Top 10 Libraries For PDF Generation And Modification in .Net: Compared Ranked

Dec 13, 2025 | Syndication Cloud

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Originally Posted On: https://medium.com/turbo-net/top-10-libraries-for-pdf-generation-and-modification-in-net-compared-ranked-718e3e4e3e45

15 Best C# PDF Libraries for .NET Developers in 2025

Generating PDFs (portable document format) is a critical function in many .NET applications — whether it’s for reports, invoices, receipts, or exporting structured data. The vast number of libraries available can make the decision-making process overwhelming. This guide is here to simplify your choice, comparing 15 of the most powerful PDF libraries for C# — covering free, open-source, and commercial options.

We’ll dive into the strengths, weaknesses, and best use cases of each library, exploring their performance, licensing details, and real-world examples. If you’re in a rush, here’s a quick recommendation:

Need a free solution? Try iTextSharp or Pdfium.NET for basic PDF creation.

Need high-performance HTML-to-PDF conversion? IronPDF offers fast, pixel-perfect rendering with full CSS and JavaScript support to convert PDF documents from any HTML content.

Expect detailed comparisons, troubleshooting tips, and feature insights as we explore the best libraries for your PDF needs. Let’s get started with the top free and paid C# PDF libraries.

The Best Free C# PDF Library Options

For those developers and independent teams looking for a budget-friendly, free solution to generate PDF documents in C#, open-source libraries provide a cost-effective way to handle essential PDF tasks. This can come at the cost of missing out on the bells and whistles that paid PDF libraries come with, but open-sourced PDF-generating libraries are great for those looking for basic PDF generation without breaking the bank.

Below, we’ll break down the best free PDF-generating and libraries for C#, detailing their strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases.

Quick Comparison Table: Which Free PDF Library Should You Use?

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Decision Flowchart: Which Free PDF Library Should You Use?

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1. iText 9 (Latest Version, Replacing iTextSharp)

iText 9 is the modern successor to iTextSharp, offering a more powerful, feature-rich approach to PDF creation and manipulation in C#. While iTextSharp was widely used, it is now in maintenance mode, and developers are encouraged to upgrade to iText 9 for better performance, security, and compliance with modern PDF standards.

✅ Best for: Advanced PDF creation, manipulation, and compliance with PDF/A, PDF/UA, and PDF 2.0.

❌ Limitations: AGPL license requires open-sourcing your code unless you purchase a commercial license.

Code Example: Generate a Simple PDF with iText 9

using iText.Kernel.Pdf;
using iText.Layout;
using iText.Layout.Element;

// Initialize PDF writer
PdfWriter writer = new PdfWriter("iText9.pdf");

// Initialize PDF document
PdfDocument pdf = new PdfDocument(writer);

// Initialize document
Document document = new Document(pdf);

// Add a paragraph
document.Add(new Paragraph("Hello, iText 9!"));

// Close document
document.Close();

Output

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When to Use iText:

✅ Best for:

Developers needing fine-grained control over PDF generation.

Applications requiring PDF/A or PDF/UA compliance for long-term archiving.

Encrypted PDFs, digital signatures, and security features for sensitive documents.

Extracting text and manipulating PDFs at an advanced level (e.g., merging, splitting, stamping).

High-volume document generation, such as generating invoices or reports dynamically.

❌ Avoid if:

You need a free solution (iText 8 is commercially licensed; only iTextSharp remains open-source).

You require full HTML-to-PDF conversion — while iText 9 supports HTML through its paid add-on but lacks full JavaScript execution.

You want simpler syntax — iText can be verbose and complex for basic use cases.

Alternative: If you need a free solution with HTML support, consider Puppeteer Sharp or Pdfium.NET for rendering, and PdfSharp for simpler PDF generation. If you are looking for a library that can handle advanced JavaScript and CSS rendering, consider a library such as IronPDF.

2. Pdfium.NET SDK (Fastest Free Viewer & Editor)

The Pdfium.NET SDK is an excellent choice for rendering and viewing existing PDF documents in C#. It is the fastest free option available for text extraction, PDF viewing, and basic editing tasks. However, one major limitation that this tool has is its lack of PDF generation features, which makes it unsuitable for tasks that require PDF creation.

✅Best for: Viewing PDF documents, extracting text, and adding annotations to PDF documents.

