In the world of SaaS, popularity isn't always a harbinger of satisfaction. And PandaDoc is no exception.
Highly rated on G2, many users greatly appreciate PandaDoc’s comprehensive features and integrations, while others encounter limitations that lead them to seek alternatives.
To find the right tools for your business needs, it's important to explore different options. Factors such as pricing, features, and functionalities can greatly impact your decision when it comes to document management solutions.
To help you make an informed choice, we have compiled a list of the top alternatives to PandaDoc. This guide will provide you with detailed insights into each option, including their strengths and weaknesses, pricing models, and unique selling points. Our aim is to assist you in finding a document management system that aligns with your business requirements and seamlessly integrates with your existing processes, ultimately enhancing your productivity.
Why Do Users Look For PandaDoc Alternatives?
First, let's look at why users look for PandaDoc alternatives.
Lack of Features That Limit Customization
While PandaDoc does support a host of features, it lacks several advanced features your business either needs today or might need in the future.
For example, here are features supported by Docupilot, a more affordable solution, but not by PandaDoc: bulk document generation, advanced conditional statements, dynamic tables, numerical calculations, and dynamic map insertion.
PandaDoc supports thousands of templates. However, customization options are limited. With Docupilot, you can build your own templates, and there is no limit on customization.
Lack of support for essential features does not only affect productivity, it can adversely slow down other business functions such as sales and finance.
High Cost
Users are often met with sticker shock when they want to upgrade PandaDoc to access its advanced features. This has severely dented the scalability many users wanted to achieve with the platform.
PandaDoc’s pricing starts with the Essentials plan at $35/month/user, with a maximum of 2 users.
Feature gating, or restricting features behind higher payment tiers, is a strategy used by several SaaS providers, including PandaDoc.
Many essential features, such as conditional content, approval workflows, HIPAA compliance, team workspaces, and custom user roles are locked behind higher fees. Furthermore, some features are only available as add-ons - with an additional cost - for the higher-priced tiers.
Feature gating often forces businesses to upgrade to more expensive plans unnecessarily.
Now compare that to Docupilot, which starts at $29/month for 100 credits, Signaturely, which starts at $25/month, and DocuSign, which starts at $15/month/user. As you can see, the average monthly price for document automation SaaS solutions is much lower than what PandaDoc charges. This high cost charged by PandaDoc might be unjustifiable, especially for small businesses or startups operating on a tight budget.
Moreover, rather than restricting the number of users, or feature gating, solutions like Docupilot offer credit-based pricing, which allows businesses to derive maximum benefits from document automation.
Add-on Cost for Integrations
As part of your tech stack, you most likely use multiple applications like Zapier and Salesforce. And when you choose a document automation solution, you expect seamless - read “free” - integration between your document automation SaaS and third-party applications, right?
Well, sorry to disappoint you! If you went for PandaDoc, you must show them the money! For CRM integrations you must upgrade to the more expensive Business or Enterprise plans.
There’s more!
For Zapier and Salesforce, on top of the higher-tier fee, you must pay an additional add-on fee. Yes, an additional line item in your budget for these basic and essential integrations! Phew!
All these add-ons significantly increase the TCO, which can affect business viability and sustainability.
Separate API Pricing
With API access, you can:
- Integrate your document automation SaaS with other software systems for seamless data exchange and workflow automation
- Customize and extend the functionality of your SaaS, and
You can do all that, and more, if API access is available, like it is for all plans with Docupilot.
However, to get API access with PandaDoc, you must:
- Sign up for a custom Enterprise plan, and
- Pay the add-on cost
You might be able to justify the high cost of API access if you are an enterprise with millions in ARR. But if you’re just starting out, or a scale-up that needs to use procurement budgets judiciously, Pandadoc wouldn’t be the right fit.
Best Pandadoc Alternatives and Competitors in 2024
Here are the 10 best PandaDoc alternatives you can use in 2024.
Docupilot
Docupilot is a versatile document automation platform for businesses seeking to streamline document workflows. Ideal for entities of all sizes, Docupilot stands out with its highly intuitive user interface, extensive workflow automation capabilities, and support for dynamic elements like tables, lists, images, QR codes, and barcodes. Docupilot is affordable with a credit-based pricing model, allowing users to choose plans based on actual usage. All plans support all features and provide full benefits.
