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Published March 16, 2022

IronPDF and DynamicPDF - A Comprehensive Comparison

1. Introduction

PDF stands for Portable Document Format, developed by Adobe to present documents containing formatted text and images. We need a separate application to open PDF format files. The PDF plays an important role in the modern world. PDF files are used in most industry sectors for invoicing and document generation. Developers are using PDFs to meet client requirements for generating documents. Nowadays, PDF generation has become much easier thanks to the libraries now available on the market. When using this type of library in a project we should consider factors such as how to create, read and convert; this will help us decide which library is best-suited to us.

In this article, we will compare the two most popular PDF libraries for the .NET components. These two libraries are:

  • IronPDF
  • DynamicPDF

The IronPDF and DynamicPDF libraries are both used to create read or modify PDF files in your Microsoft.net applications, asp.net web applications, as well as traditional Windows applications. We can now compare these two libraries. To decide which is best to use in our application, we are first going to compare the features of the two libraries, then move on to analyzing performance levels when converting and manipulating PDF files. Both libraries are supported by Microsoft .NeET Core frameworks.

1.1 IronPDF Features

IronPDF is a powerful HTML converter that can handle almost everything a web browser can offer. A .net library for developers can easily be used to create, read or modify PDF files. IronPDF uses a chromium engine to render HTML to PDF. IronPDF supports various web components such as HTML, ASPX, Razor HTML, and MVC View. IronPDF supports the files in your Microsoft.NET applications (both ASP.NET Web applications and traditional Windows applications).

IronPDF enables us to create files from HTML5, JavaScript, CSS, and images. We are also able to add headers and footers to files, and in general, reading PDF files becomes very straightforward. Further, IronPDF includes a powerful HTML to PDF converter that can handle all PDF files.

PDF files can be created from various types of files including HTML, HTML5, ASPX, and Razor/MVC View. We are also able to convert image files to PDFs.

Generate document from a URL link. It also allows us to use custom network login credentials, User-Agents, Proxies, Cookies, HTTP headers, and form variables allowing login behind HTML login forms.

  • IronPDF allows us to read and fills forms in existing PDF documents.
  • It is able to extract images from documents.
  • It allows us to add headers, footers, text, images, bookmarks, watermarks, etc., to documents.
  • It allows us to merge and split new or existing document pages.
  • We are able to convert documents into PDF objects without Acrobat Reader.
  • We can convert CSS files and media-type files into documents.

1.2 DynamicPDF Features

DynamicPDF for .NET is a PDF manipulation tool that helps its users to create, edit, merge, split, report, and write, among other features in the .NET platform. DynamicPDF offers 7 different features or products that help users in their PDF-related work. See the following products offered by DynamicPDF.

DynamicPDF HTML Converter for .NET

DynamicPDF HTML Converter converts HTML to PDF and PDF byte arrays.

DynamicPDF Core Suite for .NET

DynamicPDF Core Suite is their major product that handles all of their PDF manipulation, like Create a PDF, Create a PDF Report, Package PDF, PDF/A compatible PDF, PDF/X compatible PDF, Stamping a PDF, Tagged PDF, and Template.

DynamicPDF PrintManager for .NET

This feature offers to print a PDF, Fax a PDF, Print a PDF from Byte Array, and print multiple PDFs.

DynamicPDF Converter for .NET

This offers to convert different file formats to PDF using .NET platforms like HTML, Excel, PowerPoint, Tiff, and Word to PDF.

DynamicPDF Rasterizer for .NET

This product allows users to convert PDF to different image formats like JPG, TIFF, BMP, PNG, and GIF.

DynamicPDF Viewer for .NET

DynamicPDF Viewer offers ways to open and view PDF’s.

  • Open Encrypted PDF
  • Open PDF from Byte Array
  • Open PDF from path file

DynamicBarcode Creator for .NET

This feature allows developers to create Barcodes of different types.

  • 2D barcode
  • Linear barcode
  • Postal barcode

2. Creating a New Project in Visual Studio

Open the Visual Studio software, go to the file menu and select new project. Then select console application. In this article, we are going to use a console application to generate PDF documents.

