PandaDoc alternative. Compare pricing, features, integrations and more with Plumsail Documents

Probably, you are keen to find the right document automation tool and search for a PandaDoc alternative. We want to make your choice easier, so we have created a series of articles where we compare various document automation software. The first article is about Plumsail Documents as a PandaDoc alternative.

We will compare features, pricing, integrations, reviews, support, and more. So you can decide what solution will work better for your needs.

Content of the article

1. What is PandaDoc?
2. What is Plumsail Documents?
3. Features comparison (huge part)
4. Pricing
5. Reviews
6. Conclusion for comparison

What is PandaDoc?

PandaDoc is an application for creating, sharing, and tracking documents online with a team. It's designed primarily to document workflow automation mainly for sales and marketing teams.

What is Plumsail Documents?

Plumsail Documents allows you to automatically generate documents, sign and send the result by email, or save them to your favorite apps. More often, Plumsail customers switch from Pandadoc when they need either more basic or more complex document generation with repeating fields, blocks, tables, pictures, or conditional logic. The app is used by all the companies willing to automate documents.

Features comparison

There is a significant difference in features between both products. This difference can be decisive when choosing a product. To deal with this, we'll talk about:

• Supported document formats;
• Ready-to-go Templates;
• Document editors;
• Templating syntax;
• Testing feature;
• eSignatures;
• Forms for documents;
• Integrations;
• Store and deliver settings;

In the end, we will take a general conclusion about both systems. Let’s go into details.

Supported document formats

PandaDoc

In PandaDoc, you can only upload and work with Word documents. All other formats suggested for upload (PDF, PPTX, JPEG, PNG) will turn into a background picture, so you won't be able to edit the content. As for Excel, it's not supported even like this.

It could be a huge time-wasting if you have business processes in which you use documents in not supported formats. In this case, you will need to create a new document template from scratch for each PDF, Excel or PowerPoint document.

Plumsail Documents

Plumsail Documents supports all Microsoft Office formats such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Moreover, it supports fillable PDF and HTML files. Also, you can set a PDF with watermarks and protection as the output format for all documents.

Ready-to-go templates

Both systems have a set of templates in various categories. If you need a document template, choose one from the ready-to-use templates or design your document template.

Templating syntax

Templating engines work with variables, but there is a difference in syntax and details. In short, you set placeholders, also known as variables, for data, and the templating engine merges the data into variables. Variables allow you to fill the document template with the different data from your contact list or CRM.

PandaDoc

In PandaDoc, to fill the document template you can use fillable fields and variables. Fillable fields can be populated by hand while the recipient manages the document, similar to fillable PDF. In PandaDoc, you can merge raw data into variables. No formatting options here.

Variables

To set the variable, you can type [text.here], and text between square brackets will be recognized as a variable.

Fillable fields

To set the fillable fields, you can drag-n-drop fillable field.

Plumsail Documents

In Plumsail Documents, we developed a smart templating engine that processes the data before putting it into the template. To set the variable, you can type {{text_here}}, and text between curly brackets will be recognized as a variable. Plumsail templating engine uses a minimal amount of syntax to make your work done.

It's meaningful that with Plumsail templating engine, you can format pulled data in sophisticated ways. You can use formulas with data like in Excel or generate Barcodes. There are too many different data formatting options to list them all here.

Templating engine also works with JSON format. It may be helpful if your document template is complex or you already have JSON output from third systems. To create your templates easily, get acquainted with how the templating syntax works for supported formats: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Fillable PDF, and HTML.

Templating syntax in Plumsail Documents allows you to pull data and operate with it automatically in different ways:

Document editors

PandaDoc

PandaDoc has a convenient drag-n-drop HTML editor where it's easy to build a document template by dragging and dropping blocks of content and fillable fields.

You can use customizable blocks of content, such as text, images, video, tables, and a content library. You can re-design blocks, for example, change typography, colors, set paddings, etcetera. It is meaningful that you can only work with your documents online.

Plumsail Documents

Plumsail Documents editor is based on a powerful Google Docs editor, so you will have all the features to work on documents as it would be in Microsoft Office or Google Docs.

Moreover, you can create your document templates offline in Microsoft Office and upload them to Plumsail Documents.

Testing feature

When the document template and everything else is set up, you may want to see what the final document will look like before sending it to someone. There is a testing feature for this.

PandaDoc

You can send your document to a recipient (yourself) to test a template, but it’s quite inconvenient. I didn’t find a testing feature. There are courses and tutorials about creating and sending documents in PandaDoc’s help center, so maybe you will get the point on how to test document templates.

Plumsail Documents

In Plumsail Documents, you can test your document templates with a few clicks from the editor and settings. You can fill out the form, or submit data in JSON format. The resulting file downloads immediately. Read the article to learn more details.

eSignatures

PandaDoc

In PandaDoc, there is a built-in electronic signature function. There are no native integrations with any eSign software in PandaDoc. It works well, and you can use the built-in PandaDoc eSign feature. But what if you want to use third-party signature software?

