The C# PDF Library

HTML to PDF

using IronPdf;

// Disable local disk access or cross-origin requests
Installation.EnableWebSecurity = true;

// Instantiate Renderer
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Create a PDF from a HTML string using C#
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World</h1>");

// Export to a file or Stream
pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");

// Advanced Example with HTML Assets
// Load external html assets: Images, CSS and JavaScript.
// An optional BasePath 'C:\site\assets\' is set as the file location to load assets from
var myAdvancedPdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<img src='icons/iron.png'>", @"C:\site\assets\");
myAdvancedPdf.SaveAs("html-with-assets.pdf");

using IronPdf;

// Disable local disk access or cross-origin requests
Installation.EnableWebSecurity = true;

// Instantiate Renderer
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

// Create a PDF from a HTML string using C#
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World</h1>");

// Export to a file or Stream
pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");

// Advanced Example with HTML Assets
// Load external html assets: Images, CSS and JavaScript.
// An optional BasePath 'C:\site\assets\' is set as the file location to load assets from
var myAdvancedPdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<img src='icons/iron.png'>", @"C:\site\assets\");
myAdvancedPdf.SaveAs("html-with-assets.pdf");

PM >Install-Package IronPdf

Install-Package IronPdf

MIGRATION GUIDES

How to Migrate from QuestPDF to IronPDF in C#

Curtis Chau

Updated: August 1, 2026

Migrating from QuestPDF to IronPDF moves your PDF generation workflow from a C# fluent layout API to a standard HTML/CSS-based approach with broader PDF manipulation capabilities. This guide provides a step-by-step migration path so you can leverage existing web skills, reuse HTML templates, and pick up features the QuestPDF core library does not include.

Why Migrate from QuestPDF to IronPDF

Understanding QuestPDF

QuestPDF is a modern, fluent API created specifically for generating PDFs programmatically in C#. Unlike libraries that offer comprehensive HTML-to-PDF conversion, the QuestPDF core library is limited to a programmatic layout API. QuestPDF excels in scenarios where developers need to generate documents from scratch using C# code, without relying on HTML.

The Community tier is free under MIT terms for individuals, non-profits, FOSS projects, and organizations with under $1M USD in annual gross revenue. Above that threshold, QuestPDF offers a Professional license starting at $999 (perpetual, up to 10 developers) and an Enterprise license at $2,999 (perpetual, organization-wide), which need to be factored into long-term planning.

The Core Problem: No HTML Engine in the Core Library

QuestPDF is sometimes recommended for HTML-to-PDF conversion, but the core library does not render HTML. A community-maintained QuestPDF.HTML extension covers a limited subset of HTML/CSS, but the core engine is programmatic-only and does not run a real browser engine. Teams that already have HTML/CSS templates typically have to rebuild them in the fluent API.

Feature	QuestPDF	IronPDF
HTML-to-PDF (core)	Not supported (fluent API only)	Full support
HTML-to-PDF (extension)	Partial via `QuestPDF.HTML` (limited subset)	Full support
CSS Styling	Limited via extension	Full CSS3
Existing Templates	Must rebuild from scratch	Reuse HTML/CSS assets
Design Tool Compatibility	None	Any web design tool
Learning Curve	New fluent C# API	Web skills transfer
Layout Preview	Companion app	Preview in any browser
PDF Manipulation	Merge / extract / overlay / encrypt (Document Operations API, 2024.12.0+)	Merging, splitting, editing, signing

IronPDF provides native HTML-to-PDF rendering that the QuestPDF core does not include, removing the need to manually reconstruct documents in C# code. It also covers PDF manipulation features such as merge, split, edit, secure, and digital signing - QuestPDF's Document Operations API (2024.12.0+) covers merge, page extraction, overlay/underlay, attachments and encryption, but not editing existing page content, OCR, or digital signatures.

The QuestPDF Licensing Model

QuestPDF's Community License (MIT terms) is free for individuals, non-profits, FOSS projects, and organizations under $1M USD in annual gross revenue. Above that threshold, you need a Professional license at $999 (perpetual, up to 10 developers) or Enterprise at $2,999 (perpetual, organization-wide). Because the trigger is your organization's revenue rather than seat count, this can change downstream client conversations as well as your own licensing.

IronPDF offers a per-developer commercial license: no revenue audits, no client licensing requirements, and predictable costs.

