Best Document Creation Software
Document creation software allows users to customize, edit, and share text-based documents. These software applications can function as word processors, PDF creators and editors. Document creation products also have the ability to store, share documents and allow for collaborative editing. Document creation solutions are often part of a larger suite of products or set up as integrations for more expansive business software, but can also be independent, highly focused platforms.
To qualify for inclusion in the Document Creation category, a product must:
Best Document Creation Software At A Glance
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Google Workspace is a comprehensive productivity and collaboration solution designed to help users streamline their work processes by integrating essential tools such as email, chat, file storage, and
Google Workspace is a suite of tools integrating email, documents, storage, and meetings in one place for efficient collaboration. Reviewers frequently mention the seamless integration of communication, documents, and meetings under one environment, allowing team members to collaborate on documents in real time without any issues regarding document versions. Reviewers mentioned that the management of shared drives can become unstructured and the product lacks more complex workflow automation features.
31,775,247 Twitter followers
Launch and grow your business with Microsoft 365. Do more, faster, with intelligent tools to create, send, share, and store professional, branded documents with your customers and team - securely in t
Microsoft 365 is a productivity suite that integrates tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams for work and collaboration. Reviewers appreciate the seamless integration across the suite, the accessibility from any device, and the automatic saving and syncing feature that enhances reliability. Users experienced issues with the high subscription cost, heavy reliance on internet connectivity, and frequent updates that sometimes make the interface confusing.
13,088,482 Twitter followers
Acrobat: Trusted for documents. Now built for how work really happens. For more than 30 years, Acrobat has been the trusted name in document workflow — helping businesses create, sign, and share wi
957,057 Twitter followers
Microsoft Word is a comprehensive word processing application developed by Microsoft, first introduced in 1983. It enables users to create, edit, format, and share text documents efficiently. Over the
13,088,482 Twitter followers
ClickUp is the world’s first Converged AI Workspace, bringing together all work apps, data, and workflows. ClickUp eliminates all forms of work sprawl to provide 100% context and a single place for hu
ClickUp is a project management tool that combines tasks, documents, and goals into a single interface, offering customization and automation features. Users like ClickUp's flexibility, customization options, and its ability to consolidate multiple tools into one, making it easier to manage tasks and projects. Users experienced issues with ClickUp's steep learning curve, occasional performance slowdowns, and complexity due to its numerous features and customization options.
68,803 Twitter followers
Founded in 2001, Foxit is a leading provider of innovative PDF and eSignature products and services, helping knowledge workers increase productivity and do more with documents. Foxit combines easy-to-
6,225 Twitter followers
Goodbye app overload. Hello effortless work. Work can be complicated. Your tools shouldn't be. Zoom Workplace connects all the ways you collaborate — from meetings to docs to chat and more — with bui
Zoom Workplace is a platform that centralizes communication, collaboration, and execution in one environment, offering features for videoconferencing, virtual meetings, webinars, and more. Reviewers appreciate the simplicity and reliability of Zoom Workplace for daily meetings, highlighting the ease of joining calls, scheduling meetings, sharing screens, and the clear audio and video quality. Users mentioned occasional minor connection issues or short audio delays, and noted that the platform can use a lot of system resources during long meetings.
1,045,404 Twitter followers
Pages is a word processor developed by Apple, designed to create stunning documents with ease. It comes pre-installed on most Apple devices, including Mac, iPad, and iPhone, and is also accessible via
9,943,943 Twitter followers
Flexible. Scalable. Embedded. Conga Composer transforms how businesses generate documents Disconnected systems and manual workflows make document generation slow, error-prone, and costly. Con
11,113 Twitter followers
Dropbox Paper is a collaborative document-editing service developed by Dropbox, designed to facilitate seamless teamwork and idea sharing. Launched in January 2017, Paper provides a flexible workspace
3,293,925 Twitter followers
iLovePDF streamlines document management with a versatile suite of 25+ tools, accessible on mobile, desktop, and via a REST API. Whether editing, merging, splitting, compressing, converting, or eSigni
28,913 Twitter followers
Zoho Writer is an online word processor that allows you to write, edit, and collaborate on documents, as well as publish them on multiple platforms. With powerful editing tools, an AI-powered, multili
137,095 Twitter followers
Adobe Acrobat PDF Pack is a comprehensive suite of online tools designed to streamline the creation, conversion, organization, and sharing of PDF documents. Accessible via web browsers and mobile devi
957,057 Twitter followers
This leading alternative to Adobe® Acrobat® and Foxit® offers enterprise-grade PDF functionalities and perpetual licensing at a fraction of the price.UPDF is an all-in-one PDF solution that allows yo
724 Twitter followers
Learn More About Document Creation Software
What is Document Creation Software?
Cloud-based document creation tools can be shared, viewed, and adjusted with anyone a user chooses to collaborate with. Additionally, the tools include access privilege settings so only users with permissions can view certain documents. Cloud-based tools also provide users with access to documents anytime, anywhere, provided you have internet access. In some cases, document creation tools allow offline adjustments—although those edits won’t save until internet access is regained—which is particularly helpful for workers who are traveling and cannot easily access the internet.
