Open Source HTML to PDF Renderer with Full CSS Support

Question

I asked about getting iTextSharp to render a PDF from HTML and a CSS sheet before here but it seems like that may not be possible... So I guess I will have to try something else.

Is there an open source .NET/C# library out there that can take HTML and CSS as input and render it correctly?

I must reiterate... the library MUST be free and preferably something with a fairly liberal license. I'm working with basically no budget here.

Solution 1

I've always used it on the command line and not as a library, but HTMLDOC gives me excellent results, and it handles at least some CSS (I couldn't easily see how much).

Here's a sample command line

htmldoc --webpage -t pdf --size letter --fontsize 10pt index.html > index.pdf

Solution 2

This command line tool is the business! https://wkhtmltopdf.org/

It uses webkit rendering engine(used in safari and KDE), I tested it on some complex sites and it was by far better than any other tool.

Solution 3

Do you see :

• http://www.xhtml2pdf.com
• http://code.google.com/p/wkhtmltopdf/

They look as PrinceXML

Comments

[Levitikon]

Yeah, and they put their logo on the output

[Levitikon]

Doesn't look like the standard edition is free anymore, "Licenses for ABCpdf .NET from only $329."

[AffineMesh]

The free license is offered through a promotional scheme. If it disappears, try googling for 'websupergoo free licenses'. Note the offer is for single license only. If you need to purchase a license or additional licenses, the price is as Levitikon has said.

[Bilal lilla]

will you please explain how to use that library. any code in either C# / VB.net

[Norman Ramsey]

@Bilal, as it says in my answer, I've always used it on the command line and not as a library.

[Bilal lilla]

just write that line that you use for conversion from html to pdf.

[Gman]

In fact, it also has library version and I've implemented .NET wrapper for it github.com/gmanny/Pechkin (also on NuGet).

[Volatil3]

@NormanRamsey does it support RTL language based Custom TTF fonts by using @fontface?

[PeterX]

Yes, @AffineMesh could you please revise your text above saying the "standard edition can be obtained free of charge". Or simply add an extra note. Incidentally, I find their license somewhat confusing: "The Owner offers you a non-exclusive, non-transferable license on the terms of this Agreement". What does this mean - do I still have to get one?

[Dilhan Jayathilake]

I tried the NuGet and it is great. Works perfectly.

[Sean Chase]

Outstanding! I tried this vs iTextSharp and AsposePDF. Aspose rendered horribly for me and iTextSharp just kept throwing exception after exception. wkhtmltopdf worked on the first try and rendered everything perfectly.

[Norman Ramsey]

@mauvm fixed the link

[Al Belmondo]

Does this bring in styling and images?

[Peter Wone]

@AlBelmondo - it definitely honours CSS defined in a header <style> block. There is a setting web.loadImages that takes a true/false value but I haven't managed to get images to load yet.

[VFein]

The tuesPechkin library for wkhtmltopdf is great and thread safe, however, cannot process conversions concurrently -- which is my current problem.

[Guru Stron]

Also Rotativa is using wkhtmltopdf under the hood too, if i understand correctly.

[Christian Neverdal]

This answer should be deleted. The asker is clearly asking for an open source renderer.

[Charlie Martin]

Yes dear, let's start fretting about seven-year-old answers to closed questions.

[Charlie Martin]

Good, let's fret about TEN YEAR OLD questions now.

[Stephanie]

Our IronPDF Library builds upon the great work done in wkhtmltopdf. CSS is fully supported. IronPDF.com makes the process of adding PDF functions to a project quick and easily.

[Will Marcouiller]

Broken Link, again. :\