For teams adopting modern .NET versions, IronPDF provides per-developer licensing without revenue-based triggers and a standard HTML/CSS approach that leverages existing web development skills.

Before You Start

Prerequisites

.NET Environment: .NET Framework 4.6.2+ or .NET Core 3.1+ / .NET 5/6/7/8/9+
NuGet Access: Ability to install NuGet packages
IronPDF License: Obtain your license key from ironpdf.com

NuGet Package Changes

# Remove QuestPDF
dotnet remove package QuestPDF

# Add IronPDF
dotnet add package IronPdf

# Remove QuestPDF
dotnet remove package QuestPDF

# Add IronPDF
dotnet add package IronPdf

SHELL

License Configuration

// Add at application startup
IronPdf.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY";

// Add at application startup
IronPdf.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY";

' Add at application startup
IronPdf.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY"

' Add at application startup
IronPdf.License.LicenseKey = "YOUR-LICENSE-KEY"

Find QuestPDF Usage

# Find all QuestPDF usages in your codebase
grep -r "QuestPDF\|Document.Create\|\.GeneratePdf" --include="*.cs" .

# Find all QuestPDF usages in your codebase
grep -r "QuestPDF\|Document.Create\|\.GeneratePdf" --include="*.cs" .

SHELL

Complete API Reference

Namespace Changes

// Before: QuestPDF
using QuestPDF.Fluent;
using QuestPDF.Helpers;
using QuestPDF.Infrastructure;

// After: IronPDF
using IronPdf;

// Before: QuestPDF
using QuestPDF.Fluent;
using QuestPDF.Helpers;
using QuestPDF.Infrastructure;

// After: IronPDF
using IronPdf;

Imports IronPdf

Imports IronPdf

Core API Mappings

QuestPDF Concept	IronPDF Equivalent
`Document.Create()`	`new ChromePdfRenderer()`
`.Page()`	`RenderHtmlAsPdf()`
`.Text()`	HTML `<p>`, `<h1>`, `<span>`
`.Bold()`	CSS `font-weight: bold`
`.FontSize(24)`	CSS `font-size: 24px`
`.Image()`	HTML `<img src="...">`
`.Table()`	HTML `<table>`
`.Column()`	CSS `display: flex; flex-direction: column`
`.Row()`	CSS `display: flex; flex-direction: row`
`PageSizes.A4`	`RenderingOptions.PaperSize`
`.Margin()`	`RenderingOptions.Margin*`
`.GeneratePdf()`	`pdf.SaveAs()`
N/A	`PdfDocument.Merge()`
N/A	`PdfDocument.FromFile()`
N/A	`pdf.SecuritySettings`

Code Migration Examples

Example 1: Basic Document Creation (HTML-to-PDF)

Before (QuestPDF):

// NuGet: Install-Package QuestPDF
using QuestPDF.Fluent;
using QuestPDF.Helpers;
using QuestPDF.Infrastructure;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community;
        
        Document.Create(container =>
        {
            container.Page(page =>
            {
                page.Size(PageSizes.A4);
                page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre);
                page.Content().Column(column =>
                {
                    column.Item().Text("Hello World").FontSize(20).Bold();
                    column.Item().Text("This is a paragraph of text.");
                });
            });
        }).GeneratePdf("output.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package QuestPDF
using QuestPDF.Fluent;
using QuestPDF.Helpers;
using QuestPDF.Infrastructure;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community;
        
        Document.Create(container =>
        {
            container.Page(page =>
            {
                page.Size(PageSizes.A4);
                page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre);
                page.Content().Column(column =>
                {
                    column.Item().Text("Hello World").FontSize(20).Bold();
                    column.Item().Text("This is a paragraph of text.");
                });
            });
        }).GeneratePdf("output.pdf");
    }
}

' NuGet: Install-Package QuestPDF
Imports QuestPDF.Fluent
Imports QuestPDF.Helpers
Imports QuestPDF.Infrastructure

Class Program
    Shared Sub Main()
        QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community

        Document.Create(Sub(container)
                            container.Page(Sub(page)
                                               page.Size(PageSizes.A4)
                                               page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre)
                                               page.Content().Column(Sub(column)
                                                                         column.Item().Text("Hello World").FontSize(20).Bold()
                                                                         column.Item().Text("This is a paragraph of text.")
                                                                     End Sub)
                                           End Sub)
                        End Sub).GeneratePdf("output.pdf")
    End Sub
End Class

