Quick answer
TemplateFox - TemplateFox wins for most builders because its free tier gives a bit more monthly volume and its first paid step is dramatically cheaper, while CraftMyPDF only pulls ahead if you specifically need the richer paid feature set like teams, BYO storage, or PDF password protection.
How the free tiers compare
These are both usable PDF-generation APIs with small free tiers, 3-template caps, REST access, and no-card free access. The difference is in what happens when you outgrow free. CraftMyPDF is more feature-forward on the paid side: it adds DPA, then teams, BYO storage, and password protection only at higher plans, with pricing stepping up from $29 to $499 flat. TemplateFox is more cost-efficient for volume: its free tier is slightly larger at 60 PDFs versus 50, and its paid ladder starts much lower at $11.44/month, reaching 1,000 PDFs before you get to higher tiers. If you want the cheapest path from prototype to low-volume production, TemplateFox is easier to justify. If document governance and collaboration matter more than price, CraftMyPDF has the stronger upper tiers.
CraftMyPDF vs TemplateFox free tier, side by side
| CraftMyPDFFTV 60 | TemplateFoxFTV 48 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free PDFs/images per monthCraftMyPDF counts PDFs or images; TemplateFox counts PDFs. | 50 | 60 |
| Free templates | 3 | 3 |
| Free REST API access | Yes | Yes |
| Free no-code integrationsTemplateFox explicitly includes all integrations on free; CraftMyPDF names Zapier, Make, and Bubble. | Zapier, Make, Bubble | All integrations |
| Free support | Individual | Community support |
| First paid plan | Lite - $29/month | Starter - $11.44/month |
| First paid PDFs/month | 1,200 | 1,000 |
| Paid templates on first paid tier | 6 | 10 |
| Request rate limit on first paid tierTemplateFox includes request limits on paid plans; CraftMyPDF did not provide a request-rate quota. | Not provided | 30 requests/min |
| Teams collaborationTemplateFox does not list team support until Enterprise. | Only on Professional and above | Unlimited team members on Enterprise |
| BYO storage | Only on Professional and above | S3 upload integration on Business |
| PDF password protection | Only on Professional and above | Not provided |
| DPA | Yes on all listed paid plans | Not provided |
After you outgrow the free tier
CraftMyPDF uses flat monthly pricing from $29 to $499, with bigger quotas and collaboration/security features arriving only on higher tiers. TemplateFox starts much cheaper at $11.44/month, stays flat through Business, and then switches to a contact-sales Enterprise plan that also adds per-PDF overage at $0.005 each after 40,000 PDFs included. For typical small-team usage, TemplateFox is cheaper by a wide margin. CraftMyPDF becomes the better fit if you value its higher-tier feature bundle more than the entry price.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | CraftMyPDF | TemplateFox |
|---|---|---|
| 50 PDFs/mo | Free (within tier) | Free (within tier) |
| 500 PDFs/moBoth fit within the first paid tier once you outgrow free. | $29/mo | $11.44/mo |
| 1,500 PDFs/moTemplateFox Starter is too small, so Pro is the relevant paid tier. | $49/mo | $33.77/mo |
| 10,000 PDFs/moTemplateFox needs Business; CraftMyPDF needs Professional. | $99/mo | $111.22/mo |
| 40,000 PDFs/moTemplateFox Enterprise starts at 40,000 PDFs included and then charges overage. | $299/mo | $300/mo plus $0.005 per additional PDF beyond 40,000 |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick CraftMyPDF when…
- You need PDF password protection for a paid workflow.
- You expect to move into team collaboration or shared document ops.
- You want BYO storage in the paid plan without jumping to a custom contract.
- You care more about support/integration bundle depth than the absolute lowest monthly bill.
- You are likely to need much larger flat-rate quotas later, such as 12,000 to 150,000 PDFs/month.
Pick TemplateFox when…
- You want the lowest-cost paid entry point after the free tier.
- You are validating a PDF feature in a small app and may only need 1,000 PDFs/month for a while.
- You want a slightly larger free allowance before paying, with 60 PDFs/month instead of 50.
- You may eventually prefer usage-based expansion beyond 40,000 PDFs/month.
- You are fine without the extra governance features that only show up on CraftMyPDF’s higher tiers.
Bottom line
For most builders, TemplateFox is the easier free-tier choice because it gives slightly more free volume and a much cheaper first paid step. That makes it the better option for prototypes, low-volume apps, and teams that just need PDF generation without extra governance features. CraftMyPDF is the better pick only when you know you will need features like DPA, teams, BYO storage, or PDF password protection as you scale, and you are willing to pay more for those controls.
Read the full listings: CraftMyPDF and TemplateFox. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.