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Head-to-head · PDF Creation Software

iText Core vs CraftMyPDF

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score iText Core #4 in PDF Creation Software 8.9/10 Free plan · pricing on request Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit iText Core
CraftMyPDF #18 in PDF Creation Software 7.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit CraftMyPDF

iText Core leads on 0 checks, CraftMyPDF on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreiText Core · 8.9/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresCraftMyPDF · 4 of 4

iText Core scores higher on our rubric for pdf creation software: 8.9 against 7.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #18.

On deployment, iText Core gives you Self_hosted where CraftMyPDF offers Web.

iText Core is the better fit for java and .NET PDF engineering teams. CraftMyPDF is the better fit for visual PDF templates with forms and bulk output.

  • iText Core fits best

    Java and .NET PDF engineering teams

  • CraftMyPDF fits best

    Visual PDF templates with forms and bulk output

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Side by side

Feature iText Core 8.9/10 Visit ↗ CraftMyPDF 7.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 7.3
Ranking #4 in PDF Creation Software #18 in PDF Creation Software
Best for Java and .NET PDF engineering teams Visual PDF templates with forms and bulk output
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price — Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Cloud
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Web
Support Docs, Community, Email Docs
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features iText Core 3/4 · CraftMyPDF 4/4
Data merge ✓ ✓
Bulk PDF generation Not checked yet ✓ (best)
API access ✓ ✓
Fillable form creation ✓ ✓
Specs
Maximum pages Not checked yet Not checked yet
Input sources text, images, existing PDF documents JSON, CSV and connected workflow data
Deployment Self_hosted Web
Our review
Pros
  • High- and low-level APIs for programmatic PDF creation
  • Supports PDF/A, PDF/UA, PDF 2.0, signatures, and security
  • AGPL access with unlimited PDF generation
  • Drag-and-drop editor with reusable JSON-bound templates
  • Bulk generation from CSV files or multiple data records
  • REST API plus Zapier, Make.com, and Bubble.io integrations
Cons
  • AGPL requires disclosure of the application's full source code
  • Commercial pricing is customized or based on PDF volume
  • Focused on APIs and self-hosted development rather than broad integrations
  • Free plan is limited to 50 PDFs or images monthly
  • Free and lower tiers have relatively small template allowances
  • Teams, storage, and password protection start at Professional
Our verdict

iText Core is a programmable PDF library for Java and .NET developers building document functionality into applications and workflows. It supports creating, manipulating, splitting, merging, filling, flattening, signing, encrypting, and…

Read the review →

CraftMyPDF is a web-based PDF creation platform for developers, businesses, and non-technical teams that need repeatable document production. Its drag-and-drop editor supports reusable templates, JSON data binding, expressions, page…

Read the review →
  1. iText CorePDF Creation Software 8.9Free plan · pricing on request
  2. CraftMyPDFPDF Creation Software 7.3Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • iText Core — where it wins

    • High- and low-level APIs for programmatic PDF creation
    • Supports PDF/A, PDF/UA, PDF 2.0, signatures, and security
    • AGPL access with unlimited PDF generation

    Where it doesn't

    • AGPL requires disclosure of the application's full source code
    • Commercial pricing is customized or based on PDF volume
    • Focused on APIs and self-hosted development rather than broad integrations
  • CraftMyPDF — where it wins

    • Drag-and-drop editor with reusable JSON-bound templates
    • Bulk generation from CSV files or multiple data records
    • REST API plus Zapier, Make.com, and Bubble.io integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Free plan is limited to 50 PDFs or images monthly
    • Free and lower tiers have relatively small template allowances
    • Teams, storage, and password protection start at Professional

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update