Enter the project name and select the file path in the appropriate text box. Then, click the Create button. Also, select the required Dot net Framework, as in the screenshot below:

The Visual Studio project will now generate the structure for the selected application, and if you have select console, Windows, and web application, it will open the program.cs file where you can enter the code and build/run the application.

Next, we can add the library to test the code.

3. Install the IronPDF Library

The IronPDF library can be downloaded and installed in four different ways.

These are:

  • Using Visual Studio.
  • Using the Visual Studio Command-Line.
  • Direct download from the NuGet website.
  • Direct download from the IronPDF website.

3.1 Using Visual Studio

Visual Studio software provides the NuGet Package manager option to install the package directly to the solution. The below screenshot shows how to open the NuGet Package Manager.

It provides the search box to show the list of the packages from the NuGet website. In the package manager, we need to search for the keyword "IronPDF", as in the screenshot below:

In the above image, we will get the list of the related libraries from search. We need to select the required option to install the package to the solution.

3.2 Using the Visual Studio Command-Line

  • In Microsoft Visual Studio Go to Tools -> NuGet Package manager -> Package manager console
  • Enter the following line in the package manager console tab:
Install-Package IronPdf

Now the package will download/install to the current project and be ready to use.

3.3 Direct Download from the NuGet Website

The third way is to download the NuGet package directly from the website.

  • Navigate to the Link "https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf/"
  • Select the download package option from the menu on the right-hand side.
  • Double-click the downloaded package. It will be installed automatically.
  • Now reload the solution and start using it on the project.

3.4 Direct Download from the IronPDF website

Click the link here to download the latest package directly from the website. After the download, follow the steps below to add the package to the project.

  • Right-click the project from the solution window.
  • Then, select the option reference and browse the location of the downloaded reference.
  • Click OK to add the reference.

4. Install the DynamicPDF Library

NuGet Package

The DynamicPDF Core Suite is available on NuGet and is part of the ceTe.DynamicPDF.CoreSuite.NET package. The easiest way to install the package is by using the Visual Studio Package Manager. You can also download the package directly from NuGet.

NuGet Package ID: ceTe.DynamicPDF.CoreSuite.NET

DynamicPDF Core Suite Information

More information can be found on the DynamicPDF Core Suite webpage.

Available on Other Platforms. DynamicPDF Core Suite is available for the Java and COM/ActiveX platforms. Please refer to the respective product pages for more details.

4.1 Documentation

Documentation is available in both online and .chm files which are installed locally on the host's machine.

4.2 Samples

The sample application demonstrates the features offered by DynamicPDF. These are also locally installed on the host's machine.

DynamicPDF · GitHub

4.3 Utilities

Other utilities may be required to install to use the product. For example, utility to add HTML to PDF.

4.3.1 Adding the DynamicPDF Reference NuGet Package

DynamicPDF HTML Converter, DynamicPDF Core Suite, and DynamicPDF Converter are all available via NuGet. The easiest way to install the packages is through the Visual Studio Package Manager.

DynamicPDF HTML Converter is available on NuGet in the ceTe.DynamicPDF.HtmlConverter.NET package.

DynamicPDF Core Suite is available on NuGet and in the ceTe.DynamicPDF.CoreSuite.NET package.

DynamicPDF Converter is available on NuGet and in the ceTe.DynamicPDF.Converter.NET package.

GitHub Example Project

Clone or view the example project at GitHub.

Clone or View Example Project on GitHub

DynamicPDF Converter and Generator Information

More information on all three products is available here:

5. Create a Portable Document Format from an URL

Both PDF libraries have converters that can handle powerful HTML to PDF conversion. Let's see below how we can create the PDF files.

5.1 Using IronPDF

IronPDF makes it easy for us to create PDFs. It renders HTML files from URLs and converts them into PDF documents.

