Businesses and organizations convert HTML web pages to PDF for several common reasons. They want to standardize records from various browsers, tools, and devices to keep them in the same format and well-ordered. They may also need to create PDFs to deliver HTML content to customers, maintain regulatory compliance, or archive data. HTML to PDF conversion underlies many basic operational processes.
Although you can convert HTML to PDF manually, in practice, businesses don’t do this. It would be a massive waste of time and effort. Hence, everyone uses HTML to PDF service API for building automated rendering capabilities into existing tools. An HTML to PDF online API free or paid is a great solution to add on rendering functionality without developing a PDF engine from scratch.
Wondering how to pick the most suitable HTML to PDF service API among multiple options? Learn everything you should know about paid and free HTML to PDF converter APIs here.
What is HTML to PDF Rendering and HTML to PDF API?
To better understand what a good PDF renderer is, let’s talk about definitions first. HTML to PDF rendering is essential for many routine business processes, so you should know how it works.
HTML to PDF Rendering
HTML to PDF rendering is the conversion of raw HTML to formatted PDF files with software help. Whereas HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is used only to display the content of web pages, PDF files have a clear structure, including headers and footers, page size, page numbers, etc. Regardless of what you do – store PDFs in archives, send them by email, or print out – they look the same. This makes the PDF format highly convenient to keep, retrieve, and share information.
Read About How to Convert HTML to PDF for Paperless Statements
HTML to PDF API
HTML to PDF renderers are usually available as web solutions or HTML to PDF APIs. Whereas web services are convenient for companies that process files occasionally, HTML to PDF APIs are used for ultimate automation. An HTML to PDF API allows you to add rendering capabilities to your existing software to automate document generation fully. After the integration, a third-party rendering tool and your internal system will automatically exchange information through the HTML to PDF API. The API will pass requests to generate a specific PDF based on real-time triggers.
Thanks to API integration, you don’t need your development team to spend months building a renderer. With just a few lines of code and in a couple of simple steps, you get comprehensive rendering capabilities in less than a day.
Paid vs. Free HTML to PDF Converter API: Key Differences
Looking for a renderer, you will come across paid and free HTML to PDF converter APIs. Before deciding on a free option by default, consider all pros and cons carefully. Even though they are open-source and cost-efficient, free services will most probably hamper your business growth in the long run. HTML to PDF online API free solutions have limited functionality, convert low volumes of documents, and are challenging to integrate.
Advanced options of HTML to PDF service API are always paid. Such solutions have reliable tech support, ensure data security, have an uptime guarantee, and other measurable benefits. They allow you to fully automate document rendering and perfectly connect rendering software with your existing tech stack.
Summing up, if you want to test rendering software and don’t expect a large volume of documents, choose free HTML to PDF converter API. Yet if you need reliable rendering solutions with extensive functionality and stability, a premium HTML to PDF service API is a much better choice.
Find out Whether Paid PDFs Renderers are Better than Open-Source Software