Tool profile
Anvil: cost, fit and limits
Anvil is a PDF automation platform made by Anvil Foundry, Inc., a United States company, that fills existing PDF forms from JSON, generates documents from HTML or Markdown, and collects e-signatures through an API. Its Document AI converts an uploaded PDF into a fillable template mapped to a developer's data schema.
What to know first
Anvil starts with a Free plan that includes two seats, unlimited templates and test mode, then charges metered usage once a credit card is added. The AI sits in the template step, finding boxes, labeling fields and mapping them to your schema. API access to that AI begins on the $99 AI Pack. SOC 2 Type II and GDPR are stated on every plan, and HIPAA terms need Enterprise.
Anvil at a glance
| Maker | Anvil Foundry, Inc., United States |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | $99 per month |
| API access | Yes |
| Category | Best AI Document Generation Software in 2026, rank 4 of 10 |
| Website | useanvil.com |
Who Anvil is best for
Insurance and tax software teams
Fixed forms such as I-9, W-4 and ACORD are named on the PDF Services page as convertible directly, so a vendor can keep the official layout and only supply the data.
Healthcare and benefits platforms
HIPAA, BAA and DPA terms are listed for Enterprise, and the page mentions healthcare-oriented workflows, which gives regulated buyers a starting point for a security review.
Developers who want webforms and signing in one API
Workflows, webform generation and Etch e-sign packets share the same templates, so a single mapped PDF feeds a form, a signature request and a fill call.
Teams moving off another e-sign or PDF provider
Anvil offers Claude plugins that help move templates and API calls from other document and e-signature vendors, which lowers rebuild time.
Anvil plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 2 seats, unlimited templates, workflow submissions and Etch packets; Document AI in the dashboard only, with a 20-page cap per PDF. |
| AI Pack | $99 per month, $79 billed yearly | Adds API access to Document AI and 5 seats, plus AI schema mapping, flat-to-fillable conversion and a 50-page cap per PDF. |
| Product Pack | $425 per month, $340 billed yearly | AI Pack plus white labeling, custom colors, advanced signing modes, priority support and a 40 requests per second rate limit. |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Unlimited seats, SSO, HIPAA, BAA and DPA, child organizations and embeddable builders; volume discounts reach 50 to 55 percent at top tiers. |
Checked November 2026.
What Anvil does
- Document AI
- An uploaded PDF becomes an API-fillable template with fields mapped to your data schema. Box finding, field labeling and webform generation work in the dashboard on Free and through the API on paid plans.
- Fill and generate in one call
- One API call fills a template with JSON or generates a PDF from HTML and CSS or Markdown. The product page lists proposals, invoices, contracts and itineraries as typical generated documents.
- Free test mode
- Test mode is free and unlimited on every plan, so developers can run fills and generations without using credits before they switch to metered production calls.
- MCP server and SDKs
- An MCP server for AI agents, a GraphQL reference, language-specific SDKs and example scripts are listed on the product page, which shortens integration work for engineering teams.
- Metered overage
- Starter credits cover 2,500 PDF fills or generations. Past that, the pricing page charges $0.10 per fill or generation, $1.00 per workflow submission and $1.50 per Etch packet.
How Anvil handles your data
Anvil's pricing page states SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliance on all plans, with HIPAA, BAA and DPA reserved for Enterprise. Its privacy terms say content becomes inaccessible after cancellation and is permanently deleted from backups and logs within 30 days, and that Anvil claims no intellectual property rights over uploaded materials. The terms mention third-party hosting partners without naming them and give no hosting region. They do not address AI providers or training on customer data, so the vendor's policy was not checked for those points.
Where Anvil falls short in practice
- Metered costs add up. The Free plan needs a credit card for API usage, and per-unit overage of $0.10 per fill and $1.50 per signature packet can exceed a flat plan fee at volume. Model your expected monthly fills first.
- AI via API costs $99 or more. On Free, box finding and field labeling work only in the dashboard UI and PDFs cap at 20 pages. API access to AI schema mapping and a 50-page cap start on the AI Pack.
- No named hosting region. The privacy terms refer to third-party hosting partners without naming them or a region, so European buyers must ask where PDFs and submissions are stored before sending personal data.
Works with
Alternatives to Anvil
Anvil: common questions
What does Anvil's Document AI actually do?
It takes an uploaded PDF and turns it into an API-fillable template, then maps the fields to your own keys so one template works in Workflows, e-signature and API calls. On paid plans it also converts flat PDFs into fillable ones.
Can I use Anvil without paying?
Yes, the Free plan costs $0 and includes 2 seats and unlimited templates. Production API usage needs a credit card, and the starter credits cover 2,500 PDF fills or generations, 25 workflow submissions and 25 Etch packets. Test mode stays free and unlimited either way.
Which Anvil plan includes HIPAA terms?
Only Enterprise. SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliance are stated on all plans, but HIPAA, BAA and DPA are listed as available only on the Enterprise tier, which has custom pricing. A buyer who needs a signed BAA therefore has to go through a sales conversation.
How does Anvil charge above the included credits?
Metered overage is $0.10 per PDF fill or generation, $1.00 per workflow submission and $1.50 per Etch packet. Volume discounts of up to 50 to 55 percent are available at the highest tiers. Test mode calls are free and unlimited, so only production usage meters.
Is there a page limit on PDFs that Document AI processes?
Yes. The Free plan caps Document AI at 20 pages per PDF, and the AI Pack and higher raise the cap to 50 pages per PDF, which matters for long insurance or tax forms. Check the page count of your longest form before choosing a plan.