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USING IRONPDF

HTML to PDF C# Open Source vs IronPDF: A Practical Comparison

Curtis Chau
Curtis Chau
Updated:

IronPDF offers a straightforward API for HTML to PDF conversion with built-in Chrome rendering. In contrast, open source options like PuppeteerSharp provide free solutions but require more setup and maintenance for large-scale PDF generation.

Converting HTML to PDF is essential in modern .NET projects. Whether you're generating reports, invoices, or archiving entire web pages, selecting the right .NET library can greatly affect your development process. This article compares popular HTML to PDF C# open source solutions with IronPDF, aiding you in making an informed decision for your extensive PDF generation needs.

What Open Source HTML to PDF Options Exist for C#?

The .NET ecosystem provides several open source libraries for HTML to PDF conversion. Each has its own strengths and limitations that you should carefully evaluate. These libraries often handle different file formats and vary in CSS support.

PuppeteerSharp logo and interface showing HTML to PDF conversion capabilities in C# development environment

PuppeteerSharp is the most popular open source option for converting HTML code to PDF format in C#. As a .NET port of Google's Puppeteer, it uses a headless Chromium browser to render web content with full support for modern web technologies. The conversion process involves an HTML document being rendered by an effective PDF engine.

PuppeteerSharp uses the same Chrome rendering engine that powers Google Chrome, ensuring accurate rendering of CSS3, JavaScript, and complex layouts. This makes it particularly suitable for converting modern web applications with responsive designs and dynamic content.

How Do I Implement Basic HTML to PDF Conversion with PuppeteerSharp?

using PuppeteerSharp;
class Program
{
    static async Task Main(string[] args)
    {
        // Download Chromium browser
        var browserFetcher = new BrowserFetcher();
        await browserFetcher.DownloadAsync();
        // Launch browser and convert HTML string
        using var browser = await Puppeteer.LaunchAsync(new LaunchOptions { Headless = true });
        using var page = await browser.NewPageAsync();
        // HTML content with CSS styling and JavaScript
        var html = @"
            <html>
            <head>
                <style>
                    body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; }
                    .header { color: #2563eb; font-size: 24px; }
                    .content { margin: 20px; }
                </style>
            </head>
            <body>
                <div class='header'>Invoice #12345</div>
                <div class='content'>
                    <p>Generated on: <span id='date'></span></p>
                    <script>
                        document.getElementById('date').innerText = new Date().toLocaleDateString();
                    </script>
                </div>
            </body>
            </html>";
        await page.SetContentAsync(html);
        await page.PdfAsync("output.pdf", new PdfOptions
        {
            Format = PaperFormat.A4,
            PrintBackground = true
        });
    }
}
using PuppeteerSharp;
class Program
{
    static async Task Main(string[] args)
    {
        // Download Chromium browser
        var browserFetcher = new BrowserFetcher();
        await browserFetcher.DownloadAsync();
        // Launch browser and convert HTML string
        using var browser = await Puppeteer.LaunchAsync(new LaunchOptions { Headless = true });
        using var page = await browser.NewPageAsync();
        // HTML content with CSS styling and JavaScript
        var html = @"
            <html>
            <head>
                <style>
                    body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; }
                    .header { color: #2563eb; font-size: 24px; }
                    .content { margin: 20px; }
                </style>
            </head>
            <body>
                <div class='header'>Invoice #12345</div>
                <div class='content'>
                    <p>Generated on: <span id='date'></span></p>
                    <script>
                        document.getElementById('date').innerText = new Date().toLocaleDateString();
                    </script>
                </div>
            </body>
            </html>";
        await page.SetContentAsync(html);
        await page.PdfAsync("output.pdf", new PdfOptions
        {
            Format = PaperFormat.A4,
            PrintBackground = true
        });
    }
}
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

The code above demonstrates PuppeteerSharp's approach to PDF generation. Notice how it requires manual browser management and async operations, which can complicate error handling and deployment scenarios. The library also requires careful memory management to avoid resource leaks in production environments.

What Does the PuppeteerSharp PDF Output Look Like?

Sample PDF output generated by PuppeteerSharp showing invoice with CSS styling and JavaScript-generated content

PuppeteerSharp excels at rendering web pages with complex templates and JavaScript execution. However, it requires downloading and managing a Chromium instance (approximately 150MB), which can complicate deployment and increase resource consumption. You are essentially using a heavy-duty PDF converter. This size requirement can be particularly challenging when deploying to Azure Functions or AWS Lambda environments with strict size limitations.

What Other Open Source Alternatives Should I Consider?

wkhtmltopdf was once a popular choice but comes with significant drawbacks. This command-line tool hasn't been actively maintained since 2020 and has known security vulnerabilities that will never be patched. While it can handle basic HTML to PDF conversions, it struggles with modern CSS3 and JavaScript rendering. Organizations concerned with SOC2 compliance or HIPAA regulations should avoid using deprecated libraries with known security issues.