❌Limitations: Pdfium.NET offers no support

Code Example: Viewing a PDF document using Pdfium.NET

using PdfiumViewer;
using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace PdfViewerExample
{
    public partial class PdfViewerForm : Form
    {
        private PdfViewer pdfViewer;

        public PdfViewerForm()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            InitializePdfViewer();
        }

        private void InitializePdfViewer()
        {
            // Initialize the PdfViewer
            pdfViewer = new PdfViewer
            {
                Dock = DockStyle.Fill // Fill the form with the viewer
            };

            // Add the PdfViewer to the form
            this.Controls.Add(pdfViewer);
            this.Text = "PDF Viewer";
            this.WindowState = FormWindowState.Maximized; // Maximize the form
        }

        public void PdfViewerForm_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            LoadPdf("input.pdf"); // Ensure the path is correct
        }

        private void LoadPdf(string filePath)
        {
            try
            {
                // Load the PDF document into the viewer
                pdfViewer1.Document = PdfDocument.Load(filePath);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show($"Error loading PDF: {ex.Message}");
            }
        }
    }
}

Output

When to Use Pdfium.NET:

✅ Best for:

  • Windows Forms or WPF applications that need a fast, embedded PDF viewer.
  • Extracting text or images from existing PDFs with high accuracy.
  • Annotating PDFs with highlights, comments, or drawings.
  • Rendering and zooming PDFs efficiently, even for large documents.

❌ Avoid if:

You need to generate new PDFs from scratch — Pdfium.NET is a renderer, not a creator.

You require advanced PDF editing (e.g., reflowing content, modifying text directly).

You need HTML-to-PDF conversion — Pdfium.NET cannot handle this.

Alternative: If you need both viewing and generation, consider PdfSharp (for lightweight PDF creation) or IronPDF (for advanced HTML-to-PDF rendering).

3. SQL Server ReportViewer (SSRS) — Built-in PDF Export

For developers working in enterprise environments, SQL Server ReportViewer (SSRS) is an established solution for generating PDF reports. It allows you to export reports from SQL Server into PDF format directly. However, it requires a SQL Server setup, making it less flexible for custom PDF generation.

✅ Best for: Enterprise reporting and structured data from SQL Server.

❌ Limitations: Requires SQL Server and is not suited for custom PDF layouts.

Code Example: Export SSRS Report to PDF

using System;
using System.Data;
using System.Data.SQLite;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using Microsoft.Reporting.WinForms;
using System.IO;

namespace WindowsFormsApp3
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            string dbPath = @"C:MyDatabasesUserDatabase.sqlite";
            string connString = $"Data Source={dbPath};Version=3;";
            string query = "SELECT ID, Name, Age FROM Users";

            using (SQLiteConnection conn = new SQLiteConnection(connString))
            {
                conn.Open();

                SQLiteDataAdapter da = new SQLiteDataAdapter(query, conn);
                DataTable dt = new DataTable();
                da.Fill(dt);

                // Ensure dataset name matches RDLC file
                ReportDataSource rds = new ReportDataSource("UserDataSet", dt);
                reportViewer1.LocalReport.DataSources.Clear();
                reportViewer1.LocalReport.DataSources.Add(rds);

                // Force reload
                reportViewer1.LocalReport.Refresh();
                reportViewer1.RefreshReport();

                // Generate PDF
                LocalReport report = new LocalReport();
                report.ReportPath = "UserReport.rdlc"; // Make sure the path is correct

                // Add data sources again for rendering
                report.DataSources.Clear();
                report.DataSources.Add(rds);

                // Render the report to a byte array
                byte[] bytes = report.Render("PDF");

                // Save the PDF to a file
                File.WriteAllBytes("output.pdf", bytes);

                MessageBox.Show("PDF generated successfully!");
            }
        }
    }
}

Output

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When to Use SSRS (ReportViewer):

✅ Best for:

  • Business applications that rely on SQL Server for structured reporting.
  • Generating financial reports, invoices, and audit logs from database records.
  • Enterprise dashboards and BI solutions where reports need automated PDF exports.
  • Integrating reporting into ASP.NET WebForms, MVC, or Windows Forms applications.

❌ Avoid if:

  • You don’t use SQL Server — SSRS is tightly coupled with Microsoft’s database ecosystem.
  • You need highly customized PDFs outside of tabular reports (e.g., complex layouts with dynamic elements).
  • Your application requires on-demand HTML-to-PDF conversion.

Alternative: If you need a more flexible reporting tool that’s not tied to SQL Server, consider FastReport.NET or Stimulsoft Reports.

4. Puppeteer Sharp (Convert HTML-to-PDF in Headless Chrome)

Puppeteer Sharp is a C# wrapper for the popular headless Chrome tool Puppeteer, allowing full HTML-to-PDF conversion. It preserves CSS, JavaScript, and web fonts, which makes it an excellent option for converting dynamic, web-based content into PDFs.

✅ Best for: Web applications that need full CSS, JavaScript, and web font support for pixel-perfect PDFs.

❌ Limitations: Requires both Chromium and Node.js, which makes deployment more complex.

