PDF API
by PDF API
What PDF API is
PDF API converts HTML templates and JSON data into PDFs through a cloud REST API. Developers can submit raw HTML or use reusable templates saved in the dashboard, then fill Handlebars-style variables, loops and conditionals with JSON. Page size, orientation, margins, headers and footers can be configured. Listed uses include invoices, receipts, contracts, financial reports, shipping labels and tickets. The service uses Chromium and supports modern CSS such as Flexbox, Grid and custom properties; the maker says its persistent Chromium pool and Rust backend generate documents in under 300ms. Webhooks can report PDF generation or deletion and approaching quota limits, with authenticity checked using the X-PDF-Signature header. Generated files are held behind temporary URLs and removed when those URLs expire, by default after 24 hours, or when DELETE is used. The maker describes the service as EU-hosted and GDPR compliant. A free plan includes 500 PDFs per month; paid plans start at €15/mo. Integration guides cover Node.js, Python, PHP and Go, and any HTTP client can use the REST API.
Who it suits
It suits developers and teams generating documents such as invoices, contracts or reports from applications. The REST API works with any HTTP client, and guides cover Node.js, Python, PHP and Go.
What it does well
- Free plan includes 500 PDFs per month.
- Reusable templates support variables, loops and conditionals.
- Configurable page size, margins, headers and footers.
- EU-hosted and GDPR compliant, according to the maker.
- Sandbox requests do not count against monthly quota.
What to know first
- Sandbox PDFs are watermarked and purged after one hour.
- Free tier allows 10 requests per minute.
- Free tier concurrency is limited to two requests.
- Paid plans start at €15/mo.
Limits
The Free plan includes 500 PDFs per month, with a rate limit of 10 requests per minute and concurrency of two. Sandbox requests do not count against the monthly quota, but sandbox PDFs are watermarked and automatically removed after one hour.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 190€ yearly · 2,000 PDFs/month · overage 3€ per 1k · hard cap 57€ max · standard email support | €15 a month |
| Pro | 990€ yearly · 20,000 PDFs/month · overage 2€ per 1k · hard cap 297€ max · priority email support | €82 a month |
| Scale | 2,990€ yearly · 100,000 PDFs/month · overage 0.80€ per 1k · no hard cap (unlimited) · premium SLA & onboarding | €249 a month |
| Free | 500 PDFs/month · no overage · community support | Free |
As pdfapi.dev lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the PDF API website.
- Choose the Free plan or a paid plan; the Free plan includes 500 PDFs per month.
- Use a provided Node.js, Python, PHP, or Go integration guide, or connect through another HTTP client.
- Submit raw HTML or create a reusable template in the dashboard.
- Provide JSON data and configure the document layout.
Verdict
PDF API combines template-based PDF generation with a REST interface and a free monthly allowance. Check the request and concurrency limits for the plan you need; paid plans start at €15/mo.
Questions
Is PDF API free?
Yes. Its Free plan costs nothing and includes 500 PDFs per month. Paid plans start at €15/mo.
Which platforms does PDF API support?
It is listed for API and web, and is deployed in the cloud.
Which programming languages have integration guides?
Guides are provided for Node.js, Python, PHP, and Go. The REST API also works with any HTTP client.
What does the Free plan include?
It includes 500 PDFs per month, with limits of 10 requests per minute and two concurrent requests.
How much do the paid plans cost?
Starter is €15 a month, Pro is €82 a month, and Scale is €249 a month. The listed annual billing amounts are 190€, 990€, and 2,990€ respectively.
How long are generated PDFs retained?
PDFs are kept behind temporary download URLs and wiped when the URL expires, 24 hours by default, or when the DELETE endpoint is used.
Facts from PDF API's own pages
- Compliance
- GDPR · pdfapi.dev, 22 Sept 2026
- CSS support
- The service uses Chromium and supports modern CSS including Flexbox, Grid, and custom properties. · pdfapi.dev, 7 Oct 2026
- Data location and compliance
- The maker describes the service as EU-hosted and GDPR compliant. · pdfapi.dev, 7 Oct 2026
- Data retention
- The site says generated PDFs are stored in a secure bucket behind temporary presigned URLs, then wiped when the URL expires (default 24 hours) or the DELETE endpoint is used. · pdfapi.dev, 7 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- cloud · pdfapi.dev, 22 Sept 2026
- Intended users
- The site describes the service as built for developers and targets teams generating invoices, reports, contracts, and other documents from applications. · pdfapi.dev, 7 Oct 2026
- Key features
- HTML and CSS to PDF rendering · Raw HTML or saved-template rendering · JSON data injection with Handlebars-style variables · Configurable page size, orientation, margins, headers, and footers · Temporary, time-limited PDF download URLs · Reusable templates stored in the dashboard · Sandbox mode for testing and CI/CD · Webhooks for PDF generation, deletion, and quota events · pdfapi.dev, 22 Sept 2026
- Language guides
- The maker provides integration guides for Node.js, Python, PHP, and Go, and says the REST API works with any HTTP client. · pdfapi.dev, 7 Oct 2026
- Product
- PDF API converts HTML templates and JSON data into PDFs through a REST API. · pdfapi.dev, 7 Oct 2026
- Rate limits
- The documented per-minute limits are 10 requests for Free, 60 for Starter, 300 for Pro, and 1,000 for Scale; concurrency limits are 2, 5, 20, and 50 respectively. · pdfapi.dev, 7 Oct 2026
- Rendering
- The site says its persistent pool of Chromium instances and Rust backend generate documents in under 300ms. · pdfapi.dev, 7 Oct 2026
- Sandbox
- Sandbox requests do not count against the monthly quota; sandbox PDFs are watermarked and automatically purged after one hour. · pdfapi.dev, 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- Free includes community support, Starter standard email support, Pro priority email support, and Scale premium SLA and onboarding. · pdfapi.dev, 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- email, community, docs · pdfapi.dev, 22 Sept 2026
- Templates
- Reusable dashboard templates support Handlebars-style variables, loops, conditionals, and JSON data. · pdfapi.dev, 7 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- The site lists invoices and receipts, contracts and NDAs, financial reports, shipping labels, and tickets as document use cases. · pdfapi.dev, 7 Oct 2026
- Webhooks
- Webhooks notify users when PDFs are generated or deleted and when quota is approaching its limit; authenticity can be checked with the X-PDF-Signature header. · pdfapi.dev, 7 Oct 2026
Where PDF API stands on Freedom251
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