMs and offers self-service portals for efficient contract lifecycle management.
Pros
- Advanced clause library with versioning and AI suggestions
- Visual XML template builder for modular document assembly
- Strong security, compliance, and integration capabilities
Cons
- Steeper learning curve for the visual editor
- Enterprise-oriented pricing limits accessibility for small teams
- Less intuitive for non-legal document types
Best For
Legal departments, law firms, and enterprises requiring sophisticated contract automation and clause management.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; typically starts at $500+/month for mid-tier plans with user and feature scaling.
Formstack Documents
specializedMerges data from forms, APIs, or spreadsheets into customizable templates to generate PDFs and docs.
Visual data mapper for effortlessly handling complex, relational data merges into templates
Formstack Documents is a robust document automation tool that allows users to create dynamic templates for generating PDFs, Word documents, Excel sheets, and HTML files from data sources like forms, APIs, or databases. It excels in merging data into professional templates with features like conditional logic, repeating sections, and image handling. The platform integrates deeply with Formstack Forms and over 100 third-party apps via Zapier, enabling seamless workflow automation for sales, HR, and operations teams.
Pros
- Extensive integrations with forms, CRMs, and Zapier for automated workflows
- Supports complex features like conditional logic, loops, and multi-page PDFs
- Reliable API and webhooks for custom developer integrations
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with document volume, limiting small teams
- Template editor has a learning curve for advanced customizations
- No built-in e-signature; requires add-ons or integrations
Best For
Mid-sized businesses and teams needing automated document generation from form data or CRM systems without heavy coding.
Pricing
Starts at $59/month (Scale: 500 docs/mo), $99/month (Business: 2,500 docs/mo), custom Enterprise; annual discounts available.
Windward Studios
specializedPowers high-volume document generation from any data source using pixel-perfect templates in Word or Excel.
Native Microsoft Office template tagging without needing proprietary editors
Windward Studios offers a robust document generation platform that allows users to design templates directly in Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint using simple tags. It connects to diverse data sources like databases, JSON/XML APIs, and spreadsheets to automate the creation of complex, data-driven documents such as reports, invoices, and contracts. The software excels in handling advanced logic, charts, images, and sub-documents, with options for cloud, on-premise, or embedded deployment.
Pros
- Intuitive template design using native MS Office applications
- Powerful data integration from multiple sources with conditional logic and loops
- High scalability for enterprise-volume document generation
Cons
- Learning curve for advanced tagging and logic features
- Enterprise-oriented pricing lacks transparency for smaller users
- Limited free tier beyond the designer tool
Best For
Mid-to-large enterprises requiring scalable, template-based document automation integrated with MS Office workflows.
Pricing
Custom quote-based enterprise licensing starting at several thousand dollars annually; free AutoTag Studio designer tool available.
Coda
general_aiBuilds interactive, customizable documents combining text, tables, automations, and AI-powered features.
Packs system for drag-and-drop integrations that embed live data and actions from 100+ tools directly into docs
Coda is an all-in-one platform that combines documents, spreadsheets, databases, and apps into interactive, customizable workspaces. It enables users to build dynamic docs with tables, buttons, automations, formulas, and integrations via Packs, turning static content into powerful tools. Ideal for teams seeking a flexible alternative to tools like Notion or AI rtable, it supports real-time collaboration and AI-assisted features for enhanced productivity.
Pros
- Highly flexible with powerful building blocks like tables, buttons, and automations
- Extensive Packs ecosystem for seamless integrations
- Real-time collaboration and AI tools for efficient workflows
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced customizations
- Performance can lag in very large or complex docs
- Higher pricing for teams compared to basic doc tools
Best For
Teams and power users building interactive, database-driven documents and lightweight no-code apps.
Pricing
Free plan for individuals; Pro at $10/user/month; Team at $30/user/month (billed annually); Enterprise custom.
Canva
creative_suiteDesigns visually stunning documents, reports, and presentations using drag-and-drop templates and AI tools.
Vast, professionally designed template library with AI-assisted customization for instant professional documents
Canva is a user-friendly online graphic design platform that excels in creating visually rich documents such as resumes, reports, ebooks, presentations, and flyers through its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and vast library of customizable templates. It supports multi-page document building with embedded images, icons, charts, and animations, making it ideal for marketing materials and branded content. While not a traditional word processor, Canva's document tools streamline the creation of professional-looking outputs without requiring design skills.
Pros
- Extensive template library for quick starts
- Drag-and-drop simplicity for beginners
- Rich media integration including AI-powered tools
Cons
- Limited advanced text editing and collaboration depth
- Free version includes watermarks on premium elements
- Export options can be restrictive for complex layouts
Best For
Non-designers, marketers, and small teams creating visually engaging documents like resumes, brochures, and reports quickly.
Pricing
Free plan available; Pro at $12.99/user/month or $119.99/year; Teams at $14.99/user/month (billed annually).
Notion
general_aiCreates flexible, interconnected documents, wikis, and databases with AI assistance and templates.
Synced and relational databases that turn static documents into dynamic, queryable structures
Notion is an all-in-one workspace tool that enables users to build highly customizable documents, pages, and databases using a modular block-based system. It supports rich text, embeds, templates, and interconnected relational databases, making it suitable for creating dynamic wikis, reports, and knowledge bases. While versatile for document building, it shines in collaborative and database-driven content rather than traditional linear word processing.
Pros
- Extremely flexible block-based editor for custom layouts
- Powerful relational databases integrated into documents
- Robust templates and automation for repeatable builds
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced features
- Performance issues with very large pages or databases
- Limited native offline editing and PDF export quality
Best For
Creative teams and knowledge workers needing modular, database-enhanced document building in a collaborative environment.
Pricing
Free for individuals; Plus at $10/user/month; Business at $18/user/month; Enterprise custom.
Conclusion
Across the spectrum of document building solutions, the top tools highlight diverse strengths, with PandaDoc leading as the standout choice—boasting automated creation, approval, and e-signing, paired with dynamic content and integrations. Templafy impresses as a top alternative for enterprises, offering centralized, compliant templates, while HotDocs excels in advanced legal and business document assembly through its interview-driven approach. Together, they redefine efficiency, with the right pick varying by specific needs.
Begin your document workflow with PandaDoc to unlock seamless processes, or explore Templafy or HotDocs if your priorities lie in enterprise control or legal precision—whichever you choose, these tools enhance productivity and accuracy.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