Code Example: Convert a Webpage to PDF format with Puppeteer Sharp

using PuppeteerSharp;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

class Program
{
    public static async Task Main()
    {
        await new BrowserFetcher().DownloadAsync();
        using var browser = await Puppeteer.LaunchAsync(new LaunchOptions { Headless = true });
        using var page = await browser.NewPageAsync();
        await page.GoToAsync("https://apple.com");
        await page.PdfAsync("output.pdf");
    }
}

Output

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When to Use Puppeteer Sharp:

✅ Best for:

  • Generating PDFs from live HTML/CSS pages with pixel-perfect accuracy.
  • Rendering web apps, reports, or invoices as PDFs, including interactive charts.
  • Web-based applications (ASP.NET, Blazor, Razor Pages) needing PDF exports.
  • Ensuring fonts, styles, and JavaScript-based UI elements are preserved in PDFs.

❌ Avoid if:

  • You don’t want to install Node.js — Puppeteer relies on a Chromium browser.
  • You need server-friendly, lightweight PDF generation (Chromium can be resource-intensive).
  • Your PDFs are primarily text-based — simpler libraries like iText or PdfSharp may be better.

Alternative: If you want HTML-to-PDF conversion without a headless browser, consider IronPDF, which handles HTML, CSS, and JavaScript natively in C#.

5. jsPDF (Client-Side PDF Generation in JavaScript)

jsPDF is a lightweight JavaScript library for client-side PDF generation. It runs in the browser, making it ideal for dynamic web applications where PDFs need to be generated on the fly without involving the server.

✅ Best for: Generating simple PDFs directly in the browser for web applications.

❌ Limitations: Lacks advanced features compared to C# libraries and is not suitable for large, complex PDFs.

Code Example: Create PDF documents with jsPDF

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>jsPDF Example</title>
    <script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jspdf/2.5.1/jspdf.umd.min.js"></script>
</head>

<body>
    <button id="generate-pdf">Generate PDF</button>
    <script>
        document.getElementById('generate-pdf').addEventListener('click', function () {
            const { jsPDF } = window.jspdf;
            const pdf = new jsPDF();

            pdf.setFontSize(22);
            pdf.text("My First PDF Document", 20, 20);
            pdf.setFontSize(16);
            pdf.text("Hello, this is a simple PDF document created using jsPDF!", 20, 40);

            pdf.save("generated.pdf");
        });
    </script>
</body>

</html>

Output

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When to Use jsPDF:

✅ Best for:

  • Browser-based applications generating lightweight PDFs dynamically.
  • Embedding PDF export in JavaScript-heavy front-end apps (e.g., Angular, React, Blazor).
  • Generating simple invoices, receipts, or forms without a server.
  • Offline applications where the user needs instant PDF downloads.

❌ Avoid if:

  • You need server-side PDF generation — jsPDF runs in the browser only.
  • Your PDFs have complex layouts or large datasets — jsPDF struggles with performance.
  • You require full HTML rendering with CSS & JavaScript — use Puppeteer Sharp instead.

Alternative: For server-side HTML-to-PDF generation, use IronPDF or Puppeteer Sharp.

6. OpenXML + Word Automation (Save Word as PDF)

For many developers, generating Word documents first and then converting them to PDF is a common workflow. Using OpenXML and Microsoft Word Automation, you can easily convert Word documents to PDFs. However, this requires Word to be installed on the server, making it unsuitable for cloud-based environments.

✅ Best for: Applications that generate Word documents first and need a quick PDF export.

❌ Limitations: Requires Microsoft Word to be installed on the server.

Code Example: Convert a Word Document to PDF in C#

using Microsoft.Office.Interop.Word;

Application wordApp = new Application();
Document doc = wordApp.Documents.Open("document.docx");
doc.ExportAsFixedFormat("output.pdf", WdExportFormat.wdExportFormatPDF);
doc.Close();
wordApp.Quit();

Output

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When to Use OpenXML + Word Automation:

✅ Best for:

  • Applications that already produce Word reports and need an easy PDF export.
  • Generating PDFs with structured layouts using Word templates.
  • Businesses relying on Microsoft Office, where Word is a primary document format.
  • Legal, financial, and HR documents that require a Word format before PDF export.

❌ Avoid if:

  • You don’t want Microsoft Word installed on your server — this is a hard requirement.
  • You need faster, standalone PDF generation without Office dependencies.
  • Your application runs on Linux or cloud environments that lack Word support.

Alternative: If you need PDF generation without Word, consider Syncfusion PDF or IronPDF, which generate PDFs directly from C#.

Are Free PDF Libraries Enough?

While free PDF libraries are great for simple tasks, they often come with significant limitations:

  • Slow performance on large PDFs.
  • Limited HTML-to-PDF support (except Puppeteer Sharp).
  • Lack of multi-threading for parallel PDF generation.

If you need high-performance, full HTML-to-PDF conversion, or advanced PDF processing features, commercial solutions like IronPDF provide a more robust and scalable solution.

