# Salesforce Document Generation vs CloudFiles > Salesforce Document Generation vs CloudFiles on one published method: Enterprise Readiness 3.3 vs 4.6, Functionality 3.5 vs 4.4 of 5, and how much public evidence backs each score. *Compare · Document generation for Salesforce* ## Salesforce Document Generation vs CloudFiles Both products scored on the same matrix, from the same kinds of public source, with the same arithmetic. Every number below links back to the evidence behind it. [Read the evidence](/blog/salesforce-document-generation-vs-cloudfiles-evidence) · [How we compare](/blog/how-we-compare-salesforce-document-apps) The verdict ## Both build documents from Salesforce data. CloudFiles leads on both axes. CloudFiles scores higher on Enterprise Readiness and on Functionality. Salesforce Document Generation is part of the Salesforce platform, and it misses one dealbreaker: it does not output Excel. Every figure is a composite; the evidence behind each one is linked below it. Where each product sits Corner labels are for orientation only: each product is plotted at its exact scores, not placed in a cell. Salesforce Document GenerationCloudFilesEnterprise ReadinessBuilt, sold and bought for large organisations[Details →](#enterprise-readiness)Salesforce Document Generation3.3/ 5MixedCloudFiles4.6/ 5Highly readyFunctionalityAverage rung across 18 features, weighted by Kano class[Details →](#functionality)Salesforce Document Generation3.5/ 58 of 18 features at L4–L5CloudFiles4.4/ 514 of 18 features at L4–L5Dealbreakers3 features checked first, each at L4[Details →](#functionality)Salesforce Document Generation2/ 3 pass - ✓Data SourcesL5 - ✓Repeating ContentL4 - ✕Output FormatsL3 CloudFiles3/ 3 pass - ✓Data SourcesL5 - ✓Repeating ContentL5 - ✓Output FormatsL5 Data ReliabilityHow much of the evidence is public and precise[Details →](#data-reliability)Salesforce Document Generation76%Well documentedCloudFiles88%Well documented Biggest gapOutput and templates CloudFiles outputs Excel as well as Word, PowerPoint and PDF, builds templates through add-ins and merges existing files into packets; Salesforce has no Excel output, so it misses one dealbreaker. CloudFiles scores 4.4 on Functionality against 3.5. Where Salesforce leadsPart of the platform Salesforce Document Generation comes with Industries, Contracts and Revenue Cloud licences, and is covered by Salesforce's own certifications, support plans and partner network. Where they tieLevel on 7 features Both are rated the same on template management, data sources, runtime input, calculations & formatting, rich media, send & hand-off and Experience Cloud support. [Enterprise Readiness](#enterprise-readiness)[Functionality](#functionality)[Automation](#automation)[Facts](#facts)[Data Reliability](#data-reliability)[Which to choose](#choose) Enterprise Readiness ## Who each product is built for Four signals, each scored 1–5 from public sources. The item-by-item trail is in [the evidence post](/blog/salesforce-document-generation-vs-cloudfiles-evidence#enterprise-readiness-score-x). Enterprise ReadinessSalesforce3.3MixedCloudFiles4.6Highly ready SignalScore, 1–5What makes the difference Observed buyersWho actually buys itWeight 3Salesforce1.0Not readyCloudFiles4.0Leans highCloudFiles aheadCloudFiles' identified reviewers and named customers are mostly large organisations; Salesforce names no customer for Document Generation, and as a built-in feature it has no AppExchange reviews. Commercial & service designHow it's priced, sold and supportedWeight 2Salesforce4.4Highly readyCloudFiles4.9Highly readyCloudFiles aheadCloudFiles includes all support and offers a no-install test drive with a guide; Salesforce's top support tier, Signature, is sold separately, and Document Generation is tried inside Industries trials. Technical designHow deep and enterprise-grade it isWeight 2Salesforce4.5Highly readyCloudFiles4.7Highly readyCloudFiles aheadCloudFiles keeps its document generation help in one place; Salesforce's is split across Document Generation, OmniStudio and Contracts. Both are backed by SOC 2, ISO 27001 and HIPAA. Messaging & ecosystemWho it's for, and who vouches for itWeight 1Salesforce4.0Leans highCloudFiles4.3Highly readyCloudFiles aheadCloudFiles has profiles on all three review sites, where Salesforce Document Generation has none. Salesforce brings its global integrator network. Functionality ## What each product does Eighteen document generation features, each rated on the same five-rung ladder. The score is the average rung, weighted by each feature's Kano class: Dial 3, Delighter 2, Dealbreaker 1, Distractor 0. [What each feature and rung means](/blog/how-we-score-salesforce-document-generation#the-features). Functionality scoreaverage rung, weighted by Kano class*Salesforce***3.5 / 5***CloudFiles***4.4 / 5**Dealbreakers passedthe three features every buyer needs*Salesforce***2 / 3***CloudFiles***3 / 3**Rated the sameno difference between the two*Both***7 features** The feature ladder - L1**Absent.** Can't be done. - L2**Workaround.** Only by hand, by custom code or by staging data first. - L3**Limited.** Works, but with gaps. - L4**Complete.** Everything a buyer expects. - L5**Extended.