HTML to PDF in 2026: What Are Your Options?

Converting HTML to PDF is a common need—invoices, reports, exports—but the options in 2026 are very different in terms of maintenance, security, and effort. Picking the wrong approach can mean technical debt, security risks, or scaling headaches.

This article compares the three main ways to do HTML to PDF in 2026: the legacy tool wkhtmltopdf, headless browsers (Puppeteer and Playwright), and managed HTML to PDF APIs. For each option we’ll cover pros, cons, and when it makes sense—then we’ll give you a quick comparison table and a clear recommendation.

Option 1: Wkhtmltopdf — Why It’s No Longer a Good Choice in 2026 #

Wkhtmltopdf is the old standby: a command-line tool that converts HTML to PDF using WebKit. For years it was the default choice, and many wrappers (e.g. pdfkit, KnpLabs/Snappy, wicked_pdf) still depend on it.

In 2026, wkhtmltopdf is a bad bet. It’s abandonware: no security fixes, no modern JavaScript or CSS support, and it runs a binary on your server, which raises security and compliance concerns. If your HTML relies on JavaScript (e.g. React, Vue, Angular), wkhtmltopdf won’t render it properly.

If you’re still on wkhtmltopdf, plan a migration. We’ve written a full wkhtmltopdf alternative guide and a deeper look at why wkhtmltopdf is now abandonware to help you switch.

Option 2: Headless Chrome — Puppeteer and Playwright for HTML to PDF #

Puppeteer and Playwright give you real Chrome (or Chromium) in headless mode, so you get modern rendering and full JavaScript support. You can convert a URL or HTML string to PDF with high fidelity.

The catch: you own the infrastructure. You must install and run Chrome/Chromium, handle updates, scaling, and security. Running many concurrent PDF jobs can exhaust CPU and memory. Puppeteer is Node-only; Playwright supports multiple browsers and languages but still requires you to host and maintain the runtime.

This option can make sense if you already have a dedicated worker pool and DevOps capacity. For most teams, the operational cost is high. If you’re considering Puppeteer specifically, read our Puppeteer vs Doppio comparison to see how a managed API compares.

Option 3: HTML to PDF APIs — Managed Services (Doppio and Others) #

Managed HTML to PDF APIs offload rendering to a service: you send HTML or a URL, you get back a PDF (or a link to it). No Chrome to install, no scaling or security burden on your app.

Services like Doppio use the same Chrome-based rendering as Puppeteer but run it for you: you get a simple REST API, support for any language, async workflows, and options like uploading directly to your S3 bucket. There’s a quick start to get your first PDF in minutes. If you care about design and edge cases, our HTML to PDF common pitfalls guide will help you avoid layout and rendering issues.

For most projects in 2026—especially when you need reliability, multi-language support, or high volume—an HTML to PDF API is the most practical option.

HTML to PDF Options Compared: Quick Comparison Table #

Criteria	Wkhtmltopdf	Puppeteer / Playwright	Doppio (API)
Actively maintained	Abandonware
Easy setup		Self-hosted
Full JavaScript support
Any language / stack		Node for Puppeteer
Async / webhooks		You build it
S3 upload delegation
Pricing	Free (hosting not free)	Free (hosting not free)	Free tier, then paid plans

Which Option Should You Choose in 2026? #

Avoid wkhtmltopdf for new projects and plan to replace it in existing ones—it’s unmaintained and insecure.

Self-hosted Puppeteer or Playwright is viable only if you’re ready to own Chrome/Chromium, scaling, and security. Otherwise the ops cost is high.

For most teams, a managed HTML to PDF API is the best choice in 2026: same rendering quality, less risk, and less work. Get started with our quick start, and if you’re migrating from wkhtmltopdf or evaluating Puppeteer, use our wkhtmltopdf alternative and Puppeteer alternative articles to compare in detail.