Best-Paid C# PDF Libraries for Advanced Features

When you need more than just basic PDF functionality and seek a robust, feature-rich solution for enterprise applications, paid C# PDF libraries can offer the advanced capabilities you require. These libraries are perfect for businesses and developers working on high-demand, large-scale projects. Paid solutions provide:

  • Multi-threading for faster PDF processing on a large scale.
  • Full HTML-to-PDF support, including CSS, JavaScript, and fonts.
  • Advanced editing features, like form filling, annotations, and digital signatures.
  • Dedicated support and ongoing updates ensure that you always have access to the latest features and patches.

Quick Decision Guide: Which Paid PDF Library Should You Use?

Not sure which library to pick? Use this quick flowchart to help guide your decision:

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Key Takeaways:

  • IronPDF is the go-to choice for fast, reliable HTML-to-PDF conversion and general PDF generation.
  • Syncfusion and Aspose.PDF are perfect for enterprise-level reporting, forms, and data-heavy documents.
  • QuestPDF is an excellent, budget-friendly option for basic, structured PDF layouts.
  • PdfTron offers unparalleled editing capabilities, but it comes with a hefty price tag.

7. IronPDF — Best for HTML-to-PDF & High-Performance PDFs

IronPDF stands out as the fastest .NET PDF library for converting HTML into pixel-perfect PDFs. Whether you’re working with ASPX, Razor views, or raw HTML, IronPDF delivers with speed and accuracy. With it’s powerful PDF generation capabilities, full support within the .NET Framework, ability to modify PDF files in just a few lines of code, and more powerful features, IronPDF is a strong PDF library to have in your developer’s toolbox.

Key features include:

  • ✅ Full HTML-to-PDF support: Handles CSS, JavaScript, and embedded fonts seamlessly.
  • ✅ Lightning-fast, multi-threaded performance: Ideal for high-volume PDF generation.
  • ✅ Security features: Digital signatures, password protection, and encryption.
  • ✅ PDF merging, splitting, and form filling: Streamlines document management.
  • ✅ Cross-platform support: Works within Windows, Linux, Mac, and more app environments.

Code Example: Convert HTML Web Content to PDF

using IronPdf;

ChromePdfRenderer renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

renderer.RenderingOptions.EnableJavaScript = true;
renderer.RenderingOptions.WaitFor.JavaScript(5000);
renderer.RenderingOptions.CssMediaType = IronPdf.Rendering.PdfCssMediaType.Print;
PdfDocument pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://www.apple.com");
pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");

Output

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Why Choose IronPDF:

✅ Best for:

  • Developers who need the fastest and most reliable HTML-to-PDF conversion.
  • Applications requiring high-quality PDF rendering with full CSS, JavaScript, and font support.
  • Projects that need to generate PDFs from ASPX or Razor Views seamlessly.
  • Developers who need multi-threaded performance for processing large PDFs quickly.
  • Applications that require digital signatures, password protection, or encryption for secure PDFs.

❌ Avoid if:

  • You don’t require HTML-to-PDF conversion (consider alternatives like QuestPDF or Syncfusion PDF).
  • You need more advanced PDF editing features (PdfTron is better for this).
  • You are on a tight budget (IronPDF is priced higher than some alternatives).

Alternative: If you don’t need HTML-to-PDF conversion, QuestPDF offers a lightweight and budget-friendly solution for structured document layouts.

Get IronPDF — Starting at $749 (One-time license). Download the timed free version using IronPDF’s free trial to get started today!

8. QuestPDF — Best for Simple PDF Layouts with a Declarative API

QuestPDF is perfect for developers who need to generate structured documents like invoices, reports, and forms. Its fluent, declarative API makes creating simple, layout-based PDFs straightforward. If you’re building apps that require multi-threading for document generation but don’t need HTML-to-PDF support, QuestPDF is an excellent option.

Key Features:

  • Declarative layout engine ideal for reports, invoices, and forms.
  • Fluent API for easy document creation.
  • Multi-threaded for faster processing.

Code Example: Create a Simple PDF with QuestPDF

using QuestPDF.Fluent;
using QuestPDF.Infrastructure;


QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community;

Document.Create(container =>
{
    container.Page(page =>
    {
        page.Header().Text("QuestPDF Invoice");
        page.Content().Column(col =>
        {
            col.Item().Text("Customer Name: John Doe");
            col.Item().Text("Order Total: $200.00");
        });
        page.Footer().Text("Generated with QuestPDF");
    });
}).GeneratePdf("invoice.pdf");

Output

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Why Choose QuestPDF:

✅ Best for:

  • Developers seeking an easy-to-use, declarative API for structured documents like invoices, reports, and forms.
  • Projects requiring multi-threaded PDF generation for improved performance.
  • Lightweight PDFs with a focus on simple layout and structure, ideal for reports and business documents.

❌ Avoid if:

  • You need HTML-to-PDF conversion with full support for CSS, JavaScript, and advanced web content (IronPDF is a better option).
  • You require advanced security features, digital signatures, or OCR (consider Syncfusion or IronPDF for these features).
  • You need complex PDF editing or collaboration tools (PdfTron excels in this area).

