React is a popular JavaScript library for building amazing web apps, and working with PDFs in React has numerous use cases. For example, you may need to create a web app that offers invoice generation, report creation, or contract viewing and signing. However, PDF manipulation in React presents unique challenges. To address these challenges, the React community has built some solid solutions. Some React PDF libraries focus solely on creating PDFs from scratch, while others concentrate on enhancing the viewing experience of existing PDFs. Some libraries work natively with React components, and some don't. You'll need to choose depending on your requirements. You may need to use more than one library to achieve your goal.
In this article, we'll explore four popular React PDF libraries, both open-source and paid options. Each has its pros and cons. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of which library best fits your project needs.
1. react-pdf
@react-pdf/renderer is a popular open-source React PDF library. It is designed to work with PDFs both in the browser and on the server. Its source code is available on GitHub, with over 15,000 stars. It has over 860,000 weekly downloads.
This library uses React components with specialized primitives, including Page, View, Text, and Stylesheet, to build PDF document components. It supports adding headers, footers, page breaks, and dynamic text. Developers don't need to learn an entirely new framework and can leverage their existing React knowledge to work with this library.
Pros of @react-pdf/renderer:
It can generate PDFs directly in the browser and on the server, enabling seamless integration into automated workflows.
It offers a rich set of features, including support for headers, footers, page numbers, SVG graphics, and dynamic text rendering.
This library gets regular updates from its contributors. Developers can benefit from its large community.
It handles page breaks very well, which is a major benefit for developers working with PDFs in React.
The main advantage of this library is that users don't need to learn new APIs or follow a steep learning curve, as it relies on native React components.
Cons of @react-pdf/renderer:
This library has limited support for CSS, which is a significant drawback for styling PDFs.
It does not support DOM components.
It only supports React versions 16 and 17, with no support for the latest versions of React.
This library does not support creating fillable PDF forms.
2. jsPDF: Client-side JavaScript Library
jsPDF is a popular client-side JavaScript library. This library is one of the top downloaded libraries in the JavaScript ecosystem. It has more than 30,000 stars on GitHub and receives weekly downloads of over 260,000. It is not specific to React, but you can use this library by importing it into React projects.
This library supports the creation of PDF files, allowing the addition of text, images, and shapes. Also, developers can add multiple pages with break actions, password protection, and annotations to the PDF file. And it supports all its features in the browser; no server is required to perform any action. It provides an HTML() function to convert HTML to PDF files directly.
Pros of jsPDF:
Works entirely in the browser, no server needed
Small package size keeps your app lightweight
The straightforward API makes it easy for developers to create basic PDFs without extensive configuration.
Can save files directly to user devices
Supports adding image file types and external links
It has compatibility across all modern browsers
Its long-standing presence in the ecosystem means the codebase is mature, stable, and well-tested.
It integrates smoothly with existing projects, requiring minimal architectural changes.
Cons of jsPDF:
This library is not designed with React patterns in mind, which may lead to less intuitive integration in React applications.
Creating complex layouts requires manual positioning calculations, which can be both time-consuming and prone to errors.
It offers limited built-in styling capabilities compared to more modern component-based PDF libraries.
This library lacks the ability to read, parse, or modify existing PDF files.
Generating sophisticated documents with advanced features requires writing significantly more boilerplate code.
No native React component integration
Implementing complex forms with custom styling demands considerable manual effort and custom development.
3. Syncfusion React PDF Viewer
Syncfusion React PDF Viewer is a commercial component that lets you view and print PDF files within web applications. You get standard features like zooming, scrolling, text search, and copy functions. The component works well for business applications that need document management tools.
You can view PDFs, add annotations, fill out forms, and print documents directly in your browser. The rendering engine loads pages only when needed, which keeps memory usage low. Navigation works through thumbnails, bookmarks, hyperlinks, and a table of contents. You can review documents using highlights, sticky notes, stamps, drawings, shapes, and ink annotations. It also handles interactive forms, digital signatures, and redaction.
Pros of Syncfusion React PDF Viewer:
AI tools extract text, analyze content, and power intelligent search
Pages load progressively for smooth performance with large files
Add highlights, notes, stamps, drawings, and shapes to PDFs
Full support for interactive forms with real-time editing
All operations run locally with no external data transfers
Fully compatible with React DOM
Meets WCAG accessibility standards with keyboard navigation
Supports custom toolbars and localization for global use
Cons of Syncfusion React PDF Viewer:
Requires a paid license except for companies under $1M revenue
Pricing increases significantly as your team grows
Comes bundled with 140+ components you may not need
Documentation is confusing and complex to navigate
Cannot purchase the PDF viewer separately from the full suite
Some deployments need specific server configurations
4. Nutrient React PDF Library
The Nutrient Web SDK is a JavaScript library that integrates with React. You can incorporate it into new or existing projects to handle PDFs in the browser. Users can view, annotate, and edit PDF files without leaving your application.
The library features over 30 options, complete with a user-friendly interface. You can load, save, convert, and edit 15 different file types, including PDFs, Office documents, and images. Major companies, including Autodesk, Disney, UBS, Dropbox, IBM, and Lufthansa, utilize Nutrient for their document management needs.
Pros of Nutrient React PDF Library:
Includes PDF viewing, annotations, editing, signing, forms, and redaction
Supports 15 different file formats without needing multiple libraries
Renders large files smoothly without performance issues
Ready-to-use UI saves months of custom development time
Comes with commercial support, regular updates, and technical help
Works on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Firefox ESR
Cons of Nutrient React PDF Library:
Expensive licensing costs that many companies cannot afford
Complex pricing with separately charged modules per document
Setup can be complex with inadequate early-stage documentation
Requires wire transfers for payment instead of standard methods
Limited customization compared to building your own solution
Performance slows down with files larger than 50 MB
The trial version adds watermarks that interfere with testing
Choosing Your Library
Your choice depends on what you need to do with PDFs. Creating PDF files from data? Try react-pdf or jsPDF. Do you need to display existing PDFs with rich features? Look at Syncfusion or Nutrient. Budget matters too. Open-source options cost nothing but may require more development time. Commercial libraries include support and save development hours, but require payment.
Consider your existing projects and how each library aligns with them. Some work better with specific architectures. Review the documentation and example code before committing. Most libraries allow you to test before purchasing.
All our sponsors and contributors help maintain these libraries. Check each project's GitHub page to see activity levels and community support. Active projects with many contributors tend to have fewer unresolved issues. Remember to test thoroughly. An error that occurred during PDF generation or viewing can frustrate users. Handle edge cases, validate file inputs, and test across browsers.
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