What is a "template"?

A template is a pre-formatted document that helps you to keep your formatting settings constant from one document to the next. Document templates serve to make creating new documents easier, particularly when you want them all to look the same. Common templates exist for fax cover sheets or memoranda.

What's special about these templates?

These templates were created by adjusting the default document settings so that they match the settings specified in the 5th edition of the APA Publication Manual. In fact, anyone can create templates like these simply by changing a few settings and saving the file as a template.

That's why they're free, by the way. I haven't done anything here that you can't do at home.

How do these differ from the software you review?

As noted above, these templates serve as nothing more than formatting aides. There's no automation of anything. You'll still need to know the basic layout and structure of an APA style document. The software I review automates much of the process to a much greater degree, e.g., creating a database of references for quick citations.