Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · PDF Creation Software

iText Core vs Conga Composer

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score iText Core #4 in PDF Creation Software 8.9/10 Free plan · pricing on request Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit iText Core
Conga Composer #6 in PDF Creation Software 8.5/10 Pricing on request ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Conga

iText Core leads on 0 checks, Conga Composer on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreiText Core · 8.9/10
  • Free planonly iText Core
  • Most featuresConga Composer · 4 of 4

iText Core scores higher on our rubric for pdf creation software: 8.9 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #6.

On deployment, iText Core gives you Self_hosted where Conga Composer offers Web.

iText Core is the better fit for java and .NET PDF engineering teams. Conga Composer is the better fit for enterprise CRM and high-volume document workflows.

  • iText Core fits best

    Java and .NET PDF engineering teams

  • Conga Composer fits best

    Enterprise CRM and high-volume document workflows

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature iText Core 8.9/10 Visit ↗ Conga Composer 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.5
Ranking #4 in PDF Creation Software #6 in PDF Creation Software
Best for Java and .NET PDF engineering teams Enterprise CRM and high-volume document workflows
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price — Pricing on request
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Cloud
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Web
Support Docs, Community, Email Docs
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features iText Core 3/4 · Conga Composer 4/4
Data merge ✓ ✓
Bulk PDF generation Not checked yet ✓ (best)
API access ✓ ✓
Fillable form creation ✓ ✓
Specs
Maximum pages Not checked yet Not checked yet
Input sources text, images, existing PDF documents PDF; Microsoft Word; Excel; PowerPoint; HTML email; CRM/ERP and other system data
Deployment Self_hosted Web
Our review
Pros
  • High- and low-level APIs for programmatic PDF creation
  • Supports PDF/A, PDF/UA, PDF 2.0, signatures, and security
  • AGPL access with unlimited PDF generation
  • Merges data from CRMs, ERPs, and other systems of record
  • Supports bulk generation, conditional logic, calculations, and grouping
  • Offers REST APIs plus extensive storage, delivery, and signing integrations
Cons
  • AGPL requires disclosure of the application's full source code
  • Commercial pricing is customized or based on PDF volume
  • Focused on APIs and self-hosted development rather than broad integrations
  • Pricing requires contacting sales
  • Merged PDF forms are not editable afterward
  • Does not create fillable forms
Our verdict

iText Core is a programmable PDF library for Java and .NET developers building document functionality into applications and workflows. It supports creating, manipulating, splitting, merging, filling, flattening, signing, encrypting, and…

Read the review →

Conga Composer generates PDFs, Word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and HTML email content from business data and templates. It is aimed at organizations producing proposals, quotes, contracts, invoices, reports, forms, and…

Read the review →
  1. iText CorePDF Creation Software 8.9Free plan · pricing on request
  2. Conga ComposerPDF Creation Software 8.5Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • iText Core — where it wins

    • High- and low-level APIs for programmatic PDF creation
    • Supports PDF/A, PDF/UA, PDF 2.0, signatures, and security
    • AGPL access with unlimited PDF generation

    Where it doesn't

    • AGPL requires disclosure of the application's full source code
    • Commercial pricing is customized or based on PDF volume
    • Focused on APIs and self-hosted development rather than broad integrations

  • Conga Composer — where it wins

    • Merges data from CRMs, ERPs, and other systems of record
    • Supports bulk generation, conditional logic, calculations, and grouping
    • Offers REST APIs plus extensive storage, delivery, and signing integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires contacting sales
    • Merged PDF forms are not editable afterward
    • Does not create fillable forms
  • iText Core8.9/10 · Free plan · pricing on request

    A focused, self-hosted PDF library for teams that need code-level control.

    Visit iText CoreFull verdict →
  • Conga Composer8.5/10 · Pricing on request

    A broad document automation platform for CRM data, bulk output, and workflows.

    Visit CongaFull verdict →

More comparisons

All PDF creation software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update