The following help us to easily create PDF documents:

IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer Renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer();
var Pdf = Renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://www.google.co.in/");
Pdf.SaveAs("result.pdf");
or
 var Renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer().
RenderUrlAsPdf("https://www.google.co.in/").SaveAs("result.pdf");
IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer Renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer();
var Pdf = Renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://www.google.co.in/");
Pdf.SaveAs("result.pdf");
or
 var Renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer().
RenderUrlAsPdf("https://www.google.co.in/").SaveAs("result.pdf");
Dim Renderer As New IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer()
Dim Pdf = Renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://www.google.co.in/")
Pdf.SaveAs("result.pdf")
[or] var Renderer = (New IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer()).RenderUrlAsPdf("https://www.google.co.in/").SaveAs("result.pdf")
VB   C#

In the above example, we use two methods to convert the link into a document. One method is to create a document by creating an IronPDF object, and the other method is by creating the object for Renderurlpdf.

The above example shows that we can able to convert it into a document using the Renderurlaspdf. We only need to pass the link and the save location. The amount of time taken to complete the PDF conversion is only 1-2 seconds

5.2 Using DynamicPDF

The powerful HTML to PDF converter is a feature provided by DynamicPDF. It converts any HTML or markup file to PDF. Below is a sample to easily create a PDF using DynamicPDF.

Converter.Convert("http://www.google.com", pdfFilePath);
Converter.Convert("http://www.google.com", pdfFilePath);
Converter.Convert("http://www.google.com", pdfFilePath)
VB   C#

This example demonstrates a simple file conversion from HTML (a specified URL) to PDF. The example also illustrates RTF to PDF conversion. The conversion process is similar for All 60 supported document types.

6. Create Portable Document Format from HTML

Both IronPDF and DynamicPDF provide an easy method for converting HTML string into PDF.

6.1 Using IronPDF

With the help of IronPDF we can convert HTML strings into PDF documents. Below is the sample to convert the HTML string into documents. It also allows for the conversion of any HTML tag into PDF documents.

var Renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer().RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello world!!</h1>").SaveAs("result.pdf");
var Renderer = new IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer().RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello world!!</h1>").SaveAs("result.pdf");
Dim Renderer = (New IronPdf.ChromePdfRenderer()).RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello world!!</h1>").SaveAs("result.pdf")
VB   C#

The above example shows that we are able to convert HTML string using RenderHtmlAsPdf. Also, we can pass any number of HTML strings into the function which fetches the HTML into a string. After fetching the string we can save it as a document. The time taken to complete this process is only two seconds.

6.2 Using DynamicPDF

DynamicPDF also helps us to convert HTML string into a document. Below is the sample for converting HTML string.

string sampleHtml = "<html><body><p>This is a very simple HTML string including a Table below.</p>" +  
                    "<h4>Two rows and three columns:</h4><table border=\"1\"><tr><td>100</td><td>200</td>" +  
                    "<td>300</td></tr><tr><td>400</td><td>500</td><td>600</td></tr></table></body></html>";  
Converter.ConvertHtmlString(sampleHtml, pdfFilePath); 
string sampleHtml = "<html><body><p>This is a very simple HTML string including a Table below.</p>" +  
                    "<h4>Two rows and three columns:</h4><table border=\"1\"><tr><td>100</td><td>200</td>" +  
                    "<td>300</td></tr><tr><td>400</td><td>500</td><td>600</td></tr></table></body></html>";  
Converter.ConvertHtmlString(sampleHtml, pdfFilePath); 
Dim sampleHtml As String = "<html><body><p>This is a very simple HTML string including a Table below.</p>" & "<h4>Two rows and three columns:</h4><table border=""1""><tr><td>100</td><td>200</td>" & "<td>300</td></tr><tr><td>400</td><td>500</td><td>600</td></tr></table></body></html>"
Converter.ConvertHtmlString(sampleHtml, pdfFilePath)
VB   C#

The following example demonstrates the conversion of a specific HTML string to PDF (as opposed to using an actual HTML file or URL as demonstrated in the examples above). Please refer to the Converting Current Web Page to PDF section for an example of how to specify that the current web page be converted to PDF.

7. Reading Portable Document Format Documents

We can read PDF documents using both IronPDF and DynamicPDF.

