IronPDF vs PDFTron (Apryse): The Complete C# PDF Library Comparison for 2025

Looking for the right PDF library for your .NET project? This comprehensive comparison between IronPDF and PDFTron (now Apryse) analyzes features, pricing, performance, and developer experience to help you make an informed decision. Whether you're building web applications, desktop software, or cloud services, choosing the right PDF toolkit can significantly impact your development speed and project success.

Quick Comparison Summary

What Are IronPDF and PDFTron (Apryse)?

IronPDF Overview

IronPDF is a comprehensive .NET PDF library that simplifies PDF creation, editing, and manipulation for developers. Built on a Chrome rendering engine, it excels at converting HTML, CSS, and JavaScript into pixel-perfect PDF documents. The library's straightforward API design allows developers to integrate PDF functionality with minimal code, making it ideal for web applications, reporting systems, and document automation.

PDFTron (Apryse) Overview

PDFTron, rebranded as Apryse in February 2023, is an enterprise-focused PDF SDK that provides extensive document processing capabilities. Originally developed for complex document workflows, it offers robust support for various file formats including Microsoft Office, CAD drawings, and specialized document types. PDFTron Systems Inc., a global leader in document processing technology, announced its rebranding as Apryse; bringing 13 companies including iText, Windward, Eversign, and more together.

How Do I Create an ASP.NET Project for PDF Generation?

Setting up an ASP.NET project for PDF generation requires proper configuration regardless of which library you choose. Follow these steps to create a foundation for either IronPDF or PDFTron integration:

1. Open Visual Studio 2022 or later
2. Click "Create a new project"
3. Select "ASP.NET Core Web App" (.NET 6.0 or later recommended)
4. Choose your project name and location
5. Select "Web Application (Model-View-Controller)" or "Web API" based on your needs
6. Ensure ".NET 8.0" or later is selected for optimal compatibility

Visual Studio's New Project dialog box displaying ASP.NET project templates for PDF library integration

For Web Forms applications:

• Select "ASP.NET Web Application (.NET Framework)"
• Choose "Web Forms" from the template options
• Click "Create" to generate the project structure

Selecting Web Forms template for traditional ASP.NET applications with PDF capabilities

How Do I Install IronPDF in My C# Project?

IronPDF offers multiple installation methods to suit different development workflows. In Visual Studio, right-click on your project in the Solution Explorer and select "Manage NuGet Packages...". From there, simply search for IronPDF and install the latest version.

Method 1: Using Visual Studio Package Manager

The most straightforward approach uses Visual Studio's built-in NuGet Package Manager:

1. Right-click your project in Solution Explorer
2. Select "Manage NuGet Packages"
3. Click "Browse" and search for "IronPDF"
4. Click "Install" on the IronPDF package

Accessing NuGet Package Manager through Visual Studio's Solution Explorer for IronPDF installation

Alternative access to NuGet Package Manager via Visual Studio's Project menu

Installing IronPDF through NuGet Package Manager with version information and dependencies

Method 2: Using Package Manager Console

For developers who prefer command-line tools:

# Open Package Manager Console in Visual Studio
# Tools > NuGet Package Manager > Package Manager Console
Install-Package IronPdf

# For specific version installation
Install-Package IronPdf -Version 2025.7.0

# Open Package Manager Console in Visual Studio
# Tools > NuGet Package Manager > Package Manager Console
Install-Package IronPdf

# For specific version installation
Install-Package IronPdf -Version 2025.7.0

Method 3: Direct Download Installation

For environments without NuGet access:

1. Download from IronPDF's official site
2. Extract the ZIP file to your project directory
3. In Visual Studio, right-click "References" → "Add Reference"
4. Browse to and select IronPdf.dll

Method 4: Using .NET CLI

For command-line enthusiasts and CI/CD pipelines:

# Navigate to your project directory
cd MyProject

# Install IronPDF
dotnet add package IronPdf

# Restore packages
dotnet restore

# Navigate to your project directory
cd MyProject

# Install IronPDF
dotnet add package IronPdf

# Restore packages
dotnet restore

How Do I Install PDFTron (Apryse) SDK?

PDFTron installation involves more steps due to its modular architecture and enterprise focus. The process varies depending on your target platform and required features.

Prerequisites

• Visual Studio 2019 or later
• .NET Desktop Development workload
• .NET Framework 4.5.1+ development tools
• PDFTron SDK download

Manual Integration Steps

1. Extract the SDK

   # Example extraction path
   PDFNET_BASE = C:/PDFTron/PDFNetDotNet4/

   # Example extraction path
   PDFNET_BASE = C:/PDFTron/PDFNetDotNet4/

   SHELL

2. Initialize with License Key

   // Initialize PDFTron with your license key
   pdftron.PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key-here");
   
   // Note: Demo keys expire after evaluation period
   // Contact Apryse sales for production licenses

   // Initialize PDFTron with your license key
   pdftron.PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key-here");
   
   // Note: Demo keys expire after evaluation period
   // Contact Apryse sales for production licenses

   ' Initialize PDFTron with your license key
   pdftron.PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key-here")
   
   ' Note: Demo keys expire after evaluation period
   ' Contact Apryse sales for production licenses

   $vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

3. Copy Required Libraries

   • Copy the Lib folder from PDFNET_BASE to your project directory
   • Add references to both PDFNetLoader.dll and platform-specific PDFNet.dll
4. Configure Copy Local Property

Setting PDFNet.dll's Copy Local property to False for proper PDFTron deployment

5. Update App.config

   <configuration>
      <runtime>
          <loadFromRemoteSources enabled="true" />
      </runtime>
   </configuration>

   <configuration>
      <runtime>
          <loadFromRemoteSources enabled="true" />
      </runtime>
   </configuration>

   XML

6. Configure Post-Build Events

   xcopy $(ProjectDir)Lib\PDFNet $(TargetDir)PDFNet /S /I /Y

   xcopy $(ProjectDir)Lib\PDFNet $(TargetDir)PDFNet /S /I /Y

   SHELL

NuGet Installation (Simplified)

For a more streamlined approach:

1. Open NuGet Package Manager
2. Search for "PDFTron.NET.x64" or platform-specific package
3. Install the appropriate package for your architecture

Installing PDFTron through NuGet Package Manager with platform-specific packages

PDFTron offers a wider variety of over 30 annotation types compared to ComPDFKit's 10+ types. However, this extensive feature set requires careful module selection during installation.

How Do I Convert a URL to PDF Using These Libraries?

Both libraries provide URL to PDF conversion, but with different approaches and capabilities. Let's examine the implementation details and performance characteristics of each.

