Zoho Writer vs pdfFiller

Fillable Document: A comparison

A quick comparison between PDFFiller and Zoho Writer features that allow you to create, edit, manage, and share documents and PDF Forms online.

Zoho Writer vs pdfFiller
  • Writer
  • VS

  • Fillable form creation

    When it comes to creating interactive forms, both pdfFiller and Zoho Writer are effective solutions. But when it comes to creating fillable PDF forms, Zoho Writer has the edge, as it offers the capability to create fillable PDFs from scratch, while pdfFiller requires you to start with a static PDF.

    Zoho Writer provides powerful editing tools, a smart writing assistant, real-time collaboration and review features, and a document approval workflow. Leverage the collective knowledge of your team to create forms exactly as you need them.

    • Writer
    • VS

    Create fillable forms

    Create PDF forms
    (without expensive Adobe software)

    Rich form experience with text fields, drop-downs, radio buttons, check boxes, and signature fields.

    Add formulas and calculations

    Insert Barcode and QR Code

    Custom unique ID for form submissions

    Conditional logic to control field visibility

  • Repurposing PDF forms

    Zoho Writer and pdfFiller are almost equally effective at turning existing static PDF forms into interactive and fillable PDF forms. They both allow you to import and edit existing PDF documents, make them interactive, and more.

    • Writer
    • VS

    Turn PDFs into fillable forms
    (add your own text, images, links, form fields, etc.)

    Transform static PDF into an interactive form

    Automatically recognize form fields in PDF
    (AI-based field detection)

  • Prefill data in forms

    Reduce turnaround time by prefilling available data when sending forms for data and signature collection. Zoho Writer's fillable and pdfFillable are almost even when it comes to enhancing user experience and accelerating form filling by auto-populating available data.

    • Writer
    • VS

    Create pre-filled form from various data sources

    Automatically generate pre-filled URLs in bulk

  • Post-submit actions

    Execute specific actions that suits your business workflow on submit of these forms. Though payment collection is not supported by Zoho Writer's fillable, it certainly has an edge over pdfFiller with a range of automatically executing on-submit activities.

    • Writer
    • VS

    Generate filled PDFs

    Email filled PDFs

    Send PDFs for signature

    Collect data

    Collect payments

    Create PDF form

  • Form sharing and review

    While both Zoho Writer's fillable and pdfFiller offer multiple ways to share and review your forms, Zoho Writer goes a step further with the capability to track changes made to your form fields and secure forms with passwords.

    • Writer
    • VS

    Share form via QR Code

    Send password-protected forms

    Fill out forms on mobile/tablet

    Track changes in fillable fields

    Embed in website

    Review and approve after filling

    Track the status of forms submitted for filling

  • Configurable business workflows

    When it comes to executing business logic, like collecting and storing filled data in business apps, Zoho Writer supports more options out-of-the-box, including notarizing documents.

    • Writer
    • VS

    Built-in eSign

    In-app signing after fill

    Dynamic signers assignment

    Connect to other business applications

    Automatically export filled data to CRM or other apps

    Conditional email attachment

    Respondent control to download, email, and send for signature

    Notarizing documents

  • Compliance and security

    Both pdfFiller and Zoho Writer's fillable comply with major industry standards and region-specific regulatory and privacy standards.

    • Writer
    • VS

    Complies with security standards and regulations, such as HIPAA, SOC 2, ESIGN, and GDPR.

  • Customization and branding

    You can perform customizations to meet your specific needs, and rebrand your forms, with either Zoho Writer's fillable or pdfFiller.

    • Writer
    • VS

    Branding

    Custom hooks to send filled PDF or data to other apps

    Custom message and redirection on submission

    Unique Ids for each output

  • Templates library

    pdfFiller offers a pre-packaged PDF template library to make it easier for you to create PDF forms, while Zoho Writer doesn't currently offer pre-built templates.

    • Writer
    • VS

    Library of fillable PDF form templates

    Re-order PDF pages

  • More options

    Besides creating and sharing fillable forms or PDF forms for data and signature collection, you will need to know the status of your shared documents to initiate the appropriate business operations and processes. Zoho Writer's fillable forms help you easily track form delivery and signature status with its built-in status tracker.

    • Writer
    • VS

    Track delivery of forms to users

    Track signature status

    Track post-submission function execution status

  • Pricing

    Though both products offer economical pricing options, Zoho Writer's pricing model is much simpler. A paid add-on is available for $50/month/organization, and is only required if you wish to share/distribute your PDF forms for data or signature collection. You can create PDF forms using Zoho Writer's Free plan. The Free plan also provides unrestricted access to all Writer's features, including proofing, real-time collaboration and sharing, approval workflows, document automation, purpose-built merges, document signing, fillable templates, and mobile apps.

    pdfFiller offers three pricing plans and only the premium plan provides access to all the product's features. It does not offer a free edition.

    • Writer
    • VS

    Free Trial

    • No credit card required

    • Requires a credit card to enable free trial

    Free Edition

    • *

    Paid Plans

    • $50/month/organization# . Required only if you wish to share/distribute PDF forms for data/signature collection.
      Learn more.

    • Three plans. Starts at $20/month. Only the premium plan provides access to all features.
      Learn more.

* Zoho Writer's Free Edition provides unrestricted access to all product features, including creation of PDF forms. The paid add-on is required only if you wish to distribute your PDF forms for data/signature collection.

# This add-on is not required if you are a Zoho One customer.

Create a Fillable Template

The Zoho Writer advantage

Writer is a powerful, cloud-based word processor that helps you easily and efficiently create online documents, as well as fillable forms and PDF forms.

With Writer, you can:

  • Collaborate with your team in real time and leverage their collective knowledge to build informative and engaging documents
  • Automate document creation and simplify business processes with mail merge, fillable forms, and e-signature collection
  • Receive writing and style suggestions from the smart writing assistant
  • Publish and distribute documents to multiple channels directly from the Writer platform
  • Confidently finalize all documents with multi-stage document approval workflows
  • Create and edit documents from anywhere, on any device, with apps for iOS and Android and mobile web browser support

Writer is compatible with popular platforms like

  • MS Word
  • OpenOffice

It also integrates with over 25 productivity apps and document platforms making it an ideal document creation application.

    • CRM

    • Creator

    • Writer