Pandoc vs wkhtmltopdf: What are the differences?

Introduction

Pandoc and wkhtmltopdf are both popular tools used for converting documents into different formats. However, they have several key differences in terms of their functionalities and capabilities.

1. Conversion Formats: Pandoc is a versatile tool that supports conversion between a wide range of formats including HTML, Markdown, LaTeX, PDF, and more. It allows users to convert documents from one format to another seamlessly. On the other hand, wkhtmltopdf specifically focuses on converting HTML documents to PDF format.

2. Input Document Types: Pandoc can handle various input document types such as Markdown, HTML, and LaTeX. It can understand and process complex document structures, equations, and metadata. In contrast, wkhtmltopdf primarily deals with HTML documents as input. It relies on the rendering capabilities of the web browser engine to convert HTML to PDF.

3. Customization and Styling: Pandoc provides extensive customization options and stylesheets to control the appearance of the converted document. Users can apply specific themes, modify fonts, add headers and footers, and define various styling elements. Conversely, wkhtmltopdf has limited customization capabilities. It depends on the CSS styles embedded within the HTML document or externally linked stylesheets.

4. Scripting and Automation: Pandoc offers a command-line interface and scripting capabilities, allowing users to automate document conversions. It provides a wide range of options to control the conversion process, manipulate metadata, and apply various filters. In contrast, wkhtmltopdf primarily operates as a command-line tool with limited scripting capabilities.

5. Dependency Requirements: Depending on the operating system, Pandoc may require specific dependencies, such as LaTeX or specific libraries, for certain conversions. These dependencies need to be installed separately for Pandoc to function properly. Conversely, wkhtmltopdf is a standalone tool that does not have extensive dependencies. It includes its own web browser engine to render HTML content.

6. Community and Support: Pandoc has a vibrant and active community with extensive documentation, tutorials, and forums. It is widely used in academia and by technical writers, leading to a rich ecosystem of plugins and extensions. In comparison, while wkhtmltopdf also has community support, its user base is relatively smaller in comparison, resulting in a smaller ecosystem of extensions and resources.

In Summary, Pandoc offers a wider range of conversion formats, supports various input document types, provides extensive customization capabilities, has advanced scripting and automation features, may have more dependency requirements, and benefits from a larger user community and support network. On the other hand, wkhtmltopdf focuses primarily on converting HTML to PDF, has limited customization options, acts as a standalone tool with fewer dependencies, and has a smaller user community.