PDF4.dev is a PDF generation API for developers. Design HTML templates with a visual editor or code editor, add Handlebars variables, and render PDFs via REST API in ~300ms. Self-hostable via Docker.

How much does PDF4.dev cost?

PDF4.dev offers a free tier with 50 credits. Each PDF render costs one credit.

How does PDF4.dev compare to PDFMonkey?

PDF4.dev includes a visual drag-and-drop editor (GrapesJS), native MCP server for AI agents, ~3ms warm renders, reusable header/footer components, and 24 free PDF tools. See the full comparison at pdf4.dev/vs/pdfmonkey.

What languages does PDF4.dev support?

PDF4.dev works with any language via REST API. Code examples are available for TypeScript, Python, Go, Rust, PHP, and cURL.

Does PDF4.dev support AI agents?

Yes. PDF4.dev is the first PDF API with a native MCP server (Model Context Protocol). AI agents like Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, and Windsurf can generate PDFs directly.

Can I self-host PDF4.dev?

Yes. PDF4.dev ships as a Docker image. Run it on your own infrastructure with a single docker run command.

PDF4.dev: PDF generation for developers

PDF4.dev is a PDF generation API that lets developers create pixel-perfect PDFs from HTML templates. Design templates visually or in code using a Monaco-based editor with live preview, define dynamic fields with Handlebars {{variables}}, and generate PDFs via a simple REST API call from any language: TypeScript, Python, Go, Rust, PHP, or cURL. The rendering pipeline uses headless Chromium (Playwright) for accurate CSS support including flexbox, grid, and web fonts. PDF4.dev also provides a built-in MCP server so AI agents like Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor can generate PDFs with natural language. Free browser-based PDF tools (merge, split, compress, convert) process files entirely client-side for privacy. Self-hostable via Docker with SQLite storage, PDF4.dev is a developer-first alternative to PDFMonkey, DocRaptor, and DIY Puppeteer setups.

Key facts

Rendering engine: headless Chromium via Playwright, ~300ms per PDF with warm browser pool

Template system: Handlebars with 16 built-in helpers (formatNumber, formatDate, formatCurrency, math, comparison operators)

6 page presets: A4, A4 landscape, Letter, Letter landscape, Square, Custom dimensions

Authentication: API keys with two scopes (full_access, render_only)

AI-native: MCP server with 14 annotated tools, llms.txt, agents.md, OpenAPI 3.1 spec

24 free PDF tools: all client-side except HTML to PDF (Playwright server-side)

5 starter templates: Invoice, Payslip, Certificate, Receipt, Letter

Self-hostable: Docker image with SQLite + WAL mode, single volume mount

Error format: structured JSON with type, code, message fields

API versioning: all endpoints under /api/v1/ for stability

Features

Monaco code editor: Full HTML editor with syntax highlighting and Handlebars autocompletion. For when your team needs full control.

Visual editor: Edit templates visually, no code required. Perfect for business teams who update designs without waiting on developers.

Live preview: See your PDF render in real-time as you type. Accurate page dimensions and margins.

6 PDF formats: A4, Letter, landscape, square, or fully custom. Configurable margins, fonts, and background.

REST API: Bearer auth, OpenAPI 3.1 spec, interactive docs. Works with any language: TypeScript, Python, Go, Rust, PHP, cURL.

Reusable components: Headers, footers, and blocks: create once, share across templates. Headers and footers repeat on every page automatically.

Batch generate: Upload a CSV or JSON, map columns to variables, and generate hundreds of PDFs in one click. Download as ZIP.

Generation logs: Full history: status, duration, file size. Filterable and cursor-paginated.

PDF4.dev vs the alternatives

Feature	PDF4.dev	DIY Puppeteer	PDFMonkey
Setup time	~5 minutes	Hours of config	~30 minutes
Template editor	Code + visual editor	Build your own	Basic
Live preview	Yes	Build your own	Partial
Non-technical editing	Visual editor: no code	Code only	Basic editor
API docs	OpenAPI 3.1	Write your own	Basic
Usage limits	Generous	None	20-5,000/mo
Language support	Any (REST API)	Node.js only	Limited SDKs
Integration time	~5 minutes	Days to weeks	~30 minutes
Maintenance	Managed	All on you	Managed
Reusable components	Headers, footers, blocks	Build your own	None
Batch generation	CSV/JSON upload, ZIP download	Build your own	API only
AI agent support	MCP server with annotations	None	None

Feature

PDF4.dev

DIY Puppeteer

PDFMonkey

Setup time

~5 minutes

Hours of config

~30 minutes

Template editor

Code + visual editor

Build your own

Basic

Live preview

Yes

Build your own

Partial

Non-technical editing

Visual editor: no code

Code only

Basic editor

API docs

OpenAPI 3.1

Write your own

Basic

Usage limits

Generous

None

20-5,000/mo

Language support

Any (REST API)

Node.js only

Limited SDKs

Integration time

~5 minutes

Days to weeks

~30 minutes

Maintenance

Managed

All on you

Managed

Reusable components

Headers, footers, blocks

Build your own

None

Batch generation

CSV/JSON upload, ZIP download

Build your own

API only

AI agent support

MCP server with annotations

None

Free PDF tools

24 free browser-based PDF tools. Files never leave your browser.