PdfSharp/HtmlRenderer.PdfSharp provides a lightweight solution but lacks native HTML conversion capabilities. It requires manual HTML parsing and positioning, making it suitable only for simple HTML snippets without complex styling or JavaScript support. Compared to other libraries, this requires significant manual work to create PDF documents. You'll often find yourself implementing your own rendering logic for even basic formatting needs.

How Does IronPDF Simplify PDF Generation?

IronPDF logo and visual representation of its Chrome-based PDF rendering engine architecture

IronPDF offers a complete approach to HTML to PDF conversion with its built-in Chrome rendering engine. Unlike open source alternatives, it provides a straightforward intuitive API that handles complex HTML elements without requiring external dependencies. You can easily use IronPDF in Visual Studio across various .NET versions. You can also convert documents from Microsoft Office formats.

IronPDF's architecture eliminates common pain points found in open source solutions. It handles browser dependencies internally, provides native support for Windows, Linux, and macOS, and includes complete documentation with code examples for every feature.

How Do I Convert HTML to PDF Using IronPDF's API?

using IronPdf;
class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        // Initialize renderer
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        // Configure rendering options
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;
        // HTML with advanced CSS and JavaScript
        var html = @"
            <html>
            <head>
                <style>
                    body { font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif; }
                    .invoice-header {
                        background: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%);
                        color: white;
                        padding: 20px;
                        border-radius: 8px;
                    }
                    table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }
                    th, td { padding: 10px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd; }
                </style>
            </head>
            <body>
                <div class='invoice-header'>
                    <h1>Professional Invoice</h1>
                </div>
                <table>
                    <tr><th>Item</th><th>Price</th></tr>
                    <tr><td>Service A</td><td>$100</td></tr>
                </table>
                <script>
                    console.log('PDF generated with IronPDF');
                </script>
            </body>
            </html>";
        // Generate PDF with just a few lines
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
        pdf.SaveAs("professional-invoice.pdf");
        // Can also convert HTML files or URLs
        var urlPdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("___PROTECTED_URL_119___");
        var filePdf = renderer.RenderHtmlFileAsPdf("template.html");
    }
}
using IronPdf;
class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        // Initialize renderer
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        // Configure rendering options
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;
        // HTML with advanced CSS and JavaScript
        var html = @"
            <html>
            <head>
                <style>
                    body { font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif; }
                    .invoice-header {
                        background: linear-gradient(135deg, #667eea 0%, #764ba2 100%);
                        color: white;
                        padding: 20px;
                        border-radius: 8px;
                    }
                    table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; }
                    th, td { padding: 10px; border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd; }
                </style>
            </head>
            <body>
                <div class='invoice-header'>
                    <h1>Professional Invoice</h1>
                </div>
                <table>
                    <tr><th>Item</th><th>Price</th></tr>
                    <tr><td>Service A</td><td>$100</td></tr>
                </table>
                <script>
                    console.log('PDF generated with IronPDF');
                </script>
            </body>
            </html>";
        // Generate PDF with just a few lines
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
        pdf.SaveAs("professional-invoice.pdf");
        // Can also convert HTML files or URLs
        var urlPdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("___PROTECTED_URL_119___");
        var filePdf = renderer.RenderHtmlFileAsPdf("template.html");
    }
}
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

The code demonstrates IronPDF's simplicity. No browser management, no complex setup—just instantiate the renderer and convert. IronPDF automatically handles JavaScript execution, CSS rendering, and font embedding. The library also supports advanced features like custom headers, footers, watermarks, and page numbers without additional configuration.

What Quality Can I Expect from IronPDF's Output?

Professional invoice PDF generated by IronPDF showing gradient headers, tables, and pixel-perfect CSS rendering

IronPDF's API-driven design makes HTML to PDF conversion remarkably straightforward. The library handles all the complexities of PDF generation internally, from managing the rendering engine to processing CSS styles and executing JavaScript. You can also specify custom headers when converting a specified URL. The library provides rich code samples.

Output quality rivals desktop browsers, with support for web fonts, SVG graphics, responsive layouts, and print-specific CSS. IronPDF also ensures consistent results across different platforms, eliminating the "works on my machine" problem common with open source solutions.

What Are the Key Differences in PDF Conversion Capabilities?

FeaturePuppeteerSharpwkhtmltopdfIronPDF
CSS3 SupportFullLimitedFull
JavaScript RenderingYesBasicYes
Installation Size~150MB (Chromium)~40MB~20MB
External DependenciesChromium BrowserQt WebKitNone
API ComplexityModerateHighSimple
PDF/A SupportNoNoYes
Headers/FootersManual SetupYesBuilt-in
WatermarksManualNoBuilt-in
Form CreationNoNoYes
Page ManipulationLimitedNoFull
Commercial SupportNoNoYes

Beyond basic conversion, IronPDF offers extensive PDF manipulation capabilities including merging documents, extracting pages, adding signatures, and applying security. These features are essential for enterprise applications handling sensitive documents or requiring compliance certifications.

