It’s bliss when you find the right software for your business needs. But what if your current solution isn't quite hitting the mark? If you're a Plumsail Documents user feeling constrained by its features, pricing, or usability – or if you've checked out Plumsail and found that it doesn't quite align with your requirements – then this blog is for you.

Since 2011, Plumsail has been a notable player in the document automation space. Their Documents tool offers custom document generation, PDF conversion, e-signature integration, allowing users to instantly create business documents from templates, streamline delivery and e-signature collection.

However, Plumsail's pricing structure and slow response time from the support team has become a significant pain point for many businesses, especially those with budget constraints or high-volume document needs. This has led companies to actively seek document automation tools that better fit their unique requirements and budgets.

In this blog post, we'll examine some of the leading alternatives to Plumsail Documents in 2024. We'll compare their capabilities, pricing models, and user experiences to help you identify the solution that best aligns with your organization's document automation goals and financial considerations.

What is Plumsail Documents?

Plumsail is an intuitive document automation software that enables businesses to automate everything related to document management. Plumsail provides ready-to-use templates that users can tweak to create new documents that suit their needs. It supports PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and HTML document templates and users can add dynamic tables, pictures, QR codes, barcodes, and much more. 

Users can instantly pull data from web forms, CRM, ERP, or 2000+ other apps to create these documents faster. And, once created, they can send them to clients or stakeholders and collect e-signatures. Plumsail Documents has native integrations with different e-signature software and the ability to integrate with other signature software via Zapier and Power Automate.

Who is it for:

Ideal for tailored document automation across various business sizes and types, from small legal practices to large service companies with intricate document workflows. Particularly well-suited for organizations leveraging Microsoft ecosystems such as SharePoint, Azure Logic Apps, and Dynamics 365 CRM.

The key features of Plumsail Documents are as follows :

• Document Assembly
• Document Indexing
• Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
• Offline Access
• File Type Conversion
• File Recovery
• e-Signature
• Document Retention
• Document Archiving
• Compliance Tracking
• Collaboration Tools
• Version Control

Why do you have to look for a Plumsail alternative?

• Cost considerations: For specific use cases, such as consolidating PDFs into single documents, some users feel the pricing could be more competitive. Businesses with high-volume document generation needs may find the costs particularly high.

Source: Capterra

• Help documents quality: Some users have reported that certain instructional videos explaining product features could have been more timely and clear.  This can make the learning curve steeper for new users.

Source: Capterra

• Slow response times: Many users have reported slow response times from the Plumsail support team which could be frustrating when dealing with urgent issues. 

6 Best Plumsail alternatives to Try in 2024

Docupilot: Best Document Automation Platform

Docupilot is a document automation platform known for its extensive automation capabilities, intuitive user interface, flexible pricing plans, and responsive customer support. It enables businesses of all sizes to streamline their entire document creation lifecycle, saving significant time and effort. You can seamlessly integrate Docupilot with your existing data sources, including CRM systems, spreadsheets, and APIs, allowing for efficient bulk generation of documents. 

With Docupilot, you can easily create dynamic templates and personalized documents, share them with clients for e-signing, and even store them.

Pros 

• Easy to use: DocuPilot is super easy to use with its intuitive interface and feature set. 
• Affordable pricing: There are six paid tiers, starting with $29/month for the Starter plan (100 credits) and going up to $699/month for the Enterprise plan (10,000 credits). 
• Integrations: Connects to over 70 popular business apps through pre-built Docupilot integrations and Docupilot Zapier connector.
• Security: Offers various security measures including encryption, password protection, access control, and more
• Customer support: Based on user reviews, Docupilot support team is available 24/7 on chat and set up remote video call sessions whenever required.

Source: G2 Reviews

Cons

• Fewer pre-built templates
• UI of the product can be modernized to cater to user’s needs

Pricing

Docupilot strives to accommodate businesses of all sizes with its diverse pricing options. It’s six-tier pricing structure includes:

Starter: $29/ Month

Plus: $99/ Month

Pro: $149/ Month

Premium: $199/ Month

Business: $399/ Month

Enterprise: $699/ Month

Every plan offers unlimited templates, testing capabilities, and third-party integrations, ensuring comprehensive functionality across all tiers. If you want to automate your document creation, sign up for Docupilot’s free trial or book a demo to see it in action. 

