CloudFiles is a complete Salesforce document platform: generation, managed storage across SharePoint, OneDrive, Google Drive, and S3, AI extraction, migration, and analytics, in one subscription. 360 SmartDocs generates documents and stores them in Salesforce Files; its external storage is a separate product. Here is why CloudFiles is the more complete, better-value choice.
TL;DR
- CloudFiles combines generation and managed external storage, AI extraction, migration, and analytics in one product.
- 360 SmartDocs generates and delivers documents but stores them in Salesforce Files, so it adds to rather than reduces Salesforce storage, and external storage and file management come from a separate product, 360 File Sync, with no AI extraction. Its 5.0 AppExchange rating comes from just 15 reviews, a much smaller base than CloudFiles'.
- On value, matching CloudFiles with 360 Degree Cloud means buying two products, and even then there is no AI extraction. CloudFiles delivers generation, storage, migration, AI, and analytics in one subscription from $19/user/month.
What each tool is built for?
Before the feature-by-feature detail, here is the scope of each product side by side. CloudFiles is a full document platform; 360 SmartDocs sits in a narrower part of that picture, which is exactly what the comparison below maps out.
CloudFiles - A complete document platform inside Salesforce
AppExchange - 4.9 stars, 1,200+ Salesforce teams
Focus: Full document workflow: generate, manage, extract, share
Storage: Native SharePoint, OneDrive, Google Drive, AWS S3
Automation: Flow actions + Apex + REST API (no-code first)
Pricing: From $19/user/month, free trial, no lock-in
Compliance: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR
360 SmartDocs - Generation that stores to Salesforce Files
Scope: Generation and delivery; stores to Salesforce Files
Storage: External storage via separate 360 File Sync product
AI extraction: ❌ available
Migration: Not in SmartDocs; handled by separate product
Maturity: 5.0 stars from 15 AppExchange reviews; a much smaller review base than CloudFiles
Vendor: 360 Degree Cloud
Generation, file management, AI data extraction, SharePoint/OneDrive/Google Drive/S3 integration, bulk migration, and engagement analytics, all native to Salesforce and in one subscription. 360 SmartDocs, by contrast: 360 SmartDocs generates and delivers documents, but stores them in Salesforce Files, so it does not reduce Salesforce storage, and its external storage and file management are a separate product, with no AI extraction.
CloudFiles vs 360 SmartDocs: full feature comparison
A like-for-like breakdown across document generation, storage and file management, AI and automation, sharing and analytics, security, and pricing. Every row is accurate: where a 360 SmartDocs capability is a separate add-on, tier-gated, or narrower than CloudFiles, the table shows exactly where its scope ends.
- Document Generation
Capability | CloudFiles | 360 SmartDocs |
|---|---|---|
Generate documents from Salesforce data: contracts, quotes, proposals, invoices | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Author templates in Microsoft Office: | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Partial |
Template formats supported: Word / Excel / PowerPoint / PDF | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Partial |
Bulk/batch generation: | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
E-signature: Integrated signing | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Template governance & version control: Validation, versioning, audit | ✅ Yes Built-in Template Governance Hub: pre-publish validation, version control, and usage insights. | ⚠️ Partial Publishes approved template versions, but has no pre-publish validation or full governance hub. CloudFiles includes a Governance Hub. |
- Storage & file management
Capability | CloudFiles | 360 SmartDocs |
|---|---|---|
Salesforce-SharePoint integration: | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Partial |
External storage destinations: | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Partial |
Full file management from Salesforce: | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Bulk migration of existing Salesforce files: | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
- AI & automation
Capability | CloudFiles | 360 SmartDocs |
|---|---|---|
AI OCR data extraction: | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Salesforce Flow file actions: | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Agentforce compatibility: | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Partial |
- Sharing & engagement analytics
Capability | CloudFiles | 360 SmartDocs |
|---|---|---|
Tracked sharing links & analytics: | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Partial |
Experience Cloud / external portal: | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Partial |
- Security, compliance & setup
Capability | CloudFiles | 360 SmartDocs |
|---|---|---|
Independent security certifications: | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Partial |
Setup complexity: | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
- Pricing & value
Capability | CloudFiles | 360 SmartDocs |
|---|---|---|
Pricing model & total value: | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Partial |
Where the difference is biggest?
- Storage is a separate product, and files stay in Salesforce
SmartDocs stores generated files in Salesforce Files, so it adds to your Salesforce storage rather than reducing it. Managed external storage and file operations require 360 Degree Cloud's separate 360 File Sync product. CloudFiles combines generation and multi-cloud file management in one platform.
