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Google Docs vs Formstack Documents vs Documate Comparison

Last updated:

Google Docs

4.7(31,236 reviews)

Starting at $6 /User/Month

  • Free Trial
  • Individuals
  • Freelancers / Consultants

Google Docs is a free, web-based word processor that allows user to create rich documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. It features real-time collaboration capabilities so that user can share documents with others at…

Formstack Documents

4.7(183 reviews)

Starting at $92 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Create custom legal forms, contracts, letters and more with Formstack's extensive library of fully customizable standard and legal documents. Create, customize and fill out documents online using our cloud-based software…

Documate

5.0(24 reviews)

Starting at $83 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Documate is document creation software that makes it faster and easier for technical writers to create flawless user manuals, datasheets, and website content. User can easily create a variety of documents using existing…

Google Docs vs Formstack Documents vs Documate — at a glance

FeatureGoogle DocsFormstack DocumentsDocumate
Rating4.7 / 54.7 / 55.0 / 5
Reviews31,23618324
Starting price$6 /User/Month$92 /Month$83 /Month
Free trial Yes Yes Yes
Free version No No No
Best forIndividuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large EnterprisesLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryDocument Creation SoftwareDocument Creation SoftwareDocument Creation Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
APIAvailableAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), OnlineBusiness Hours, Online24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR
Data residencyGlobalGlobalUS

Key differences between Google Docs and Formstack Documents

  • Pricing: Google Docs starts at $6 /User/Month, while Formstack Documents starts at $92 /Month.
  • Target audience: Google Docs is built for Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants, while Formstack Documents targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
  • Deployment: Google Docs supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Formstack Documents supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Compare Google Docs vs Formstack Documents vs Documate — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Document Creation Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Google Docs - Document Creation Software
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Formstack Documents - Document Creation Software
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Documate - Document Creation Software
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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Google Docs

Best for easy, real-time collaborative document editing in cloud environments.

Choose if
  • You need seamless real-time collaboration for remote or distributed teams.
  • You want a free, web-based tool with simple setup and cloud integration.
  • Your team values easy sharing and access control within Google Workspace.
Consider alternatives if
  • You require advanced desktop publishing or complex document formatting features.
  • Your workflow demands offline-first document editing without internet dependency.

Formstack Documents

Best for legal and HR teams needing customizable, collaborative document creation.

Choose if
  • You require a broad library of customizable legal and standard document templates.
  • Your team needs real-time collaboration and version control across multiple devices.
  • Your organization is mid-sized to large, benefiting from cloud-based document workflows.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a freelancer or sole proprietor with minimal document automation needs.
  • Your company demands highly specialized or industry-specific document automation beyond standard templates.

Documate

Best for technical teams creating and managing version-controlled documents efficiently.

Choose if
  • You need to rapidly produce flawless technical manuals and datasheets using templates.
  • Your team requires robust version control to keep documentation consistently up-to-date.
  • Fast, searchable access to technical content is critical for your documentation workflows.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a freelancer or individual needing simple, standalone document creation tools.
  • Your team demands extensive collaboration or integration features beyond document creation.

Google Docs: Best for easy, real-time collaborative document editing in cloud environments. Formstack Documents: Best for legal and HR teams needing customizable, collaborative document creation.

Description

Google Docs is a free, web-based word processor that allows user to create rich documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. It features real-time collaboration capabilities so that user can ... Read More about Google Docs

Create custom legal forms, contracts, letters and more with Formstack's extensive library of fully customizable standard and legal documents. Create, customize and fill out documents online ... Read More about Formstack Documents

Documate is document creation software that makes it faster and easier for technical writers to create flawless user manuals, datasheets, and website content. User can easily create a ... Read More about Documate

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $6
  • Starts from $92 , Billed Yearly
  • Starts from $83 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

1-50 employees51-500 employees
51-500 employees500+ employees
51-500 employees500+ employees
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Software Demo

Demo

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Step 1 of 4

How big is your team?

We tailor recommendations to companies your size.

