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Published March 17, 2022

A Comparison between IronPDF and EO.Pdf

1. Introduction

PDF stands for Portable Document Format which is a file format developed by Adobe. PDFs are useful to present documents which may require formatting of text and images within. PDF files play an important role in the modern world, they have been used in various sectors such as for invoice and document generation. In modern times, PDF generation has become almost intuitive with the available PDF libraries on the market. When deciding to use a PDF library in your project, it is important to consider the features and advantages in order to select the perfect library for your project.

In this article, we will compare two of the most popular .NET PDF libraries, these are:

  • IronPDF
  • EO.Pdf

The IronPDF and EO.Pdf libraries are both used to create, read, and modify PDF files in your Microsoft .NET application or project. In order to decide which library is best to use in our application, we are going to compare the features of the two libraries before moving on to the performance costs for converting and manipulating the PDFs.Both libraries are supported by Microsoft .NET Frameworks.

1.1 IronPDF Features

IronPDF is a powerful PDF .NET library used by developers to easily create, read and modify PDFs. Internally, IronPDF uses a chromium engine and includes many useful and powerful features such converting HTML5, JavaScript, CSS, and image files to PDF, adding custom Headers and Footers, and rendering PDFs exactly as they are displayed in a browser. IronPDF supports various web and net formats such as HTML, ASPX, Razor View, and MVC. The main features of IronPDF include:

  • Creating, reading, and modifying PDF files intuitively within .NET C# code.
  • Generating PDFs from a website URL link with settings to handle custom network login credentials, User-Agents, Proxies, Cookies, HTTP headers and form variables to allow login behind HTML login forms.
  • Extraction of images from existing PDF documents.
  • Allow us to add headers, footers, text, images, bookmarks, watermarks, etc., to PDF documents.
  • Functionality to merge and split the pages of multiple PDF documents easily.
  • Can convert CSS file and media type files into documents.

1.2 EO.Pdf Features

EO.Pdf is a set of .NET components to easily create PDF files in your application. This library does not depend on any web browser on your system. EO.Pdf provides the easiest way to create, read, and modify PDF documents. EO.Pdf includes a powerful HTML library that uses the Abstract Content Model (ACM) engine to create PDF documents. EO.Pdf is also a powerful HTML to PDF library. It is a converter that can handle almost everything a typical web browser can handle

Below are the core features of EO.Pdf.

  • EO.Pdf is able to convert HTML to PDF documents.
  • EO.Pdf is able to read and modify PDF files.
  • EO.Pdf can merge, split, and extract existing PDF files.
  • EO.Pdf is able to read from and write to encrypted PDF files.

2. Creating a New Project in Visual Studio

In this article, we are going to use a console application to generate pdf documents. To begin, open the Microsoft Visual Studio application and select “new project” from the file menu, then select “Console Application”.

Enter a Project name and select a file path. Then click the Create button. Also, select the desired .NET Framework. As shown in the screenshot below

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

Now we can add the library to test the code.

3. Install IronPDF Library

The IronPDF Library can be downloaded and installed in four-ways:

  • Using Visual Studio’s NuGet package manager
  • Using Visual Studio’s Command-Line.
  • Directly downloading from the NuGet website.
  • Downloading directly from the IronPDF website.

3.1 Using Visual Studio NuGet Package Manager

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

It provides a search box to find packages from the NuGet website. In the package manager, we can simply search for "IronPDF". As show in the screenshot below

From the image above, we will get the list of the related search results. Please select the required options in order to install the package to your solution.

3.2 Using Visual Studio Command-Line

In Visual Studio Tool Go to Tools-> NuGet Package manager -> Package manager console

Enter the following line into the package manager console tab:

Install-Package IronPdf

The package will now download and install in the current project and is ready to be used.

3.3 Directly Downloading 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 side.
  • Open the downloaded package. It will be installed automatically.
  • Reload the solution and start using it in your project.

3.4 Download Directly from the IronPDF Website

Click this link to download the latest package directly from our website. After downloading, follow these steps to add the package to your project:

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

4. Install EO.Pdf Library

Go to the link and download the file here. It will start a download of the .exe file which will allow us to add EO.Pdf as a reference to the project.

Once the file is downloaded, start the setup installation as shown in the screenshot below and complete the setup.

