Zoho offers a suite of office productivity software called WorkDrive that includes a word processor, Zoho Writer. The plans are extremely affordable: Zoho Writer itself is free while the WorkDrive plans start at only $2.50 per user per month, making it a great choice for freelancers and SMB owners on a budget. Zoho Writer comes with four prebuilt workflows and allows you to set automatic custom triggers. Set permissions for who can do what at each stage of the workflow, and view your documents journey through the workflow using the visual status tracker.

Pricing

• Zoho Writer standalone: Free forever.
• Zoho WorkDriver Starter: $2.50 per user per month billed annually or $3 per user per month billed annually.
• Zoho WorkDrive Team: $4.50 per user per month billed annually or $6 per user per month billed annually.
• Zoho WorkDrive Business: $9 per user per month billed annually or $11 per user per month billed annually.

Features

• Prebuilt document workflows.
• Visual flowchart status tracker (Figure A).
• Set automatic customer triggers.
• Easily view the status of all documents on a dashboard.

Figure A

Pros

• Extremely affordable and transparent pricing plans.
• Workflows are ready to use right out of the box.
• Detailed workflow history and audit trails.
• Real-time document status and email notifications.

Cons

• Only supports text documents.
• Not suitable for complex projects or workflows.
• Editor can be slow when working with large documents.
• Doesn’t support complex custom workflows.

PandaDoc: Best for a simple interface

Some document workflow software looks outdated and clunky, but not so with PandaDoc: This popular tool provides a colorful, visually appealing layout that is simple to navigate and a drag-and-drop interface that is easy to use even if you’ve never used document management software. PandaDoc shines especially when it comes to getting eSignatures, but it can be used for different kinds of document workflows as well (Figure B).

Figure B

Pricing

• Essentials: $19 per person per month billed annually or $35 per person per month billed monthly
• Business: $49 per person per month billed annually or $65 per person per month billed monthly.
• Enterprise: Contact the sales team for a custom quote.

Features

• Know when documents have been opened, viewed and signed with real-time notifications.
• 1,000+ document templates ensure you never have to start from scratch.
• CRM integrations flow customer data into documents.
• Prevents edits from being made with optional content locking.

Pros

• Transparent pricing plans and 14-day free trial available.
• Drag-and-drop editing interface.
• Colorful and appealing layout.
• Excellent eSignature capabilities.

Cons

• Essentials plan limited to two users.
• Content library and approval workflow limited to the Business plan only.
• Monthly plans up to 46% more expensive than annual plans.
• Additional add-ons can drive up the price.

Microsoft SharePoint: Best for Microsoft users

If you’re already a Microsoft 365 subscriber, then you should definitely be taking advantage of SharePoint’s document workflows, which are lumped underneath the Power Automations feature (Figure C). Browse more than 100 templates or create your custom one from scratch by choosing from dozens of triggers and actions. SharePoint integrates well with other Microsoft products, including its word processing and project management software, increasing its utility.

Figure C

Pricing

• SharePoint (Plan 1): $5 per user per month billed annually. Includes SharePoint, OneDrive and Microsoft Lists.
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50 per user per month billed annually. Includes SharePoint as well as numerous other products such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Features

• Browse more than 100 workflow templates.
• Choose from more than 10 triggers and over 40 actions.
• Real-time co-authoring and editing.
• Offline use available.

Pros

• Get 1 TB of storage per user.
• Integrates well with other Microsoft products.
• Included as part of Microsoft 365 Business.
• Good security features.

Cons

• Can be complicated to install.
• Harder to learn than some other options.
• Relies on other Microsoft tools for certain features, like creating documents.
• May not appeal to non-Microsoft users.

Fluix: Best for routine tasks

Fluix is a simple, no-code platform that is designed to automate routine tasks associated with document workflows, such as filling out checklists and reviewing contracts. The drag-and-drop workflow builder is incredibly easy to use, even for beginners and it makes it simple to create custom workflows (Figure D). However, Fluix is lacking in some other areas, notably real-time digital collaboration, which is a drawback for businesses looking for a more complete document management solution vs. just document workflows.

Figure D

Pricing

• Fluix Core: $30 per user per month, minimum 10 users.
• Conditional logic add-on: $5 per user per month.
• Power Analytics add-on: $10 per user per month.
• Form and Document Prefill: $10 per user per month.
• Quarterly Review: $50 per user per month.