Key Features
- Custom templates
- Automated document generation
- Dynamic images
- Dynamic map, QR code, barcode
- Dynamic tables
- Basic and advanced conditional statements
Integrations
- Zapier
- Airtable
- Salesforce
- Zoho CRM
Pricing Plans
- Starter: $29/month for 100 credits
- Plus: $99/month for 500 credits
- Pro: $149/month for 1,000 credits
- Premium: $199/month for 2,000 credits
- Business: $399/month for 5,000 credits
- Enterprise: $699/month for 10,000 credits
All plans include unlimited templates, document builder, API access, Zapier and Airtable integration, third-party integrations, and more.
PandaDoc vs. Docupilot
DocuSign
DocuSign is an electronic signature and digital transaction management platform that enables businesses to securely sign, send, and manage documents electronically. It is best suited for organizations that prioritize compliance, security, and scalability in their document workflows.
Docusign supports stronger security with a robust audit trail, options for signer authentication, and more pre-built integrations. In comparison, (for a higher cost of course) PandaDoc offers a more comprehensive suite of tools for managing the entire document lifecycle, from creation to signature and storage.
Key Features
- Send, sign, and track documents
- Automated document generation
- Secure encryption standards
- Digital audit trails
Integrations
- Microsoft
- Salesforce
- Zoom
- Oracle
Pricing Plans
- eSignaturesome text
- Personal: $15/month
- Standard: $45/month/user
- Business Pro: $65/month/user
- eSignature Real Estatesome text
- Real Estate Starter: $15/month for a single user
- Real Estate: $45/month/user
- API usage plans range from $50 to $480 per month
Read our detailed comparison of PandaDoc vs Docusign, for more perspective.
Signaturely
Signaturely is a user-friendly electronic signature platform that simplifies creating, sending, signing, and storing digital documents. It is best suited for small businesses and individuals looking for an affordable and efficient way to manage their document workflows.
Signature provides an e-signature solution at a lower cost, making it accessible to a wider range of users. PandaDoc offers advanced features for document creation, workflow automation, and sales-focused analytics, making it a better choice for businesses with complex document management needs.
Key Features
- Electronic signatures
- Document editor
- Automated track and follow up
- Legal audit log
- Team management
Integrations
- Zapier
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
- Box
Pricing Plans
- Personal: $25/month
- Business: $50/month/user
Formstack Documents
Formstack Documents is an online form creation tool that simplifies the process of generating, customizing, and delivering forms. It is ideal for businesses and individuals looking to streamline data collection and document creation workflows, and enhance productivity.
Formstack Documents is part of a versatile workplace productivity platform that offers forms, documents, and digital signatures to streamline tedious work tasks and enhance efficiency in the workplace.
In comparison, Pandadoc supports stronger from-scratch document creation and unlimited templates, making it more suitable for organizations primarily focused on document automation and customization.
Key Features
- Customizable document templates
- Automated document generation
- Fillable PDFs
- Data encryption
- PCI, GDPR, and HIPAA compliance
Integrations
- Zapier
- Airtable
- Box
- Docusign
Pricing Plans
- Documents: $110/month
- Suite: $229/month
- Enterprise: contact sales for custom pricing
Adobe Sign
Adobe Sign is an electronic signature solution. Ideal for organizations of all sizes, Adobe Sign offers a secure and efficient platform for creating, sending, tracking, and managing electronic signatures across various documents.
Adobe Sign has a more comprehensive set of security features and compliance capabilities and supports seamless integration with popular business applications. PandaDoc, on the other hand, offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing the entire document lifecycle.
Key Features
- eSignatures
- Tracking and notifications
- Bulk send
- Custom branding
- Create, edit, sign, and collaborate on PDFs.
Integrations
- Salesforce
- Zoho CRM
- Microsoft Dynamics 365
- Box
Pricing Plans
- Acrobat Standard: $14.99/month/license
- Acrobat Pro: $14.99/month/license
- Acrobat Sign Solutions with custom pricing
Proposify
Proposify is a comprehensive proposal software that streamlines the process of creating, sending, and tracking sales proposals. It is ideal for businesses looking to improve their proposal workflow, enhance collaboration, and close deals faster.