** Complete, plus useful extras. Bars fill to the rung reached. L4 and L5 count as fully supported. Templatefully supported: Salesforce 0 · CloudFiles 1 of 2Template AuthoringSalesforceL3 · LimitedCloudFilesL5 · ExtendedTemplate ManagementSalesforceL3 · LimitedCloudFilesL3 · LimitedContent Logicfully supported: Salesforce 3 · CloudFiles 3 of 4Conditional LogicSalesforceL4 · CompleteCloudFilesL5 · ExtendedRepeating Content DealbreakerSalesforceL4 · CompleteCloudFilesL5 · ExtendedCalculations & FormattingSalesforceL4 · CompleteCloudFilesL4 · CompleteRich MediaSalesforceL3 · LimitedCloudFilesL3 · LimitedSalesforce Supportfully supported: Salesforce 1 · CloudFiles 2 of 2Experience Cloud SupportSalesforceL5 · ExtendedCloudFilesL5 · ExtendedMobile CompatibilitySalesforceL1 · AbsentCloudFilesL4 · CompleteDatafully supported: Salesforce 2 · CloudFiles 2 of 2Data Sources DealbreakerSalesforceL5 · ExtendedCloudFilesL5 · ExtendedRuntime InputSalesforceL5 · ExtendedCloudFilesL5 · ExtendedOutput & Deliveryfully supported: Salesforce 2 · CloudFiles 6 of 8Output Formats DealbreakerSalesforceL3 · LimitedCloudFilesL5 · ExtendedFillable DocumentsSalesforceL1 · AbsentCloudFilesL3 · LimitedDocument PacketsSalesforceL3 · LimitedCloudFilesL5 · ExtendedBulk GenerationSalesforceL3 · LimitedCloudFilesL5 · ExtendedPreview & EditSalesforceL3 · LimitedCloudFilesL4 · CompleteSave & Write-backSalesforceL4 · CompleteCloudFilesL5 · ExtendedSend & Hand-offSalesforceL3 · LimitedCloudFilesL3 · LimitedRun HistorySalesforceL4 · CompleteCloudFilesL5 · Extended Automation ## How much runs without a person 7 of the 18 features can be automated. Each is rated on a five-rung ladder for how far it runs through Flow, for admins, and Apex or an API, for developers. The score is the average rung, reported on its own: it does not change the Functionality score above. Salesforce Document Generation4.0/ 5 average rung7 of 7 at L4 or above · 0 at L5CloudFiles4.0/ 5 average rung7 of 7 at L4 or above · 0 at L5 The automation ladder - L1**Absent.** No automation for the feature. - L2**Workaround.** Built-in options that act like automation, with little control. - L3**Limited.** Only one of Flow, Apex or an API, or thin capabilities. - L4**Complete.** Both Flow and Apex, with the basics covered. - L5**Extended.** Everything in L4, plus options beyond the basics. **CloudFiles higher** none**Salesforce higher** none**Level** Data Sources, Runtime Input, Output Formats, Document Packets, Bulk Generation, Save & Write-back and Send & Hand-off Data SourcesSalesforceL4 · CompleteCloudFilesL4 · CompleteRuntime InputSalesforceL4 · CompleteCloudFilesL4 · CompleteOutput FormatsSalesforceL4 · CompleteCloudFilesL4 · CompleteDocument PacketsSalesforceL4 · CompleteCloudFilesL4 · CompleteBulk GenerationSalesforceL4 · CompleteCloudFilesL4 · CompleteSave & Write-backSalesforceL4 · CompleteCloudFilesL4 · CompleteSend & Hand-offSalesforceL4 · CompleteCloudFilesL4 · Complete Facts ## The two products, side by side Stated as facts and not scored. What they share comes first, then where they differ most. Salesforce Document Generationby Salesforce · document generation built into the Salesforce platformCloudFilesby CloudFiles · a Salesforce-native document generation app What they have in common - Both run inside Salesforce and generate Word, PowerPoint and PDF files from Salesforce data. - Both merge data from outside Salesforce into the same run, and both collect input from users through guided screens. - Both run from Flow and Apex, and both let portal users generate and preview documents. Where they differ mostSalesforceCloudFiles Pricing and licenceSalesforceComes with Industries, Contracts and Revenue Cloud licences; no list price, and server-side and large-file generation are gatedCloudFilesQuote-based, per org or per user Building templatesSalesforceA Word add-in for clauses; fields typed as tokens and mapped in a Data MapperCloudFilesScores higherAdd-ins for Word, Excel and PowerPoint, with live preview on real record data Automation (Flow and Apex)SalesforceAutomation score 4.0 of 5; a Flow or Apex creates a Document Generation Process recordCloudFilesAutomation score 4.0 of 5; every automatable feature runs from Flow and Apex Security and complianceSalesforceCovered by Salesforce's SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA and HITRUST reports, at platform levelCloudFilesIndependently audited for SOC 2 Type II; ISO 27001, 27017 and 27018; HIPAA; GDPR with a public DPA Try before you buySalesforceIncluded in Salesforce's Industries free trials, such as Media CloudCloudFilesScores higherA no-install test drive from the AppExchange Try It button, with a guide “Scores higher” marks the product with the higher score on the matching item in this comparison. *Data Reliability* ## How much of this is *public* How much of what we scored is public and stated as a checkable fact. It measures what each vendor makes public, not the vendor. | Component | Salesforce Document Generation | CloudFiles | |---|---|---| | Data Reliability | 76% · Well documented | 88% · Well documented | | Coverage | 95% | 98% | | Precision | 56% | 78% | | Where the evidence comes from | Every feature rests on a Salesforce Help page; Enterprise Readiness draws on Salesforce Help, Trailhead, Salesforce's compliance site, LinkedIn and review-site searches | Every feature rests on a dated CloudFiles help page; Enterprise Readiness draws on AppExchange, review sites, LinkedIn and CloudFiles' public security page, DPA and Trust Portal | | Key data reliability issue | No AppExchange reviews to read, and no customers named for the product | None found | Which to choose ## Start from what you need Each row is a need where the two products differ, answered from the scores above. If this matters to youBetter fitWhy Documents must come out as Excel as well as Word, PowerPoint and PDF CloudFilesCloudFiles outputs all four, with PDF passwords and restrictions (L5); Salesforce outputs Word, PowerPoint and PDF, with no Excel (L3). Template authors should work in Word, Excel and PowerPoint without typing tokens CloudFilesCloudFiles' add-ins place fields, tables and conditions point-and-click, with live preview (L5); Salesforce fields are typed as tokens and mapped separately (L3). Packets should combine generated documents with Word or image files CloudFilesCloudFiles merges generated and existing files in order (L5); Salesforce joins up to ten PDFs only (L3). Batches should start from a list view or a report CloudFilesCloudFiles runs large and scheduled batches with per-record results (L5); Salesforce batches are built by Apex or by hand (L3). Documents should save to external storage CloudFilesCloudFiles saves to external storage with naming rules (L5); Salesforce attaches documents to the record only (L4). You already license Salesforce Industries, Contracts or Revenue Cloud SalesforceSalesforce Document Generation comes with those licences, with nothing extra to install. ## Frequently asked questions **Q: How do Salesforce Document Generation and CloudFiles compare?** On Enterprise Readiness, CloudFiles scores 4.6 of 5 and Salesforce Document Generation 3.3: Highly ready and Mixed. On Functionality, CloudFiles scores 4.4 of 5 and Salesforce 3.5, the Kano-weighted average of the rung each reaches on 18 document generation features; CloudFiles fully supports 14 of them and Salesforce 8. CloudFiles passes all 3 dealbreaker features; Salesforce passes 2, missing Output Formats. **Q: How is Salesforce Document Generation priced?** Salesforce publishes no list price. Document Generation comes with Industries, Contracts and Revenue Cloud licences, and server-side and large-file generation are gated. CloudFiles licenses per org or per user and prices by quote. **Q: What security and compliance does each product claim?** Salesforce Document Generation runs on the Salesforce platform and is covered by Salesforce's SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA and HITRUST reports. CloudFiles is independently audited for SOC 2 Type II and holds ISO 27001, 27017 and 27018, with HIPAA and GDPR. **Q: Does Salesforce Document Generation output Excel?** No. It outputs Word, PowerPoint and PDF, so it misses the Output Formats dealbreaker. CloudFiles outputs PDF, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. **Q: Where does Salesforce Document Generation score higher than CloudFiles?** On partners, where Salesforce brings its global integrator network. On features, it is level with CloudFiles on seven of the eighteen. **Q: Who wrote this comparison, and how was it scored?** CloudFiles wrote it. Both products are scored with the same published method, from the same kinds of public source, and the evidence behind every score is published so it can be checked. Ties and losses are shown as they fall. How this comparison was made ## Scored the same way, in the open CloudFiles makes one of the two products compared here, so everything that decides a score is published, including where Salesforce comes out ahead. CloudFiles' own evidence is in [CloudFiles for Document Generation: the evidence](/blog/cloudfiles-document-generation-evidence). One method for both The same two axes, the same five-rung feature ladder and the same confidence rules, for Salesforce and for CloudFiles. [How we compare →](/blog/how-we-compare-salesforce-document-apps) Public sources only Every score rests on what anyone can read: vendor sites and help docs, AppExchange, review sites, LinkedIn and public registers. [How features are scored →](/blog/how-we-score-salesforce-document-generation) Evidence you can check Each score's source and read date is in the evidence post. CloudFiles' own evidence is collected once and linked from every comparison. [Read the evidence →](/blog/salesforce-document-generation-vs-cloudfiles-evidence) Dated and corrected Scores as of 9 November 2026, re-read every cycle. If a score is wrong, tell us and we will correct it. [Report a correction →](/contact-us) ## Is CloudFiles the right fit for your team? In a 30-minute call, the CloudFiles team will look at your Salesforce setup and the documents you need to generate, and tell you plainly whether CloudFiles, Salesforce Document Generation or neither fits it. [Book a demo](https://meet.cloudfiles.io/salesforce?utm_content=cloudfiles-vs-salesforce-document-generation-footer)