SmartIQ vs Adobe AEM Forms: forms-to-document journeys compared
Adobe AEM Forms handles forms and the documents that follow them in one product, and it rates 4.3 from 115 Gartner ratings. SmartIQ covers the form only; documents, orchestration and archive come from separate Smart Communications products. If you run Adobe Experience Manager already, AEM Forms is the natural fit.
Comparing SmartIQ vs Adobe AEM Forms? Both are enterprise forms products that banks, insurers and public bodies use to replace paper and PDF forms. The big difference is what happens after someone hits submit.
SmartIQ is the forms product from Smart Communications, the maker of SmartCOMM. Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) Forms handles forms and the documents that follow them in one product. Quick heads-up: this isn’t the SAP “Smart Forms vs Adobe Forms” question, which is about form tools inside SAP. For other options, see SmartIQ alternatives.
Pick by your situation
If you only have a minute, start here.
- Already on Adobe Experience Manager or Adobe Experience Cloud? AEM Forms keeps forms in the same stack.
- Want forms and the documents that follow from one product? AEM Forms does both.
- Need regulated document output at high volume after the form? Compare full CCM suites, starting with SmartCOMM vs Quadient Inspire.
- Forms tied to case handling and inbound capture? Look at ISIS Papyrus.
- Forms that build documents from Dynamics 365 or Salesforce? Look at Experlogix.
SmartIQ vs Adobe AEM Forms at a glance
Here’s how they compare as of October 2026.
| SmartIQ | Adobe AEM Forms | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Grew out of Intelledox (bought 2019), launched 2020 | Formerly Adobe LiveCycle, per PeerSpot |
| Documents after the form | From SmartCOMM, a separate product | Built in; Gartner lists it as CCM software |
| AI for forms | Agent tools, MCP servers and AI form migration (2026) | Agents that build, connect and fill forms (2026) |
| Hosting | Vendor-hosted on AWS | Ask whether the quote is the cloud service or a self-managed edition |
| Gartner Peer Insights | 4.4 from 19 ratings | 4.3 from 115 ratings |
| Other review sites | Capterra 4.7 from 10 reviews (listed as Intelledox) | PeerSpot 8.6/10 from 3 reviews |
Gartner files the two in different markets, so the averages aren’t a straight comparison. AEM Forms’ score rests on six times as many ratings, with almost no 3-star scores. Every CCM vendor’s numbers are in the CCM benchmark.
From form to filed document
A form is rarely the end. A welcome pack, policy or decision letter usually follows, and it has to be delivered and kept. Here’s who covers each step.
What each covers in a forms-led journey, as of October 2026.
| Product | Form building and data capture | Agent-led or conversational filling | Document generated after submission | Orchestration and delivery | Archive | Hosting choice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SmartIQ | SmartIQ | Agent tools and MCP servers (2026) | SmartCOMM | SmartPATH (2025) | SmartHUB (2025) | Vendor-hosted on AWS; no self-hosted option found |
| Adobe AEM Forms | AEM Forms; an AI agent builds and updates forms | Agentic form filling (2026) | Built in; reviewers praise layout work | Adobe Journey Optimizer and Experience Platform | Ask Adobe about archive scope | Ask about cloud service or self-managed |
Sources: DestinationCRM (SmartIQ, 2020; SmartPATH, 2025), IT Brief (2026), Business Wire (SmartHUB, 2025), Gartner Peer Insights.
To compare prices fairly, quote SmartIQ plus SmartCOMM (and SmartPATH or SmartHUB if you need them) against AEM Forms plus any other Adobe products in the journey.
Already run Adobe Experience Manager for your website? Ask which AEM Forms features your current license covers.
AI: both moved to agents in 2026
Both vendors announced AI agents for forms within three months of each other, aimed at slightly different jobs.
Smart Communications’ SmartIQ tools, announced in February 2026, focus on controlled, conversational data collection for applications, onboarding and self-service. There’s also an AI tool that turns PDFs and old documents into a “best first draft” form.
Adobe added agents in April 2026 that build or update forms from a brief or an image, connect forms to data sources and workflows, and fill forms on your site or through third-party assistants. Availability wasn’t stated, so ask Adobe which features are generally available. See Smart Communications AI features for the full list on that side.
What users say
A SmartIQ reviewer in insurance found it “a bit challenging” to move around in and configure, but praised service and support. Another mentioned limits in how it can be configured.
An AEM Forms reviewer called layout creation “very versatile” but said setup is “a bit complex”, with maintenance sometimes needed.
Your best options
Here’s where forms buyers in this pairing usually land.
Best for forms-led journeys, especially if you already run Adobe Experience Manager
- 4.3 ★115 Gartner ratings
- 8.6/103 PeerSpot reviews
Forms and the documents that follow come from one product, and Adobe has announced AI agents for building and filling forms.
Watch out: reviewers call setup complex, and confirm which AI agents are generally available.
A full CCM suite
Best for high-volume regulated documents after the form
If the letter or policy after the form is the hard part, start with a CCM platform. AEM Forms buyers most often compare it with Quadient Inspire and OpenText on PeerSpot.
How to test your shortlist
Pick three forms: a short one, a long one with conditional logic, and one that pre-fills from a back-end system. Ask each vendor to convert one of your PDF forms with its AI tool and show you the result unedited.
Write your requirements into the CCM RFP template and score results with the CCM vendor scorecard. For background, read what happened to Intelledox, and see the full field in our CCM software guide.
Get a vendor shortlist for your requirements
Tell us what you run today and what you need. We reply with the two or three platforms that fit, and why.
Email hello@ccmcompared.comWe only share your details with a vendor if you ask us to.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between SmartIQ and Adobe AEM Forms?
Scope. AEM Forms covers forms and document output, which is why Gartner lists it as CCM software. SmartIQ handles the form, and the documents that follow come from SmartCOMM, a separate product.
Is SmartIQ the same as Intelledox?
It grew out of Intelledox. Smart Communications bought Intelledox in 2019 and launched SmartIQ in 2020, and Capterra still lists it under the Intelledox name.
Is this the same as SAP Smart Forms vs Adobe Forms?
No. SAP Smart Forms and Adobe Forms are form tools inside SAP systems. This page compares SmartIQ from Smart Communications with Adobe Experience Manager Forms.
Which has better reviews, SmartIQ or AEM Forms?
The averages are close: SmartIQ 4.4 from 19 Gartner ratings and AEM Forms 4.3 from 115 (October 2026). But Gartner files them in different markets, and AEM Forms' score rests on far more ratings.
Sources
- Gartner Peer Insights: SmartIQ
- Gartner Peer Insights: Adobe Experience Manager Forms
- PeerSpot: Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) Forms vs Smart Communications
- Capterra: SmartIQ (listed as Intelledox)
- IT Brief UK: Adobe adds agent tools to Experience Manager Forms
- IT Brief UK: Smart Communications debuts AI tools for compliance-led CX
- DestinationCRM: Smart Communications launches SmartIQ
- DestinationCRM: Smart Communications launches SmartPATH
- Business Wire (press release): Smart Communications launches SmartHUB
- QKS Group: SPARK Matrix Customer Communications Management, Q3 2026
- Gartner Peer Insights: Customer Communications Management market
CCM Compared is independent and not affiliated with Smart Communications or any vendor named here. Product names are trademarks of their owners and are used to identify products only. See our methodology and disclosure. Spotted an error? Request a correction.