HTML to PDF C# Alternatives For .NET (IronPDF vs QuestPDF)

PDF (Portable Document Format) is widely used to save data or send data in a portable, secure format. When it comes to manipulating data into a PDF file or designing a document like an invoice, C# developers often turn to robust libraries. Two popular Libraries for these tasks are IronPDF and QuestPDF. In this article, we'll be taking a comparative look at these two libraries and how they handle HTML to PDF conversion. We will also be comparing the features they have to offer, their ease of use, and their licensing models.

Note: This comparison is based on IronPDF version 2025.9.4 and QuestPDF latest stable version. IronPDF receives monthly updates with new features and improvements.

Creating a New Project in Visual Studio

Before we can start testing these two libraries out, we'll need to set up our C# project. To do this follow the steps laid out here:

1. Open Visual Studio.
2. File > New Project > Console Application.
3. Name the project and choose the path.
4. Select the .NET Framework.

IronPDF

IronPDF is a commercial .NET PDF library that provides extensive features for generating and manipulating PDFs. It excels in converting HTML with complex structures into PDFs with minimal code, making it a versatile choice for various projects.

Features of IronPDF

1. PDF Conversions: Converts HTML, HTML strings, MVC views, Web Forms, and URLs into PDFs.
2. PDF Imaging: Generates PDFs from images and extracts images from PDFs.
3. PDF Files IO: Supports digital signatures, password protection, and encryption.
4. Editing PDFs: Includes tools for adding watermarks, and pages, and altering backgrounds.
5. PDF Content Extraction: Extracts text and embedded content from PDFs, with OCR support for text in images.
6. Headers and Footers: Flexible options for adding text-based or HTML-based headers and footers.
7. Compatibility: Supports Windows, Linux (including ARM), macOS (including Apple Silicon M1/M2), .NET Core, .NET 6.0, Azure App Services, AWS, Docker/Kubernetes, iOS and Android (via Azure).
8. Document Conversions: Converts DOCX, RTF, and ZIP files to PDFs.
9. PDF/UA Compliance: Generates accessible PDFs following PDF/UA standards for users with disabilities.
10. Advanced PDF/A Support: Supports PDF/A versions 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B for long-term archiving.
11. Text Redaction: Securely removes sensitive content with RedactText() and region redaction.
12. Table of Contents: Automatically generates TOCs from HTML headers.
13. LaTeX Support: Renders mathematical equations using LaTeX notation.
14. SVG and HTML Export: Converts PDFs back to SVG and HTML formats.
15. AI Integration: Supports OpenAI extensions through IronPdf.Extensions.AI package.

Installing IronPDF

We can Install IronPDF by using one of the following ways.

Using Visual Studio NuGet Package Manager:

Follow these steps to install IronPDF using the Package Manager Console.

1. Tools > NuGet Package Manager > Manage NuGet Packages for Solution
2. Browse for "IronPDF" and install.

Using Command-Line:

Follow these steps to install IronPDF using the Package Manager Console.

1. Tools > NuGet Package Manager > Package Manager Console
2. Enter Install-Package IronPdf.

Direct Download from NuGet:

1. Navigate to NuGet IronPDF.
2. Download and install the package. ##HTML-to-PDF Conversion

IronPDF makes HTML to PDF conversion straightforward with minimal code. IronPDF allows developers to create PDF files from HTML using three methods.

Use the following namespace for using IronPDF:

using IronPdf;

Docker Installation:

IronPDF can also be deployed using Docker for containerized environments:

docker pull ironsoftwareofficial/ironpdfengine

This is particularly useful for microservices architectures and cloud deployments.

Create PDF files from HTML string:

Creating a PDF file from an HTML string using IronPDF is a straightforward and efficient process. This powerful library allows developers to convert HTML content into high-quality PDF documents with minimal code, making it ideal for generating dynamic reports, invoices, and other documents directly from web content.

 var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
 var pdf_doc = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World!</h1><p>This file is created from Iron PDF using HTML String Method</p>");
 pdf_doc.SaveAs("htmlString.pdf");

The code initializes a ChromePdfRenderer object and uses it to convert an HTML string into a PDF document. The HTML content includes a heading and a paragraph, which are rendered into the PDF and saved as "htmlString.pdf".

The generated PDF document is as:

Create PDF file from URL

Creating a PDF file from a URL using IronPDF is a seamless process that allows developers to convert entire web pages, including complex HTML implementations, into well-formatted PDF documents. This capability is perfect for archiving web content, generating dynamic reports, and creating print-ready versions of web pages with just a few lines of code.

  var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
  var pdf_doc = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF");
  pdf_doc.SaveAs("pdf_from_url.pdf");

The code initializes a ChromePdfRenderer object and uses it to convert the content of a specified URL ("https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF") into a PDF document. The resulting PDF is then saved as "pdf_from_url.pdf".

