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 me know in the comments!