URL to PDF with IronPDF

IronPDF's Chrome rendering engine provides exceptional support for modern web standards:

using IronPdf;

// Initialize the Chrome renderer with advanced options
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Configure rendering for optimal results
renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.A4;
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 20;
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 20;
renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Print;
renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;
renderer.RenderingOptions.RenderDelay = 1000; // Wait for JS execution

// Handle authentication if needed
renderer.LoginCredentials = new ChromeHttpLoginCredentials() {
    Username = "user@domain.com",
    Password = "secure_password"
};

// Render URL to PDF with full browser capabilities
var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://ironpdf.com/");

// Add metadata for document management
pdf.MetaData.Author = "Development Team";
pdf.MetaData.Title = "Website Export - " + DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd");

// Save with compression
pdf.CompressImages(90);
pdf.SaveAs("website-export.pdf");

using IronPdf;

// Initialize the Chrome renderer with advanced options
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Configure rendering for optimal results
renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.A4;
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 20;
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 20;
renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Print;
renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;
renderer.RenderingOptions.RenderDelay = 1000; // Wait for JS execution

// Handle authentication if needed
renderer.LoginCredentials = new ChromeHttpLoginCredentials() {
    Username = "user@domain.com",
    Password = "secure_password"
};

// Render URL to PDF with full browser capabilities
var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://ironpdf.com/");

// Add metadata for document management
pdf.MetaData.Author = "Development Team";
pdf.MetaData.Title = "Website Export - " + DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd");

// Save with compression
pdf.CompressImages(90);
pdf.SaveAs("website-export.pdf");

Imports IronPdf

' Initialize the Chrome renderer with advanced options
Private renderer = New ChromePdfRenderer()

' Configure rendering for optimal results
renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.A4
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 20
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 20
renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Print
renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = True
renderer.RenderingOptions.RenderDelay = 1000 ' Wait for JS execution

' Handle authentication if needed
renderer.LoginCredentials = New ChromeHttpLoginCredentials() With {
	.Username = "user@domain.com",
	.Password = "secure_password"
}

' Render URL to PDF with full browser capabilities
Dim pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://ironpdf.com/")

' Add metadata for document management
pdf.MetaData.Author = "Development Team"
pdf.MetaData.Title = "Website Export - " & DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd")

' Save with compression
pdf.CompressImages(90)
pdf.SaveAs("website-export.pdf")

The Chrome renderer in IronPDF handles complex scenarios including:

• Single Page Applications (SPAs) with heavy JavaScript
• Responsive designs with media queries
• Web fonts and external stylesheets
• AJAX content loading
• CSS animations and transitions

IronPDF main branch now supports all of this: nuget.org/packages/IronPdf. Recent performance improvements have significantly enhanced rendering speed, especially for complex web applications.

URL to PDF with PDFTron (Apryse)

PDFTron requires the HTML2PDF module for web content conversion:

using pdftron;
using pdftron.PDF;
using pdftron.SDF;

class UrlToPdfConverter 
{
    public static void ConvertUrlToPdf(string url, string outputPath)
    {
        // Initialize PDFTron with license
        PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key");

        // Create a new PDF document
        using (PDFDoc doc = new PDFDoc())
        {
            // Initialize HTML2PDF converter
            HTML2PDF converter = new HTML2PDF();

            // Configure conversion settings
            HTML2PDF.WebPageSettings settings = new HTML2PDF.WebPageSettings();
            settings.SetPrintBackground(true);
            settings.SetLoadImages(true);

            // Set page dimensions
            converter.SetPaperSize(PrinterMode.PaperSize.e_letter);
            converter.SetMargins(0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5);

            // Insert URL content
            converter.InsertFromURL(url);

            // Perform conversion
            if (converter.Convert(doc))
            {
                // Save the resulting PDF
                doc.Save(outputPath, SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized);
                Console.WriteLine($"Successfully converted {url} to {outputPath}");
            }
            else
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Conversion failed");
            }
        }
    }
}

using pdftron;
using pdftron.PDF;
using pdftron.SDF;

class UrlToPdfConverter 
{
    public static void ConvertUrlToPdf(string url, string outputPath)
    {
        // Initialize PDFTron with license
        PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key");

        // Create a new PDF document
        using (PDFDoc doc = new PDFDoc())
        {
            // Initialize HTML2PDF converter
            HTML2PDF converter = new HTML2PDF();

            // Configure conversion settings
            HTML2PDF.WebPageSettings settings = new HTML2PDF.WebPageSettings();
            settings.SetPrintBackground(true);
            settings.SetLoadImages(true);

            // Set page dimensions
            converter.SetPaperSize(PrinterMode.PaperSize.e_letter);
            converter.SetMargins(0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5);

            // Insert URL content
            converter.InsertFromURL(url);

            // Perform conversion
            if (converter.Convert(doc))
            {
                // Save the resulting PDF
                doc.Save(outputPath, SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized);
                Console.WriteLine($"Successfully converted {url} to {outputPath}");
            }
            else
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Conversion failed");
            }
        }
    }
}

Imports pdftron
Imports pdftron.PDF
Imports pdftron.SDF

Friend Class UrlToPdfConverter
	Public Shared Sub ConvertUrlToPdf(ByVal url As String, ByVal outputPath As String)
		' Initialize PDFTron with license
		PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key")

		' Create a new PDF document
		Using doc As New PDFDoc()
			' Initialize HTML2PDF converter
			Dim converter As New HTML2PDF()

			' Configure conversion settings
			Dim settings As New HTML2PDF.WebPageSettings()
			settings.SetPrintBackground(True)
			settings.SetLoadImages(True)

			' Set page dimensions
			converter.SetPaperSize(PrinterMode.PaperSize.e_letter)
			converter.SetMargins(0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5)

			' Insert URL content
			converter.InsertFromURL(url)

			' Perform conversion
			If converter.Convert(doc) Then
				' Save the resulting PDF
				doc.Save(outputPath, SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized)
				Console.WriteLine($"Successfully converted {url} to {outputPath}")
			Else
				Console.WriteLine("Conversion failed")
			End If
		End Using
	End Sub
End Class

Important considerations for PDFTron HTML2PDF:

• PDFTron's SDK is quoted based on the breadth of technology (APIs, features) and the distribution scope (external or internal users).
• Limited JavaScript support compared to browser engines
• May require additional configuration for complex layouts
• Better suited for simpler HTML documents

How Do I Create PDFs from HTML Strings?

Creating PDFs from HTML strings is essential for generating dynamic reports, invoices, and documents. Both libraries handle this differently.

