pdf-lib
Open-source JavaScript library for creating and modifying PDF documents.
At a glance
- Editor scoreNot yet scored
- PricingFree plan
- Best forBrowser and JavaScript PDF manipulation
- Free planYes
- Paid fromNone
- Data mergeNo
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Creates, edits, splits, merges, and copies PDF pages
- Supports text, graphics, images, fonts, metadata, and forms
- Runs across web and JavaScript environments with API access
Where it doesn't
- Does not cover template data merging
- Does not cover bulk PDF generation
- Requires JavaScript or TypeScript development
Our verdict on pdf-lib
pdf-lib is an open-source JavaScript and TypeScript library for creating and modifying PDF documents. It is aimed at developers building browser and JavaScript-based PDF workflows rather than users seeking a visual document editor. The library can create PDFs from scratch, modify existing files, manipulate pages, draw text and vector graphics, embed fonts and images, work with interactive forms, and save output as bytes or Base64/data URIs. Its web and API positioning makes it suitable for applications that need PDF generation or manipulation within a JavaScript environment.
Its strongest area is breadth within core PDF operations. Developers can add, insert, remove, split, merge, and copy pages, while also embedding PNG and JPEG images, standard and custom fonts, and existing PDF pages. Form support includes creating, filling, reading, and flattening interactive fields. Metadata can be set and read, and inputs can include text, vector graphics, images, fonts, and existing PDF pages. This makes pdf-lib a practical fit for document assembly, form workflows, and programmatic PDF editing where the implementation belongs in application code.
Distribution and ecosystem fit are also central. pdf-lib is available through npm, Yarn, unpkg, and jsDelivr, with browser use and API access supported. The published description also identifies compatibility with Node, Deno, and React Native, and the library is licensed under the MIT License. It is less suited to teams looking for template data merging or bulk generation as core capabilities. Choose pdf-lib when JavaScript control over PDF structure and output matters; consider another option when non-developer authoring, data-driven templates, or high-volume generation is the primary requirement.
pdf-lib pricing
pdf-lib fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | None |
| Data merge | No |
| Bulk PDF generation | No |
| API access | Yes |
| Maximum pages | Not verified |
| Input sources | PDF documents, PNG images, JPEG images, fonts, AcroForm fields |
| Fillable form creation | Yes |
| Deployment | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Docs, Community |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | pdf-lib.js.org |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to pdf-lib
- Wondershare PDFelementA broad PDF toolkit covering editing, OCR, forms, conversion, signatures, and AI workflows.3.8
- Adobe PDF Services APIA broad PDF automation API for enterprise document workflows and integrations.6.0
- PDFCreatorA Windows-focused PDF converter for batch processing, automation, and controlled output.6.0
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