puppeteer vs pdfkit vs html-pdf
PDF Generation Libraries Comparison
Search packages..
1 Year
puppeteerpdfkithtml-pdfSimilar Packages:
What's PDF Generation Libraries?

PDF generation libraries are essential tools in web development that allow developers to create PDF documents programmatically. These libraries provide various functionalities, such as converting HTML to PDF, creating PDFs from scratch, and rendering web pages as PDFs. They cater to different use cases, from generating invoices and reports to creating complex documents with custom layouts and styles. Choosing the right library depends on the specific requirements of the project, including the complexity of the PDF content, the need for rendering capabilities, and performance considerations.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
puppeteer4,693,23990,635362 kB2664 days agoApache-2.0
pdfkit811,29510,2206.08 MB3809 days agoMIT
html-pdf115,2583,565-4704 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: puppeteer vs pdfkit vs html-pdf

PDF Creation Method

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer leverages a headless browser to render web pages and capture them as PDFs. This means it can handle dynamic content, JavaScript, and CSS, ensuring that the generated PDF closely resembles the web page.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit allows for programmatic PDF creation from scratch. You can define the layout, styles, and content dynamically, making it highly flexible for generating complex documents with various elements like text, images, and shapes.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf focuses on converting existing HTML content into PDF format. It takes an HTML string or file and generates a PDF, making it easy to create documents from web pages or templates without much coding effort.

Complexity and Customization

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer provides advanced capabilities for rendering complex web pages, including support for modern web technologies. It can handle dynamic content and layouts, making it a powerful choice for generating PDFs that reflect the latest web standards.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit offers a high degree of customization, allowing developers to create intricate PDF documents with precise control over every aspect, including text positioning, styling, and graphics. This makes it ideal for applications requiring tailored PDF outputs.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf is relatively simple to use, making it suitable for quick conversions without extensive customization. However, it may not support advanced features like custom fonts or complex layouts as effectively as other libraries.

Performance

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer can be resource-intensive since it runs a headless browser. While it excels in rendering complex pages accurately, it may require more memory and processing power, making it less suitable for high-volume PDF generation.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit performs well for generating PDFs from scratch, but the performance can be impacted by the complexity of the document being created, especially with large files or numerous graphical elements.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf is generally fast for simple HTML to PDF conversions. However, performance may vary depending on the complexity of the HTML content and the resources available on the server.

Use Cases

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer is perfect for scenarios where you need to capture the exact visual representation of a web page, such as generating PDFs from web applications, capturing screenshots, or creating print-ready documents.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit is ideal for generating custom PDFs where the content is created programmatically, such as reports, brochures, or any documents requiring specific layouts and designs.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf is best suited for applications that need to generate simple PDFs from existing HTML templates, such as invoices, reports, or basic documents where layout complexity is minimal.

Learning Curve

  • puppeteer:

    puppeteer has a steeper learning curve, especially for developers unfamiliar with browser automation. Understanding how to manipulate the browser context and handle asynchronous operations is essential.

  • pdfkit:

    pdfkit has a moderate learning curve due to its flexibility and the need to understand the API for creating complex documents. It may require more time to master compared to simpler libraries.

  • html-pdf:

    html-pdf has a low learning curve, making it easy for developers to get started with PDF generation without needing extensive knowledge of PDF specifications.

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

    Opt for puppeteer if you need a powerful tool that can render web pages as PDFs. Puppeteer is a headless browser automation library that provides extensive capabilities for web scraping, testing, and generating PDFs from dynamic web content. It is perfect for scenarios where you need to capture the exact appearance of a web page in PDF format.

  • pdfkit:

    Select pdfkit if you require a library that allows for detailed control over the PDF creation process. It is suitable for generating PDFs from scratch, enabling complex layouts, and adding graphics, text, and images programmatically. This is a great choice for applications needing custom PDF generation features.

  • html-pdf:

    Choose html-pdf if you need a straightforward solution for converting HTML content into PDF documents. It is ideal for simple use cases where you want to generate PDFs from existing HTML templates without extensive customization.

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 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.

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 using accessible input name.
await page.locator('aria/Search').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();
npm-compare.com is an independent website designed to help developers choose the most suitable npm packages. We are not affiliated with npm, Inc or npmjs.com, the official website for the npm registry. Please note that npm is a registered trademark of npm, Inc. For more details, please refer to our Terms & Privacy.