Converting HTML into polished PDFs has become essential for e‑commerce platforms, SaaS products, and businesses that rely on digital documents. From invoices and receipts to reports, contracts, and catalogs, HTML‑to‑PDF APIs save developers time while ensuring consistency and professionalism. In this guide, we’ll explore the best HTML to PDF APIs in 2025, compare their features, and highlight why PDFGate is a standout choice.
1. PDFGate
PDFGate is a modern HTML‑to‑PDF conversion API built on a headless browser engine, meaning it renders HTML, CSS, and JavaScript exactly as they appear in a real browser. What makes PDFGate unique is its ability to go beyond simple conversion:
- Forms → Fillable PDFs: Automatically converts HTML form fields (
input,select,textarea) and supports a custom<pdfgate-signature-field />tag for digital signatures. - Headers and Footers: Easily add page numbers, logos, or dynamic content.
- Security Options: Apply passwords and set permissions
- Pixel‑Perfect Rendering: Supports custom fonts, media queries, page breaks, and modern CSS.
- Developer Friendly: Simple onboarding. Sign up, verify email, and get your API key.
- Asynchronous Conversions: Not supported yet.
PDFGate offers a 7‑day free trial so you can test rendering quality and integration before choosing a plan.
2. DocRaptor
DocRaptor is a well‑established service powered by PrinceXML. It is known for strong CSS print rules support, making it popular with enterprise teams that need precise control over layouts.
- Great for advanced typography and print‑style layouts.
- Supports security options such as password protection and encryption.
- Supports fillable form fields, though it does not support digital signature fields.
- Paid plans with limited free usage.
- Supports asynchronous conversions, making it useful for large or long‑running jobs.
- Best for enterprise users with complex document styling needs.
3. PDFCrowd
PDFCrowd has been in the market for years and offers robust HTML to PDF conversion.
- Free tier available with watermarks.
- Paid plans remove watermarks and raise usage limits.
- Supports fillable form fields, making it useful for interactive documents.
- Relies on Google Chromium for rendering, ensuring accurate web‑page fidelity.
- Asynchronous Conversions: Not supported.
4. PDFShift
PDFShift is a lightweight API for HTML to PDF.
- Offers a free plan with limited requests.
- Easy to use, fast for simple use cases.
- It provides only static PDF generation.
- Supports asynchronous conversions for large batch jobs.
5. Restpack / Html2PDF
Restpack provides a browser‑based rendering API.
- Supports modern HTML and CSS.
- Easy integration for quick conversions.
- Paid usage after a limited free trial.
- Asynchronous Conversions: Not supported.
Comparison Table
| API | Browser Rendering | Fillable Forms | Headers/Footers | Security Options | Async Conversions | Free Tier | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDFGate | Yes | Yes (with signatures) | Yes | Yes | No | 7‑day trial | Modern web apps, e‑commerce, SaaS |
| DocRaptor | Limited (PrinceXML) | Yes (no signature support) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7-day trial | Enterprise print‑style layouts |
| PDFCrowd | Yes (Chromium) | Yes (with signatures) | Basic | No | No | Yes (watermarked) | Interactive & static documents |
| PDFShift | Yes | No | Basic | No | Yes | Yes (limited) | Static PDFs |
| Restpack | Yes | No | Basic | No | No | 7-day trial | Quick integrations |
Final Thoughts
The best HTML to PDF API depends on your project’s requirements. If you need asynchronous conversions for heavy workloads, DocRaptor and PDFShift stand out. If you need interactive documents with fillable fields, PDFCrowd, DocRaptor, or PDFGate are strong options. If you need enterprise‑grade CSS support with added security features, DocRaptor is a solid choice. But if you’re looking for modern rendering, advanced form support including signature fields, and developer‑friendly onboarding, PDFGate is built for you.
👉 Start your 7‑day free trial today and generate your first PDF in minutes.
