Ghostscript vs wkhtmltopdf

Overview

Ghostscript

Stacks12

Followers20

Votes0

wkhtmltopdf

Stacks60

Followers110

Votes0

GitHub Stars14.4K

Forks1.9K

Ghostscript vs wkhtmltopdf: What are the differences?

Introduction

In the realm of converting documents to PDF, two popular tools that often come into play are Ghostscript and wkhtmltopdf. These tools offer distinct features and functionalities, making them suitable for different use cases. In this analysis, we will explore the key differences between Ghostscript and wkhtmltopdf, highlighting their unique characteristics and abilities.

Rendering engine: Ghostscript utilizes the PostScript and PDF interpreter engine, allowing it to process and convert PostScript and PDF files effectively. It excels in handling complex vector images, advanced typography, and intricate page layouts. In contrast, wkhtmltopdf employs the WebKit rendering engine, which primarily focuses on converting HTML to PDF. This makes it an ideal choice for tasks involving HTML-based documents, including web pages, online reports, and dynamic content.
Input format flexibility: Ghostscript exhibits tremendous versatility in terms of input format compatibility. Alongside PostScript and PDF, Ghostscript can process various file formats such as TIFF, JPEG, PNG, PBM, and PCL, among others. It can even capture files directly from input devices, like scanners. Conversely, wkhtmltopdf specializes in HTML as its primary input format, allowing seamless conversion of HTML documents into PDF. It might lack the same level of flexibility when it comes to handling other input formats.
Customizability and control: Ghostscript empowers users with extensive customization and control over the conversion process. It provides a wide array of command-line options, allowing users to fine-tune the conversion parameters, output quality, compression settings, color management, and much more. This level of granularity caters to advanced users seeking full control over their PDF generation. In contrast, wkhtmltopdf, being designed for simplicity and ease of use, offers limited customization options. While it still provides some configuration possibilities, it may not satisfy the specific needs of highly specialized use cases.
Dependency on external tools: Ghostscript operates as a standalone tool and does not require any dependencies from other software. It has its self-contained interpreter, making it more convenient for installation and usage. On the other hand, wkhtmltopdf depends on external tools such as a working installation of the Qt framework and WebKit libraries. This reliance on additional components may introduce complexities during the setup process and could pose compatibility issues, especially in environments where these dependencies are not readily available.
JavaScript execution: One significant distinction between Ghostscript and wkhtmltopdf lies in their JavaScript execution capabilities. Ghostscript primarily focuses on the rendering and conversion of static PDF and PostScript documents, providing minimal JavaScript support. However, if the need arises to convert HTML files with complex JavaScript interactions, wkhtmltopdf can better handle such scenarios, thanks to its WebKit engine. This makes it suitable for producing PDFs that faithfully replicate the behavior of interactive web pages.
Licensing and community support: Ghostscript is released under the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL) and benefits from a large and active open-source community. This grants users access to numerous resources, documentation, forums, and potential support channels. Conversely, wkhtmltopdf is distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL) and enjoys significant community support as well. However, it is worth noting that some commercial activities may require additional licensing or agreements, further emphasizing the importance of understanding the licensing implications for individual use cases.

In summary, Ghostscript and wkhtmltopdf offer distinct features and suitability depending on the requirements and nature of the task at hand. Ghostscript excels in handling complex PostScript and PDF files, while wkhtmltopdf specializes in HTML-to-PDF conversions, with a focus on web content and dynamic interactions. The choice between these tools should be made based on factors such as input formats, customization needs, JavaScript requirements, and licensing considerations.

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Advice on Ghostscript, wkhtmltopdf

Cesar

Jun 24, 2020

Needs advice

Users are uploading huge PDF files of more than 100MB on our platform. We are creating several tools to manage those files, but keeping the raw file will eat up space, as we are handling several of them. After upload, they will be mainly keep stored for future use.

I am looking for a tool to compress and optimize those PDFs, like a library or an external API that can process that for us.

Thanks

20.8k views20.8k

Comments

Detailed Comparison

Ghostscript	wkhtmltopdf
It is a suite of software based on an interpreter for Adobe Systems' PostScript and PDF page description languages. Its main purposes are the rasterization or rendering of such page description language files.	wkhtmltopdf and wkhtmltoimage are command line tools to render HTML into PDF and various image formats using the QT Webkit rendering engine. These run entirely "headless" and do not require a display or display service.
Statistics
GitHub Stars -	GitHub Stars 14.4K
GitHub Forks -	GitHub Forks 1.9K
Stacks 12	Stacks 60
Followers 20	Followers 110
Votes 0	Votes 0
Integrations
PHP Ruby Java	No integrations available

What are some alternatives to Ghostscript, wkhtmltopdf?

