PDF API
PDF API: A focused cloud API for generating templated PDFs from HTML, CSS, and JSON. Ranked #25 of 34 in PDF API Software by our editors (6.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for simple secure HTML-to-PDF APIs.
At a glance
- Editor score6.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forSimple secure HTML-to-PDF APIs
- Free planYes
- Paid from€15/mo
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free plan includes 500 PDFs per month
- Reusable templates support JSON, loops, and conditionals
- SDKs and guides cover Node.js, Python, PHP, and Go
Where it doesn't
- Focused on generation rather than PDF editing workflows
- Free plan does not allow overage
- Higher-volume use requires paid plans
Our verdict on PDF API
PDF API is a managed cloud service for developers who need to generate documents from HTML and CSS. Its REST API accepts reusable templates and JSON data, making it suitable for invoices, receipts, contracts, financial reports, shipping labels, and tickets. The service is hosted in the European Union and supports web and API access, with SDKs and developer guides for Node.js, Python, PHP, and Go.
Pricing is structured around monthly PDF allowances. The Free plan includes 500 PDFs per month with no overage allowed and community support. The Starter plan provides 2,000 PDFs per month, overage billing, a hard cap, and standard email support; it is available at €15 per month or €190 per year. Pro raises the allowance to 20,000 PDFs per month and adds priority email support, with monthly and annual billing options. Scale includes 100,000 PDFs per month, no hard cap, and premium SLA and onboarding, making it the clearest fit for higher-volume production workloads.
The strongest fit is straightforward document generation rather than a broad PDF operations suite. Chromium-based rendering supports modern CSS, while Handlebars-style variables, loops, and conditionals help teams maintain reusable document templates. Temporary presigned URLs and automatic document wiping after URL expiry or DELETE add control around generated files. PDF API should suit teams that want an API-first HTML-to-PDF workflow with a free entry point and familiar language support. Teams seeking OCR, extraction, merge or split tools, or compression should choose a product built around those PDF manipulation tasks instead.
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PDF API pricing
All 4 PDF API plans and prices →
PDF API fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | €15/mo |
| OCR | Not verified |
| PDF conversion | Yes |
| Data extraction | Not verified |
| Merge and split | Not verified |
| PDF compression | Not verified |
| Deployment model | Cloud |
| SDK languages | Node.js, Python, PHP, Go |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Compliance & security | GDPR |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | pdfapi.dev |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to PDF API
- Adobe PDF Services APIA broad PDF API suite with a free tier and tools for complex document workflows.9.3
- Zamzar APIA broad conversion API for teams processing many file types at scale.9.0
- Nutrient Document Web ServicesA broad document-processing API for developers building PDF workflows.8.8
See all PDF API alternatives →
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Featured on iTechGuides
PDF API is listed in our PDF API Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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