' NuGet: Install-Package QuestPDF
Imports QuestPDF.Fluent
Imports QuestPDF.Helpers
Imports QuestPDF.Infrastructure

Class Program
    Shared Sub Main()
        QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community

        Document.Create(Sub(container)
                            container.Page(Sub(page)
                                               page.Size(PageSizes.A4)
                                               page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre)
                                               page.Content().Column(Sub(column)
                                                                         column.Item().Text("Hello World").FontSize(20).Bold()
                                                                         column.Item().Text("This is a paragraph of text.")
                                                                     End Sub)
                                           End Sub)
                        End Sub).GeneratePdf("output.pdf")
    End Sub
End Class

After (IronPDF):

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World</h1><p>This is a paragraph of text.</p>");
        pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World</h1><p>This is a paragraph of text.</p>");
        pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");
    }
}

Imports IronPdf

Class Program
    Shared Sub Main()
        Dim renderer = New ChromePdfRenderer()
        Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World</h1><p>This is a paragraph of text.</p>")
        pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf")
    End Sub
End Class

Imports IronPdf

Class Program
    Shared Sub Main()
        Dim renderer = New ChromePdfRenderer()
        Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World</h1><p>This is a paragraph of text.</p>")
        pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf")
    End Sub
End Class

This example shows the paradigm difference. QuestPDF requires learning its fluent API: Document.Create(), container.Page(), page.Content().Column(), column.Item().Text(), with styling via method chaining like .FontSize(20).Bold(). You must also set the license type with QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community.

IronPDF uses standard HTML that any web developer knows: <h1> for headings, <p> for paragraphs. No new layout DSL to learn. IronPDF's approach offers cleaner syntax and integrates with the rest of a modern .NET web stack. See the HTML to PDF documentation for comprehensive examples.

Example 2: Invoice Generation

Before (QuestPDF):

// NuGet: Install-Package QuestPDF
using QuestPDF.Fluent;
using QuestPDF.Helpers;
using QuestPDF.Infrastructure;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community;
        
        Document.Create(container =>
        {
            container.Page(page =>
            {
                page.Size(PageSizes.A4);
                page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre);
                page.Content().Column(column =>
                {
                    column.Item().Text("INVOICE").FontSize(24).Bold();
                    column.Item().Text("Invoice #: 12345").FontSize(12);
                    column.Item().PaddingTop(20);
                    column.Item().Text("Customer: John Doe");
                    column.Item().Text("Total: $100.00").Bold();
                });
            });
        }).GeneratePdf("invoice.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package QuestPDF
using QuestPDF.Fluent;
using QuestPDF.Helpers;
using QuestPDF.Infrastructure;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community;
        
        Document.Create(container =>
        {
            container.Page(page =>
            {
                page.Size(PageSizes.A4);
                page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre);
                page.Content().Column(column =>
                {
                    column.Item().Text("INVOICE").FontSize(24).Bold();
                    column.Item().Text("Invoice #: 12345").FontSize(12);
                    column.Item().PaddingTop(20);
                    column.Item().Text("Customer: John Doe");
                    column.Item().Text("Total: $100.00").Bold();
                });
            });
        }).GeneratePdf("invoice.pdf");
    }
}

' NuGet: Install-Package QuestPDF
Imports QuestPDF.Fluent
Imports QuestPDF.Helpers
Imports QuestPDF.Infrastructure

Module Program
    Sub Main()
        QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community

        Document.Create(Sub(container)
                            container.Page(Sub(page)
                                               page.Size(PageSizes.A4)
                                               page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre)
                                               page.Content().Column(Sub(column)
                                                                        column.Item().Text("INVOICE").FontSize(24).Bold()
                                                                        column.Item().Text("Invoice #: 12345").FontSize(12)
                                                                        column.Item().PaddingTop(20)
                                                                        column.Item().Text("Customer: John Doe")
                                                                        column.Item().Text("Total: $100.00").Bold()
                                                                    End Sub)
                                           End Sub)
                        End Sub).GeneratePdf("invoice.pdf")
    End Sub
End Module

' NuGet: Install-Package QuestPDF
Imports QuestPDF.Fluent
Imports QuestPDF.Helpers
Imports QuestPDF.Infrastructure

Module Program
    Sub Main()
        QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community

