HTML2PDFAPI vs wkhtmltopdf: Time to Upgrade [2026]
wkhtmltopdf has been archived and is no longer maintained. If you're still using it, you're missing out on modern JavaScript support, CSS features, and security updates. Here's why developers are migrating to HTML2PDFAPI.
wkhtmltopdf is No Longer Maintained
The wkhtmltopdf project was archived in January 2023. It uses an outdated version of WebKit (Qt WebKit) that lacks support for modern JavaScript and CSS features. There will be no security updates or bug fixes.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | HTML2PDFAPI | wkhtmltopdf |
|---|---|---|
| JavaScript Support | Full ES6+ support | Limited/broken |
| CSS Support | Modern CSS (Flexbox, Grid) | Outdated WebKit |
| Actively Maintained | Yes | Archived (2023) |
| Security Updates | Regular | None |
| Setup Complexity | API call | Binary installation |
| Server Dependencies | None | X11, fonts, libraries |
| Cost | $17+/month | Free (open source) |
| S3 Integration | Built-in | Manual |
| Screenshot Support | Yes | Separate tool |
| Video Recording | Yes | No |
Common wkhtmltopdf Problems
JavaScript Doesn't Work
wkhtmltopdf uses an ancient WebKit engine. Modern JavaScript (ES6+) often fails silently or produces broken output.
CSS Flexbox and Grid Break
Modern CSS layouts don't render correctly. Developers waste hours creating workarounds.
Installation Nightmares
wkhtmltopdf requires X11, fonts, and various system libraries. Docker images become complex and brittle.
Security Vulnerabilities
No security updates since 2023. Known vulnerabilities will never be patched.
Migration is Simple
Migrating from wkhtmltopdf to HTML2PDFAPI takes minutes. Here's a comparison:
wkhtmltopdf
// Install binary, configure X11, fonts...
// Then in your code:
const exec = require('child_process').exec;
exec('wkhtmltopdf input.html output.pdf',
(err, stdout, stderr) => {
// Handle complex error cases
// Deal with font rendering issues
// Debug CSS layout problems
});HTML2PDFAPI
const response = await fetch(
'https://html2pdfapi.com/render',
{
method: 'POST',
headers: {
'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_KEY',
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
},
body: JSON.stringify({
html: htmlContent,
format: 'pdf'
})
}
);You Should Migrate If...
- Your PDFs have broken layouts or missing content
- JavaScript-rendered content isn't appearing
- You're spending time on wkhtmltopdf workarounds
- You need modern CSS features (Flexbox, Grid, Variables)
- Security compliance is important for your organization
- You want to stop managing wkhtmltopdf installation
Other Comparisons
See Use Cases
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