pdf-lib

Free#11 of 45 in PDF Creation SoftwarePDF SDKs

pdf-lib: A broad, developer-focused PDF toolkit for browser and JavaScript workflows. Ranked #11 of 45 in PDF Creation Software by our editors (8.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for browser and JavaScript PDF manipulation.

8.0/10★★★★☆Editor score

Visit pdf-lib

pdf-lib8.0 Visit pdf-lib

At a glance

• Editor score
  8.0 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Browser and JavaScript PDF manipulation
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  Free
• Data merge
  No
• Facts checked
  24 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.

Your product? Our editors can test pdf-lib in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

pdf-lib pricing

pdf-lib fact sheet

Alternatives to pdf-lib

• Wondershare PDFelementA broad PDF toolkit covering editing, OCR, forms, conversion, signatures, and AI workflows.9.3
• Adobe PDF Services APIA broad PDF automation API for enterprise document workflows and integrations.9.2
• PDFCreatorA Windows-focused PDF converter for batch processing, automation, and controlled output.9.1

See all pdf-lib alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

pdf-lib is listed in our PDF Creation Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/pdf-lib/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/pdf-lib.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update