7.1 Using IronPDF

IronPDF helps us to read existing PDF files. Below is the sample for reading existing PDFs using IronPDF.

var pdfDocument = IronPdf.PdfDocument.FromFile("result.pdf");
var pdfDocument = IronPdf.PdfDocument.FromFile("result.pdf");
Dim pdfDocument = IronPdf.PdfDocument.FromFile("result.pdf")
VB   C#

The above code is the sample code which calls the FromFile method which is used to read a PDF from an existing file and convert it into a PDF document object. With this object, we are able to read the text and images on PDF pages. The time taken to convert the object is mere milliseconds.

7.2 Using DynamicPDF

DynamicPDF also helps us read existing PDFs in Microsoft.net applications, as well as asp.net web applications and traditional Windows applications. Below is the sample for reading the data from PDF documents.

The following steps and sample code illustrate the opening of a PDF from a file path using the Rasterizer product.

Steps for Opening a PDF from a File Path

  1. Open the PDF Document using PDF Viewer by providing the file path.

Sample Code - C#

pdfViewer.Open(@"C:\DocumentA.pdf");
pdfViewer.Open(@"C:\DocumentA.pdf");
pdfViewer.Open("C:\DocumentA.pdf")
VB   C#

8. Merging Portable Document Format Documents

Both IronPDF and DynamicPDF help to merge multiple documents into a single document in your Microsoft.net application. With the help of these libraries, we can easily merge documents.

8.1 Using IronPDF

IronPDF helps us to merge multiple documents into a single document. The screenshot below displays how to convert multiple documents into a single document.

var pdfDocuments = new List<IronPdf.PdfDocument>();
pdfDocuments.Add(IronPdf.PdfDocument.FromFile("result.pdf"));
pdfDocuments.Add(IronPdf.PdfDocument.FromFile("result.pdf"));
var mergedPdfDocument = IronPdf.PdfDocument.Merge(pdfDocuments);
mergedPdfDocument.SaveAs("Ironpdfmerged.pdf");
var pdfDocuments = new List<IronPdf.PdfDocument>();
pdfDocuments.Add(IronPdf.PdfDocument.FromFile("result.pdf"));
pdfDocuments.Add(IronPdf.PdfDocument.FromFile("result.pdf"));
var mergedPdfDocument = IronPdf.PdfDocument.Merge(pdfDocuments);
mergedPdfDocument.SaveAs("Ironpdfmerged.pdf");
Dim pdfDocuments = New List(Of IronPdf.PdfDocument)()
pdfDocuments.Add(IronPdf.PdfDocument.FromFile("result.pdf"))
pdfDocuments.Add(IronPdf.PdfDocument.FromFile("result.pdf"))
Dim mergedPdfDocument = IronPdf.PdfDocument.Merge(pdfDocuments)
mergedPdfDocument.SaveAs("Ironpdfmerged.pdf")
VB   C#

The above examples show that we are adding each document into a list and then passing them as parameters. The "FromFile" object in the PDF document reads the document first, and then adds the object into the list. PDFDocument provides a function called "merge" which allows us to get the list of documents and then merge them into a single PDF document. We can then save the document using the Save_as function.

8.2 Using DynamicPDF

DynamicPDF also helps us to merge multiple documents into a single document. Below is an example that shows how to merge documents.

The following steps illustrate the process of merging PDF documents and adding options when merging a document.

MergeDocument document = new MergeDocument("DocumentA.pdf");
document.Append("DocumentB.pdf");
document.Append("DocumentC.pdf");
document.Draw("output.pdf");
MergeDocument document = new MergeDocument("DocumentA.pdf");
document.Append("DocumentB.pdf");
document.Append("DocumentC.pdf");
document.Draw("output.pdf");
Dim document As New MergeDocument("DocumentA.pdf")
document.Append("DocumentB.pdf")
document.Append("DocumentC.pdf")
document.Draw("output.pdf")
VB   C#

Steps to Append or Modify a PDF File

We can append multiple PDFs by using the "Append" method. The following steps and sample code illustrates how to achieve this.

  1. Create a MergeDocument object and pass the first document to the constructor.
  2. Call the MergeDocument instance's Append method and pass the PDF to be merged. Repeat for all documents requiring merging.
  3. Call the Document instance's Draw method to save the appended document.

9. Splitting Portable Document Format Documents

The IronPDF and DynamicPDF libraries allow users to split pages into separate documents. Both provide a straightforward method for completing this process.