Compress PDF: Reduce file size while keeping quality

Merge PDF: Combine multiple PDFs into one

Split PDF: Extract pages or split into multiple files

PDF to PNG: Convert PDF pages to high-quality images

HTML to PDF: Convert HTML code or a URL to PDF

Protect PDF: Add password protection to your PDF

How it works

Design your template in the visual editor or write HTML with Handlebars variables like {{company_name}} and {{amount}}.

Send a POST request to /api/v1/render with your template ID and data. The API accepts JSON and returns a PDF binary.

Receive a pixel-perfect PDF in ~300ms. The rendering engine uses headless Chromium for full CSS support.

PDF generation
for developers

Design templates visually. Render via API in ~300ms. Any language.

Get started Documentation

~300msavg generation

~5 minto integrate

Anylanguage

pdf4.dev/dashboard/templates/invoice

PDF4.dev visual editor showing an invoice template with layers panel, canvas, and sample data

API

One POST. One PDF.

Works with any language that can send an HTTP request.

const res = await fetch('https://pdf4.dev/api/v1/render', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': 'Bearer p4_live_xxxxx',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    template_id: 'invoice',
    data: {
      company: 'Acme Corp',
      amount: '$1,500.00',
      date: '2026-03-06'
    }
  })
})

const pdf = await res.blob() // That's it.

✓ 200 OKapplication/pdf · 142KB · 312ms

Output

Beautiful documents,
every time

Invoice

Report

Quote

Receipt

Invoice

Features

Everything you need.
Nothing you don't.

Monaco code editor

Full HTML editor with syntax highlighting and Handlebars autocompletion. For when your team needs full control.

Visual editor

Edit templates visually, no code required. Perfect for business teams who update designs without waiting on developers.

Live preview

See your PDF render in real-time as you type. Accurate page dimensions and margins.

6 PDF formats

A4, Letter, landscape, square, or fully custom. Configurable margins, fonts, and background.

REST API

Bearer auth, OpenAPI 3.1 spec, interactive docs. Works with any language: TypeScript, Python, Go, Rust, PHP, cURL.

Reusable components

Headers, footers, and blocks: create once, share across templates. Headers and footers repeat on every page automatically.

Batch generate

Upload a CSV or JSON, map columns to variables, and generate hundreds of PDFs in one click. Download as ZIP.

Generation logs

Full history: status, duration, file size. Filterable and cursor-paginated.

AI-native

Built for AI agents

The first PDF API with native MCP support. Connect your favorite AI tool and generate PDFs with natural language.

AI AgentLive

14 MCP tools · Visual preview · Natural language control

Claude Code Claude Desktop Cursor VS Code Windsurf ChatGPT

Compare

PDF4.dev vs the alternatives

PDF4.devDIY PuppeteerPDFMonkey

Setup time~5 minutesHours of config~30 minutes

Template editorCode + visual editorBuild your ownBasic

Live previewYesBuild your ownPartial

Non-technical editingVisual editor: no codeCode onlyBasic editor

API docsOpenAPI 3.1Write your ownBasic

Usage limitsGenerousNone20-5,000/mo

Language supportAny (REST API)Node.js onlyLimited SDKs

Integration time~5 minutesDays to weeks~30 minutes

MaintenanceManagedAll on youManaged

Reusable componentsHeaders, footers, blocksBuild your ownNone

Batch generationCSV/JSON upload, ZIP downloadBuild your ownAPI only

AI agent supportMCP server with annotationsNoneNone

Free tools

PDF tools that run in your browser

Compress PDFReduce file size while keeping quality Merge PDFCombine multiple PDFs into one Split PDFExtract pages or split into multiple files PDF to PNGConvert PDF pages to high-quality images HTML to PDFConvert HTML code or a URL to PDF Protect PDFAdd password protection to your PDF

View all 24 tools Browse 200+ templates

Blog

Guides and tutorials

Developer guideGenerate PDFs from HTML templates with Node.js BenchmarkHTML to PDF benchmark 2026 TutorialHow to merge PDF files: 5 free methods TutorialHow to convert PDF to Word: 5 free methods

All articles

Ready to generate
your first PDF?

Free to start. No credit card required.

Get started Documentation

PDF4.dev: PDF generation for developers

Key facts

Features

AI-native: built for AI agents

PDF4.dev vs the alternatives

Free PDF tools

How it works

API usage

PDF generationfor developers

One POST. One PDF.

Beautiful documents,every time

Everything you need.Nothing you don't.

Monaco code editor

Visual editor

Live preview

6 PDF formats

REST API

Reusable components

Batch generate

Generation logs

Built for AI agents

PDF4.dev vs the alternatives

PDF tools that run in your browser

Guides and tutorials

Ready to generateyour first PDF?

PDF generation
for developers

Beautiful documents,
every time

Everything you need.
Nothing you don't.

Ready to generate
your first PDF?