puppeteer vs react-pdf vs pdfmake vs pdfkit vs html-pdf vs wkhtmltopdf
PDF Generation Libraries Comparison
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What's PDF Generation Libraries?

PDF generation libraries are essential tools in web development for creating PDF documents programmatically. They allow developers to convert HTML content, generate PDFs from scratch, or manipulate existing PDF files. These libraries cater to various use cases, including generating invoices, reports, and other documents that require a consistent format across different platforms. Each library has its unique strengths, making them suitable for specific scenarios in web applications.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
puppeteer4,533,91189,886359 kB2672 days agoApache-2.0
react-pdf1,275,7659,881552 kB342 months agoMIT
pdfmake924,02111,86113.5 MB2932 months agoMIT
pdfkit702,89110,1104.59 MB3792 months agoMIT
html-pdf118,1973,561-4704 years agoMIT
wkhtmltopdf54,404610-434 years ago-
Feature Comparison: puppeteer vs react-pdf vs pdfmake vs pdfkit vs html-pdf vs wkhtmltopdf

PDF Creation Method

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer generates PDFs by rendering web pages in a headless Chrome browser, capturing the exact visual output of the page, including CSS and JavaScript effects.

  • react-pdf:

    react-pdf renders PDF documents using React components, allowing developers to create and manipulate PDF content as part of the React application lifecycle.

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake uses a declarative syntax to define the document structure, allowing for dynamic content generation and styling based on JavaScript objects.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit allows for programmatic PDF creation, enabling developers to define text, images, and shapes directly in the code, providing high customization.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf converts HTML content to PDF using PhantomJS, making it easy to generate PDFs from existing web pages or templates without much setup.

  • wkhtmltopdf:

    wkhtmltopdf uses the WebKit rendering engine to convert HTML to PDF, ensuring that the output closely resembles the original web page.

Customization and Flexibility

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer offers flexibility in capturing web pages, allowing developers to manipulate the DOM before generating the PDF, which can be useful for dynamic content.

  • react-pdf:

    react-pdf allows for component-based PDF generation, enabling developers to leverage React's state and props for dynamic content, providing a familiar development experience.

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake is highly flexible, allowing for dynamic content and styles. It supports features like tables, lists, and custom fonts, making it suitable for complex documents.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit provides extensive customization capabilities, allowing developers to control every aspect of the PDF, including fonts, colors, and positioning of elements.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf offers limited customization options, primarily focusing on converting existing HTML. It is less flexible for creating complex layouts from scratch.

  • wkhtmltopdf:

    wkhtmltopdf is flexible in terms of HTML and CSS support, allowing developers to use standard web technologies to create visually appealing PDFs.

Learning Curve

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer has a steeper learning curve, particularly for those unfamiliar with headless browsers, but provides powerful capabilities once mastered.

  • react-pdf:

    react-pdf is relatively easy to learn for React developers, as it integrates seamlessly with the React ecosystem and follows familiar component patterns.

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake has a moderate learning curve, especially for those new to its declarative syntax, but offers comprehensive documentation to ease the process.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit has a moderate learning curve due to its programmatic nature, requiring developers to understand its API for effective use.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf is easy to learn for developers familiar with HTML and Node.js, as it requires minimal setup and configuration.

  • wkhtmltopdf:

    wkhtmltopdf is straightforward to use for those familiar with command-line tools, but may require additional knowledge of HTML/CSS for optimal results.

Use Cases

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer excels in scenarios where capturing the exact rendering of a webpage is crucial, such as generating documentation or reports from web applications.

  • react-pdf:

    react-pdf is tailored for React applications that need to display or generate PDF documents directly within the app, making it suitable for e-books or reports.

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake is perfect for applications that need to generate dynamic PDFs based on user input, such as forms or reports that change based on user data.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit is ideal for applications that require custom-designed PDFs, such as brochures, flyers, or any document with specific layout requirements.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf is best suited for simple applications that need to convert existing HTML pages into PDFs, such as generating invoices or reports from web templates.

  • wkhtmltopdf:

    wkhtmltopdf is well-suited for server-side applications that require reliable HTML to PDF conversion, such as generating printable versions of web pages.

Performance

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer offers excellent performance for rendering web pages, but generating PDFs can be resource-intensive, especially for large or complex pages.

  • react-pdf:

    react-pdf performance is generally good, but rendering large documents may require optimization to ensure a smooth user experience.

  • pdfmake:

    pdfmake is efficient for generating dynamic PDFs, but performance can be impacted by the complexity of the document structure and the amount of data being processed.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit performs well for generating PDFs programmatically, but performance may vary based on the complexity of the document being created.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf performance is generally good for simple documents but may struggle with complex layouts or large documents due to its reliance on PhantomJS.