HTML String to PDF with IronPDF

IronPDF excels at rendering complex HTML with full CSS3 and JavaScript support:

using IronPdf;
using System.Text;

public class HtmlStringToPdfConverter
{
    public static PdfDocument GenerateInvoice(InvoiceData data)
    {
        // Build dynamic HTML with modern CSS
        var html = new StringBuilder();
        html.Append(@"
        <!DOCTYPE html>
        <html>
        <head>
            <meta charset='UTF-8'>
            <style>
                @import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@300;400;700&display=swap');

                body {
                    font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
                    margin: 0;
                    padding: 20px;
                    color: #333;
                }

                .invoice-header {
                    display: flex;
                    justify-content: space-between;
                    border-bottom: 2px solid #007bff;
                    padding-bottom: 20px;
                    margin-bottom: 30px;
                }

                .company-logo {
                    width: 150px;
                    height: auto;
                }

                .invoice-details {
                    text-align: right;
                }

                .invoice-number {
                    font-size: 24px;
                    font-weight: 700;
                    color: #007bff;
                }

                table {
                    width: 100%;
                    border-collapse: collapse;
                    margin-top: 20px;
                }

                th {
                    background-color: #f8f9fa;
                    padding: 12px;
                    text-align: left;
                    border-bottom: 2px solid #dee2e6;
                }

                td {
                    padding: 12px;
                    border-bottom: 1px solid #dee2e6;
                }

                .total-row {
                    font-weight: 700;
                    font-size: 18px;
                    background-color: #e9ecef;
                }

                @media print {
                    body { margin: 0; }
                    .no-print { display: none; }
                }
            </style>
        </head>
        <body>
        ");

        // Add invoice header
        html.Append($@"
            <div class='invoice-header'>
                <div>
                    <img src='data:image/png;base64,{data.CompanyLogoBase64}' class='company-logo' alt='Company Logo'>
                    <h2>{data.CompanyName}</h2>
                    <p>{data.CompanyAddress}</p>
                </div>
                <div class='invoice-details'>
                    <div class='invoice-number'>Invoice #{data.InvoiceNumber}</div>
                    <p>Date: {data.InvoiceDate:yyyy-MM-dd}</p>
                    <p>Due: {data.DueDate:yyyy-MM-dd}</p>
                </div>
            </div>
        ");

        // Add line items table
        html.Append(@"
            <table>
                <thead>
                    <tr>
                        <th>Description</th>
                        <th>Quantity</th>
                        <th>Unit Price</th>
                        <th>Total</th>
                    </tr>
                </thead>
                <tbody>
        ");

        foreach (var item in data.LineItems)
        {
            html.Append($@"
                <tr>
                    <td>{item.Description}</td>
                    <td>{item.Quantity}</td>
                    <td>${item.UnitPrice:F2}</td>
                    <td>${item.Total:F2}</td>
                </tr>
            ");
        }

        html.Append($@"
                </tbody>
                <tfoot>
                    <tr class='total-row'>
                        <td colspan='3'>Total</td>
                        <td>${data.Total:F2}</td>
                    </tr>
                </tfoot>
            </table>
        </body>
        </html>
        ");

        // Configure renderer for optimal output
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Print;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.CreatePdfFormsFromHtml = true;

        // Generate PDF with proper base path for assets
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html.ToString());

        // Add security if needed
        pdf.SecuritySettings.UserPassword = data.CustomerEmail;
        pdf.SecuritySettings.AllowUserPrinting = true;
        pdf.SecuritySettings.AllowUserCopyPasteContent = false;

        return pdf;
    }
}

using IronPdf;
using System.Text;

public class HtmlStringToPdfConverter
{
    public static PdfDocument GenerateInvoice(InvoiceData data)
    {
        // Build dynamic HTML with modern CSS
        var html = new StringBuilder();
        html.Append(@"
        <!DOCTYPE html>
        <html>
        <head>
            <meta charset='UTF-8'>
            <style>
                @import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@300;400;700&display=swap');

                body {
                    font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
                    margin: 0;
                    padding: 20px;
                    color: #333;
                }

                .invoice-header {
                    display: flex;
                    justify-content: space-between;
                    border-bottom: 2px solid #007bff;
                    padding-bottom: 20px;
                    margin-bottom: 30px;
                }

                .company-logo {
                    width: 150px;
                    height: auto;
                }

                .invoice-details {
                    text-align: right;
                }

                .invoice-number {
                    font-size: 24px;
                    font-weight: 700;
                    color: #007bff;
                }

                table {
                    width: 100%;
                    border-collapse: collapse;
                    margin-top: 20px;
                }

                th {
                    background-color: #f8f9fa;
                    padding: 12px;
                    text-align: left;
                    border-bottom: 2px solid #dee2e6;
                }

                td {
                    padding: 12px;
                    border-bottom: 1px solid #dee2e6;
                }

                .total-row {
                    font-weight: 700;
                    font-size: 18px;
                    background-color: #e9ecef;
                }

                @media print {
                    body { margin: 0; }
                    .no-print { display: none; }
                }
            </style>
        </head>
        <body>
        ");

        // Add invoice header
        html.Append($@"
            <div class='invoice-header'>
                <div>
                    <img src='data:image/png;base64,{data.CompanyLogoBase64}' class='company-logo' alt='Company Logo'>
                    <h2>{data.CompanyName}</h2>
                    <p>{data.CompanyAddress}</p>
                </div>
                <div class='invoice-details'>
                    <div class='invoice-number'>Invoice #{data.InvoiceNumber}</div>
                    <p>Date: {data.InvoiceDate:yyyy-MM-dd}</p>
                    <p>Due: {data.DueDate:yyyy-MM-dd}</p>
                </div>
            </div>
        ");

        // Add line items table
        html.Append(@"
            <table>
                <thead>
                    <tr>
                        <th>Description</th>
                        <th>Quantity</th>
                        <th>Unit Price</th>
                        <th>Total</th>
                    </tr>
                </thead>
                <tbody>
        ");

        foreach (var item in data.LineItems)
        {
            html.Append($@"
                <tr>
                    <td>{item.Description}</td>
                    <td>{item.Quantity}</td>
                    <td>${item.UnitPrice:F2}</td>
                    <td>${item.Total:F2}</td>
                </tr>
            ");
        }

        html.Append($@"
                </tbody>
                <tfoot>
                    <tr class='total-row'>
                        <td colspan='3'>Total</td>
                        <td>${data.Total:F2}</td>
                    </tr>
                </tfoot>
            </table>
        </body>
        </html>
        ");

        // Configure renderer for optimal output
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Print;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.CreatePdfFormsFromHtml = true;

        // Generate PDF with proper base path for assets
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html.ToString());

        // Add security if needed
        pdf.SecuritySettings.UserPassword = data.CustomerEmail;
        pdf.SecuritySettings.AllowUserPrinting = true;
        pdf.SecuritySettings.AllowUserCopyPasteContent = false;

        return pdf;
    }
}

Imports IronPdf
Imports System.Text

Public Class HtmlStringToPdfConverter
	Public Shared Function GenerateInvoice(ByVal data As InvoiceData) As PdfDocument
		' Build dynamic HTML with modern CSS
		Dim html = New StringBuilder()
		html.Append("
        <!DOCTYPE html>
        <html>
        <head>
            <meta charset='UTF-8'>
            <style>
                @import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@300;400;700&display=swap');

                body {
                    font-family: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
                    margin: 0;
                    padding: 20px;
                    color: #333;
                }

                .invoice-header {
                    display: flex;
                    justify-content: space-between;
                    border-bottom: 2px solid #007bff;
                    padding-bottom: 20px;
                    margin-bottom: 30px;
                }