- No AI extraction, even with both products
Neither SmartDocs nor its companion storage product reads inbound documents to populate Salesforce fields. CloudFiles Document AI extracts from invoices, contracts, and IDs into Salesforce.
- A perfect rating, but a thin record
SmartDocs holds a 5.0 AppExchange rating, but from only 15 reviews. CloudFiles has 220+ AppExchange reviews across 1,200+ Salesforce customers, a much deeper track record.
- Better value as one platform
Two products from 360 Degree Cloud, still without AI, cost more and cover less than one CloudFiles subscription, which includes generation, storage, migration, AI, and analytics from $19/user/month.
Which should you choose?
Neither tool is the right answer for every team. The honest split looks like this.
🚀 Choose CloudFiles if you need
✅ Document generation that auto-saves to SharePoint, OneDrive, Google Drive, or S3 and links back to the record.
✅ Native Microsoft Office Add-Ins so you reuse existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint templates without a rebuild.
✅ Full file management (upload, preview, move, rename, delete) of external storage from inside Salesforce.
✅ Bulk migration of existing Salesforce files to external storage to cut your Salesforce storage bill.
✅ AI OCR that extracts data from invoices, contracts, and IDs back into Salesforce fields.
✅ Tracked sharing links with per-document engagement analytics inside Salesforce.
✅ External portal access for clients via Experience Cloud without a Microsoft licence.
✅ Independently verified SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR compliance.
✅ One platform, one subscription, from $19/user/month, instead of buying generation, storage, e-sign, and analytics separately.
🚀 Consider 360 SmartDocs if you need
👉🏻 You need fast generation and can store outputs inside Salesforce
👉🏻 You are willing to buy a separate product for external storage
👉🏻 You do not need AI extraction or per-document engagement analytics
👉🏻 A 15-review track record is enough assurance for your use case
Frequently asked questions
- Is CloudFiles better than 360 SmartDocs?
Yes on scope and value. SmartDocs generates documents and stores them in Salesforce Files, so it adds to rather than reduces Salesforce storage, and its external storage is a separate product, 360 File Sync, with no AI extraction. CloudFiles combines generation, multi-cloud storage, migration, AI, and analytics in one product.
- Does 360 SmartDocs manage external storage like SharePoint?
Not by itself. SmartDocs stores generated files in Salesforce Files. Managed external storage across SharePoint, OneDrive, Google Drive, and S3, and any storage-cost reduction, requires 360 Degree Cloud's separate product, 360 File Sync. CloudFiles includes all of it in one product.
- Does 360 SmartDocs use AI or reduce Salesforce storage?
No. SmartDocs keeps files in Salesforce Files, so it does not cut your storage bill, and neither it nor its companion storage product extracts data from inbound documents. CloudFiles bulk migration and Document AI do both.
- Is 360 SmartDocs proven and good value?
SmartDocs holds a 5.0 rating on AppExchange, but from 15 reviews, a much smaller base than CloudFiles' 220+ AppExchange reviews across 1,200+ Salesforce customers. Matching CloudFiles' scope also means buying two products from 360 Degree Cloud while still lacking AI. CloudFiles includes generation, storage, migration, AI, and analytics from $19/user/month.
- What can CloudFiles do that 360 SmartDocs cannot?
Manage files across four clouds in the same product, reduce Salesforce storage through migration, extract data with AI, and provide per-page engagement analytics, none of which SmartDocs offers on its own.
Disclaimer. This comparison was written by the CloudFiles team. CloudFiles is our product and we have a commercial interest in this comparison. Information about 360 SmartDocs is based on publicly available product documentation, official 360 Degree Cloud documentation, AppExchange listings, and third-party review platforms including G2, Capterra, SoftwareAdvice, and AppExchange reviews, verified as of June 2026. 360 SmartDocs and 360 File Sync are products of 360 Degree Cloud Technologies. Features, capabilities, ratings, and limitations may vary by configuration, plan tier, and updates over time. If any information here is inaccurate or outdated, please contact marketing@cloudfiles.io and we will correct it promptly.
Written by: Shounak Chowdhury, Digital Marketing Specialist - he works on content, product marketing, and customer education initiatives. He enjoys simplifying complex workflows into practical, easy-to-understand solutions and creating content that helps teams work smarter with documents and automation.
