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Documents & Writing

Best PDF SDKs in 2026

PDF SDKs provide building blocks for creating software that works with PDF files. This list helps developers and buyers compare licensing, pricing and capabilities before selecting an SDK.

  1. 01 callas pdfToolbox SDK
    Free trial Windows · macOS · Linux · API
    8.6 Visit Specs
  2. 02 Datalogics Adobe PDF Library
    From $499.92/mo Free trial Windows · macOS · Linux · API
    8.6 Visit Specs
  3. 03 Aspose.PDF
    Free trial Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.5 Visit Specs
  4. 04 MuPDF

    MuPDF suits developers building document features into desktop, cloud/server, or embedded projects.

    From $299/mo Free plan Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.5 Visit Specs
  5. 05 ComPDFKit PDF SDK
    From $20/mo Free trial Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.4 Visit Specs
  6. 06 IronPDF
    Free trial Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.3 Visit Specs
  7. 07 Apache PDFBox
    Free plan Linux · API · Self-hosted
    8.2 Visit Specs
  8. 08 Ghostscript

    Ghostscript suits developers and teams that need document rendering or conversion, including integration as an SDK, and organizations working with PDF, PostScript, PCL or XPS.

    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · API
    8.2 Visit Specs
  9. 09 Foxit PDF SDK
    Free trial Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.1 Visit Specs
  10. 10 GemBox.Pdf
    Windows · macOS · Linux · iOS
    8.1 Visit Specs
  11. 11 PDFsharp
    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted
    8.1 Visit Specs
  12. 12 GdPicture.NET
    Free trial Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    8.0 Visit Specs
  13. 13 LEADTOOLS PDF SDK
    Free trial Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.9 Visit Specs
  14. 14 OpenPDF
    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Android
    7.9 Visit Specs
  15. 15 Spire.PDF
    Free plan Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.9 Visit Specs
  16. 16 Syncfusion PDF Library
    From $99.92/mo Free trial Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.9 Visit Specs
  17. 17 Adobe PDF Library SDK
    Windows · macOS · Linux · API
    7.8 Visit Specs
  18. 18 Nutrient SDK
    Free trial Web · Windows · macOS · Linux
    7.8 Visit Specs
  19. 19 PDFium
    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Android
    7.8 Visit Specs
  20. 20 libHaru
    Free plan Windows · Linux · Self-hosted
    7.7 Visit Specs
  21. 21 QuestPDF
    From $166.58/mo Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Self-hosted
    7.7 Visit Specs
  22. 22 WeasyPrint

    It suits web developers who need to generate PDF documents from HTML and want a Python library or command-line workflow.

    From €12.50/mo Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · API
    7.7 Visit Specs
  23. 23 PoDoFo
    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · API
    7.5 Visit Specs
  24. 24 Poppler
    Free plan Windows · macOS · Linux · Android
    7.5 Visit Specs
  25. 25 Prince
    From $166.67/mo Windows · macOS · Linux · API
    7.5 Visit Specs
How this list is ordered. Specifiction scores each tool on how fully its maker documents it, whether its prices are published, where the research puts it, the platforms it runs on and whether it can be tried for free (how we rank). Makers can also buy a numbered place (how Specifiction is paid for).

Check the PDF operations, supported platforms, language coverage, deployment model, annotation tools and commercial licence terms. Pricing may include a free plan, a trial or a paid starting point.

Compare callas pdfToolbox SDK and Datalogics Adobe PDF Library Get a place on this list

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