        Document.Create(Sub(container)
                            container.Page(Sub(page)
                                               page.Size(PageSizes.A4)
                                               page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre)
                                               page.Content().Column(Sub(column)
                                                                        column.Item().Text("INVOICE").FontSize(24).Bold()
                                                                        column.Item().Text("Invoice #: 12345").FontSize(12)
                                                                        column.Item().PaddingTop(20)
                                                                        column.Item().Text("Customer: John Doe")
                                                                        column.Item().Text("Total: $100.00").Bold()
                                                                    End Sub)
                                           End Sub)
                        End Sub).GeneratePdf("invoice.pdf")
    End Sub
End Module

After (IronPDF):

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var htmlContent = @"
            <h1>INVOICE</h1>
            <p>Invoice #: 12345</p>
            <br/>
            <p>Customer: John Doe</p>
            <p><strong>Total: $100.00</strong></p>
        ";
        
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent);
        pdf.SaveAs("invoice.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var htmlContent = @"
            <h1>INVOICE</h1>
            <p>Invoice #: 12345</p>
            <br/>
            <p>Customer: John Doe</p>
            <p><strong>Total: $100.00</strong></p>
        ";
        
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent);
        pdf.SaveAs("invoice.pdf");
    }
}

' NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
Imports IronPdf

Class Program
    Shared Sub Main()
        Dim htmlContent As String = "
            <h1>INVOICE</h1>
            <p>Invoice #: 12345</p>
            <br/>
            <p>Customer: John Doe</p>
            <p><strong>Total: $100.00</strong></p>
        "
        
        Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()
        Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent)
        pdf.SaveAs("invoice.pdf")
    End Sub
End Class

' NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
Imports IronPdf

Class Program
    Shared Sub Main()
        Dim htmlContent As String = "
            <h1>INVOICE</h1>
            <p>Invoice #: 12345</p>
            <br/>
            <p>Customer: John Doe</p>
            <p><strong>Total: $100.00</strong></p>
        "
        
        Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()
        Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent)
        pdf.SaveAs("invoice.pdf")
    End Sub
End Class

QuestPDF uses .Column() and .Item() for layout, with .PaddingTop(20) for spacing. IronPDF uses standard HTML: <h1> for the title, <p> for paragraphs, <br/> for spacing, and <strong> for bold text.

The real advantage: with IronPDF, designers can create and modify HTML templates independently. With QuestPDF, every design change requires a C# developer to modify code. Learn more in our tutorials.

Example 3: Headers and Footers with Page Numbers

Before (QuestPDF):

// NuGet: Install-Package QuestPDF
using QuestPDF.Fluent;
using QuestPDF.Helpers;
using QuestPDF.Infrastructure;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community;
        
        Document.Create(container =>
        {
            container.Page(page =>
            {
                page.Size(PageSizes.A4);
                page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre);
                
                page.Header().Text("Document Header").FontSize(14).Bold();
                
                page.Content().Text("Main content of the document.");
                
                page.Footer().AlignCenter().Text(text =>
                {
                    text.Span("Page ");
                    text.CurrentPageNumber();
                });
            });
        }).GeneratePdf("document.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package QuestPDF
using QuestPDF.Fluent;
using QuestPDF.Helpers;
using QuestPDF.Infrastructure;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community;
        
        Document.Create(container =>
        {
            container.Page(page =>
            {
                page.Size(PageSizes.A4);
                page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre);
                
                page.Header().Text("Document Header").FontSize(14).Bold();
                
                page.Content().Text("Main content of the document.");
                
                page.Footer().AlignCenter().Text(text =>
                {
                    text.Span("Page ");
                    text.CurrentPageNumber();
                });
            });
        }).GeneratePdf("document.pdf");
    }
}

' NuGet: Install-Package QuestPDF
Imports QuestPDF.Fluent
Imports QuestPDF.Helpers
Imports QuestPDF.Infrastructure

Class Program
    Shared Sub Main()
        QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community

        Document.Create(Sub(container)
                            container.Page(Sub(page)
                                               page.Size(PageSizes.A4)
                                               page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre)

                                               page.Header().Text("Document Header").FontSize(14).Bold()

                                               page.Content().Text("Main content of the document.")

