What Is the Difference Between PlainMerger and Mergram on HocHanh?

Updated

PlainMerger and Mergram are both PDF mail merge tools listed on HocHanh (hochanh.github.io), but they are presented as separate experiments rather than two tiers of one product. The site describes PlainMerger simply as "PDF mail merger" and Mergram as "PDF mail merge, made simple." That wording is the main documented difference: Mergram is positioned as the simpler, more streamlined take on the same task. The site does not publish feature lists, pricing, or login requirements for either tool, so any further distinction would be speculation.

What each tool is listed as

Tool Site description Implied role
PlainMerger PDF mail merger The baseline PDF mail merge utility
Mergram PDF mail merge, made simple A simplified version of the same workflow

Both sit under the same HocHanh umbrella, whose tagline is "Experiments that don't always work!" — a signal that these are side projects, not polished commercial products.

What "PDF mail merge" means here

Mail merge in this context means combining a template document with a list of recipient data to produce many personalized PDFs — for example, generating a separate letter or certificate for each name on a spreadsheet. Both PlainMerger and Mergram are grouped under that task on the site.

How to choose between them

Because the only documented distinction is the "made simple" framing, the practical rule is:

  • Start with Mergram if you want the least friction and the site's own description suggests a simpler flow.
  • Try PlainMerger if Mergram does not cover your case, since it is listed as the plain, general-purpose merger.

There is no published comparison of input formats, field mapping, or output options, so the honest answer is that the difference is one of stated simplicity, not documented capability. If you need to know which handles a specific template or data file, the only reliable method is to open both and test with your own files.

Caveats to keep in mind

  • HocHanh labels its projects as experiments, so expect rough edges and possible breakage.
  • No pricing, account, or usage-limit information appears on the page, so do not assume either tool is free, unlimited, or login-free.
  • The site lists other unrelated tools (RTK-search, PlainRemover, MuseTrainer, Temway), so do not confuse PlainMerger or Mergram with those.