DocuGenerate

Technical Document Generation & Automation Software

DocuGenerate enables businesses to generate high-quality PDF documents from Word templates and JSON data.  Users can create PDF documents like invoices, letters, contracts, and more with their API and web app. It is a powerful document generation software that caters to businesses of all sizes from small startups to large enterprises, enabling them to manage any quantity of documents with ease.

DocuGenerate serves both technical and non-technical users. Its robust REST API allows developers to easily integrate document generation into existing applications. For non-developers, intuitive no-code integrations enable effortless document automation, regardless of technical expertise.

Pros 

• Versatile document templates: Supports a wide range of use cases, accommodating virtually any document generation need. and , provides an efficient search function for easy selection.
• User-friendly documentation: Provides clear, easily understandable documentation to support users.
• Outstanding customer service: Consistently offers responsive and helpful support, enhancing the overall user experience.
• Easy-to-use API: Offers a straightforward and intuitive API, facilitating seamless integration for developers.

Cons

• Limited formatting options: DocuGenerate primarily focuses on generating Word and PDF documents. The range of supported output formats is restricted compared to other document generation tools.

Pricing

Free: $0/month

Plus: $19/month

Premium: $39/month

Business: $99/Month

PandaDoc: Proposal Automation Tool

PandaDoc enables businesses to create and manage various business-critical documents, including forms, proposals, contracts, and quotes. It’s a no-code interface and a drag-and-drop document builder which makes document creation a breeze. Pandadoc includes workflow automation and native e-signature tools offering a full-cycle approach to document management. 

The platform's versatility is furthered by its 1000+ large template library, making it valuable for a wide variety of organizational teams, including sales, marketing, and legal departments.

Pros

• Ease of use: Based on our research, we find that users like PandaDoc the most for its intuitiveness - they claim that it is easy to get started and create documents. 

• Automated reminders: PandaDoc offers an auto-reminders feature for overdue documents and invoices.

• Customization: Users appreciate that everything about the document is customizable, not just the visuals and formatting, but all the settings, such as notifications, and workflows are easy to change.

• Customer support: It offers round the clock customer support which is appreciated by users.

Cons

• Expensive: Users are often met with sticker shock when they want to upgrade PandaDoc to access its advanced features. 

• Form issues: Users find the auto-alignment feature, which automates aligning dynamic fields on the contract, a bit difficult to use. Users also experience fields getting automatically misaligned. 

• Signature issues: Users complain that despite the platform working fine, the UI/UX for the recipient who signs the contract is bad.

Pricing

Essentials: $19/month

Business: $49/month

Enterprise: Talk to sales

While PandaDoc offers a range of features, the pricing structure may present challenges for some users. Many of the more advanced functionalities are exclusive to higher-tier plans, which could potentially necessitate upgrades for those seeking comprehensive capabilities. 

AutomatedDocs: Small Business Document Generation Platform

AutomatedDocs is a simple, straightforward document automation software designed to streamline the document creation process. The platform is ideal for accountants, real estate agents, and small businesses. Their user-friendly platform allows users to generate documents with just a few clicks, leveraging familiar tools like Google Docs and Microsoft Word. Most users like the platform for its seamless integration with popular platforms such as Google Sheets, Airtable, Excel, and Webhooks, ensuring smooth automation across various systems.

Pros

• Seamless Google Docs integration: Users can load templates from Google Docs, modify them directly in the familiar Google Docs interface, and update them in the AutomatedDocswith a single click. 

• Lifetime access option: The platform offers a lifetime deal, providing an opportunity for significant long-term cost savings compared to subscription-based alternatives.

• User-friendly interface: With this platform, you can quickly create documents from templates, automate tasks, and save time.

• Exceptional customer support: Many users praise the top-notch customer service, highlighting quick response times and, most importantly, transparency about product limitations.

Cons

• Learning curve: Some users may find the initial setup and learning process challenging.
• Limited template flexibility: While the software offers customization options, some users may find that the available template modifications don't fully meet their specific or complex document requirements.