                                               page.Footer().AlignCenter().Text(Sub(text)
                                                                                   text.Span("Page ")
                                                                                   text.CurrentPageNumber()
                                                                               End Sub)
                                           End Sub)
                        End Sub).GeneratePdf("document.pdf")
    End Sub
End Class

' NuGet: Install-Package QuestPDF
Imports QuestPDF.Fluent
Imports QuestPDF.Helpers
Imports QuestPDF.Infrastructure

Class Program
    Shared Sub Main()
        QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community

        Document.Create(Sub(container)
                            container.Page(Sub(page)
                                               page.Size(PageSizes.A4)
                                               page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre)

                                               page.Header().Text("Document Header").FontSize(14).Bold()

                                               page.Content().Text("Main content of the document.")

                                               page.Footer().AlignCenter().Text(Sub(text)
                                                                                   text.Span("Page ")
                                                                                   text.CurrentPageNumber()
                                                                               End Sub)
                                           End Sub)
                        End Sub).GeneratePdf("document.pdf")
    End Sub
End Class

After (IronPDF):

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var htmlContent = "<p>Main content of the document.</p>";
        
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent);
        
        pdf.Header = new TextHeaderFooter()
        {
            CenterText = "Document Header",
            FontSize = 14
        };
        
        pdf.Footer = new TextHeaderFooter()
        {
            CenterText = "Page {page}"
        };
        
        pdf.SaveAs("document.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var htmlContent = "<p>Main content of the document.</p>";
        
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent);
        
        pdf.Header = new TextHeaderFooter()
        {
            CenterText = "Document Header",
            FontSize = 14
        };
        
        pdf.Footer = new TextHeaderFooter()
        {
            CenterText = "Page {page}"
        };
        
        pdf.SaveAs("document.pdf");
    }
}

' NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
Imports IronPdf

Class Program
    Shared Sub Main()
        Dim htmlContent As String = "<p>Main content of the document.</p>"
        
        Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()
        Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent)
        
        pdf.Header = New TextHeaderFooter() With {
            .CenterText = "Document Header",
            .FontSize = 14
        }
        
        pdf.Footer = New TextHeaderFooter() With {
            .CenterText = "Page {page}"
        }
        
        pdf.SaveAs("document.pdf")
    End Sub
End Class

' NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
Imports IronPdf

Class Program
    Shared Sub Main()
        Dim htmlContent As String = "<p>Main content of the document.</p>"
        
        Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()
        Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent)
        
        pdf.Header = New TextHeaderFooter() With {
            .CenterText = "Document Header",
            .FontSize = 14
        }
        
        pdf.Footer = New TextHeaderFooter() With {
            .CenterText = "Page {page}"
        }
        
        pdf.SaveAs("document.pdf")
    End Sub
End Class

QuestPDF uses page.Header() and page.Footer() with fluent methods like .AlignCenter() and .CurrentPageNumber(). IronPDF uses TextHeaderFooter objects with properties like CenterText and FontSize. The {page} placeholder automatically inserts the current page number.

Critical Migration Notes

The Paradigm Shift

The core change is moving from a custom C# fluent layout API to standard HTML/CSS:

// QuestPDF: Fluent C# layout API
container.Page(page =>
{
    page.Content().Column(column =>
    {
        column.Item().Text("Invoice").Bold().FontSize(24);
        column.Item().Row(row =>
        {
            row.RelativeItem().Text("Customer:");
            row.RelativeItem().Text("Acme Corp");
        });
    });
});

// IronPDF: Standard HTML/CSS
var html = @"
<div style='font-family: Arial; padding: 40px;'>
    <h1 style='font-weight: bold; font-size: 24px;'>Invoice</h1>
    <div style='display: flex; justify-content: space-between;'>
        <span>Customer:</span>
        <span>Acme Corp</span>
    </div>
</div>";

var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);

// QuestPDF: Fluent C# layout API
container.Page(page =>
{
    page.Content().Column(column =>
    {
        column.Item().Text("Invoice").Bold().FontSize(24);
        column.Item().Row(row =>
        {
            row.RelativeItem().Text("Customer:");
            row.RelativeItem().Text("Acme Corp");
        });
    });
});

// IronPDF: Standard HTML/CSS
var html = @"
<div style='font-family: Arial; padding: 40px;'>
    <h1 style='font-weight: bold; font-size: 24px;'>Invoice</h1>
    <div style='display: flex; justify-content: space-between;'>
        <span>Customer:</span>
        <span>Acme Corp</span>
    </div>
</div>";

var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);