                .company-logo {
                    width: 150px;
                    height: auto;
                }

                .invoice-details {
                    text-align: right;
                }

                .invoice-number {
                    font-size: 24px;
                    font-weight: 700;
                    color: #007bff;
                }

                table {
                    width: 100%;
                    border-collapse: collapse;
                    margin-top: 20px;
                }

                th {
                    background-color: #f8f9fa;
                    padding: 12px;
                    text-align: left;
                    border-bottom: 2px solid #dee2e6;
                }

                td {
                    padding: 12px;
                    border-bottom: 1px solid #dee2e6;
                }

                .total-row {
                    font-weight: 700;
                    font-size: 18px;
                    background-color: #e9ecef;
                }

                @media print {
                    body { margin: 0; }
                    .no-print { display: none; }
                }
            </style>
        </head>
        <body>
        ")

		' Add invoice header
		html.Append($"
            <div class='invoice-header'>
                <div>
                    <img src='data:image/png;base64,{data.CompanyLogoBase64}' class='company-logo' alt='Company Logo'>
                    <h2>{data.CompanyName}</h2>
                    <p>{data.CompanyAddress}</p>
                </div>
                <div class='invoice-details'>
                    <div class='invoice-number'>Invoice #{data.InvoiceNumber}</div>
                    <p>Date: {data.InvoiceDate:yyyy-MM-dd}</p>
                    <p>Due: {data.DueDate:yyyy-MM-dd}</p>
                </div>
            </div>
        ")

		' Add line items table
		html.Append("
            <table>
                <thead>
                    <tr>
                        <th>Description</th>
                        <th>Quantity</th>
                        <th>Unit Price</th>
                        <th>Total</th>
                    </tr>
                </thead>
                <tbody>
        ")

		For Each item In data.LineItems
			html.Append($"
                <tr>
                    <td>{item.Description}</td>
                    <td>{item.Quantity}</td>
                    <td>${item.UnitPrice:F2}</td>
                    <td>${item.Total:F2}</td>
                </tr>
            ")
		Next item

		html.Append($"
                </tbody>
                <tfoot>
                    <tr class='total-row'>
                        <td colspan='3'>Total</td>
                        <td>${data.Total:F2}</td>
                    </tr>
                </tfoot>
            </table>
        </body>
        </html>
        ")

		' Configure renderer for optimal output
		Dim renderer = New ChromePdfRenderer()
		renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Print
		renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = True
		renderer.RenderingOptions.CreatePdfFormsFromHtml = True

		' Generate PDF with proper base path for assets
		Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html.ToString())

		' Add security if needed
		pdf.SecuritySettings.UserPassword = data.CustomerEmail
		pdf.SecuritySettings.AllowUserPrinting = True
		pdf.SecuritySettings.AllowUserCopyPasteContent = False

		Return pdf
	End Function
End Class

Key advantages of IronPDF's HTML rendering:

• Full CSS3 support including flexbox and grid layouts
• Google Fonts and web font integration
• JavaScript chart libraries (Chart.js, D3.js) render perfectly
• Responsive design support with viewport control
• Base64 image embedding for self-contained documents

HTML String to PDF with PDFTron (Apryse)

PDFTron's approach to HTML string conversion:

using pdftron;
using pdftron.PDF;
using pdftron.SDF;

public class PdfTronHtmlConverter
{
    public static void ConvertHtmlString(string htmlContent, string outputPath)
    {
        PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key");

        using (PDFDoc doc = new PDFDoc())
        {
            // Create HTML2PDF converter instance
            HTML2PDF converter = new HTML2PDF();

            // Configure page settings
            converter.SetPaperSize(PrinterMode.PaperSize.e_letter);
            converter.SetLandscape(false);
            converter.SetMargins(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, HTML2PDF.e_inches);

            // Enable images and backgrounds
            HTML2PDF.WebPageSettings settings = new HTML2PDF.WebPageSettings();
            settings.SetPrintBackground(true);
            settings.SetLoadImages(true);
            settings.SetJavaScriptDelay(1000); // Limited JS support

            // Insert HTML content
            converter.InsertFromHtmlString(htmlContent);

            // Convert to PDF
            if (converter.Convert(doc))
            {
                // Post-processing options
                doc.Save(outputPath, SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized);
            }
        }
    }
}

using pdftron;
using pdftron.PDF;
using pdftron.SDF;

public class PdfTronHtmlConverter
{
    public static void ConvertHtmlString(string htmlContent, string outputPath)
    {
        PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key");

        using (PDFDoc doc = new PDFDoc())
        {
            // Create HTML2PDF converter instance
            HTML2PDF converter = new HTML2PDF();

            // Configure page settings
            converter.SetPaperSize(PrinterMode.PaperSize.e_letter);
            converter.SetLandscape(false);
            converter.SetMargins(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, HTML2PDF.e_inches);

            // Enable images and backgrounds
            HTML2PDF.WebPageSettings settings = new HTML2PDF.WebPageSettings();
            settings.SetPrintBackground(true);
            settings.SetLoadImages(true);
            settings.SetJavaScriptDelay(1000); // Limited JS support

            // Insert HTML content
            converter.InsertFromHtmlString(htmlContent);

            // Convert to PDF
            if (converter.Convert(doc))
            {
                // Post-processing options
                doc.Save(outputPath, SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized);
            }
        }
    }
}

Imports pdftron
Imports pdftron.PDF
Imports pdftron.SDF

Public Class PdfTronHtmlConverter
	Public Shared Sub ConvertHtmlString(ByVal htmlContent As String, ByVal outputPath As String)
		PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key")

		Using doc As New PDFDoc()
			' Create HTML2PDF converter instance
			Dim converter As New HTML2PDF()

			' Configure page settings
			converter.SetPaperSize(PrinterMode.PaperSize.e_letter)
			converter.SetLandscape(False)
			converter.SetMargins(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, HTML2PDF.e_inches)

			' Enable images and backgrounds
			Dim settings As New HTML2PDF.WebPageSettings()
			settings.SetPrintBackground(True)
			settings.SetLoadImages(True)
			settings.SetJavaScriptDelay(1000) ' Limited JS support

			' Insert HTML content
			converter.InsertFromHtmlString(htmlContent)

			' Convert to PDF
			If converter.Convert(doc) Then
				' Post-processing options
				doc.Save(outputPath, SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized)
			End If
		End Using
	End Sub
End Class

PDFTron HTML limitations to consider:

• Basic CSS support (no advanced layouts)
• Limited JavaScript execution
• Font embedding requires additional configuration
• Better suited for simple document layouts

How Can I Convert ASPX Pages to PDF?

Converting ASPX pages to PDF is a common requirement for ASP.NET applications. IronPDF provides native support, while PDFTron requires workarounds.