Plumsail Documents

In Plumsail Documents, on the contrary, no built-in signature feature, and you have a choice of different signature software native integrations.

Forms for documents

Both systems have forms you can fill to populate a document template with data. But they work differently.

PandaDoc

In PandaDoc, you can create a form for document templates. By default, it is free for each document, but it is not configurable. This form works on the fillable fields posted in the document template. Not on variables. You will not be able to fill in your variables in the document using the form. If you want to use custom forms, it will require additional costs, and i didn't find the price number for the forms feature.

Plumsail Documents

Every document generation process in Plumsail Documents has a web form created with fields connected to tokens in the document template. By default, it’s free, and you don’t have to pay extra money for this. You can share this web form to fill the document with data. Also, you can customize the web form for your needs with Plumsail Forms.

Integrations

Both systems have native integrations with third-party software and integrations via connectors, such as Zapier and Power Automate. Native integration allows working with data more flexible. It seems to have an addon to document generation processes in your system. But only Plumsail Documents you can use with the Power Automate connector.

PandaDoc

PandaDoc focuses on Salesforce and other CRMs with native integration that allows flexible work with native integration. Native integrations: (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho CRM, Copper, Monday.com, Sugar CRM, Zendesk Sell, Insightly, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Nutshell, Nimble, Stripe, Square, Authorize.net, PayPal, QuickBooks payments).

You can integrate other software via Zapier or Integromat in PandaDoc.

Plumsail Documents

Native integrations: SharePoint, DocuSign, signNow, Microsoft Outlook, Adobe Sign, OneDrive, eversign, Gmail, Microsoft Teams, HelloSign, Slack, Google Drive, Box, Dropbox, Plumsail Forms.

There are more than 2000 integrations with other systems, apps, and software you can set up via Zapier or Power Automate.

Store and deliver options

PandaDoc

In PandaDoc, you can share documents with your colleagues and recipients from the PandaDoc contact list. Also, you can send a document by email or share with a link, but the output file can be PDF only.

Plumsail Documents

In Plumsail Documents, you can deliver the document via email or store it in a different system using native integration or Zapier and Power Automate. Read more about deliveries in Plumsail Documents. An output file can be DOCX, PDF, XLSX, PPTX, or HTML.

Comparison table

Pricing

At a glance, PandaDoc with annual payment starts from 19$ and Plumsail Documents from 25$ per month. But this pricing depends on many factors, and there may be a huge price difference when using one of the systems.

PandaDoc

PandaDoc's pricing model is based on features. Integrations are allowed only on the "Business" plan. Maybe in the next month, you will need a new feature, for example, "custom user roles" or integration with Salesforce, that will lead you to extra payment again.

Plumsail Documents

The Plumsail Documents pricing is simple. All the features are active in any plan. Pay only for the volume of documents you need to generate. Also, you can ask for a personal pricing plan that will flex for your needs.

We compared both systems with similar set of features. The comparison stands on the most popular features Plumsail Documents users use. Below you can see the table, so you can decide what pricing plan is better for you.

Free trials

14-day free trial in PandaDoc.

30-day free trial in Plumsail Documents.

Plumsail's 30-day free trial allows you to try all the features, learn details in the documentation, set the integrations, and check how it works without any rush.

Reviews

To be objective, we compared the information on GetApp, Software Advice, and Capterra. All sites have the same ratings. Here are the links to Capterra:

• PandaDoc has a 4.5-star rating
• Plumsail has a 4.8-star rating

Conclusion

Both systems deceive attention. The main difference lies in the features you need and the way you use document automation.

PandaDoc

PandaDoc is a helpful tool for document workflow. You can pull the data from other software and generate the documents. You can set the roles and approvals, track activities and statuses of documents you created. It's meaningful that PandaDoc fully supports Word files only. PandaDoc does not support Excel files and turn other formats (PowerPoint, PDF) into background picture. There is a handy drag-and-drop HTML editor to create documents. Easy to use, no coding required, but there are some limitations, and the pricing model is based on features.

Plumsail Documents

Plumsail Documents is a great tool for document generation. You can pull the data from almost any system into a document template and generate any quantity of documents in Microsoft Office formats. You can create a fillable PDF, work offline with different document formats and automatically send created documents to recipients, or store them in any system. Google Docs-based online editor allows you to create documents using familiar tools, and a smarty templating engine helps you to generate sophisticated documents. Simple pricing plans based on the quantity of documents users generate.

Try PandaDoc alternative for free

Try Plumsail Documents for 30-day free and make a confident choice of what system best meets your needs. If you have any questions, we will be glad to answer them in the community or write to our support.