Puppeteer vs wkhtmltopdf: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Puppeteer and wkhtmltopdf

Puppeteer and wkhtmltopdf are both powerful tools used for automating the creation of PDF files from websites. However, there are several key differences between them that make each tool unique and suitable for different use cases.

1. Execution Environment: Puppeteer is a Node.js library developed by the Chrome team, allowing for the automated control of a headless Chrome or Chromium browser. On the other hand, wkhtmltopdf is a command-line tool that utilizes the WebKit rendering engine for PDF generation.

2. Control and Manipulation: Puppeteer provides extensive control and manipulation over the web page before generating the PDF. This includes actions like clicking buttons, filling forms, taking screenshots, and even generating complex charts and visualizations. In contrast, wkhtmltopdf has limited control over the web page and relies on the HTML and CSS provided.

3. CSS Support: Puppeteer leverages the full power of the Chrome browser, which has excellent CSS support. It can handle modern CSS features like Flexbox, CSS Grid, and CSS variables. In comparison, wkhtmltopdf has a limited subset of CSS properties and might not support some advanced features.

4. JavaScript Execution: Puppeteer allows for the execution of JavaScript on the page, enabling dynamic content generation or interaction with APIs. This capability makes it suitable for scenarios where data needs to be processed or fetched before generating the PDF. Wkhtmltopdf, on the other hand, does not execute JavaScript by default, which can limit its capabilities when dealing with dynamic content.

5. Dependencies and Installation: Puppeteer is a package that includes Chromium, so it does not require any external dependencies. Installing Puppeteer is straightforward and can be done using npm. In contrast, wkhtmltopdf requires the installation of external dependencies like Qt libraries, X11 libraries, and others, which can be more complex and platform-dependent.

6. Ease of Use: Puppeteer provides a more user-friendly and developer-focused API for generating PDFs. It has extensive documentation, a vibrant community, and supports multiple programming languages. Wkhtmltopdf, being a command-line tool, might have a steeper learning curve for developers less familiar with the command line.

In summary, Puppeteer is a powerful and flexible library for PDF generation that provides extensive control over web pages, executes JavaScript, and has excellent CSS support. On the other hand, wkhtmltopdf is a command-line tool that relies on external dependencies, has limited control over the web page, and lacks advanced CSS and JavaScript execution capabilities.