PDFKit vs react-pdf
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
JavaScript library for generating PDF documents in Node and the browser.
Open source · MIT
A React renderer that creates PDF files in the browser or on a server.
The short answer
Choose PDFKit if you need…
- Node.js developers who need to generate PDFs such as invoices or reports from application data
- Developers building PDF output that must run in a browser without a server round trip
- Projects that need embedded fonts, JPEG/PNG images, links, or form fields in generated PDFs
- Teams that want a code-driven alternative to editing PDF templates by hand
Choose react-pdf if you need…
- React developers who need to generate PDF reports or invoices
- Teams that want PDF layouts written as reusable components
- Node.js projects that save generated PDFs to disk
- Browser apps that preview a PDF before download
Side-by-side
| PDFKit | react-pdf | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 10.7k | 16.8k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 6 days ago |
What each one is
PDFKit
PDFKit is a JavaScript library that creates PDF files from code, working in both Node.js and web browsers. You build a document by calling chainable functions to add text, images, vector shapes, tables, links and pages, then write the result to a file or HTTP response. It is aimed at generating multi-page, printable documents programmatically.
react-pdf
react-pdf (published as @react-pdf/renderer) lets developers describe a document with React components such as Document, Page, View and Text, then produces a PDF from it. It works in the browser, where a PDFViewer component can display the result, and in Node.js, where render can save the PDF to a file. It is useful when you want PDFs generated from the same component model as the rest of a React app.
Best for
PDFKit
- Node.js developers who need to generate PDFs such as invoices or reports from application data
- Developers building PDF output that must run in a browser without a server round trip
- Projects that need embedded fonts, JPEG/PNG images, links, or form fields in generated PDFs
- Teams that want a code-driven alternative to editing PDF templates by hand
react-pdf
- React developers who need to generate PDF reports or invoices
- Teams that want PDF layouts written as reusable components
- Node.js projects that save generated PDFs to disk
- Browser apps that preview a PDF before download
Strengths
PDFKit
- Simple chainable API that the README says makes complex documents a few function calls
- Works in both Node and the browser, with a prebuilt standalone file and bundler guidance
- Broad feature set listed in the README, including encryption, outlines, AcroForms and accessibility support
react-pdf
- Uses React components and StyleSheet, so familiar patterns carry over
- Supports both browser and Node.js rendering as described in the README
- Open source under the MIT license with a large community (about 16.8k stars)
Not ideal for
PDFKit
- People who only need to edit or fill existing PDFs, since the README describes creating documents rather than modifying them
- Users who want a no-code tool; the README shows only code examples
- Projects that need layout features the README lists as still coming, such as higher-level content layout APIs and pattern fills
react-pdf
- People who only need to display an existing PDF, since the README points to a different project (wojtekmaj/react-pdf) for that
- Non-developers looking for a no-code PDF editor
- Projects not using React, since the library is a React renderer
Trade-offs
PDFKit
- Bundling for Node needs extra steps for standard fonts and PDF/A output, according to the README
- Browser helpers toBlob and toBytes are described as experimental and may change
- Layout is largely manual; the README says higher-level layout APIs are not yet available
react-pdf
- The README is short and does not document every feature, so check the homepage for details
- The README's Node example uses an older ReactDOM.render API, so verify current usage against the docs
- Layout is driven by styles in the README example (flexbox-style), which may take time to learn for print layouts
Getting started
PDFKit
Install with npm
npm install pdfkitInstall with yarn
yarn add pdfkitFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between PDFKit and react-pdf?
PDFKit: JavaScript library for generating PDF documents in Node and the browser. react-pdf: A React renderer that creates PDF files in the browser or on a server. PDFKit suits node.js developers who need to generate pdfs such as invoices or reports from application data, while react-pdf suits react developers who need to generate pdf reports or invoices.
Are PDFKit and react-pdf free?
PDFKit: Free and open source. react-pdf: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, PDFKit or react-pdf?
PDFKit is easier to get started with (rated beginner); react-pdf is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is PDFKit or react-pdf more popular?
react-pdf has more GitHub stars (16.8k) than PDFKit (10.7k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to PDFKit and react-pdf?
Other options people compare them with include jsPDF, react-three-fiber, Ink, react-pdf, PixiJS.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.