The Output PDF file is as follows:

Create PDF file from HTML File:

Creating a PDF file from an HTML file using IronPDF allows developers to maintain the document's visual structure and ensures advanced text style support. This powerful tool is ideal for converting well-designed HTML content into high-quality PDFs, preserving the original formatting and styling seamlessly.

 var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
 var pdf_doc = renderer.RenderHtmlFileAsPdf(@"D:\Tutorial Project\Website\index.html");
 pdf_doc.SaveAs("pdf_from_html_file.pdf");

The above code initializes a ChromePdfRenderer object to convert an HTML file located at "D:\Tutorial Project\Website\index.html" into a PDF document. The rendered PDF is then saved as "pdf_from_html_file.pdf". This process allows for the direct conversion of locally stored HTML files into portable and printable PDF documents.

The HTML File used as input is as:

The Output PDF file is as:

Advanced Conversion Options

IronPDF has expanded beyond HTML conversion to support multiple document formats:

📄 1. Convert DOCX to PDF

IronPDF makes it simple to convert Word documents into PDF files programmatically. You just need to load the DOCX file and render it directly as a PDF.

// Convert DOCX to PDF
var docxRenderer = new DocxToPdfRenderer();
var pdfFromDocx = docxRenderer.RenderDocxAsPdf("document.docx");
pdfFromDocx.SaveAs("converted_from_docx.pdf");

This produces a high-quality PDF file from your Word document while keeping formatting intact.

📝 2. Convert RTF to PDF

Rich Text Format (RTF) documents can also be rendered as PDFs with a single call. Pass in the RTF content string, and IronPDF handles the conversion.

            var rtfRenderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

            string rtfContent = @"{\rtf1\ansi
\b Hello, IronPDF!\b0\line
This is an example of RTF to PDF conversion.\line
\i It supports bold, italics,\i0 and line breaks.
}";

            var pdfFromRtf = rtfRenderer.RenderRtfStringAsPdf(rtfContent);
            pdfFromRtf.SaveAs("converted_from_rtf.pdf");

This generates a PDF file containing styled text from the RTF content, preserving bold, italics, and formatting elements.

➗ 3. Render LaTeX Mathematical Expressions

IronPDF supports LaTeX, making it possible to generate PDFs with properly rendered mathematical equations. Simply enable LaTeX rendering in the options.

 // Enable LaTeX mathematical expressions
 var mathRenderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
 mathRenderer.RenderingOptions.EnableMathematicalLaTex = true;
 var mathPdf = mathRenderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(@"<p>$$\sqrt{x^2+1}$$</p>");
 mathPdf.SaveAs("math_equations.pdf");

This approach is particularly useful for academic papers, scientific reports, or any document requiring mathematical notation.

Custom Headers and Footers

IronPDF allows both text-based and HTML-based headers and footers:

PdfDocument doc = new PdfDocument("htmlString.pdf");
TextHeaderFooter header = new TextHeaderFooter();
header.CenterText = "This is Header";
header.DrawDividerLine = true;
doc.AddTextHeaders(header);


TextHeaderFooter footer = new TextHeaderFooter();
footer.CenterText = "This is Footer";
footer.DrawDividerLine = true;
doc.AddTextFooters(footer);
doc.SaveAs("htmlString.pdf");

This code snippet initializes a PdfDocument object named doc by loading an existing PDF file named "htmlString.pdf". It then creates TextHeaderFooter objects for both header and footer sections, customizing their text and divider line settings. These header and footer elements are added to the PdfDocument using AddTextHeaders and AddTextFooters methods respectively. Finally, the modified document is saved back to "htmlString.pdf", incorporating the specified header and footer content and styling into the PDF file.

📑 Automatic Table of Contents Generation

IronPDF can automatically generate a Table of Contents (TOC) from HTML headers, making it easy to create structured and navigable PDFs.

var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
renderer.RenderingOptions.TableOfContents = new TableOfContentsTypes
{
    // Automatically generate TOC from H1-H3 tags
    MaxDepth = 3
};
var pdfWithToc = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(htmlContent);

This ensures your PDFs include a clear hierarchy, improving readability for documents with multiple sections or chapters.