Alternative: For more flexibility in layout generation, consider iText or Aspose.PDF for larger-scale enterprise applications.

9. Syncfusion PDF — Best for Enterprise Reports & Forms

Syncfusion PDF shines in enterprise environments where you need to create large-scale reports or process data-heavy documents. It integrates seamlessly with .NET MAUI, Blazor, WPF, WinForms, and ASP.NET Core, making it a versatile choice for business applications that require complex document processing.

Key Features:

  • Enterprise-level PDF generation: Perfect for reports, charts, and tables.
  • Form filling, annotations, and digital signatures.
  • OCR and text extraction for more robust document processing.
  • Multi-threading for high-volume document creation.

Code Example: Create a PDF with Syncfusion PDF

using Syncfusion.Pdf;
using Syncfusion.Pdf.Graphics;

Syncfusion.Pdf.PdfDocument document = new Syncfusion.Pdf.PdfDocument();
PdfPage page = document.Pages.Add();
PdfGraphics graphics = page.Graphics;
PdfFont font = new PdfStandardFont(PdfFontFamily.Helvetica, 12);
graphics.DrawString("Hello, Syncfusion!", font, PdfBrushes.Black, new Syncfusion.Drawing.PointF(10, 10));
using (FileStream fs = new FileStream("output.pdf", FileMode.Create))
{
    document.Save(fs);
}
document.Close(true);

Output

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Why Choose Syncfusion PDF:

✅ Best for:

  • Enterprise-level reporting with dynamic charts, tables, and large datasets, ideal for business applications.
  • Advanced form processing, including form filling, annotations, and digital signatures.
  • High-performance, multi-threaded document creation for large-scale applications.
  • Projects needing OCR and text extraction from PDFs.

❌ Avoid if:

  • You need a one-time license (Syncfusion uses an annual subscription model).
  • Your focus is on HTML-to-PDF conversion (IronPDF offers a better solution for this).
  • You’re working on smaller projects with simpler PDF needs (QuestPDF might be a better fit).

Alternative: For basic reports and forms, or if you need a more affordable, one-time solution, consider QuestPDF or IronPDF.

10. Winnovative HTML to PDF Converter — Best for Web-to-PDF Conversion

Winnovative HTML to PDF Converter is another top-tier solution for converting entire web pages into PDFs. If you need pixel-perfect rendering of HTML content with full CSS and JavaScript support, this is the library to go with.

Key Features:

  • Full HTML-to-PDF conversion preserving CSS, JavaScript, and SVG.
  • Converts entire web pages, including dynamic content and AJAX-loaded elements.
  • Advanced features like headers, footers, and watermarks.

Code Example: Convert HTML to PDF with Winnovative

using Winnovative;

HtmlToPdfConverter converter = new HtmlToPdfConverter();
converter.ConvertUrlToFile("https://apple.com", "output.pdf");

Output

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Why Choose Winnovative HTML to PDF Converter:

✅ Best for:

  • High-fidelity HTML-to-PDF conversion, including complete support for CSS, JavaScript, and dynamic content.
  • ASP.NET developers needing precise control over web page rendering and dynamic content.
  • Applications requiring full-page rendering with AJAX-loaded elements and other advanced web features.

❌ Avoid if:

  • You need a lower-cost solution (IronPDF is more affordable and easier to use).
  • Your project requires advanced editing, OCR, or security features (IronPDF, Aspose, or Syncfusion are better choices for these).
  • You’re working with basic HTML content that doesn’t require heavy rendering customization.

Alternative: If you need a more cost-effective solution for HTML-to-PDF, consider IronPDF or Pdfium.NET.

11. FastReport — Best for Embedded Report Generation

FastReport is a specialized reporting tool that excels in generating detailed, data-driven reports with ease. If your project involves structured reports — think financial documents, invoices, or business intelligence (BI) dashboards — FastReport offers a streamlined solution for crafting complex reports without requiring a deep dive into low-level PDF manipulation.

✅ Best for: Business intelligence (BI), financial reporting, structured PDF exports, and creating reports with dynamic data.

❌ Limitations: FastReport doesn’t cater to general PDF manipulation tasks, such as editing or merging existing PDFs. It also lacks native support for HTML-to-PDF conversion.

Key Features of FastReport

  • Comprehensive Report Generation: FastReport provides an all-in-one solution for creating, previewing, and exporting reports in formats like PDF, Word, and Excel.
  • Built-in Designer: Its WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) report designer enables users to create custom templates effortlessly — ideal for users who prefer visual design over code-heavy solutions.
  • Interactive Reports: Support for interactive elements, including charts, tables, and barcodes, allows for rich, dynamic reports that engage users.
  • Embeddable in Multiple Platforms: FastReport is compatible with WinForms, WPF, ASP.NET Core, and Blazor, making it a great choice for a variety of enterprise applications.