Proposify's strength lies in its focus on proposal creation and management, offering a wide range of customization options and integrations with popular CRM and business tools. In comparison, PandaDoc has an edge in document automation and workflow capabilities, making it a better fit for organizations with more complex document management needs beyond just proposals.
To better compare these tools, read our detailed comparison of Proposify and PandaDoc.
Key Features
- Design editor
- Content library
- Electronic signatures
- Metrics
- 15 languages
Integrations
- Salesforce
- Stripe
- HubSpot
- Airtable
- Zapier
Pricing Plans
- Team: 49/user/month
- Business: contact sales for custom pricing
Qwilr
Qwilr is a sales enablement platform that helps businesses create visually compelling and interactive sales collateral, from proposals to quotes and contracts. It is best suited for B2B sales teams looking to streamline their sales process, impress buyers, and close deals faster.
Qwilr offers a user-friendly interface and combines content, pricing, e-signatures, and transactions into a single, mobile-friendly webpage, delivering a strong buyer experience. PandaDoc has the edge when it comes to advanced document automation and workflow capabilities
Key Features
- Content editor
- e-signature and payments
- Dynamic pricing tables
- Document analytics
- Team management
Integrations
- Salesforce
- Zoho CRM
- Stripe
- Zapier
Pricing Plans
- Business: $39/user/month
- Enterprise: $65/user/month, billed annually.
HoneyBook
HoneyBook is a clientflow management platform designed to empower independent businesses by offering a comprehensive suite of tools for communication, contracts, invoicing, and payments. It is ideal for independent professionals and small businesses, allowing them to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time focusing on their core work.
HoneyBook has a user-friendly interface, a diverse feature set, and high customer satisfaction. However, compared to PandaDoc, HoneyBook has limitations in terms of advanced document automation and workflow capabilities, making it more suitable for businesses focused on client management and service delivery rather than comprehensive document management needs.
Key Features
- Invoices
- Proposals
- Contracts
- Workflow automation
- Scheduling
Integrations
- Zapier
- Zoom
- Quickbooks
- Google calendar
- Gmail
Pricing Plans
- Starter: $11.3/month
- Essentials: $27.3/month
- Premium: $55.3/month
GetAccept
GetAccept is an electronic signature platform. Ideal for sales teams and businesses engaging in frequent contract negotiations and sales proposals, it goes beyond simple document signing to focus on user engagement and sales enablement.
While GetAccept excels in user engagement and sales enablement, it has limitations compared to PandaDoc regarding advanced document automation and workflow features, making it more suitable for businesses prioritizing client interactions and sales processes over comprehensive document management needs.
Key Features
- Electronic signature
- Contracts and proposals
- Sales content management
- Tracking and analytics
- Notifications and reminders
Integrations
- Salesforce
- Microsoft Dynamics
- HubSpot
- Pipedrive
- Zapier
Pricing Plans
- eSign: $25/user/month
- Contract Roomsome text
- Professional: $49/user/month
- Enterprise: contact sales for custom pricing
Zoho Sign
Zoho Sign is a comprehensive digital signature solution. It is best suited for small to medium-sized businesses looking for an affordable and user-friendly e-signature platform
Zoho Sign supports seamless integration with other Zoho products, and has an intuitive interface with robust security features that comply with industry standards like ESIGN Act and UETA. PandaDoc supports more features tailored towards advanced document automation and workflow management.
Key Features
- Electronic signature
- Templates
- Branding
- Bulk send
Integrations
- Zoho apps
- Microsoft 365
- Google Workspace
- Box
Pricing Plans
- Standard: $12/user/month
- Professional: $20/user/month
- Enterprise: $28/user/month
Conclusion
PandaDoc is a strong all-around document automation platform. There is no denying that.
However, several PandaDoc alternatives offer a lower barrier to entry and more features, whereas PandaDoc’s feature gating is unsuitable for small businesses.
Docupilot is a PandaDoc alternative with a lower cost and a strong feature suite. Unlike PandaDoc, API access and third-party app integrations are available on all plans. Sign up today for a free 30-day trial.