9.1 Using IronPDF

IronPDF allows us to convert single and multiple pages into separate documents. Below is an example to create split pages into a separate document.

        var Splitdocument = IronPdf.PdfDocument.FromFile("Ironpdfmerged.pdf");
            Splitdocument.CopyPages(0,0).SaveAs("Ironpdfmerged.pdf");
        var Splitdocument = IronPdf.PdfDocument.FromFile("Ironpdfmerged.pdf");
            Splitdocument.CopyPages(0,0).SaveAs("Ironpdfmerged.pdf");
Dim Splitdocument = IronPdf.PdfDocument.FromFile("Ironpdfmerged.pdf")
			Splitdocument.CopyPages(0,0).SaveAs("Ironpdfmerged.pdf")
VB   C#

In the above example, we first loading the existing document using the "from file" method from the PDF document class. Next, using the "copy page" method allows us to copy a page from the existing document, while the "Save as" method enables us to save the document into a separate file. All the page numbers start with zero, so we need to specify page numbers that begin with a zero.

9.2 Using DynamicPDF

DynamicPDF also allows us to split a single document page into multiple documents. Below is an example for splitting specific document pages into another document.

PdfDocument pdf = new PdfDocument("DocumentA.pdf");
MergeDocument part1 = new MergeDocument(pdf, 1, 4);
Part1.Draw("output-part1.pdf");
MergeDocument part2 = new MergeDocument(pdf, 5, 8);
part2.Draw("output-part2.pdf");
PdfDocument pdf = new PdfDocument("DocumentA.pdf");
MergeDocument part1 = new MergeDocument(pdf, 1, 4);
Part1.Draw("output-part1.pdf");
MergeDocument part2 = new MergeDocument(pdf, 5, 8);
part2.Draw("output-part2.pdf");
Dim pdf As New PdfDocument("DocumentA.pdf")
Dim part1 As New MergeDocument(pdf, 1, 4)
Part1.Draw("output-part1.pdf")
Dim part2 As New MergeDocument(pdf, 5, 8)
part2.Draw("output-part2.pdf")
VB   C#

Splitting a PDF in multiple PDFs using the DynamicPDF Core Suite is straightforward, as the following steps and sample code illustrate.

Steps to Split a PDF:

  1. Create a PdfDocument object and pass the source PDF file path to the constructor.
  2. Create a MergeDocument object and in the constructor pass the PdfDocument object instance, the starting page number, and ending page count.
  3. Invoke the Document object's Draw method to output the PDF portion specified by the starting page number and ending page count.
  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3, but only pass 5 and 8 to the MergeDocument constructor.
  5. Invoke the Draw method, and a new PDF starting on page 5 and ending at page 8 is output to a new PDF document.

10. Licensing

DynamicPDF is a library that allows us to create PDF documents from different sources such as HTML string and HTML links, as well as to split and merge documents. DynamicPDF comes with a different price structure, the lowest price starting from 799$ for a single license. The developer license is free, so we can test it out. Check out the price structure for DynamicPDF here.

IronPDF is also a library and comes with a free developer license. IronPDF also comes with a different price structure. The Lite package starts from $749 with no ongoing costs, and including SaaS and OEM redistribution. All licenses include a 30-day money-back guarantee, one year of product support and updates, validity for dev/staging/production, and there is also a permanent license (one-time purchase). Click here to check the full price structure and licensing for IronPDF.

11. Conclusion

In this article, we have compared IronPDF and DynamicPDF. We have explored some of the common features available in both libraries. IronPDF considers the user's Chrome settings to render the HTML but DynamicPDF is running on a separate engine which ignores the current user settings to render the HTML. IronPDF can render HTML quickly when compared to DynamicPDF.

In terms of performance, IronPDF is faster than DynamicPDF as the above test results demonstrate. Royalty-free redistribution coverage comes with IronPDF at an extra cost but this is not available with DynamicPDF. IronPDF also offers more features than DynamicPDF.

In conclusion, we prefer IronPDF because of its high-performance levels and the numerous features available to developers working with PDFs. IronPDF also provides good support and ample documentation to help us utilize all its features.