PDFs are an essential format for digital documentation, and developers often need tools to generate, manipulate, or render PDFs. Whether you're creating invoices, reports, or e-books, choosing the right PDF tool can make a significant difference. Here’s a breakdown of some of the best PDF tools available today, covering their key features and use cases.

1. Wkhtmltopdf

Best for: Converting HTML to PDF

Wkhtmltopdf is a command-line tool that converts HTML pages into PDFs using the WebKit rendering engine. It is commonly used for generating invoices, reports, and documents from web applications.

Key Features:

• Converts web pages to PDF with high fidelity
• Supports JavaScript, CSS, and images
• Command-line interface for automation
• Great for server-side PDF generation

2. Pdfkit

Best for: Creating PDFs programmatically in Node.js

Pdfkit is a JavaScript library that allows developers to create PDFs in a flexible and programmatic way.

Key Features:

• Create vector graphics, images, and text
• Stream output to files, HTTP responses, or buffers
• Supports custom fonts and annotations
• Lightweight and easy to use for developers

3. Pdfmake

Best for: Custom PDF generation with JavaScript

Pdfmake is a powerful client- and server-side library for generating PDFs using JSON-based declarative syntax.

Key Features:

• Define document structure using a declarative approach
• Works in browsers and Node.js
• Supports table layouts and styling
• Good for dynamically generating structured PDFs

4. React-PDF

Best for: Rendering PDFs in React applications

React-pdf is a React library for building PDF documents using React components.

Key Features:

• Leverages React components for PDF creation
• Supports server-side rendering (SSR)
• Custom styling with Flexbox
• Ideal for React-based web applications

5. qpdf

Best for: Modifying and encrypting PDFs

Qpdf is a command-line tool for manipulating PDF files, including encryption, compression, and restructuring.

Key Features:

• Merge and split PDFs
• Encrypt and decrypt documents
• Linearize PDFs for faster web viewing
• Good for batch processing and automation

6. PDF.js

Best for: Rendering PDFs in browsers

PDF.js is an open-source JavaScript library developed by Mozilla to enable native PDF rendering in browsers.

Key Features:

Uses HTML5 and WebAssembly for fast rendering

Provides a customizable viewer

No need for external plugins like Adobe Acrobat

Ideal for web-based PDF viewing

7. PitStop

Best for: PDF preflighting and editing

PitStop is a commercial tool used for PDF quality control and editing, mainly in the printing and publishing industry.

Key Features:

PDF preflighting to ensure compliance with print standards

Edit text, images, and vector objects

Automate corrections with Action Lists

Ideal for graphic designers and print professionals

8. Adobe Acrobat

Best for: Comprehensive PDF editing and management

Adobe Acrobat is the industry standard for creating, editing, and managing PDFs.

Key Features:

Advanced editing tools

Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

Secure document signing and encryption

Cloud integration for seamless collaboration

9. Pdf-lib.js

Best for: Manipulating PDFs in JavaScript

Pdf-lib.js is a JavaScript library that enables developers to create and modify PDFs without relying on server-side dependencies.

Key Features:

Add, modify, or remove pages

Embed fonts, images, and annotations

Works in both Node.js and the browser

Lightweight and dependency-free

Conclusion

Choosing the right PDF tool depends on your specific needs. If you need to generate PDFs from HTML, Wkhtmltopdf is an excellent choice. For JavaScript-based PDF generation, Pdfkit, Pdfmake, and React-pdf offer powerful solutions. If security and modification are your priorities, Qpdf and Pdf-lib.js are great options. For web-based viewing, PDF.js is a must-have. And if you require professional editing and preflighting, PitStop and Adobe Acrobat are industry leaders.

Which PDF tool do you prefer? Let us know in the comments!