puppeteer vs pdfmake vs pdfkit vs html-pdf vs html-pdf-node
PDF Generation Libraries for Node.js Comparison
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What's PDF Generation Libraries for Node.js?

These libraries are designed to facilitate the generation of PDF documents from HTML content or programmatically created content in Node.js applications. They serve various use cases, from converting web pages to PDFs, creating dynamic reports, to generating complex documents with custom layouts and styles. Each library has its unique features, strengths, and ideal use cases, making them suitable for different types of projects and requirements.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
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Package
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puppeteer4,930,01790,337361 kB2712 days agoApache-2.0
pdfmake948,51611,90913.5 MB2893 months agoMIT
pdfkit754,04210,1724.59 MB3813 months agoMIT
html-pdf119,9563,565-4704 years agoMIT
html-pdf-node33,05019756.9 kB92-ISC
Feature Comparison: puppeteer vs pdfmake vs pdfkit vs html-pdf vs html-pdf-node

HTML to PDF Conversion

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer can take screenshots or generate PDFs from web pages, rendering the page as a browser would. This allows for accurate representation of complex web layouts and styles.

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake generates PDFs from a JSON definition of the document structure. It allows for complex layouts and styling, making it suitable for dynamic document generation without direct HTML conversion.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit does not convert HTML to PDF but allows you to create PDFs programmatically. You define the content and layout using JavaScript, giving you complete control over the document's appearance.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf converts HTML content to PDF using the PhantomJS engine. It supports basic HTML and CSS, making it easy to generate PDFs from existing web pages or templates.

  • html-pdf-node:

    html-pdf-node also leverages PhantomJS but is designed with modern JavaScript features in mind, allowing for better handling of asynchronous operations during the PDF generation process.

Customization and Control

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer allows for extensive control over the rendering process, including viewport settings, device emulation, and the ability to execute JavaScript before generating the PDF, making it highly customizable.

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake offers extensive customization through its JSON-based document definition, allowing for detailed control over layout, styles, and content organization.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit excels in customization, allowing developers to define every aspect of the PDF, including text styles, images, and vector graphics. It is highly flexible for creating tailored documents.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf offers limited customization options, primarily focused on converting existing HTML. It may not support advanced CSS features or complex layouts.

  • html-pdf-node:

    html-pdf-node provides similar customization options as html-pdf but benefits from modern JavaScript practices, making it easier to manage options and configurations.

Ease of Use

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer requires more setup and understanding of browser contexts, but it offers powerful capabilities for those willing to invest the time to learn its API.

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake is user-friendly for those who prefer a declarative approach, as it allows users to define documents in JSON format, making it easier to visualize the final output.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit has a steeper learning curve due to its programmatic nature, but it provides comprehensive documentation to help users get started with creating complex PDFs.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf is straightforward to use, requiring minimal setup and configuration. It is ideal for quick implementations where simplicity is key.

  • html-pdf-node:

    html-pdf-node is also easy to use, especially for developers familiar with promises and async/await, making it suitable for modern JavaScript applications.

Performance

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer is highly performant for rendering web pages as PDFs, but it can be resource-intensive, especially with large pages or heavy JavaScript usage.

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake can handle complex documents efficiently, but performance may degrade with very large documents or extensive styling.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit is efficient for generating PDFs programmatically, but performance may be impacted by the complexity of the document being created.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf performance can vary depending on the complexity of the HTML being converted. It may struggle with large or complex documents.

  • html-pdf-node:

    html-pdf-node generally performs similarly to html-pdf, but its promise-based architecture can lead to better performance in asynchronous scenarios.

Support and Community

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer is backed by Google and has a large community, ensuring robust support, frequent updates, and extensive resources for developers.

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake has a growing community and comprehensive documentation, making it easier for developers to find help and examples.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit has a strong community and is actively maintained, providing a wealth of resources and support for developers.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf has a smaller community and less frequent updates, which may affect long-term support and feature enhancements.

  • html-pdf-node:

    html-pdf-node benefits from a more active community and modern JavaScript practices, leading to better support and updates.

How to Choose: puppeteer vs pdfmake vs pdfkit vs html-pdf vs html-pdf-node
  • puppeteer:

    Choose puppeteer if you need a powerful tool that can render web pages as PDFs. It provides full control over the browser environment, making it suitable for generating PDFs from web applications, including those that require JavaScript execution.

  • pdfmake:

    Use pdfmake if you want to create PDFs with a declarative approach, allowing you to define document structure in a JSON format. It is great for generating dynamic documents with complex layouts and supports features like tables, lists, and styling.

  • pdfkit:

    Opt for pdfkit if you need to create complex PDF documents programmatically. It is ideal for generating reports, invoices, or any documents where you need fine control over the layout and content, including vector graphics and text styling.