How Do These Libraries Handle Complex HTML Content?

When converting HTML strings with embedded CSS and JavaScript, the differences become apparent. PuppeteerSharp requires async/await patterns and explicit browser management to achieve accurate HTML rendering:

// PuppeteerSharp - Complex setup for simple tasks
await page.WaitForSelectorAsync(".content");
await page.EvaluateFunctionAsync("() => window.scrollTo(0, document.body.scrollHeight)");
await page.WaitForTimeoutAsync(2000); // Wait for JavaScript
// PuppeteerSharp - Complex setup for simple tasks
await page.WaitForSelectorAsync(".content");
await page.EvaluateFunctionAsync("() => window.scrollTo(0, document.body.scrollHeight)");
await page.WaitForTimeoutAsync(2000); // Wait for JavaScript
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

IronPDF simplifies this with intelligent defaults:

// IronPDF - Automatic handling of complex content
renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.JavaScript();
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(complexHtml);
// IronPDF - Automatic handling of complex content
renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.JavaScript();
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(complexHtml);
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

IronPDF's WaitFor options intelligently detect when JavaScript execution completes, eliminating guesswork and reducing flaky conversions. The library also handles complex layouts, custom fonts, and internationalization seamlessly.

Which Solution Fits Your PDF Generation Needs?

For simple PDF generation tasks with basic dynamic content, open source solutions like PuppeteerSharp can work well. However, they come with hidden costs: complex deployment, ongoing maintenance, and limited features for manipulating existing PDFs.

IronPDF excels when you need:

The library offers a free trial to evaluate its capabilities, with licensing starting at competitive rates for small teams. The trial includes a free limited key.

How Can I Start Creating High-Quality PDF Files?

Whether you choose an open source solution or IronPDF depends on your specific requirements. Open source libraries offer zero licensing fees but require more development effort and have limitations in features and support. IronPDF provides a complete solution that can easily convert HTML content to professional PDF documents with just a few lines of code.

For enterprise architects evaluating PDF solutions for regulated environments, IronPDF's compliance features, audit trail capabilities, and security certifications make it particularly suitable for healthcare, financial, and government sectors.

For those seeking to generate PDF documents efficiently while maintaining high quality, IronPDF's combination of effective features and simple API makes it a compelling choice. You can download IronPDF via NuGet Package Manager and start converting HTML to PDF immediately:

Install-Package IronPdf
Install-Package IronPdf
SHELL

Transform your HTML strings, files, and web pages into pixel-perfect PDF documents today with the solution that best fits your project's needs. Whether you're building invoicing systems, report generators, or document management platforms, choosing the right PDF library is crucial for long-term success.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of using IronPDF over open source HTML to PDF libraries?

IronPDF offers robust PDF generation capabilities, including high-quality rendering, advanced customization options, and comprehensive support, making it ideal for large-scale .NET projects compared to open source alternatives.

How does IronPDF enhance PDF generation in .NET projects?

IronPDF provides seamless integration with .NET, offering features like accurate HTML rendering, support for modern CSS, JavaScript execution, and the ability to generate PDFs from complex web pages effectively.

Why is HTML to PDF conversion important in .NET applications?

HTML to PDF conversion is essential in .NET applications for creating downloadable reports, invoices, and archiving web content, ensuring information is presented consistently across different platforms and devices.

Can IronPDF handle complex web page elements during conversion?

Yes, IronPDF can accurately convert complex web page elements, including JavaScript, CSS, and multimedia content, into high-quality PDF documents.

Is IronPDF suitable for large-scale PDF generation?

IronPDF is designed for scalability, offering performance optimization and efficient resource management, making it suitable for large-scale PDF generation in enterprise-level .NET projects.

What customization options does IronPDF offer for PDF generation?

IronPDF provides extensive customization options, such as setting page sizes, margins, headers, footers, and applying watermarks, allowing developers to tailor PDFs to specific project requirements.

Does IronPDF support modern web technologies for rendering PDFs?

IronPDF fully supports modern web technologies, including HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript, ensuring accurate rendering of web content in PDF format.

How does IronPDF ensure high-quality PDF output?

IronPDF uses advanced rendering engines and algorithms to ensure that the output PDFs maintain high quality, with sharp text, clear images, and precise layouts.

What support options are available for IronPDF users?

IronPDF users have access to comprehensive support resources, including detailed documentation, tutorials, and customer support to assist with implementation and troubleshooting.

Are there any licensing requirements for using IronPDF in commercial projects?

Yes, IronPDF requires a commercial license for use in proprietary projects, providing businesses with legal assurances and dedicated support.

Curtis Chau
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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