ASPX to PDF with IronPDF

IronPDF offers seamless ASPX conversion with a single line of code:

using IronPdf;

public partial class InvoicePage : System.Web.UI.Page
{
    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        // Render the current ASPX page as PDF on page load
        if (Request.QueryString["pdf"] == "true")
        {
            // Configure PDF output options
            AspxToPdf.RenderThisPageAsPdf(
                AspxToPdf.FileBehavior.InBrowser,
                "Invoice_" + DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyyMMdd") + ".pdf");
        }
    }

    protected void ExportToPdfButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        // Advanced configuration for ASPX to PDF
        IronPdf.AspxToPdf.RenderThisPageAsPdf(
            IronPdf.AspxToPdf.FileBehavior.Attachment,
            "Invoice.pdf",
            new ChromePdfRenderOptions()
            {
                PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.A4,
                MarginTop = 20,
                MarginBottom = 20,
                CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Print,
                EnableJavaScript = true,
                CreatePdfFormsFromHtml = true,
                FitToPaper = true
            });
    }
}

using IronPdf;

public partial class InvoicePage : System.Web.UI.Page
{
    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        // Render the current ASPX page as PDF on page load
        if (Request.QueryString["pdf"] == "true")
        {
            // Configure PDF output options
            AspxToPdf.RenderThisPageAsPdf(
                AspxToPdf.FileBehavior.InBrowser,
                "Invoice_" + DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyyMMdd") + ".pdf");
        }
    }

    protected void ExportToPdfButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        // Advanced configuration for ASPX to PDF
        IronPdf.AspxToPdf.RenderThisPageAsPdf(
            IronPdf.AspxToPdf.FileBehavior.Attachment,
            "Invoice.pdf",
            new ChromePdfRenderOptions()
            {
                PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.A4,
                MarginTop = 20,
                MarginBottom = 20,
                CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Print,
                EnableJavaScript = true,
                CreatePdfFormsFromHtml = true,
                FitToPaper = true
            });
    }
}

Imports IronPdf

Partial Public Class InvoicePage
	Inherits System.Web.UI.Page

	Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
		' Render the current ASPX page as PDF on page load
		If Request.QueryString("pdf") = "true" Then
			' Configure PDF output options
			AspxToPdf.RenderThisPageAsPdf(AspxToPdf.FileBehavior.InBrowser, "Invoice_" & DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyyMMdd") & ".pdf")
		End If
	End Sub

	Protected Sub ExportToPdfButton_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
		' Advanced configuration for ASPX to PDF
		IronPdf.AspxToPdf.RenderThisPageAsPdf(IronPdf.AspxToPdf.FileBehavior.Attachment, "Invoice.pdf", New ChromePdfRenderOptions() With {
			.PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.A4,
			.MarginTop = 20,
			.MarginBottom = 20,
			.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Print,
			.EnableJavaScript = True,
			.CreatePdfFormsFromHtml = True,
			.FitToPaper = True
		})
	End Sub
End Class

For more control over the rendering process:

// In Global.asax.cs or Startup.cs
public static void ConfigureAspxToPdf()
{
    // Set global defaults for all ASPX to PDF conversions
    AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.A4;
    AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.PrintHtmlBackgrounds = true;
    AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.EnableJavaScript = true;
    AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Screen;

    // Custom headers and footers
    AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.HtmlHeader = new HtmlHeaderFooter()
    {
        HtmlFragment = "<div style='text-align: center; font-size: 12px;'>{page} of {total-pages}</div>",
        Height = 25
    };
}

// In Global.asax.cs or Startup.cs
public static void ConfigureAspxToPdf()
{
    // Set global defaults for all ASPX to PDF conversions
    AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.A4;
    AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.PrintHtmlBackgrounds = true;
    AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.EnableJavaScript = true;
    AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Screen;

    // Custom headers and footers
    AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.HtmlHeader = new HtmlHeaderFooter()
    {
        HtmlFragment = "<div style='text-align: center; font-size: 12px;'>{page} of {total-pages}</div>",
        Height = 25
    };
}

' In Global.asax.cs or Startup.cs
Public Shared Sub ConfigureAspxToPdf()
	' Set global defaults for all ASPX to PDF conversions
	AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.A4
	AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.PrintHtmlBackgrounds = True
	AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.EnableJavaScript = True
	AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Screen

	' Custom headers and footers
	AspxToPdf.GlobalSettings.HtmlHeader = New HtmlHeaderFooter() With {
		.HtmlFragment = "<div style='text-align: center; font-size: 12px;'>{page} of {total-pages}</div>",
		.Height = 25
	}
End Sub

IronPDF's ASPX to PDF feature preserves:

• ViewState and form values
• Session state data
• CSS styling and layouts
• JavaScript-rendered content
• Master page layouts

ASPX Alternative with PDFTron

PDFTron doesn't offer direct ASPX support, requiring indirect approaches:

// Capture ASPX output as HTML, then convert
public void ConvertAspxWithPdfTron()
{
    // Render ASPX to string first
    StringWriter sw = new StringWriter();
    HtmlTextWriter hw = new HtmlTextWriter(sw);

    // Render the page to HTML
    this.RenderControl(hw);
    string htmlContent = sw.ToString();

    // Then use PDFTron's HTML2PDF
    PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key");

    using (PDFDoc doc = new PDFDoc())
    {
        HTML2PDF converter = new HTML2PDF();
        converter.InsertFromHtmlString(htmlContent);
        converter.Convert(doc);

        // Send to browser
        byte[] pdfBytes = doc.Save(SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized);
        Response.ContentType = "application/pdf";
        Response.BinaryWrite(pdfBytes);
        Response.End();
    }
}

// Capture ASPX output as HTML, then convert
public void ConvertAspxWithPdfTron()
{
    // Render ASPX to string first
    StringWriter sw = new StringWriter();
    HtmlTextWriter hw = new HtmlTextWriter(sw);

    // Render the page to HTML
    this.RenderControl(hw);
    string htmlContent = sw.ToString();

    // Then use PDFTron's HTML2PDF
    PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key");

    using (PDFDoc doc = new PDFDoc())
    {
        HTML2PDF converter = new HTML2PDF();
        converter.InsertFromHtmlString(htmlContent);
        converter.Convert(doc);

        // Send to browser
        byte[] pdfBytes = doc.Save(SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized);
        Response.ContentType = "application/pdf";
        Response.BinaryWrite(pdfBytes);
        Response.End();
    }
}

' Capture ASPX output as HTML, then convert
Public Sub ConvertAspxWithPdfTron()
	' Render ASPX to string first
	Dim sw As New StringWriter()
	Dim hw As New HtmlTextWriter(sw)

	' Render the page to HTML
	Me.RenderControl(hw)
	Dim htmlContent As String = sw.ToString()

	' Then use PDFTron's HTML2PDF
	PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key")

	Using doc As New PDFDoc()
		Dim converter As New HTML2PDF()
		converter.InsertFromHtmlString(htmlContent)
		converter.Convert(doc)

		' Send to browser
		Dim pdfBytes() As Byte = doc.Save(SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized)
		Response.ContentType = "application/pdf"
		Response.BinaryWrite(pdfBytes)
		Response.End()
	End Using
End Sub

How Do I Convert Images to PDF?