' QuestPDF: Fluent VB.NET layout API
container.Page(Sub(page)
    page.Content().Column(Sub(column)
        column.Item().Text("Invoice").Bold().FontSize(24)
        column.Item().Row(Sub(row)
            row.RelativeItem().Text("Customer:")
            row.RelativeItem().Text("Acme Corp")
        End Sub)
    End Sub)
End Sub)

' IronPDF: Standard HTML/CSS
Dim html As String = "
<div style='font-family: Arial; padding: 40px;'>
    <h1 style='font-weight: bold; font-size: 24px;'>Invoice</h1>
    <div style='display: flex; justify-content: space-between;'>
        <span>Customer:</span>
        <span>Acme Corp</span>
    </div>
</div>"

Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()
Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html)

' QuestPDF: Fluent VB.NET layout API
container.Page(Sub(page)
    page.Content().Column(Sub(column)
        column.Item().Text("Invoice").Bold().FontSize(24)
        column.Item().Row(Sub(row)
            row.RelativeItem().Text("Customer:")
            row.RelativeItem().Text("Acme Corp")
        End Sub)
    End Sub)
End Sub)

' IronPDF: Standard HTML/CSS
Dim html As String = "
<div style='font-family: Arial; padding: 40px;'>
    <h1 style='font-weight: bold; font-size: 24px;'>Invoice</h1>
    <div style='display: flex; justify-content: space-between;'>
        <span>Customer:</span>
        <span>Acme Corp</span>
    </div>
</div>"

Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()
Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html)

Layout Pattern Conversions

QuestPDF Pattern	HTML/CSS Equivalent
`.Column()`	`display: flex; flex-direction: column`
`.Row()`	`display: flex; flex-direction: row`
`.RelativeItem()`	`flex: 1`
`.Table()`	`<table>` element
`.PaddingTop(20)`	`padding-top: 20px` or `<br/>`
`.AlignCenter()`	`text-align: center`
`.FontSize(24)`	`font-size: 24px`
`.Bold()`	`font-weight: bold` or `<strong>`

Page Settings Conversion

// QuestPDF
page.Size(PageSizes.A4);
page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre);

// IronPDF
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.A4;
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 20;    // mm (2cm = 20mm)
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 20;
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginLeft = 20;
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginRight = 20;

// QuestPDF
page.Size(PageSizes.A4);
page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre);

// IronPDF
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.A4;
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 20;    // mm (2cm = 20mm)
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 20;
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginLeft = 20;
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginRight = 20;

' QuestPDF
page.Size(PageSizes.A4)
page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre)

' IronPDF
Dim renderer = New ChromePdfRenderer()
renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.A4
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 20 ' mm (2cm = 20mm)
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 20
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginLeft = 20
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginRight = 20

' QuestPDF
page.Size(PageSizes.A4)
page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre)

' IronPDF
Dim renderer = New ChromePdfRenderer()
renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.A4
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 20 ' mm (2cm = 20mm)
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 20
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginLeft = 20
renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginRight = 20

New Capabilities After Migration

After migrating to IronPDF, you gain capabilities that QuestPDF cannot provide:

PDF Merging

var cover = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Cover</h1>");
var content = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(reportHtml);
var existing = PdfDocument.FromFile("appendix.pdf");

var merged = PdfDocument.Merge(cover, content, existing);
merged.SaveAs("complete.pdf");

var cover = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Cover</h1>");
var content = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(reportHtml);
var existing = PdfDocument.FromFile("appendix.pdf");

var merged = PdfDocument.Merge(cover, content, existing);
merged.SaveAs("complete.pdf");

Dim cover = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Cover</h1>")
Dim content = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(reportHtml)
Dim existing = PdfDocument.FromFile("appendix.pdf")

Dim merged = PdfDocument.Merge(cover, content, existing)
merged.SaveAs("complete.pdf")

Dim cover = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Cover</h1>")
Dim content = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(reportHtml)
Dim existing = PdfDocument.FromFile("appendix.pdf")

Dim merged = PdfDocument.Merge(cover, content, existing)
merged.SaveAs("complete.pdf")

