pdflayer vs Web to PDF

pdflayer is a cloud REST API that converts HTML or HTTP URLs into PDF documents. It accepts standard URLs and raw HTML, with raw HTML conversion available through HTTP POST. Requests can use GET or POST, though some features require POST. The rendering engine can handle HTML, CSS, JavaScript, XML, and SVG, and customization options include dimensions, margins, page numbers, custom CSS, encryption, viewport, delay, headers, footers, and watermarks. The maker says the API works with any programming language, citing PHP, Python, Ruby, jQuery.ajax, and Java. Generated PDFs are stored on a CDN and can be retrieved within milliseconds, according to the maker. Users can track usage daily or monthly and receive notices when usage is running low. The free plan provides 100 API requests per month for non-commercial use; it lists no encryption feature. Paid plans start at $9.99/mo, include commercial use, and list 256-bit HTTPS encryption. Paid subscriptions include unlimited, prioritized technical support. pdflayer is based in Vienna, Austria.

Web to PDF turns a webpage URL into a file for offline sharing or record keeping. It can produce PDF, JPG, PNG, GIF, or TIFF files, and lists additional conversions from HTML, HTM, or MHT to PDF and PDF to HTML. Page controls cover size, orientation, margins, and zoom, including custom dimensions. Other settings include print layout, removing JavaScript or links, page numbers, grayscale, bookmarks, and a configurable wait time. Its Chromium-based engine can render page content updated by JavaScript. For PDFs, users can apply a text watermark, set a password, or prevent extraction and printing. No account or email is needed. The service says files are machine processed without human review and transferred over HTTPS, but advises against submitting highly sensitive or critical files. Files can remain available for up to one hour, and login-required pages are unsupported. The FAQ says conversions are free, though terms allow frequency limits tied to usage and server capacity.