Image to PDF conversion is essential for document archiving and portfolio creation. Both libraries offer this functionality with different approaches.

Image to PDF with IronPDF

IronPDF provides a dedicated ImageToPdfConverter class for efficient batch processing:

using IronPdf;
using System.IO;
using System.Linq;

public class ImagePdfGenerator
{
    public static void CreatePhotoAlbum(string imageFolder, string outputPath)
    {
        // Get all supported image files
        var supportedExtensions = new[] { ".jpg", ".jpeg", ".png", ".gif", ".bmp", ".tiff", ".svg" };
        var imageFiles = Directory.GetFiles(imageFolder)
            .Where(f => supportedExtensions.Contains(Path.GetExtension(f).ToLower()))
            .OrderBy(f => f);

        // Convert images to PDF with options
        var pdf = ImageToPdfConverter.ImageToPdf(imageFiles, ImageBehavior.FitToPage);

        // Add metadata
        pdf.MetaData.Title = "Photo Album";
        pdf.MetaData.Author = "Photography Department";
        pdf.MetaData.CreationDate = DateTime.Now;

        // Apply compression for smaller file size
        pdf.CompressImages(80); // 80% quality

        // Save the PDF
        pdf.SaveAs(outputPath);
    }

    public static void CreateThumbnailCatalog(List<ProductImage> images)
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

        // Build HTML with image grid
        var html = @"
        <html>
        <head>
            <style>
                .image-grid {
                    display: grid;
                    grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
                    gap: 20px;
                    padding: 20px;
                }
                .image-item {
                    text-align: center;
                }
                .image-item img {
                    max-width: 100%;
                    height: 200px;
                    object-fit: cover;
                    border: 1px solid #ddd;
                }
                .image-caption {
                    margin-top: 10px;
                    font-size: 12px;
                }
            </style>
        </head>
        <body>
            <h1>Product Catalog</h1>
            <div class='image-grid'>";

        foreach (var image in images)
        {
            html += $@"
                <div class='image-item'>
                    <img src='data:image/jpeg;base64,{image.Base64Data}' />
                    <div class='image-caption'>{image.ProductName}</div>
                </div>";
        }

        html += "</div></body></html>";

        // Render with optimal settings for images
        renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Print;
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
        pdf.SaveAs("product-catalog.pdf");
    }
}

using IronPdf;
using System.IO;
using System.Linq;

public class ImagePdfGenerator
{
    public static void CreatePhotoAlbum(string imageFolder, string outputPath)
    {
        // Get all supported image files
        var supportedExtensions = new[] { ".jpg", ".jpeg", ".png", ".gif", ".bmp", ".tiff", ".svg" };
        var imageFiles = Directory.GetFiles(imageFolder)
            .Where(f => supportedExtensions.Contains(Path.GetExtension(f).ToLower()))
            .OrderBy(f => f);

        // Convert images to PDF with options
        var pdf = ImageToPdfConverter.ImageToPdf(imageFiles, ImageBehavior.FitToPage);

        // Add metadata
        pdf.MetaData.Title = "Photo Album";
        pdf.MetaData.Author = "Photography Department";
        pdf.MetaData.CreationDate = DateTime.Now;

        // Apply compression for smaller file size
        pdf.CompressImages(80); // 80% quality

        // Save the PDF
        pdf.SaveAs(outputPath);
    }

    public static void CreateThumbnailCatalog(List<ProductImage> images)
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

        // Build HTML with image grid
        var html = @"
        <html>
        <head>
            <style>
                .image-grid {
                    display: grid;
                    grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
                    gap: 20px;
                    padding: 20px;
                }
                .image-item {
                    text-align: center;
                }
                .image-item img {
                    max-width: 100%;
                    height: 200px;
                    object-fit: cover;
                    border: 1px solid #ddd;
                }
                .image-caption {
                    margin-top: 10px;
                    font-size: 12px;
                }
            </style>
        </head>
        <body>
            <h1>Product Catalog</h1>
            <div class='image-grid'>";

        foreach (var image in images)
        {
            html += $@"
                <div class='image-item'>
                    <img src='data:image/jpeg;base64,{image.Base64Data}' />
                    <div class='image-caption'>{image.ProductName}</div>
                </div>";
        }

        html += "</div></body></html>";

        // Render with optimal settings for images
        renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Print;
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
        pdf.SaveAs("product-catalog.pdf");
    }
}

Imports IronPdf
Imports System.IO
Imports System.Linq

Public Class ImagePdfGenerator
	Public Shared Sub CreatePhotoAlbum(ByVal imageFolder As String, ByVal outputPath As String)
		' Get all supported image files
		Dim supportedExtensions = { ".jpg", ".jpeg", ".png", ".gif", ".bmp", ".tiff", ".svg" }
		Dim imageFiles = Directory.GetFiles(imageFolder).Where(Function(f) supportedExtensions.Contains(Path.GetExtension(f).ToLower())).OrderBy(Function(f) f)

		' Convert images to PDF with options
		Dim pdf = ImageToPdfConverter.ImageToPdf(imageFiles, ImageBehavior.FitToPage)

		' Add metadata
		pdf.MetaData.Title = "Photo Album"
		pdf.MetaData.Author = "Photography Department"
		pdf.MetaData.CreationDate = DateTime.Now

		' Apply compression for smaller file size
		pdf.CompressImages(80) ' 80% quality

		' Save the PDF
		pdf.SaveAs(outputPath)
	End Sub

	Public Shared Sub CreateThumbnailCatalog(ByVal images As List(Of ProductImage))
		Dim renderer = New ChromePdfRenderer()

		' Build HTML with image grid
		Dim html = "
        <html>
        <head>
            <style>
                .image-grid {
                    display: grid;
                    grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
                    gap: 20px;
                    padding: 20px;
                }
                .image-item {
                    text-align: center;
                }
                .image-item img {
                    max-width: 100%;
                    height: 200px;
                    object-fit: cover;
                    border: 1px solid #ddd;
                }
                .image-caption {
                    margin-top: 10px;
                    font-size: 12px;
                }
            </style>
        </head>
        <body>
            <h1>Product Catalog</h1>
            <div class='image-grid'>"

		For Each image In images
			html &= $"
                <div class='image-item'>
                    <img src='data:image/jpeg;base64,{image.Base64Data}' />
                    <div class='image-caption'>{image.ProductName}</div>
                </div>"
		Next image

		html &= "</div></body></html>"

		' Render with optimal settings for images
		renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Print
		Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html)
		pdf.SaveAs("product-catalog.pdf")
	End Sub
End Class

Advanced image handling features:

• SVG to PDF conversion with vector quality preservation
• Batch processing with memory optimization
• Custom sizing and positioning options
• EXIF data preservation

