Comparing DocRaptor and WeasyPrint

DocRaptor is an HTML to PDF API focused on reliability, ease of use, and privacy. DocRaptor uses Prince, the leading commercial HTML to PDF converter, and the team behind the CSS Paged Media specifications.

WeasyPrint is a Python-based open-source HTML to PDF "document factory", also with a significant emphasis on the CSS Paged Media specifications. Largely popular because browser engines like Google Chromium have failed to implement CSS Paged Media.

DocRaptor fully supports CSS Paged Media, which provides a wide variety of features useful for PDFs, such as headers, footnotes, watermarks, cross-references, page groups, and much more.

As mentioned above, WeasyPrint's support for CSS Paged Media is a significant advantage over other browser-based open source HTML to PDF libraries.

DocRaptor supports PDF forms, which allow saving data within a PDF or submitting a form to a website.

WeasyPrint supports some PDF form elements, such as text, textarea, and check box fields. It lacks support for radio buttons, select elements, and form submissions.

DocRaptor supports accessible PDFs, or "tagged" PDFs, which can be parsed by screen readers and other assistive devices and are required by compliance standards such as WCAG and Section 508. DocRaptor supports both automatic and manual tagging.

WeasyPrint recently added some basic automatic tagging, but it's still buggy and does not support any form of customization. This makes it difficult to create truly accessible or compliant PDF documents.

DocRaptor lets you add PDF annotations, including comments, highlights, and more.

WeasyPrint does not support PDF annotations or comments.

DocRaptor's CSS Generated Content extensions let you copy or move HTML and text into other elements, such as headers and footers.

WeasyPrint supports some but not all of the CSS Generated Content module. It's missing key features such as footnotes, page groups, and leaders.

Prince is widely regarded as the best HTML to PDF generator available.

WeasyPrint has good theoretical capabilities but tends to struggle on complex documents or when dealing with edge cases where features overlap. WeasyPrint will work best with simple documents.

DocRaptor provides two options for JavaScript execution: a standard engine for most JavaScript functions, such as creating charts, and the Prince engine, which offers advanced PDF-specific JavaScript capabilities.

WeasyPrint does not support JavaScript. This prevents most charting libraries and SPA apps from working with WeasyPrint.

DocRaptor calls a post-rendering JavaScript function, and if the DOM is changed, rerenders the document. This enables advanced techniques such as text-fitting or line-height adjustments.

WeasyPrint does not support Multi-Pass JavaScript or any other form of document rerendering.

Allows direct JavaScript access to the actual PDF object (the "DOM" of the PDF).

WeasyPrint does not provide access to the PDF object.

As a REST API, DocRaptor can be used with any programming language. Clients are provided in C#, Java, JavaScript, jQuery, .NET, Node, PHP, Python, Rails, Ruby, and more.

WeasyPrint is Python-based.

DocRaptor guarantees 99.99% uptime and is SOC2, HIPAA, and GDPR compliant. DocRaptor encrypts document data in transit and at rest. DocRaptor regularly undergoes simulated attacks from third-party security professionals.

As with any self-hosted library, reliability, compliance, and security will be up to you. As an HTML renderer, WeasyPrint has known security risks that should be carefully considered and mitigated if necessary.

DocRaptor includes email, chat, and phone support. DocRaptor provides an extensive and detailed HTML to PDF documentation page.

Documentation is limited. WeasyPrint's maintaining organization, CourtBouillion, offers paid support; otherwise, there is no support.

As an API, DocRaptor uses practically zero server resources. Prince is traditionally a very fast HTML to PDF generator. Though as an external service with an extra round-trip HTTP call, DocRaptor may be slower for the simplest documents.

WeasyPrint suffers from high CPU and memory usage, and while often faster than Chrome-based tools, it can be slow to generate large or complex documents. If you require high-volume or concurrent document generation, consider your infrastructure performance requirements carefully.

DocRaptor has a demo page and a no-signup-required public key so you can try it right now.

WeasyPrint does not offer a demo, though a Python developer can install it locally in a few minutes.

DocRaptor has a free plan, and paid plans start at $15/mo. DocRaptor is typically the most cost-effective solution, considering the total cost of implementation and infrastructure.

WeasyPrint only costs your implementation and maintenance time.