  • html-pdf:

    Choose html-pdf if you need a simple and straightforward solution for converting HTML to PDF with minimal setup. It is ideal for quick implementations where you want to generate PDFs from existing HTML content without extensive customization.

  • html-pdf-node:

    Select html-pdf-node if you require a more modern approach to HTML to PDF conversion with better support for promises and async/await syntax. It is suitable for applications that need to handle multiple asynchronous tasks while generating PDFs.

Similar Npm Packages to puppeteer

puppeteer is a popular Node.js library that provides a high-level API for controlling headless Chrome or Chromium browsers. It is widely used for web scraping, automated testing, and generating screenshots or PDFs of web pages. Puppeteer allows developers to interact with web pages programmatically, making it an essential tool for tasks that require browser automation. While Puppeteer is a powerful solution, there are several alternatives that also offer browser automation capabilities. Here are a few notable options:

  • nightmare is a high-level browser automation library for Node.js that is designed for simplicity and ease of use. It provides a straightforward API for performing tasks such as clicking buttons, filling out forms, and navigating web pages. Nightmare is particularly well-suited for developers who need a quick and easy way to automate browser interactions without the complexity of more extensive frameworks. However, it may not be as feature-rich or performant as Puppeteer for more demanding tasks.
  • playwright is a newer library developed by Microsoft that offers a powerful and flexible API for browser automation. It supports multiple browsers, including Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit, allowing developers to write cross-browser tests and automation scripts. Playwright provides advanced features such as auto-waiting, intercepting network requests, and handling multiple pages or contexts, making it a robust choice for complex automation scenarios. If you require cross-browser support and advanced capabilities, Playwright is an excellent alternative to Puppeteer.
  • selenium-webdriver is part of the Selenium project, which has been a long-standing solution for browser automation. It provides a comprehensive API for controlling various browsers and is widely used for automated testing of web applications. Selenium supports multiple programming languages and browser drivers, making it a versatile choice for teams working in diverse environments. However, it may have a steeper learning curve compared to Puppeteer and other modern libraries, and its setup can be more complex.

To see how Puppeteer compares with Nightmare, Playwright, and Selenium WebDriver, check out the comparison: Comparing nightmare vs playwright vs puppeteer vs selenium-webdriver.

Similar Npm Packages to pdfmake

pdfmake is a powerful JavaScript library for generating PDF documents in web applications. It allows developers to create complex and customizable PDF files using a declarative syntax. With features like tables, images, and styles, pdfmake is suitable for generating reports, invoices, and other document types directly from the browser or server-side environments. Its flexibility and ease of use make it a popular choice for developers looking to implement PDF generation in their applications.

However, there are several alternatives to pdfmake that also provide PDF generation capabilities. Here are a few notable ones:

  • pdfkit is a robust PDF generation library for Node.js that allows developers to create complex PDF documents programmatically. Unlike pdfmake, which uses a declarative approach, pdfkit provides a more programmatic API, giving developers fine-grained control over the PDF creation process. With features like vector graphics, text formatting, and image embedding, pdfkit is ideal for generating highly customized PDFs. It is particularly well-suited for server-side applications where you need to create PDFs dynamically based on user input or data from a database.

  • react-pdf is a library specifically designed for rendering PDF documents in React applications. It allows developers to create PDF documents using React components, making it easy to integrate PDF generation into existing React projects. With react-pdf, you can build PDF documents that are responsive and styled using CSS, leveraging the power of React's component-based architecture. This library is particularly useful for applications that require dynamic PDF generation based on user interactions or data changes.

To see how pdfmake compares with pdfkit and react-pdf, check out the comparison: Comparing pdfkit vs pdfmake vs react-pdf.

Similar Npm Packages to pdfkit

pdfkit is a powerful PDF generation library for Node.js and the browser. It allows developers to create complex PDF documents programmatically with ease. With its extensive features, pdfkit supports text, images, vector graphics, and more, making it a versatile choice for generating dynamic PDF content. However, there are other libraries available that also provide PDF generation capabilities. Here are a couple of alternatives:

  • pdf-lib is a library that enables you to create and modify PDF documents in JavaScript. Unlike pdfkit, which focuses primarily on generating new PDFs, pdf-lib allows for both the creation of new documents and the manipulation of existing ones. This includes features like merging PDFs, adding annotations, and modifying text and images. If your project requires editing existing PDF files or working with PDF forms, pdf-lib is a great option to consider.
  • pdfmake is another library for generating PDF documents in JavaScript. It provides a declarative API for defining document structure and content, making it easy to create complex layouts. pdfmake is particularly useful for generating reports and invoices, as it supports features like tables, lists, and custom styles. If you prefer a more structured approach to PDF generation with a focus on layout and design, pdfmake may be the right choice for your project.