Image to PDF with PDFTron (Apryse)

PDFTron uses its conversion API for image handling:

using pdftron;
using pdftron.PDF;
using pdftron.SDF;

public class PdfTronImageConverter
{
    public static void ConvertImageToPdf(string imagePath, string outputPath)
    {
        PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key");

        using (PDFDoc doc = new PDFDoc())
        {
            // Use Convert API for image to PDF
            pdftron.PDF.Convert.ToPdf(doc, imagePath);

            // Additional image processing
            PageIterator itr = doc.GetPageIterator();
            while (itr.HasNext())
            {
                Page page = itr.Current();

                // Adjust page size to image
                Rect crop_box = page.GetCropBox();
                page.SetMediaBox(crop_box);

                itr.Next();
            }

            // Save optimized PDF
            doc.Save(outputPath, SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized);
        }
    }

    public static void CreateMultiPageImagePdf(string[] imagePaths, string outputPath)
    {
        PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key");

        using (PDFDoc doc = new PDFDoc())
        {
            ElementBuilder builder = new ElementBuilder();
            ElementWriter writer = new ElementWriter();

            foreach (string imagePath in imagePaths)
            {
                // Create a new page for each image
                Page page = doc.PageCreate();
                writer.Begin(page);

                // Add image to page
                Image img = Image.Create(doc, imagePath);
                Element element = builder.CreateImage(img, 0, 0, 612, 792);
                writer.WritePlacedElement(element);

                writer.End();
                doc.PagePushBack(page);
            }

            doc.Save(outputPath, SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized);
        }
    }
}

using pdftron;
using pdftron.PDF;
using pdftron.SDF;

public class PdfTronImageConverter
{
    public static void ConvertImageToPdf(string imagePath, string outputPath)
    {
        PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key");

        using (PDFDoc doc = new PDFDoc())
        {
            // Use Convert API for image to PDF
            pdftron.PDF.Convert.ToPdf(doc, imagePath);

            // Additional image processing
            PageIterator itr = doc.GetPageIterator();
            while (itr.HasNext())
            {
                Page page = itr.Current();

                // Adjust page size to image
                Rect crop_box = page.GetCropBox();
                page.SetMediaBox(crop_box);

                itr.Next();
            }

            // Save optimized PDF
            doc.Save(outputPath, SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized);
        }
    }

    public static void CreateMultiPageImagePdf(string[] imagePaths, string outputPath)
    {
        PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key");

        using (PDFDoc doc = new PDFDoc())
        {
            ElementBuilder builder = new ElementBuilder();
            ElementWriter writer = new ElementWriter();

            foreach (string imagePath in imagePaths)
            {
                // Create a new page for each image
                Page page = doc.PageCreate();
                writer.Begin(page);

                // Add image to page
                Image img = Image.Create(doc, imagePath);
                Element element = builder.CreateImage(img, 0, 0, 612, 792);
                writer.WritePlacedElement(element);

                writer.End();
                doc.PagePushBack(page);
            }

            doc.Save(outputPath, SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized);
        }
    }
}

Imports pdftron
Imports pdftron.PDF
Imports pdftron.SDF

Public Class PdfTronImageConverter
	Public Shared Sub ConvertImageToPdf(ByVal imagePath As String, ByVal outputPath As String)
		PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key")

		Using doc As New PDFDoc()
			' Use Convert API for image to PDF
			pdftron.PDF.Convert.ToPdf(doc, imagePath)

			' Additional image processing
			Dim itr As PageIterator = doc.GetPageIterator()
			Do While itr.HasNext()
				Dim page As Page = itr.Current()

				' Adjust page size to image
				Dim crop_box As Rect = page.GetCropBox()
				page.SetMediaBox(crop_box)

				itr.Next()
			Loop

			' Save optimized PDF
			doc.Save(outputPath, SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized)
		End Using
	End Sub

	Public Shared Sub CreateMultiPageImagePdf(ByVal imagePaths() As String, ByVal outputPath As String)
		PDFNet.Initialize("your-license-key")

		Using doc As New PDFDoc()
			Dim builder As New ElementBuilder()
			Dim writer As New ElementWriter()

			For Each imagePath As String In imagePaths
				' Create a new page for each image
				Dim page As Page = doc.PageCreate()
				writer.Begin(page)

				' Add image to page
				Dim img As Image = Image.Create(doc, imagePath)
				Dim element As Element = builder.CreateImage(img, 0, 0, 612, 792)
				writer.WritePlacedElement(element)

				writer.End()
				doc.PagePushBack(page)
			Next imagePath

			doc.Save(outputPath, SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized)
		End Using
	End Sub
End Class

What Are the Licensing Options and Costs?

Understanding licensing is crucial for budgeting and compliance. The two libraries have vastly different pricing models.

IronPDF Licensing

IronPDF has 3 pricing edition(s), from $749 to $2,999. A free trial of IronPDF is also available. IronPDF offers transparent, published pricing:

License Tiers:

• Lite License: $749

  • 1 developer
  • 1 location
  • 1 project
  • Ideal for individual developers or small projects

• Plus License: $1,499

  • 3 developers
  • 3 locations
  • 3 projects
  • Perfect for small teams

• Professional License: $2,999

  • 10 developers
  • 10 locations
  • 10 projects
  • Best for growing teams
• Unlimited License: Custom pricing
  • Unlimited developers
  • Unlimited locations
  • Unlimited projects

Additional Options:

• Royalty-Free Redistribution: +$1,999 (one-time)
• SaaS/OEM licensing available
• Iron Suite bundle: Get 10 products for the price of 2

All Team Licenses are non-transferable and sharing of licenses outside an organization or agency/client relationship is prohibited.

PDFTron (Apryse) Licensing

PDFTron's licensing is quote-based with no published pricing. Based on user feedback and industry reports:

Estimated Pricing Ranges:

• Small Business: $5,000 - $15,000 annually
• Enterprise: $30,000 - $100,000+ annually
• Additional modules require separate licenses

Pricing transparency is a big con in PDFTRON. Everything is an add-on, requiring specific licensing terms and contracts. Users report:

• After 6500$ invested in PDFTRON, their product simply didn't work as advertised, leaving us empty handed and a whole mess to cleanup up in our product.
• Complex licensing negotiations required
• Per-module pricing increases total cost
• Limited refund policies

Key Differences:

• IronPDF: Perpetual licenses, one-time payment
• PDFTron: Often subscription-based or annual fees
• IronPDF: All features included in base license
• PDFTron: Core features with paid add-ons

How Do Support Options Compare?

Developer support can make or break project timelines. Here's how each vendor approaches customer assistance.

IronPDF Support

IronPDF includes professional support with all licenses:

• 24/5 engineering support via email
• Direct access to development team
• Typical response time: 24-48 hours
• Comprehensive documentation
• Active community forums
• Video tutorials and code examples

The IronPDF library works in Azure WebApps, Functions and WebJobs. It works in both Linux and Windows variants, although I would recommend Windows variant Functions and WebApps as significantly better tested and easier to install.