  • wkhtmltopdf:

    wkhtmltopdf performs reliably for standard HTML to PDF conversions, but performance may degrade with very large or complex HTML documents.

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

    Use puppeteer if you need a headless browser solution to generate PDFs from web pages. It is perfect for scenarios where you want to capture the exact rendering of a webpage, including styles and scripts, making it suitable for generating reports and documentation from existing web content.

  • react-pdf:

    Choose react-pdf if you are working within a React application and need to render PDFs directly in the browser. It is ideal for applications that require displaying PDF documents as part of the UI, offering a seamless integration with React components.

  • pdfmake:

    Opt for pdfmake if you need a flexible and powerful library that can generate PDFs using a declarative approach. It is particularly useful for applications that require dynamic PDF generation based on user input or data, as it allows for easy customization and styling.

  • pdfkit:

    Select pdfkit if you require a library that allows for detailed control over the PDF creation process. It is ideal for generating PDFs from scratch with complex layouts, graphics, and text formatting, making it suitable for applications that need custom-designed documents.

  • html-pdf:

    Choose html-pdf if you need a straightforward solution to convert HTML content directly into PDF format. It's best for simple use cases where you want to render existing HTML pages or templates into PDFs without much customization.

  • wkhtmltopdf:

    Select wkhtmltopdf if you want a reliable tool for converting HTML to PDF using WebKit rendering. It is best for server-side applications where you need to generate PDFs from web pages or templates, especially when you need to maintain the layout and styles.

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 react-pdf

react-pdf is a popular library for rendering PDF documents in React applications. It allows developers to display PDF files directly in their web applications without the need for external plugins or viewers. With react-pdf, you can easily load and render PDF documents, manage page navigation, and customize the appearance of the PDF viewer. This makes it an excellent choice for applications that require document viewing capabilities, such as e-commerce platforms, educational tools, or any application that needs to display reports or invoices.

An alternative to react-pdf is @react-pdf/renderer. This library is designed for generating PDF documents using React components. Unlike react-pdf, which focuses on rendering existing PDF files, @react-pdf/renderer allows developers to create PDFs from scratch by defining the document structure using React components. This can be particularly useful for applications that need to generate reports, invoices, or any other documents dynamically based on user input or data from APIs.

Both libraries serve different purposes within the PDF ecosystem in React. If your goal is to display existing PDF files, react-pdf is the way to go. On the other hand, if you need to create and generate PDF documents programmatically, @react-pdf/renderer is the better choice.

To explore the differences and features of these packages, check out the comparison: Comparing @react-pdf/renderer vs react-pdf.

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 wkhtmltopdf

wkhtmltopdf is a popular command-line tool that converts HTML documents into PDF files using the WebKit rendering engine. It is widely used for generating PDFs from web pages, making it a valuable tool for developers who need to create printable documents from web content. While wkhtmltopdf is a robust solution for PDF generation, there are several alternatives available in the npm ecosystem that offer different features and capabilities. Here are a few notable alternatives:

  • html-pdf is a simple and straightforward library that allows developers to convert HTML to PDF using Node.js. It is built on top of PhantomJS, a headless browser, and provides an easy-to-use API for generating PDFs from HTML strings or files. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to generate PDFs without the need for complex configurations, html-pdf is a solid choice.
  • pdfkit is a powerful PDF generation library for Node.js that allows developers to create complex PDF documents programmatically. Unlike wkhtmltopdf, which converts HTML to PDF, pdfkit provides a low-level API for drawing shapes, text, and images directly onto a PDF canvas. If you need fine-grained control over the layout and design of your PDF documents, pdfkit is an excellent option.
  • pdfmake is another library for generating PDFs in JavaScript. It offers a declarative approach to defining the structure and content of PDF documents using a JSON-based syntax. pdfmake is particularly useful for creating dynamic PDFs with complex layouts, as it supports features like tables, lists, and custom fonts. If you prefer a more structured way to define your PDF content, pdfmake is worth considering.
  • puppeteer is a powerful Node.js library that provides a high-level API for controlling headless Chrome or Chromium browsers. While it is primarily used for web scraping and automated testing, it can also be used to generate PDFs from web pages. Puppeteer allows you to capture the rendered output of a web page and save it as a PDF, making it a versatile tool for PDF generation. If you need to generate PDFs from dynamic web content or require advanced rendering capabilities, Puppeteer is a great choice.
  • react-pdf is a library specifically designed for creating PDF documents in React applications. It allows developers to define PDF documents using React components, making it easy to integrate PDF generation into React projects. If you are building a React application and want to generate PDFs directly from your components, react-pdf provides a seamless solution.

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

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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