Licensing

IronPDF offers a free trial license, with commercial licenses starting at $749. The library is actively maintained with regular updates - the latest version 2025.9.4 (Sept 2025) includes continuous improvements in performance, security, and feature additions. All licenses include a 30-day money-back guarantee and a year of support and upgrades.

QuestPDF

QuestPDF is an open-source .NET library designed for PDF document generation, utilizing a fluent API that supports complex layouts and full paging functionality. Unlike IronPDF, QuestPDF does not convert HTML to PDF directly but instead uses its own layout engine to design and generate PDF documents.

Features of QuestPDF

1. Design and Generate PDF Documents: QuestPDF relies on manually written code rather than HTML tags for document design, focusing on structured, reusable components.
2. Headers and Footers: Options to add headers and footers with dynamic content, including page numbers, custom JavaScript, and CSS.
3. Create and Reuse Components: Facilitates writing reusable code to generate consistent document layouts.

Other Features:

1. Composes simple components into complex documents.
2. Does not rely on HTML-to-PDF conversion.
3. Structured, organized code for easy maintenance.

Installing QuestPDF

We can Install QuestPDF by using one of the following ways.

Using Visual Studio NuGet Package Manager:

Follow these steps to install QuestPDF using the Package Manager for Solution.

1. Tools > NuGet Package Manager > Manage NuGet Packages for Solution
2. Browse for "QuestPDF" and install.

Using Command-Line:

Follow these steps to install QuestPDF using the Package Manager Console.

1. Tools > NuGet Package Manager > Package Manager Console
2. Enter Install-Package QuestPDF.

Direct Download from NuGet:

1. Navigate to NuGet QuestPDF.
2. Download and install the package.

HTML to PDF Conversion

Unlike IronPDF, QuestPDF doesn't directly convert HTML into PDF files. This can be a drawback for users looking for an easy way to turn web content into PDFs. Instead, QuestPDF focuses on giving you detailed control over how your documents look and feel using its layout tools, which may mean more work upfront compared to HTML-based converters.

QuestPDF requires more code to achieve PDF documents generation tasks to create PDFs resembling HTML, emphasizing its layout engine specifically designed for precise control over document structure and styling. This approach ensures meticulous customization of content arrangement and appearance, making it ideal for creating detailed and visually appealing PDF reports and documents.

using QuestPDF.Fluent;
using QuestPDF.Helpers;
using QuestPDF.Infrastructure;

 static void Main(string[] args)
{
    QuestPDF.Settings.License = LicenseType.Community;
    Document.Create(container =>
    {
        container.Page(page =>
        {
            page.Size(PageSizes.A4);
            page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre);
            page.PageColor(Colors.White);
            page.DefaultTextStyle(x => x.FontSize(20));
            page.Content()
               .PaddingVertical(1, Unit.Centimetre)
               .Column(x =>
               {
                   x.Spacing(20);
                   x.Item().Text("Hello World!");
               });
        });
    }).GeneratePdf("Example.pdf");
}

This code snippet uses QuestPDF's fluent API to create a PDF document named "Example.pdf". It defines a single page with A4 size, sets margins and page color, and specifies a default text style with a font size of 20. Within the page, it adds content vertically padded and organized into columns with specific spacing, displaying the text "Hello World!". The GeneratePdf method finalizes the document generation process by saving it as "Example.pdf".

Custom Headers and Footers

QuestPDF uses its layout engine for headers and footers:

   Document.Create(container =>
   {
       container.Page(page =>
       {
           page.Size(PageSizes.A4);
           page.Margin(2, Unit.Centimetre);
           page.PageColor(Colors.White);
           page.DefaultTextStyle(x => x.FontSize(20));
           page.Header().Text("This is Header")
               .SemiBold().FontSize(12).FontColor(Colors.Blue.Medium);
           page.Footer()
              .AlignCenter()
              .Text(x => x.Span("This is Footer"));
       });
   }).GeneratePdf("Example.pdf");

This code snippet utilizes QuestPDF's fluent API to generate a PDF document named "Example.pdf". It defines a single page with A4 size, sets margins, and specifies a white page background. The page's default text style is set to a font size of 20. Additionally, it adds a header with blue semi-bold text and a footer centered with plain text stating "This is Footer". The GeneratePdf method finalizes the document creation process by saving it as "Example.pdf", incorporating the specified header and footer styling into the PDF file.

Licensing

QuestPDF library offers a free Community license, with commercial licenses starting at $699.

