Mail merge works. Until one name is wrong.
Mail merge is free, it is already in Word, and for 20 letters it is the right tool. The trouble starts when the list grows, one row is incomplete, and nobody notices until the letter is with the delegate or the embassy.
Side by side
| Feature | Word mail merge | Google Sheets + Autocrat | InviteLetter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Quick if you know Word's mail merge steps | Install the add-on, make a Google Docs template, map each column | We set up your letter; after that, add a CSV |
| One PDF per person | Not built in: one long merged document, or a macro to split it | Yes, saved to your Google Drive | Yes, each named the way you choose, or one PDF to print |
| Missing-data check | None for empty values: a blank cell prints as a gap | None by default: a blank cell stays blank | People with missing details are named before anything is made |
| Works from your existing letter | Yes, it is your Word letter | Once it is moved into Google Docs | Yes: upload the Word letter you already use |
| Where the list is stored | In a file on your computer | In your Google Sheet, with the letters in your Drive | Nowhere: processed in the session, never stored |
| Cost | Included with Word | Free add-on | SGD 690 for one event, the first 25 letters free |
On cost, the free tools win. The rest of this page is about what they cost you in checking.
Three errors mail merge lets through
Each one is small, and each one sends a letter back.
A blank field, printed
INVITATION LETTER
We look forward to welcoming Kenji Watanabe on .
INVITATION LETTER
We look forward to welcoming Kenji Watanabe on Missing.
The wrong date format
INVITATION LETTER
Your arrival date is 11/04/2026.
INVITATION LETTER
Your arrival date is 4 November 2026.
Broken accents
INVITATION LETTER
Dear LucÃa Fernández,
INVITATION LETTER
Dear Lucía Fernández,
When to stay with mail merge
- A one-off list of 20 or so letters, every detail filled, that you will read through before sending.
- Letters that must never leave your own Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.
- No budget at all: the free tools win on cost.
For anything bigger, or anything you send again next month, see the plans.
Questions
Is InviteLetter a mail merge?
It does the same job, one letter filled from each row of a list, but it checks the list before anything is made and gives you one PDF per person instead of one long document.
Can I bring the letter I use for mail merge?
Yes. Upload the Word letter and type each detail as {{Column Name}}, using the column names in the first row of your list.
Is my list stored?
No. The list is processed in the session to make the letters and never saved or logged. We keep your templates, logo and signature.
Can I try it before paying?
Yes. Your first 25 letters are free.