All the core features are packed and installed on a single EO.Pdf dll. Setup not only installs the DLL files but also installs the following documents:

  • Documentations
  • Samples
  • Utilities

4.0.1 Documentation

Documentation is available both online and in .chm files which are installed locally onto the machine.

4.0.2 Samples

The sample application demonstrates features of EO.Pdf. Which are installed onto the machine.

4.0.3 Utilities

Other utilities may be installed to use the product. For example, the utility to add EO.Pdf to GAC.

4.1 Adding a EO.Pdf Reference

  • Right-click the project from the solution window.
  • Select option reference and then browse the location of the installed EO.Pdf reference
  • Click 'Ok' to add the reference. As shown in the screenshot below.

5. Create a Portable Document Format from a URL

Both the PDF library that help converter that can handle HTML to PDF. Let us see below how we can create the PDF files.

5.1 Using IronPDF

IronPDF makes it easy for us to create PDF files. It renders the HTML file from the URL and converts it into PDF documents for us.

The following code helps 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 can 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 creating the object for Renderurlpdf.

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

5.2 Using EO.Pdf

HTML to PDF converter is a feature provided by the EO.Pdf. It converts any HTML or markup file to PDF. Below is a code sample that is used to create a PDF using EO.Pdf

EO.Pdf.HtmlToPdf.ConvertUrl("https://www.google.co.in/", "result.pdf");
EO.Pdf.HtmlToPdf.ConvertUrl("https://www.google.co.in/", "result.pdf");
EO.Pdf.HtmlToPdf.ConvertUrl("https://www.google.co.in/", "result.pdf")
VB   C#

The above shows that using the ConvertUrl function we are able to convert the given HTML link to a document. ConvertUrl is function which allow us to pass two parameter one is the link and another one is document location which can be directly save into the location.Time taken to complete the conversion is 3-4 seconds.

The below screenshot of the test result.

6. Create Portable Document Format From HTML

Both IronPDF and EO.Pdf provides a way to convert HTML string into PDF. Both libraries provide an easy way to convert.

6.1 Using IronPDF

With the help of IronPDF, we are able to convert HTML strings into PDF documents. Below is the sample to convert the HTML string into documents. It also allows converting 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 how we are able to convert the HTML string using RenderHtmlAsPdf. Also, we are able to pass any number of HTML strings into the function which fetch the HTML into string. After fetching the string with the help of SaveAs function we are able to save the document. It takes about 2 seconds to complete the whole process.

6.2 Using EO.Pdf

EO.Pdf also helps us to convert a HTML string into a document. Below is a sample to convert the HTML string

EO.Pdf.HtmlToPdf.ConvertHtml("<h1>Hello world!!</h1>", "result1.pdf");
EO.Pdf.HtmlToPdf.ConvertHtml("<h1>Hello world!!</h1>", "result1.pdf");
EO.Pdf.HtmlToPdf.ConvertHtml("<h1>Hello world!!</h1>", "result1.pdf")
VB   C#

This shows that we are able to convert a HTML string using the ConvertHtml method. It allows to app the HTML string and files save path as a parameter. Time taken to complete this process is 6 seconds.

The below screenshot of the test result.

7. Reading Portable Document Format Documents

We are able to read the pdf documents using IronPDF and EO.Pdf.

7.1 Using IronPDF

IronPDF helps us to read the existing pdf files. Below is the sample to read the existing PDF 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, Fromfile method which is used to read pdf from the existing file and convert them into pdf-document objects. With this object, we are able to read the text and image available on the pdf pages. Time taken to convert the object is in milliseconds

7.2 Using EO.Pdf

EO.Pdf is also helping us to read the existing pdf file in your microsoft.net application both asp.net web application and traditional windows application. Below is the sample to read the data from the documents.

PdfDocument doc = new PdfDocument("result1.pdf");
PdfDocument doc = new PdfDocument("result1.pdf");
Dim doc As New PdfDocument("result1.pdf")
VB   C#

The above example shows that we are converting the existing document to a PdfDocument object. With the help of the pdf-document object, we are able to read the data available inside the documents.

The below screenshot of the test result.

