iTextSharp is end-of-life and converts HTML through a parser, not a browser. IronPDF renders HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with a Chromium engine under a clear commercial license, so modern layouts match the browser and your source code stays yours. Three lines of C#.
// iTextSharp / iText: HTML to PDF needs the pdfHTML add-on
// NuGet: itext7 + itext7.pdfhtml (AGPL or paid commercial)
using iText.Html2pdf;
using (var stream = new FileStream("output.pdf", FileMode.Create))
{
HtmlConverter.ConvertToPdf("<h1>Hello World</h1>", stream);
}
// No JavaScript. Flexbox, grid, and web fonts render unreliably.
// IronPDF: Chromium rendering, commercial license, no AGPL on your code
using IronPdf;
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
PdfDocument pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World</h1>");
pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");' IronPDF: Chromium rendering, commercial license, no AGPL on your code
Imports IronPdf
Dim renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()
Dim pdf As PdfDocument = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World</h1>")
pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf")
PM >
Install-Package IronPdf
Render the same HTML to identical PDFs on Windows, Linux, Docker, Azure, and AWS, under one commercial license with no per-platform copyleft to track.
Designed for C#, F#, & VB.NET running on .NET 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, Core, Standard, or Framework
Available for .NET, Java, Node.js, and Python.
iText is a robust low-level PDF toolkit, but iTextSharp (iText 5) is end-of-life, and HTML to PDF runs through a parser, the pdfHTML add-on, with no JavaScript and unreliable flexbox, grid, and web fonts, so Bootstrap and Tailwind layouts break. The AGPL license also requires open-sourcing your application unless you buy a commercial subscription. IronPDF renders HTML with Chromium under a clear commercial license and keeps editing, merging, forms, and signing in the same library.
| iTextSharp | IronPDF | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | iTextSharp (iText 5) EOL, security fixes only | Actively maintained |
| HTML to PDF | Needs pdfHTML add-on | Built in |
| Rendering | Own HTML/CSS parser, no browser engine | Chromium browser engine |
| JavaScript | Not executed | Full JavaScript execution |
| Modern CSS | Flexbox, grid, web fonts unreliable | Full CSS3, flexbox, grid |
| License | AGPLv3 or paid commercial subscription | Commercial, no copyleft on your code |
| AGPL effect | Open-source your app, or buy a license | Your source stays yours |
| PDF features | Strong low-level PDF API | Edit, merge, sign, forms, HTML render |
| Support | Community or paid subscription | 24/5 engineers, perpetual options |
Built for developers who need browser-grade HTML to PDF and a license that keeps their code their own.
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Install-Package IronPdf
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Where in the past we might have to go out and use one plug-in or one package for OCR, and another one for PDF, having them all integrated into one low-cost package was really great for us.
David JonesLead Software EngineerRead the case study
SAVING20%
Green2view achieved 20% savings, 30% faster document turnaround, and 100% compliance.
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It just works—automated PDF generation delivers pixel-perfect financial reports every time.
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Is IronPDF an actively maintained alternative to the EOL iTextSharp?YES!
Can I convert HTML to PDF without the pdfHTML add-on iText requires?YES!
Does IronPDF render modern CSS, flexbox, grid, and JavaScript that iText cannot?YES!
Can I keep my application closed-source without an AGPL obligation?YES!
Can I still create, edit, merge, sign, and extract from PDFs like iText?YES!
Is there a perpetual, royalty-free license instead of AGPL or a subscription?YES!
Can I render pixel-perfect PDFs from complex HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript?YES!
Can I convert an HTML string to PDF in one line of C# code?YES!
Can I convert a URL to PDF with authentication, cookies, and custom headers?YES!
Can I generate a PDF from Razor, CSHTML, or ASPX views?YES!
Can I add custom headers, footers, page numbers, and watermarks during conversion?YES!
Can I run HTML to PDF conversion in Docker, Azure Functions, or AWS Lambda?YES!
Can I deploy my application using the library to Linux, macOS, or Windows, including Docker containers?YES!
Is the library thread-safe for use in highly concurrent, multi-threaded server applications and APIs?YES!
Can I set custom viewport dimensions and print media CSS to control responsive layouts?YES!
Is IronPDF compatible with Azure Functions?YES!
Can I permanently redact sensitive text and images from PDF documents?YES!
Can I generate a PDF from a URL that requires authentication via custom headers, cookies, or form logins?YES!
Can I access PDF DOM through ObjectModel property?YES!
Can I programmatically fill, read, and flatten interactive AcroForm?YES!
Does it support generating PDF/A and PDF/UA compliant documents for archiving and accessibility standards?YES!
Can I secure a document with 256-bit AES password encryption and set user permissions?YES!
Can I apply and verify digital signatures on a PDF using X.509 certificates?YES!
Can I test IronPDF in my live project for free now?YES! 
Click here to start your 30-day free trial
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