Code Example: Generate a Report and Export to PDF with FastReport

using FastReport;
using FastReport.Export.PdfSimple;

Report report = new Report();
report.Load("ReportTemplate.frx");  // Load pre-designed report template
report.Prepare();  // Compile report data

// Export report as PDF
PDFSimpleExport pdfExport = new PDFSimpleExport();
report.Export(pdfExport, "output.pdf");
report.Dispose();

Output

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12. Spire.PDF — Best for All-in-One Document Processing

Spire.PDF by E-iceblue offers a comprehensive set of features for creating, reading, editing, and converting PDFs. It’s a versatile library that supports various document manipulation tasks, from merging PDFs to adding annotations and digital signatures. Spire.PDF is great for applications requiring general PDF processing and is well-suited for enterprise environments.

✅ Best for: General PDF manipulation, structured document creation, and form processing.
❌ Limitations: Lacks robust HTML-to-PDF conversion and OCR support.

Key Features of Spire.PDF:

  • Create and Manipulate PDFs: Build and modify PDF documents programmatically with ease.
  • Text Manipulation: Extract, replace, and manipulate text from existing PDF files.
  • PDF Merging and Splitting: Combine multiple PDFs or break them apart as needed.
  • Security Features: Digital signatures, password protection, and encryption ensure secure PDF handling.
  • Form Handling: Spire.PDF supports form filling and interactive form elements (AcroForms).
  • Document Conversion: Convert PDFs to and from Word, Excel, images, and more.

Code Example: Create a Simple PDF Document with Spire.PDF

using Spire.Pdf;
using Spire.Pdf.Graphics;
using System.Drawing;

PdfDocument pdf = new PdfDocument();
PdfPageBase page = pdf.Pages.Add();

// Add text to the PDF page
PdfFont font = new PdfFont(PdfFontFamily.Helvetica, 12);
page.Canvas.DrawString("Hello, Spire.PDF!", font, new PdfSolidBrush(Color.Black), 10, 10);

// Save the PDF file
pdf.SaveToFile("output.pdf");
pdf.Close();

Output

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Why Choose Spire.PDF:

✅ Best for:

  • If you’re looking for a library to manipulate PDF files with tasks such as merging, splitting, and text extraction.
  • Enterprises needing secure PDFs with digital signatures and password protection.
  • Applications that need to convert PDFs to and from other formats (Word, Excel, images).
  • Projects requiring form filling and interactive PDF elements (AcroForms).

❌ Avoid if:

  • You need HTML-to-PDF conversion with full CSS/JavaScript support (IronPDF or Winnovative are better).
  • You want a simpler, more user-friendly API (QuestPDF or IronPDF might be more intuitive).

Alternative: If you need a lighter and simpler PDF solution, QuestPDF is an excellent option for straightforward document generation.

13. Aspose.PDF — Best for Large-Scale Document Processing

Aspose.PDF is an enterprise-grade PDF library designed to handle large-scale, complex document generation, conversion, and manipulation. It’s frequently used in industries like finance, healthcare, and document management, where high-precision PDF processing is a must, especially in mission-critical applications.

✅ Best for: Large-scale enterprise applications, document automation, and advanced PDF processing. ❌ Limitations: Expensive subscription model, complex API, and requires additional modules for certain features.

Key Features of Aspose.PDF:

  • Advanced document processing: Create, merge, split, and manipulate PDFs programmatically.
  • HTML-to-PDF Conversion: Supports basic rendering, though not as feature-rich as IronPDF.
  • Document Security: Includes digital signatures, encryption, and secure document handling.
  • Comprehensive Document Conversion: Convert PDFs to and from Word, Excel, images, and other formats.
  • High-Performance Support: Multi-threading support to process large documents efficiently.

Code Example: Generate a Simple PDF with Aspose.PDF

using Aspose.Pdf;

Document doc = new Document();
Page page = doc.Pages.Add();
page.Paragraphs.Add(new TextFragment("Hello, Aspose!"));
doc.Save("output.pdf");

Output

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When to Use Aspose.PDF:

✅ Best for:

  • Large-scale enterprise applications requiring robust document processing.
  • Complex document workflows, such as merging, splitting, and manipulating PDFs.
  • Advanced features like OCR, PDF/A compliance, and document security (encryption, digital signatures).
  • High-volume document conversion, including PDFs to/from Word, Excel, and images.
  • Industries like finance and healthcare where precision and compliance are crucial.

❌ Avoid if:

  • You need a simpler, cost-effective solution (Aspose.PDF is quite expensive).
  • Your primary need is HTML-to-PDF conversion (IronPDF or Winnovative might serve you better).
  • You’re working with smaller projects that don’t require the extensive features offered by Aspose.PDF.

Alternative: For more affordable and straightforward solutions, consider IronPDF or Winnovative, which offer good HTML-to-PDF conversion at a lower cost.