Features

• Drag-and-drop workflow builder.
• Also includes tools for building forms.
• Offline mode available for mobile apps.
• Digital signature collection.

Pros

• Can be used both in office and in the field.
• Low learning curve even for beginners.
• Well-reviewed mobile apps available.
• Easy to mark up documents with a stylus.

Cons

• Lacks comprehensive document management features.
• Add-ons can quickly drive up costs.
• Web interface offers less functionality than mobile apps.
• Lacks document creation tools except for forms.

DocuWare: Best for invoicing process

DocuWare is a document workflow management tool that focuses on invoicing processing. Create a digital flow workflow to forward invoices to decision makers, or set up rules for automatic approvals based on data like amounts or vendors. Intelligent indexing ensures that documents are securely stored for easy retrieval later on. All of these tools work together to help your company process invoices before they’re due, saving you from late payment fees.

Pricing

DocuWare doesn’t disclose pricing on its website; you must contact the sales team for a custom quote.

Features

• Create workflows for automatic approvals (Figure E).
• Ensure confidentiality with access permissions.
• Secure, centralized document storage platform.
• Classify documents and index information.

Figure E

Pros

• Free 30-day trial available.
• Includes tools for employee management as well.
• Cloud-based and on-premise deployment option available.
• Large knowledge base for technical support.

Cons

• No pricing information available.
• Lacks reporting tools.
• Users say that mobile app could be improved.
• Workflow setup can be complicated.

Revver: Best for the entire business

If you’ve never heard of Revver before, that’s because it was previously known as eFileCabinet and its subsidiary Rubex. Earlier this year, they rebranded to make a single entity called Revver that offers comprehensive document management and workflow software. Revver’s versatile set works for teams in any departments, including sales, HR and legal. Its no-code workflow builder (Figure F) lets users get quite granular about the specifics so they set up highly detailed processes.

Figure F

Pricing

Revver doesn’t disclose pricing on its website; you must contact the sales team for a custom quote.

Features

• No-code document workflow automation.
• Uses OCR technology to scan and digitize files.
• Advanced search functionality.
• Large storage limits.

Pros

• Can be used for many different departments.
• Excellent Microsoft 365 integration.
• Audit trails help you track a document’s history.
• Set roles and permissions to restrict access as necessary.

Cons

• Pricing is not transparent.
• Free trial not available.
• No mobile app currently available.
• Set-up process can be time consuming.

DocuPhase: Best for enterprises

If you are a large corporation or enterprise looking for document workflow software that can match your level of complexity, then consider DocuPhase. DocuPhase’s workflows are designed to help your company go paperless by making digital file storage and retrieval easy. Create rules based on value authority, task completion or escalations to automatically route documents to the right person. Monitor workflow productivity to identify bottlenecks and use real-time tracking to gain visibility into tasks.

Pricing

DocuPhase doesn’t disclose pricing on its website; you must contact the sales team for a custom quote.

Features

• Drag-and-drop workflow builder (Figure G).
• Rules-based document routines.
• Real-time visibility into bottlenecks and tracking.
• Deploy document workflows across all departments.

Figure G

Pros

• Highly customizable workflows.
• Lots of scalability makes this suited to enterprises.
• Great solution for going paperless and archiving documents.
• Good security features.

Cons

• Can take a while to load large files.
• Updates can sometimes result in bugs.
• OCR function can be complicated.
• Customer support could be improved.

M-Files: Best for automations

M-Files harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI) scans to trigger workflows and set permissions automatically, making it an excellent choice if you need automated document workflows. Use the flowcharts to capture current workflows in a visual way that is also easy to understand (Figure H). You can even set permissions to restrict which other users can see the workflow in the software.

Figure H

Pricing

M-Files doesn’t disclose pricing on its website; you must contact the sales team for a custom quote.

Features

• Scan documents with OCR technology.
• Advanced document search feature.
• Receive automation notifications for documents.
• Well-organized file categorization system.

Pros

• Powerful workflow automation tool.
• Advanced security features.
• Well-reviewed mobile app available.
• Use offline mode to access documents without internet.

Cons

• Workflows can be complicated to set up.
• User interface can seem a little outdated.
• Layout can be difficult to navigate.
• High learning curve for beginners.