To see how pdfkit compares with pdf-lib and pdfmake, check out the comparison: Comparing pdf-lib vs pdfkit vs pdfmake.

Similar Npm Packages to html-pdf

html-pdf is a Node.js library that allows developers to convert HTML documents into PDF files. It is particularly useful for generating reports, invoices, and other documents that require a structured layout. By leveraging the power of PhantomJS, html-pdf can render HTML content and produce high-quality PDF outputs. While html-pdf provides a straightforward solution for HTML to PDF conversion, there are other libraries available that offer similar functionality. Here are a few alternatives:

  • pdfkit is a powerful PDF generation library for Node.js that allows developers to create complex PDF documents programmatically. Unlike html-pdf, which converts HTML to PDF, pdfkit provides a more granular approach, allowing you to define the content, layout, and styling of the PDF directly through JavaScript. This makes it an excellent choice for applications that require custom PDF generation with precise control over the document structure and design.
  • puppeteer is a Node.js library that provides a high-level API to control headless Chrome or Chromium browsers. It can be used for various tasks, including web scraping, automated testing, and generating PDFs from HTML content. Puppeteer allows you to render web pages and capture them as PDFs, making it a versatile tool for developers who need to convert dynamic content into PDF format. Its ability to handle complex layouts and JavaScript-rendered content makes it a strong alternative to html-pdf.

To see how html-pdf compares with pdfkit and puppeteer, check out the comparison: Comparing html-pdf vs pdfkit vs puppeteer.

Similar Npm Packages to html-pdf-node

html-pdf-node is a Node.js library that allows developers to convert HTML content into PDF documents. This package is particularly useful for generating reports, invoices, or any other documents that require a formatted layout. It leverages the capabilities of the popular html-pdf library but is designed to work seamlessly with Node.js applications, making it a great choice for server-side PDF generation.

While html-pdf-node is a solid option for converting HTML to PDF, there are several alternatives available that cater to different needs and use cases:

  • html-pdf is the original library that html-pdf-node is built upon. It provides a straightforward way to convert HTML to PDF using PhantomJS. While it is easy to use, it may not be as actively maintained as some of the newer libraries. If you are looking for a simple solution and are comfortable with PhantomJS, html-pdf can still be a viable option.
  • pdfkit is a powerful PDF generation library for Node.js that allows developers to create complex PDF documents programmatically. Unlike html-pdf-node, which converts HTML to PDF, pdfkit provides a more granular approach to building PDFs from scratch. If you need complete control over the PDF layout and content, pdfkit is an excellent choice.
  • pdfmake is another library that enables developers to create PDF documents using a declarative approach. It allows you to define the document structure in JavaScript objects, making it easy to create complex layouts. pdfmake is particularly useful for generating PDFs that require dynamic content and styling, and it supports features like tables, images, and custom fonts.
  • puppeteer is a headless Chrome Node.js API that can be used for various web automation tasks, including generating PDFs from HTML. Puppeteer provides a powerful way to render web pages and capture them as PDFs, making it an excellent choice for applications that require accurate rendering of complex HTML and CSS. If you need to generate PDFs that closely resemble how they would appear in a web browser, puppeteer is a strong candidate.

To compare these packages further, check out the following link: Comparing html-pdf vs html-pdf-node vs pdfkit vs pdfmake vs puppeteer.

README for puppeteer

Puppeteer

build npm puppeteer package

Puppeteer is a JavaScript library which provides a high-level API to control Chrome or Firefox over the DevTools Protocol or WebDriver BiDi. Puppeteer runs in the headless (no visible UI) by default

Get started | API | FAQ | Contributing | Troubleshooting

Installation

npm i puppeteer # Downloads compatible Chrome during installation.
npm i puppeteer-core # Alternatively, install as a library, without downloading Chrome.

Example

import puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
// Or import puppeteer from 'puppeteer-core';

// Launch the browser and open a new blank page
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
const page = await browser.newPage();

// Navigate the page to a URL.
await page.goto('https://developer.chrome.com/');

// Set screen size.
await page.setViewport({width: 1080, height: 1024});

// Type into search box.
await page.locator('.devsite-search-field').fill('automate beyond recorder');

// Wait and click on first result.
await page.locator('.devsite-result-item-link').click();

// Locate the full title with a unique string.
const textSelector = await page
  .locator('text/Customize and automate')
  .waitHandle();
const fullTitle = await textSelector?.evaluate(el => el.textContent);

// Print the full title.
console.log('The title of this blog post is "%s".', fullTitle);

await browser.close();
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