PDFTron (Apryse) Support

PDFTron's support varies by license tier:

• The cost of PDFTron is high. The importance to our business justifies the cost, but it was definitely a hurdle for us when comparing this product to other PDF web solutions.
• Forum-based support for basic licenses
• Paid support plans available
• Occasionally support can be lacking and the developers are left to struggle through it themselves.
• Response times vary by support tier

What Are the Performance Characteristics?

Performance impacts user experience and server costs. Let's examine real-world performance data.

IronPDF Performance

Recent improvements have enhanced IronPDF's performance significantly:

// Optimized batch processing example
public async Task BatchConvertWithPerformanceMonitoring()
{
    var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

    // Configure for performance
    renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Screen;
    renderer.RenderingOptions.RenderDelay = 0; // No delay for static content
    renderer.RenderingOptions.Timeout = 30; // 30 second timeout

    // Enable parallel processing
    var tasks = new List<Task<PdfDocument>>();
    var urls = GetUrlsToConvert();

    // Process in parallel with throttling
    using (var semaphore = new SemaphoreSlim(4)) // Max 4 concurrent
    {
        foreach (var url in urls)
        {
            await semaphore.WaitAsync();

            tasks.Add(Task.Run(async () =>
            {
                try
                {
                    return await renderer.RenderUrlAsPdfAsync(url);
                }
                finally
                {
                    semaphore.Release();
                }
            }));
        }

        var results = await Task.WhenAll(tasks);

        // Merge results if needed
        var merged = PdfDocument.Merge(results);
        merged.SaveAs("batch-output.pdf");
    }
}

// Optimized batch processing example
public async Task BatchConvertWithPerformanceMonitoring()
{
    var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

    // Configure for performance
    renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Screen;
    renderer.RenderingOptions.RenderDelay = 0; // No delay for static content
    renderer.RenderingOptions.Timeout = 30; // 30 second timeout

    // Enable parallel processing
    var tasks = new List<Task<PdfDocument>>();
    var urls = GetUrlsToConvert();

    // Process in parallel with throttling
    using (var semaphore = new SemaphoreSlim(4)) // Max 4 concurrent
    {
        foreach (var url in urls)
        {
            await semaphore.WaitAsync();

            tasks.Add(Task.Run(async () =>
            {
                try
                {
                    return await renderer.RenderUrlAsPdfAsync(url);
                }
                finally
                {
                    semaphore.Release();
                }
            }));
        }

        var results = await Task.WhenAll(tasks);

        // Merge results if needed
        var merged = PdfDocument.Merge(results);
        merged.SaveAs("batch-output.pdf");
    }
}

' Optimized batch processing example
Public Async Function BatchConvertWithPerformanceMonitoring() As Task
	Dim renderer = New ChromePdfRenderer()

	' Configure for performance
	renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = PdfCssMediaType.Screen
	renderer.RenderingOptions.RenderDelay = 0 ' No delay for static content
	renderer.RenderingOptions.Timeout = 30 ' 30 second timeout

	' Enable parallel processing
	Dim tasks = New List(Of Task(Of PdfDocument))()
	Dim urls = GetUrlsToConvert()

	' Process in parallel with throttling
	Using semaphore = New SemaphoreSlim(4) ' Max 4 concurrent
		For Each url In urls
			Await semaphore.WaitAsync()

			tasks.Add(Task.Run(Async Function()
				Try
					Return Await renderer.RenderUrlAsPdfAsync(url)
				Finally
					semaphore.Release()
				End Try
			End Function))
		Next url

		Dim results = Await Task.WhenAll(tasks)

		' Merge results if needed
		Dim merged = PdfDocument.Merge(results)
		merged.SaveAs("batch-output.pdf")
	End Using
End Function

Performance metrics from production environments:

• Simple HTML: 200-400ms
• Complex HTML with CSS/JS: 800-1200ms
• IronPDF does have Async variants of render methods such as documented here ironpdf.com/examples/async. Using Parallel.ForEach was the highest performing strategy for batch rendering Html To PDF for my use case

PDFTron (Apryse) Performance

PDFTron generally offers faster raw performance for simple conversions:

• Basic HTML: 100-300ms
• Office documents: 500-1000ms
• Lower memory footprint
• Better for high-volume simple documents

However, users report issues with complex scenarios:

• Bugs do crop up from time to time. Sometimes pretty detrimental ones that should have probably been seen in QA testing. It can take a while for them to eventually get fixed.

When Should I Choose Each Library?

Making the right choice depends on your specific requirements and constraints.

Choose IronPDF When:

HTML/CSS Fidelity is Critical

• Modern web applications with complex layouts
• JavaScript-heavy content
• Responsive designs that need preservation

Rapid Development is Priority

• Simple API reduces development time
• Extensive code examples
• Minimal learning curve

Budget Transparency Matters

• Published pricing enables accurate budgeting
• No surprise costs or hidden fees
• Includes all features in base license

You Need Specific Features

• ASPX to PDF conversion
• Azure and cloud optimization
• Comprehensive HTML/CSS/JS support

Choose PDFTron (Apryse) When:

Enterprise Document Workflows

• Complex form processing with XFA support
• CAD file conversions (DWG, DXF)
• Advanced Office document handling

Performance Over Features

• High-volume simple document processing
• Lower memory requirements
• Basic HTML conversion needs

Specialized Requirements

• Built-in document viewer components
• Extensive annotation types (30+)
• Legacy system integration

Large Enterprise Environment

• Dedicated support contracts
• Custom feature development
• Compliance certifications

Summary and Conclusion

Both IronPDF and PDFTron (Apryse) are capable PDF libraries, but they serve different market segments and use cases.

IronPDF excels in:

• Modern web technology support (HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript)
• Developer-friendly API design
• Transparent, affordable pricing
• Rapid application development
• Cloud and containerized deployments

PDFTron (Apryse) strengths include:

• Enterprise document workflows
• CAD and specialized format support
• Lower resource consumption
• Extensive annotation capabilities
• Legacy system compatibility

For most .NET developers building modern applications, IronPDF offers the best combination of features, ease of use, and value. Its Chrome-based rendering engine ensures pixel-perfect HTML to PDF conversion, while the straightforward API accelerates development.

PDFTron remains viable for enterprises with specific requirements around CAD conversion, complex form processing, or when working with legacy document formats. However, the lack of pricing transparency and modular licensing structure can significantly increase total costs.

Getting Started

Try IronPDF:

• Download free trial
• View documentation
• Browse code examples

Explore PDFTron:

• Request evaluation
• Visit developer portal

Remember to thoroughly evaluate both options with your specific use cases before making a decision. Consider factors like long-term costs, support quality, and feature roadmaps alongside technical capabilities.

Get stated with IronPDF now.

Start for Free