14. PdfTron — Best for Advanced PDF Editing & Custom Markup

PdfTron is a powerhouse when it comes to PDF editing, annotation, and document collaboration. It’s widely used in industries that require advanced document manipulation, including engineering, legal, and financial services, where deep PDF editing and real-time collaboration are essential.

✅ Best for: Advanced PDF editing, document collaboration, and real-time annotation.

❌ Limitations: Very expensive compared to alternatives, complex API, and overkill for simple PDF tasks.

Key Features of PdfTron:

  • Comprehensive PDF Editing: Modify text, images, and structure within PDFs, from the basic to the most complex edits.
  • Real-time Annotation & Markup: Annotations, highlights, redactions, and commenting tools are perfect for document collaboration.
  • Vector and Raster Support: Handles both high-performance rendering for vector-based graphics and images in PDFs.
  • Document Security: Includes features for digital signatures, encryption, and DRM (Digital Rights Management).
  • Multi-threaded Processing: Ideal for handling large document workflows with heavy PDF operations.

Code Example: Add an Annotation to a PDF with PdfTron

using pdftron;
using pdftron.PDF;
using pdftron.SDF;

PDFNet.Initialize("demo:1739928242530:617b000f030000000026ba4354ecdfa0b43003e431a2fb68e00e0b0787");
PDFDoc doc = new PDFDoc("input.pdf");
doc.InitSecurityHandler();

// Create a highlight annotation
Annot highlight = Annot.Create(doc, Annot.Type.e_Text, new Rect(100, 500, 400, 600));
highlight.SetContents("This is an annotation made using PdfTron");
Page page = doc.GetPage(1);
page.AnnotPushBack(highlight);

// Save the updated PDF
doc.Save("annotated.pdf", SDFDoc.SaveOptions.e_linearized);

Output

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When to Use PdfTron:

✅ Best for:

  • Advanced PDF editing, annotation, and markup, especially in collaborative workflows.
  • Real-time document collaboration and annotation (ideal for legal or engineering industries).
  • High-end document security features like DRM and encryption.
  • Complex PDF rendering, including vector and raster-based graphics.
  • Multi-threaded support for processing large-scale PDFs in high-performance environments.

❌ Avoid if:

  • You need a simple, inexpensive PDF solution (PdfTron’s pricing is high, and it’s overkill for basic needs).
  • You’re looking for a library focused on HTML-to-PDF conversion (IronPDF or Winnovative is better suited for this).
  • You need a simple PDF generation tool without the need for deep editing and collaboration features.

Alternative: If you need simple PDF generation and rendering, consider IronPDF or QuestPDF, which offer robust functionality without the complexity of PdfTron.

15. ActiveReports.NET — Best for Interactive Reports and Data Visualization

ActiveReports.NET is a powerful reporting tool designed for dynamic, interactive reports with rich data visualization. It’s highly suitable for applications that require dashboards, real-time data insights, and interactive reporting.

✅ Best for: Interactive reports, dynamic dashboards, and enterprise-level PDF exports.

❌ Limitations: Not suitable for basic PDF creation or manipulation; lacks HTML-to-PDF conversion.

Key Features of ActiveReports.NET:

  • WYSIWYG Report Designer: Build report templates visually using its intuitive designer.
  • Interactive Reporting: Supports drill-downs, hyperlinks, dynamic sorting, and more for interactive reports.
  • Data Binding: Connect to SQL databases, JSON, XML, and REST APIs for real-time data integration.
  • Export Options: Exports reports to PDF, Excel, Word, HTML, and more.
  • Embeddable: Can be embedded into WinForms, WPF, ASP.NET Core, and Blazor applications.

Code Example: Generate a Report and Export to PDF with ActiveReports.NET

using GrapeCity.ActiveReports;
using GrapeCity.ActiveReports.Export.Pdf.Section;

SectionReport report = new SectionReport();
report.LoadLayout("ReportTemplate.rpx");  // Load a report template
report.Run();  // Process report data

// Export report as PDF
PdfExport pdfExport = new PdfExport();
pdfExport.Export(report.Document, "output.pdf");

When to Use ActiveReports.NET:

✅ Best for:

  • Creating interactive reports and dynamic dashboards with real-time data integration.
  • Applications that require complex data visualizations and report drill-down capabilities.
  • Exporting to multiple formats, such as PDF, Excel, and Word.
  • Reports that need to be embedded into WinForms, WPF, or web applications (ASP.NET Core and Blazor).
  • Enterprise-level reporting with sophisticated design and layout features.

❌ Avoid if:

  • You just need simple PDF generation or basic reporting (consider FastReport for a lighter option).
  • HTML-to-PDF conversion is your main focus (IronPDF or Winnovative is better for that).
  • You have a limited budget, as ActiveReports.NET’s licensing is expensive.

Alternative: For simpler, more affordable reporting tools, consider FastReport or DynamicPDF, which offer customizable reports with a lower learning curve.