Pricing

Starter: $29.00 / Month

Professional: $59.00 / Month

Business: $149.00 / Month

Formstack Document (Formerly WebMerge): Document Automation Software

Formstack Documents is now a part of the Formstack suite which offers a variety of products including Forms, Sign, and Formstack for Salesforce. It seamlessly integrates with other Formstack products, including Forms and Sign, enabling users to create digital documents based on form-collected information and capture electronic signatures.  One of the key use cases of this software is automating the sales proposal generation process. 

Pros

• Extensive integration capabilities: Formstack Documents offers excellent integration with popular platforms, including seamless connectivity with MS Office documents.
• Efficient data merging: The platform facilitates the merging of data from different sources into documents, enabling users to create personalized and dynamic content efficiently.
• User-friendly interface: Formstack Documents is intuitive and accessible, even for users with limited technical expertise. 
• AI Assistance: Helps draft document templates by auto-generating fields

Cons

• Poor customer support: Users frequently report inadequate assistance from Formstack, with complaints of delayed responses or complete lack of communication from the support team.

• Expensive pricing plans: Formstack's limited options are costly for small-scale users and restrictive for those needing extensive automation, often requiring unnecessary upgrades.

• Time-consuming process: Despite its extended capabilities, users report that document creation and merging in Formstack Documents is often slower than expected, potentially negating the time-saving benefits of automation.

Pricing

Starter: $19 

Business: $49 

Enterprise: Talk to sales

Docomotion: Salesforce Document Automation Tool

Documotion makes it easier to automatically generate documents on Salesforce. It is popular among sectors including finance, retail, hi-tech, healthcare, manufacturing, telecom and more. Leveraging a familiar Microsoft Word environment, Docomotion offers a WYSIWYG editor with drag-and-drop functionality, making it extremely straightforward to create and customize documents even for non-technical users. Docomotion's key features include easy field customization, support for custom code components, and built-in e-signature capabilities that allow signed documents to be saved directly in Salesforce.

Pros

• Exceptional customer support: Docomotion's support team is known for fast response times and providing helpful assistance to users.
• Robust security and compliance: The platform implements strong encryption, access controls, and data protection measures, ensuring sensitive information remains secure.
• Comprehensive documentation: Users appreciate their well-presented documentation and walkthrough videos which make it easy for them to utilize features.

Cons 

• Limited design flexibility: In some cases, users may find restrictions in customizing document layouts or designs to their exact specifications.
• Single signature limitation: The platform currently supports only one signature per document, which may be insufficient for documents requiring multiple signatories.
• Restricted document format options: Docomotion primarily focuses on merging data into Word document templates. Support for other formats like Excel or PowerPoint is limited.
• Dependency on Salesforce: As Docomotion is closely integrated with Salesforce, organizations not using SalesforceCRM may find it less suitable for their needs.

Pricing 

Starter: $10/user/month

Gold: $20/user/month

Platinum: $30/user/month

Docupilot: The Best Alternative to Plumsail Document

We've examined six Plumsail competitors, and it's clear that the document automation market offers a range of robust solutions to suit various business needs. While Plumsail Documents is particularly known for its extensive integrations, comprehensive template library, and ease of use, its competitors have both pros and cons.

Businesses considering these alternatives to Plumsail should carefully evaluate their specific requirements, including the scale of their operations, existing tech stack, and budget constraints. The document automation market is constantly evolving, and we're likely to see further advancements in AI-assisted document creation, more sophisticated data merging capabilities, and enhanced cross-platform compatibility.

We recommend thoroughly testing the above document automation software to determine which best fits your unique needs and priorities. Many of these solutions offer free trials, allowing you to explore their features without immediate commitment.

If there’s a new alternative to Plumsail that you’ve discovered, let us know and we’ll be happy to add it to this list. Happy documenting! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1.Does Plumsail document have an API?

Yes, Plumsail Documents provides API.

2.Does Plumsail document have a mobile app?

No, Plumsail Documents doesn’t provide a mobile app.

3.How does Plumsail Documents compare to its competitors in terms of pricing?

Plumsail Documents offers straightforward pricing, starting at $25 per month with a set monthly document limit for each plan. While the pricing is slightly higher compared to some competitors, the value it provides through its features and ease of use might justify the cost for businesses needing a robust document management solution.