Choosing the Right IronPDF Version for Projects

Curtis Chau

Updated: August 2, 2026

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  # Choosing the Right IronPDF Version for Projects I see there are a few different versions of IronPDF. How do I know which one is the best for me? To avoid missing dependencies issues, it is not recommended to use IronPdf.Slim. However, IronPdf.Slim is highly useful when the targeted OS is unknown. To allow Windows, Linux, or macOS dependencies to be downloaded at run-time, `IronPdf.Installation.AutomaticallyDownloadNativeBinaries` must be set to `true`. Please note that for IronPdf.Slim, apart from being portable, it will not save the user any space at run-time. IronPDF relies on two dependencies: IronPdf.Slim (contains IronPdf.dll) and IronPdf.Native.Chrome (contains the Chrome (default) renderer) based on the platform. For example, in a Windows environment at run-time, [IronPdf.Native.Chrome.Windows](https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.Native.Chrome.Windows/) will be downloaded. In Linux, [IronPdf.Native.Chrome.Linux](https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.Native.Chrome.Linux/) will be downloaded, and for macOS, depending on which processor is being used, either [IronPdf.Native.Chrome.MacOS](https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.Native.Chrome.MacOS/) or [IronPdf.Native.Chrome.MacOS.ARM](https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.Native.Chrome.MacOS.ARM/) will be downloaded. ## IronPDF [https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf/](https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf/) - Contains Windows-specific dependencies for Chrome (default) renderer - Default package that will download Windows-specific dependencies at runtime - Defaults to Chrome renderer - Supports ALL platforms, but the Windows platform will work without any additional downloads - Useful for Windows users or default users. OK TO USE ON ALL PLATFORMS ## IronPdf.Slim [https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.Slim/](https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.Slim/) - Does NOT include Windows, Linux, or macOS specific dependencies - Windows, Linux, or macOS dependencies will be downloaded at run-time - Defaults to Chrome renderer on all platforms unless otherwise specified - Useful for cross-platform solutions which want to download platform-specific dependencies at run-time - Supports ALL platforms, but platform-specific dependencies will be downloaded the first time the program is run - Useful for **AWS Lambda** or highly portable applications where the target platform is unknown - Installation instruction: - Set `AutomaticallyDownloadNativeBinaries` to `true`. ([API reference](/object-reference/api/IronPdf.Installation.html#IronPdf_Installation_AutomaticallyDownloadNativeBinaries)) This will enable Windows, Linux, or macOS dependencies to be downloaded at run-time. ```csharp // Enable automatic downloading of platform-specific dependencies IronPdf.Installation.AutomaticallyDownloadNativeBinaries = true; ``` ## IronPdf.Linux [https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.Linux/](https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.Linux/) - Contains Linux-specific dependencies for the Chrome (default) renderer - Defaults to Chrome renderer - Supports ALL platforms, but the Linux platform will work without any additional downloads - Useful for Linux power-users, specifically Docker and cloud users ## IronPdf.MacOs [https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.MacOs/](https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.MacOs/) - Contains Mac-specific dependencies for the Chrome (default) renderer - Defaults to Chrome renderer - Useful for macOS developers ## IronPdf.Classic [https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.Classic/](https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.Classic/) - _Contains IronPdf.Slim and IronPdf.Native.WebKit.*_ - Contains Windows, Linux, and Mac dependencies for the (legacy) WebKit renderer - Defaults to the WebKit renderer by default

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I see there are a few different versions of IronPDF. How do I know which one is the best for me?

To avoid missing dependencies issues, it is not recommended to use IronPdf.Slim. However, IronPdf.Slim is highly useful when the targeted OS is unknown. To allow Windows, Linux, or macOS dependencies to be downloaded at run-time, IronPdf.Installation.AutomaticallyDownloadNativeBinaries must be set to true.

Please note that for IronPdf.Slim, apart from being portable, it will not save the user any space at run-time. IronPDF relies on two dependencies: IronPdf.Slim (contains IronPdf.dll) and IronPdf.Native.Chrome (contains the Chrome (default) renderer) based on the platform. For example, in a Windows environment at run-time, IronPdf.Native.Chrome.Windows will be downloaded. In Linux, IronPdf.Native.Chrome.Linux will be downloaded, and for macOS, depending on which processor is being used, either IronPdf.Native.Chrome.MacOS or IronPdf.Native.Chrome.MacOS.ARM will be downloaded.

IronPDF

https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf/

• Contains Windows-specific dependencies for Chrome (default) renderer
• Default package that will download Windows-specific dependencies at runtime
• Defaults to Chrome renderer
• Supports ALL platforms, but the Windows platform will work without any additional downloads
• Useful for Windows users or default users. OK TO USE ON ALL PLATFORMS

IronPdf.Slim

https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.Slim/

• Does NOT include Windows, Linux, or macOS specific dependencies
• Windows, Linux, or macOS dependencies will be downloaded at run-time
• Defaults to Chrome renderer on all platforms unless otherwise specified
• Useful for cross-platform solutions which want to download platform-specific dependencies at run-time
• Supports ALL platforms, but platform-specific dependencies will be downloaded the first time the program is run
• Useful for AWS Lambda or highly portable applications where the target platform is unknown
• Installation instruction:

  • Set AutomaticallyDownloadNativeBinaries to true. (API reference) This will enable Windows, Linux, or macOS dependencies to be downloaded at run-time.

    // Enable automatic downloading of platform-specific dependencies
    IronPdf.Installation.AutomaticallyDownloadNativeBinaries = true;

    ' Enable automatic downloading of platform-specific dependencies
    IronPdf.Installation.AutomaticallyDownloadNativeBinaries = True

    C#VB

IronPdf.Linux

https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.Linux/

• Contains Linux-specific dependencies for the Chrome (default) renderer
• Defaults to Chrome renderer
• Supports ALL platforms, but the Linux platform will work without any additional downloads
• Useful for Linux power-users, specifically Docker and cloud users

IronPdf.MacOs

https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.MacOs/

• Contains Mac-specific dependencies for the Chrome (default) renderer
• Defaults to Chrome renderer
• Useful for macOS developers

IronPdf.Classic

https://www.nuget.org/packages/IronPdf.Classic/

• Contains IronPdf.Slim and IronPdf.Native.WebKit.*
• Contains Windows, Linux, and Mac dependencies for the (legacy) WebKit renderer
• Defaults to the WebKit renderer by default

Curtis Chau

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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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