Comparison Summary

Factor	IronPDF	QuestPDF
HTML to PDF conversion	IronPDF simplifies conversion with full modern web standard support that provides high-quality PDFs	Does not offer HTML to PDF conversion, but does make use of its fluent API to build PDFs from scratch
Security	Provides options for adding digital signatures, password protection, and setting permissions	Does not natively support any PDF security features such as PDF encryption or digital signatures
Cross-Platform Support	IronPDF provides a broad range of cross-platform support	Exclusively a .NET library, designed specifically for the .NET ecosystem without official support for other platforms
Performance	Can handle large-scale PDF generation efficiently, though rendering complex web pages may take more time. Suitable for applications requiring high throughput and scalability.	Thread-safe, allowing for multi-threaded PDF generation in performance-critical applications
Ease Of Use	Easier for developers familiar with web technologies (HTML/CSS/JavaScript). It offers extensive documentation and examples, and offers intuitive API for PDF-related Tasks	Provides a component-based approach that may require a learning curve but offers detailed control over document structure and design
Licensing Costs	Pricing differs depending on your need and the selected tier, but offers a wide range of pricing options	Open-source under the MIT license, making it free to use when using the community license. Paid commercial licensing tiers are also offered
Rendering Engine	Uses Chromium (Chrome) as the rendering engine, ensuring high fidelity in rendering HTML content	Uses a custom rendering engine tailored for creating PDFs from C# code

1. IronPDF excels in scenarios where web content (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) needs to be converted to PDF with high fidelity using its Chrome CEF 131 engine, and now also supports DOCX, RTF, and ZIP file conversions. It offers advanced features like PDF/UA accessibility compliance, PDF/A archiving (versions 1A-3B), text redaction, automatic TOC generation, and LaTeX math support. It's ideal for users needing a full-featured solution with extensive support and cross-platform capabilities including Apple Silicon and Linux ARM.
2. QuestPDF is perfect for developers who prefer to build PDFs programmatically from scratch and require fine control over the document layout. Its open-source nature and focus on performance make it a strong choice for custom document generation. However, its main focus on PDF creation and layout manipulation means it lacks the same wider range of advanced features that IronPDF has to offer. It also can't handle basic HTML to PDF conversion and doesn't support any essential PDF security features.

In this table, we have compared IronPDF and QuestPDF's ability to carry out simple PDF-related tasks. Giving you a clearer idea on just what these libraries have to offer.

Features	IronPDF	QuestPDF
HTML to PDF Conversion	✔	✘
Security (PDF Encryption etc.)	✔	✘
PDF Redaction	✔	✘
PDF Watermarking	✔	✔
Merge and Split PDFs	✔	✘
Add Backgrounds	✔	✔
PDF Annotations	✔	✘
Headers and Footers	✔	✔
Add Pages	✔	✘
DOCX to PDF Conversion	✔	✘
RTF to PDF Conversion	✔	✘
PDF/UA Accessibility	✔	✘
PDF/A (All Versions)	✔	✘
Text Redaction	✔	✘
LaTeX Math Support	✔	✘
Automatic TOC Generation	✔	✘
SVG/HTML Export	✔	✘
Apple Silicon Support	✔	✔
Linux ARM Support	✔	✘

Conclusion:

In conclusion, both IronPDF and QuestPDF offer robust solutions for generating and manipulating PDF documents in C#. IronPDF is ideal for converting HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to high-fidelity PDFs using its Chromium-based rendering engine. It offers robust PDF manipulation features like merging, annotating, encrypting, text redaction, PDF/UA accessibility compliance, comprehensive PDF/A support (versions 1A-3B), and document format conversions (DOCX, RTF). Its strength lies in handling complex web content and providing comprehensive PDF security. IronPDF supports cross-platform integration with Java and Python, making it versatile for various environments. However, it requires a commercial license for extensive use.

On the other hand, QuestPDF distinguishes itself with a meticulous layout engine that provides detailed control over document structure and styling. While it lacks direct HTML-to-PDF conversion and basic PDF security features, QuestPDF excels in creating complex layouts and reusable components thanks to its comprehensive layout engine, making it a preferred choice for projects demanding precise document design and full paging support.

Ultimately, the choice between IronPDF and QuestPDF depends on specific project requirements, such as the need for HTML conversion versus detailed layout control. Both libraries offer valuable tools for C# developers looking to enhance their PDF generation capabilities with reliable and feature-rich solutions, ⚠️ Warning: but developers should keep in mind QuestPDF's lack of security related to PDFs, especially in regards to encryption support. To try IronPDF out for yourself, sign up for a free trial, a great way to try the rich set of features IronPDF has to offer in your PDF projects. To keep benefiting from this powerful library after your free trial, licensing starts from just $749.