Trusted by teams at

Compare Google Docs, Formstack Documents and Documate on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

        Starting From

        • $6
        • $92 , Billed Yearly
        • $83 , Billed Yearly

        Pricing Plans

        • Not Available
        • Lite

          • 1 "Builder" seat (template-creator)

          • 10 workflows

          • 200 fields per workflow

          Show more +

        • Standard

          • 3 "Builder" seats

          • Includes features of Lite plan, plus

          • Unlimited workflows & fields

          Show more +

        • Enterprise

          • Includes features of Standard plan, plus

          • Discounted per-seat pricing

          • White glove workflow building

          Show more +

        Pricing Page

        Google Docs pricing
        Formstack Documents pricing
        Documate pricing

        Other Details

        Organization Types supported

        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Medium Business
        • Large Enterprises
        • Individuals
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Medium Business
        • Large Enterprises
        • Individuals
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Medium Business
        • Large Enterprises
        • Individuals

        Platforms Supported

        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Mobile - Android
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Mobile - Windows
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Mobile - Android
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Mobile - Windows
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Mobile - Android
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Mobile - Windows
        • Browser Based (Cloud)

        Modes of support

        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online

        API Support

        • Available
        • Available
        • Not Available
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing

        Security & Compliance

        Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

        SOC 2

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        HIPAA

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        GDPR

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        ISO 27001

        ✓ Yes

        Single Sign-On (SSO)

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Data Encryption

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Audit Logs

        ✓ Yes
        ✓ Yes

        Data Residency

        🌐 Global
        🌐 Global
        🇺🇸 US

        Google Docs vs Formstack Documents User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        User Ratings

        4.7

        (based on 183 reviews)

        5

        (based on 24 reviews)

        Rating Distribution

        291

        47

        2

        2

        2

        0

        0

        0

        0

        0

        0

        0

        0

        0

        0

        Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

        Buyer sentiment

        Users overwhelmingly appreciate Google Docs for its ease of use, real-time collaboration, and free access, though some note limitations in advanced features and offline use.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Collaboration features
        • Cloud accessibility

        Common complaints

        • Limited advanced formatting
        • Internet dependency

        Buyer sentiment

        Users generally express high satisfaction with the platform's document customization and collaboration features, though some note pricing and integration limitations.

        What buyers like

        • Customizability of document templates
        • Ease of collaboration and real-time editing
        • Cloud accessibility and version control

        Common complaints

        • Pricing transparency
        • Integration options

        Buyer sentiment

        Users highly appreciate Documate's efficiency in creating and managing technical documents, reflected in a perfect rating.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Document version control
        • Template availability

        Common complaints

        • Lack of pricing transparency
        • Limited collaboration features

        Pros and Cons

        • Real-time collaboration with multiple users

        • Free to use with seamless cloud integration

        • Easy sharing and access control

        • Limited advanced formatting and layout options compared to desktop software

        • Dependent on internet connectivity for full functionality

        • Extensive library of customizable legal and standard documents

        • Cloud-based platform enabling real-time collaboration across devices

        • Version control with quick retrieval of document history

        • Pricing details are not publicly available, requiring sales contact

        • May require some learning curve to fully customize complex documents

        • Speeds up creation of technical documents using templates

        • Version control keeps documents up-to-date

        • Searchable document repository enables fast information retrieval

        • Pricing details are not publicly available, requiring sales contact

        • Limited information on collaboration or integration features

        Positive Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        Negative Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        Media and Screenshots

        Screenshots

        Voice Typing

        2 Screenshots

        No screenshots available.

        Documate screenshot

        3 Screenshots

        Videos

        video-0

        3 Videos

        video-0

        2 Videos

        video-0

        2 Videos

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        Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

        Frequently asked questions

        Which is better, Google Docs or Formstack Documents?
        Google Docs and Formstack Documents are closely matched with equal user ratings of 4.7. The right choice depends on your team size, budget, and specific Document Creation Software needs.
        Do Google Docs and Formstack Documents offer a free trial?
        Yes, both Google Docs and Formstack Documents offer a free trial.
        What is the starting price of Google Docs vs Formstack Documents?
        Google Docs starts at $6 /User/Month. Formstack Documents starts at $92 /Month.
        What are the top alternatives to Google Docs?
        Top alternatives to Google Docs include Nimbus Note, Microsoft OneNote, Google Sheets, Documint, Dropbox Paper.
        What are the top alternatives to Formstack Documents?
        Top alternatives to Formstack Documents include Paperform, Smart Forms, SimplyDocs, Documint, Adobe Acrobat DC.

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