16. DynamicPDF — Best for Custom Report Generation & PDF Processing

DynamicPDF is a versatile .NET PDF library that provides flexible and customizable report generation, automated document workflows, and PDF processing. It’s perfect for applications where custom reports, invoices, or forms need to be generated dynamically.

✅ Best for: Custom reports, automated document generation, and form filling. ❌ Limitations: No built-in HTML-to-PDF conversion, expensive compared to other libraries, and requires more configuration than FastReport or ActiveReports.NET.

Key Features of DynamicPDF:

  • Custom Report Generation: Create PDF reports with tables, charts, images, and dynamic content.
  • Programmatic PDF Creation: Build PDFs programmatically with total control over layout and content.
  • Form Filling & Extraction: Supports form filling and data extraction from PDF forms (AcroForms).
  • Document Merging & Splitting: Merge multiple PDFs or split large documents into smaller files.
  • High-Performance Processing: Multi-threaded support for large-scale PDF generation and processing.

Code Example: Generate a Custom PDF Report with DynamicPDF

using ceTe.DynamicPDF;
using ceTe.DynamicPDF.PageElements;

// Create a new PDF document
Document document = new Document();
Page page = new Page();

// Add text to the PDF
page.Elements.Add(new Label("Hello, DynamicPDF!", 0, 0));

// Add page to document
document.Pages.Add(page);

// Save the document to a file
document.Draw("output.pdf");

When to Use DynamicPDF:

✅ Best for:

  • Custom report generation with complete control over layout and design.
  • Applications requiring programmatic creation of complex PDFs (invoices, forms, etc.).
  • Automated workflows for filling, extracting, and processing PDF forms (AcroForms).
  • Merging and splitting large PDF documents.
  • High-performance document generation in environments where control over the document structure is key.

❌ Avoid if:

  • You need HTML-to-PDF conversion (IronPDF or Winnovative offer better support for this).
  • You’re looking for a free or more budget-friendly option (DynamicPDF’s pricing starts at $799 per developer).
  • You only need simple PDF generation or minimal PDF editing features.

Alternative: For simpler PDF creation and editing, consider QuestPDF or Spire.PDF, which are more affordable and easier to use for basic tasks.

Final Thoughts — Which PDF Library Should You Choose?

In the world of C# PDF libraries, choosing the right tool for your project can feel overwhelming given the variety of options available. Each library excels in different areas, and the best choice ultimately depends on your unique needs. To help guide you through this decision, we’ve put together a quick, easy-to-follow decision guide and a detailed comparison to ensure you find the perfect PDF library for your specific use case.

Quick Decision Guide: Which PDF Library Is Right for You?

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Best C# PDF Library by Use Case

Let’s break down the options in a clearer way based on your project requirements:

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Key Takeaways:

  • IronPDF is your go-to if you need HTML-to-PDF conversion that’s fast, reliable, and doesn’t require heavy dependencies.
  • Syncfusion PDF and Aspose.PDF are the heavyweights when it comes to enterprise-level document processing — ideal for large-scale reports and sophisticated document workflows.
  • For interactive reports, dashboards, and business intelligence needs, ActiveReports.NET shines, offering deep features for analytics.
  • PdfTron is the king of advanced PDF editing — although it comes at a premium, it offers unmatched capabilities in PDF security, annotation, and redaction.
  • QuestPDF is a cost-effective alternative for structured layouts like invoices, reports, and simple designs. It balances affordability with strong PDF manipulation capabilities.

Best Budget-Friendly Option

If budget is a significant factor in your decision-making, here’s a quick cost comparison to help you gauge the financial side of things:

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Key Takeaways on Pricing:

  • IronPDF offers a solid price-to-performance ratio for HTML-to-PDF conversion and general-purpose PDF work.
  • QuestPDF and FastReport are the best budget-friendly options for creating structured documents such as invoices and reports.
  • If you need enterprise-level capabilities, both Syncfusion PDF and Aspose.PDF are great options, but they come with annual fees.
  • PdfTron is undoubtedly the most expensive choice, but it’s also the most powerful for deep PDF editing and security features.

Final Recommendation

Here’s our take on the best C# PDF libraries across different scenarios:

Best Overall PDF Library: IronPDF

  • Ideal for fast HTML-to-PDF conversion with full support for CSS and JavaScript. Easy to implement and great for general PDF tasks.

Best for Enterprise Reporting: Syncfusion PDF or Aspose.PDF

  • Perfect for handling large-scale, enterprise-level documents and reports, both come with robust features for complex workflows.

Best for PDF Editing & Markup: PdfTron

  • If your project requires advanced PDF editing, redaction, or adding security features, PdfTron is unmatched.

Best Budget-Friendly Option: QuestPDF or FastReport

  • For structured PDFs like invoices or business reports, both options are highly affordable without sacrificing functionality.

Still not sure? Try IronPDF for free and test out its speed and features to see if it meets your needs. The best way to choose is to experience it firsthand and compare it to others in your project.