On top of its accessibility benefits, document creation software enables better organization. In many cases, the software provides a repository to store and manage all created documents. Such a repository generally exists on a drive that can easily be shared with a team. If an entire team has access to the documents created, they can more easily locate specific projects and better collaborate with team members.
Key Benefits of Document Creation Software
- Provides an easy collaboration solution
- Easily configures settings to formalize consistent formatting standards and ensure privacy
- Eases the sharing and managing of stored documents
Why Use Document Creation Software?
For businesses, the main benefit of a document creation solution is collaboration on written or visual projects. Document creation software can significantly simplify collaborative projects, easily storing, organizing, and allowing edits to any project-related documentation. That benefit can be felt either in situations where multiple team members must equally contribute to a project or when a single document requires a second set of eyes prior to publication.
Furthermore, document creation software provides a seamless solution for writers. Take, for example, remote freelance writers or team members: Rather than endlessly email pieces of content back and forth, they can easily submit their written content on a company's shared drive. Once the content exists on the drive, then it can easily be shared with other team members and managers, seamlessly fitting into existing processes and workflows.
Who Uses Document Creation Software?
Written and visual content is everywhere, no matter the industry, so all businesses and freelancers have a use case for document creation software. Document creation tools are most commonly seen in industries that publish or share content, such as marketing, media, and education. Additionally, financial services companies, law firms, and other corporate entities all use document creation tools to produce documents. For example, a loan originator might use a document generator to create a loan contract quickly and easily. The collaborative aspect helps connect teams on single projects, assists with file conversions, and provides an easy word processing solution, which is why the software is popular across all industries.
Kinds of Document Creation software
There are a couple of different document creation tools available:
Word processor — When the goal is putting words onto the page, a word processor is your go-to type of document creation tool. Whether it’s a report, contract, or even brainstorming notes, word processors provide a variety of resources to facilitate the writing process. For example, word count and page count, which are common features of word processors, help the user keep track of any task goals or parameters they have set in place.
PDF creator/editor — PDF editors assist in creating, editing, and converting PDFs. PDF editors are useful in situations where text needs to be redacted or when you need to make a document's text searchable.
Document Creation Software Features
Despite their apparent simplicity, document creation software comes packed with features to streamline the process of typing documents. Most products in the space will come with the same basic features, but many cloud-based solutions are able to provide extra collaborative features because of their syncable nature.
Word processor — All document creation solutions serve as a word processor. The main, bare-bones use case of a document creation solution is to allow users to input, edit, and format text.
Grammar and spell check — The majority of document creation solutions provide a built-in grammar and spell checker. Words that are either spelled incorrectly or used incorrectly in terms of grammar are highlighted so users can review them and make changes. Grammar and spell checkers will also often provide a recommended fix that offers the potential correct spelling or usage for a word.
Font modifiers — Document creation software may provide dozens of preinstalled fonts for users to choose from. For on-premises solutions, users can also download fonts online and use them within the software after installation. Users also have the ability to bold, italicize, and underline text, and some options also allow users to change the color of text and highlight sections.
Save and store — Users can save and store their documents from inside the document creation software. On-premises solutions will allow users to name their documents and decide where in their hard drive they want to store the document. Cloud-based solutions will often integrate with a content management system to store saved documents. All saved documents can be opened again later so users can continue writing or edit them.
Document formatting — Document creation tools enable users to change all aspects of a document, including margins, headers and footers, line spacing, and indentation.
Templates — Document formats can be saved as a template for repeat use. Many document creation tools will also provide premade templates for documents like resumes, legal forms, letters, and brochures.
Insert images — Document creation tools can add images to documents from saved local storage or from the cloud, depending on the solution. Some solutions can even pull images like graphs or charts from other software like spreadsheets if integrations are provided.
File types — Most document creation tools will allow users to save or download their documents as different file types, including PDF, plain text files, and rich text files.
Additional Document Creation Features
Collaborative editing — Since cloud-based document creation solutions can sync across devices, most allow multiple users to edit a document at the same time. Users can view changes and additions in real time (and see who is making them). Cloud-based solutions also allow users to see everyone who is viewing the document at a given moment, even if they aren’t making any additions to the document itself.
Suggest edits — Cloud-based solutions will allow users to share documents with others so they can proofread their work. Proofreaders will have the option to suggest edits instead of editing the document directly. These suggested edits can then be approved by either the document’s owner or whoever the owner gives permission. Once changes are approved, the recommended edit is then applied to the original document.
Sharing — While documents created using on-premises document creation solutions will have to be attached to a message to share it, those made with cloud-based solutions can simply share a link that takes the user to the document. The owner of the document can set different permissions per document or user, such as view-only or allow others to make changes.
Potential Issues with Document Creation Software
Potentially expensive — While some computers will come with an on-premises, local document creation tool preinstalled, those that don’t will have to pay for a license for an on-premises solution should they want one. On-premises solutions can be expensive without discounts like vouchers or complimentary licenses through schools, universities, or employers. While free on-premises document creation solutions are available, name-brand options that are sometimes required by schools or workplaces come with a hefty price tag.
While popular cloud-based document creation solutions offer a free base product, businesses looking for storage space that can accomodate them might have to pay extra. While the ability to use the document creation software is usually free, the accompanying cloud storage space required may be expensive.