DocRaptor

DocRaptor makes it easy to convert HTML to PDF and XLS format. Choose your document format, select configuration options and make an HTTP POST request to our server. DocRaptor returns your file in a matter of seconds. We provide extensive documentation and examples to get you started, and our API makes it easy to use DocRaptor to generate PDF and Excel files in your own web applications.

Pandoc

It is a free and open-source document converter, widely used as a writing tool and as a basis for publishing workflows. It converts files from one markup format into another. It can convert documents in (several dialects of) Markdown, reStructuredText, textile, HTML, DocBook, LaTeX, MediaWiki markup, TWiki and many more.

Inkfluence AI

Plan, write, and publish books, PDF guides, workbooks, and audiobooks with AI workflows. Customize branding and export instantly.

PDFGate

PDFGate is a developer-focused PDF API for generating and managing PDFs from applications. It supports HTML-to-PDF conversion, fillable PDF form fields, and a growing set of PDF utilities designed for backend workflows. The API is built for reliability and precision, making it suitable for invoices, contracts, reports, and other transactional documents. PDFGate emphasizes modern API design, predictable rendering, and features often missing from simpler HTML-to-PDF services, such as native support for interactive form fields. It is designed for teams that need more than basic PDF generation, with a roadmap that includes digital signatures, SDKs, and additional PDF processing endpoints.

ReelScribe — AI Transcription

Transcribe videos and audio to text instantly with ReelScribe – the fast, accurate, and unlimited AI transcription tool. Convert MP4, MP3, or any video to text and subtitles in 145+ languages. 99.8% accuracy. Download transcripts as DOCX, PDF, TXT, or SRT.

ConvertFT

Free online photo editor and image tools. Batch resize, compress, convert, crop, blur, sharpen, rotate, grayscale, remove EXIF, and more—no installation required.

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PixelPress — Convert Images to WebP Instantly

PixelPress is a fast, free, and secure online image converter. Convert PNG, JPEG, and AVIF to WebP instantly with 100% client-side processing. No uploads, maximum privacy, lightning-fast results.

Shared with VideoCompress

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Related Comparisons

Ghostscript vs wkhtmltopdf: What are the differences?

Introduction

Rendering engine: Ghostscript utilizes the PostScript and PDF interpreter engine, allowing it to process and convert PostScript and PDF files effectively. It excels in handling complex vector images, advanced typography, and intricate page layouts. In contrast, wkhtmltopdf employs the WebKit rendering engine, which primarily focuses on converting HTML to PDF. This makes it an ideal choice for tasks involving HTML-based documents, including web pages, online reports, and dynamic content.
Input format flexibility: Ghostscript exhibits tremendous versatility in terms of input format compatibility. Alongside PostScript and PDF, Ghostscript can process various file formats such as TIFF, JPEG, PNG, PBM, and PCL, among others. It can even capture files directly from input devices, like scanners. Conversely, wkhtmltopdf specializes in HTML as its primary input format, allowing seamless conversion of HTML documents into PDF. It might lack the same level of flexibility when it comes to handling other input formats.
Customizability and control: Ghostscript empowers users with extensive customization and control over the conversion process. It provides a wide array of command-line options, allowing users to fine-tune the conversion parameters, output quality, compression settings, color management, and much more. This level of granularity caters to advanced users seeking full control over their PDF generation. In contrast, wkhtmltopdf, being designed for simplicity and ease of use, offers limited customization options. While it still provides some configuration possibilities, it may not satisfy the specific needs of highly specialized use cases.
Dependency on external tools: Ghostscript operates as a standalone tool and does not require any dependencies from other software. It has its self-contained interpreter, making it more convenient for installation and usage. On the other hand, wkhtmltopdf depends on external tools such as a working installation of the Qt framework and WebKit libraries. This reliance on additional components may introduce complexities during the setup process and could pose compatibility issues, especially in environments where these dependencies are not readily available.
JavaScript execution: One significant distinction between Ghostscript and wkhtmltopdf lies in their JavaScript execution capabilities. Ghostscript primarily focuses on the rendering and conversion of static PDF and PostScript documents, providing minimal JavaScript support. However, if the need arises to convert HTML files with complex JavaScript interactions, wkhtmltopdf can better handle such scenarios, thanks to its WebKit engine. This makes it suitable for producing PDFs that faithfully replicate the behavior of interactive web pages.
Licensing and community support: Ghostscript is released under the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL) and benefits from a large and active open-source community. This grants users access to numerous resources, documentation, forums, and potential support channels. Conversely, wkhtmltopdf is distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL) and enjoys significant community support as well. However, it is worth noting that some commercial activities may require additional licensing or agreements, further emphasizing the importance of understanding the licensing implications for individual use cases.

Ghostscript vs wkhtmltopdf

Overview