PDF Security

var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
pdf.SecuritySettings.OwnerPassword = "admin";
pdf.SecuritySettings.UserPassword = "reader";
pdf.SecuritySettings.AllowUserPrinting = PdfPrintSecurity.FullPrintRights;
pdf.SaveAs("protected.pdf");

var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
pdf.SecuritySettings.OwnerPassword = "admin";
pdf.SecuritySettings.UserPassword = "reader";
pdf.SecuritySettings.AllowUserPrinting = PdfPrintSecurity.FullPrintRights;
pdf.SaveAs("protected.pdf");

Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html)
pdf.SecuritySettings.OwnerPassword = "admin"
pdf.SecuritySettings.UserPassword = "reader"
pdf.SecuritySettings.AllowUserPrinting = PdfPrintSecurity.FullPrintRights
pdf.SaveAs("protected.pdf")

Dim pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html)
pdf.SecuritySettings.OwnerPassword = "admin"
pdf.SecuritySettings.UserPassword = "reader"
pdf.SecuritySettings.AllowUserPrinting = PdfPrintSecurity.FullPrintRights
pdf.SaveAs("protected.pdf")

URL to PDF

var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;

var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://example.com/report");
pdf.SaveAs("webpage.pdf");

var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;

var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://example.com/report");
pdf.SaveAs("webpage.pdf");

Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()
renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = True

Dim pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://example.com/report")
pdf.SaveAs("webpage.pdf")

Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()
renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = True

Dim pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://example.com/report")
pdf.SaveAs("webpage.pdf")

Load and Edit Existing PDFs

var pdf = PdfDocument.FromFile("existing.pdf");
// Modify, merge, add security, etc.
pdf.SaveAs("modified.pdf");

var pdf = PdfDocument.FromFile("existing.pdf");
// Modify, merge, add security, etc.
pdf.SaveAs("modified.pdf");

Dim pdf = PdfDocument.FromFile("existing.pdf")
' Modify, merge, add security, etc.
pdf.SaveAs("modified.pdf")

Dim pdf = PdfDocument.FromFile("existing.pdf")
' Modify, merge, add security, etc.
pdf.SaveAs("modified.pdf")

Feature Comparison Summary

Feature	QuestPDF	IronPDF
HTML-to-PDF	Core: not supported (limited via `QuestPDF.HTML` extension)	Primary feature
Learning Curve	Fluent C# API	Standard web skills
Template Preview	Companion app	Any browser
Design Collaboration	Developers only	Designers + Developers
Existing Assets	Must rebuild	Reuse HTML/CSS
PDF Manipulation	Merge / extract / overlay (Document Operations API, 2024.12.0+)	Supported
Security/Signing	Encryption + permissions (no digital signing)	Encryption + digital signing
Licensing Model	Revenue-based ($1M threshold)	Per-developer
Client Impact	May need licenses above $1M revenue	None
Bootstrap/Tailwind	Not supported	Supported
URL to PDF	Not supported	Supported

Migration Checklist

Pre-Migration

Identify all QuestPDF document templates (Document.Create, .GeneratePdf)
Document the DSL patterns used (.Column(), .Row(), .Table(), .Text())
Map styling methods to CSS equivalents
Obtain IronPDF license key from ironpdf.com

Package Changes

Remove QuestPDF NuGet package
Install IronPdf NuGet package: dotnet add package IronPdf

Code Changes

Update namespace imports
Remove QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community
Convert Document.Create() pattern to ChromePdfRenderer + HTML
Replace .Column() / .Row() with CSS Flexbox
Replace .Table() with HTML <table> elements
Convert .Text().Bold().FontSize(24) to <h1 style='...'>
Replace page.Header() / page.Footer() with TextHeaderFooter
Replace .CurrentPageNumber() with {page} placeholder
Convert .GeneratePdf() to pdf.SaveAs()
Add license initialization at application startup

Post-Migration

Visual comparison of PDF output
Test multi-page documents for correct page breaks
Add new capabilities (security, merging, URL-to-PDF) as needed

Please note: QuestPDF is a trademark of its respective owner. This site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Codeux Software or the QuestPDF maintainers. All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. Comparisons are for informational purposes only and reflect publicly available information at the time of writing.

Curtis Chau

Chat with engineering team now

Technical Writer

Curtis Chau holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (Carleton University) and specializes in front-end development with expertise in Node.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, and React. Passionate about crafting intuitive and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces, Curtis enjoys working with modern frameworks and creating well-structured, visually appealing manuals.

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