8. Merging Portable Document Format Documents.

Both IronPDF and EO.Pdf helps to merge multiple documents into a single document in your Microsoft.NET application. With the help of this library, we are easily able to merge the documents.

8.1 Using IronPDF

IronPDF helps us to merge multiple documents into a single document. The below show how can 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 we are passing them as a parameter. "FromFile" object on the PdfDocument reads the document first and then adds the object into the list. PdfDocument provides a function called merge which allows to get the list of documents and then merge them into a single pdf document. And then we are saving the document using the save as function.

8.2 Using EO.Pdf

Eo.Pdf also helps us to merge multiple documents into a single document. Below is a sample to merge documents

PdfDocument doc1 = new PdfDocument("result1.pdf");
PdfDocument doc2 = new PdfDocument("result1.pdf");
PdfDocument mergedDoc = PdfDocument.Merge(doc1, doc2);
mergedDoc.Save("EoMerge.pdf");
PdfDocument doc1 = new PdfDocument("result1.pdf");
PdfDocument doc2 = new PdfDocument("result1.pdf");
PdfDocument mergedDoc = PdfDocument.Merge(doc1, doc2);
mergedDoc.Save("EoMerge.pdf");
Dim doc1 As New PdfDocument("result1.pdf")
Dim doc2 As New PdfDocument("result1.pdf")
Dim mergedDoc As PdfDocument = PdfDocument.Merge(doc1, doc2)
mergedDoc.Save("EoMerge.pdf")
VB   C#

The above example shows that we are creating an object for the PdfDocument for each document we need to merge. PdfDocument provides a separate function merge which helps us to merge the documents. We need to pass the create PdfDocument object into the merge function which will merge all the existing documents together. Then we use a save function which allows us to save them into a separate document in your Microsoft.NET application.

The below screenshot of the test result:

9. Splitting Portable Format Documents

IronPDF and EO.Pdf library allows the other users to split the pages into separated documents. Both provide a simple way to do this process.

9.1 Using IronPDF

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

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 are loading the existing document using the fromfile method from the PdfDocument class mentioned earlier. Then using the Copypage method allow us to copy the page from the existing document and then with the help of the Saveas method we are able to save the document into a separate file. All of the page numbers start with zero, so we need to specify the page number from zero.

9.2 Using EO.Pdf

EO.Pdf is also allow us to spilt a single document page into multiple documents. Below is the example to split specific document pages into other documents.

PdfDocument doc1 = new PdfDocument("result1.pdf");
PdfDocument[] docs = doc1.Split(2);
docs[0].Save("splitDocument.pdf");
PdfDocument doc1 = new PdfDocument("result1.pdf");
PdfDocument[] docs = doc1.Split(2);
docs[0].Save("splitDocument.pdf");
Dim doc1 As New PdfDocument("result1.pdf")
Dim docs() As PdfDocument = doc1.Split(2)
docs(0).Save("splitDocument.pdf")
VB   C#

In the above example, first we're creating an object for the PdfDocument and then we are passing the existing document path as a constructor parameter. Then with the help of the split function we are passing the page number as a parameter. Then the split function gets the page number and splits the document and returns it as a PdfDocument array. Then using for loops, foreach loops or using the index we are able to save the documents with the help of the save function by passing the save location with the filename and extension as a parameter.

10. Licensing

EO.Pdf is library that allow us to create pdf document from different type like html string , HTML links, split and merger documents. EO.Pdf comes with the different price structure, Lowest price start with 799$ for single license. The developer license is free. so we can try it out. Check out the price structure of the EO.Pdf here.

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

11. Conclusion

In this article, we have compared the IronPDF and EO.Pdf. we have some of the common feature which is available in both the library. IronPDF consider user chrome setting to render the html but in the EO.Pdf is running on separate engine which is ignore the current user settings to render the html. IronPDF can able to render the html faster when compared to EO.Pdf.

when it compare with the performance IronPDF is faster than the Eo.Pdf with the above test results. Royalty-free redistribution coverage comes with IronPDF with extra cost but this is not available on the EO.Pdf. IronPDF have lot the feature when compare with the EO.Pdf.

So, In conclusion we prefer IronPDF which have high performance and lot of feature for the developer to work in the Portable Document Format. They also provide good support and documentation which help us utilize all the feature of the IronPDF.