Compare and Choose the Best JavaScript PDF Viewer

 

There are many JavaScript PDF Libraries on the market like open-source PDF library - PDF.JS and commercial library, ComPDFKit. Which one is the best one for your program? Let's look at the following detailed comparison to find a proper one to build a JavaScript PDF Viewer.

 

 

Commercial JS PDF Library Comparison

 

ComPDFKit for Web

 

ComPDFKit for Web provides a comprehensive set of PDF tools from PDF reading, editing, to intelligent document processing. It's easy for developers to integrate due to its cross-platform support and UI. Affordable solutions are also built for small businesses and companies.

 

 

Advantages - Technologies:

• Feature-Rich: ComPDFKit offers a wide range of PDF features, including annotation, form-filling, and collaboration tools. Advanced Features include conversion with AI, OCR, PDF text extraction, table extraction, etc.

• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works across various browsers and devices, ensuring wide accessibility.

• Easy Integration: Seamless integration with comprehensive documentation and examples to help users get started quickly.

• Technology Updates: Continuously updated, with features enhanced by AI, such as data extraction, OCR, and format conversion.

• UI: Provides default UIs for enterprises, speeding up development; also allows for custom UIs tailored to user preferences.

• Performance: High performance with fast PDF rendering and efficient handling of large files.

 

Advantages - Services:

• User-Friendly Demos: Provides demos on different platforms, allowing potential customers to easily experience the performance and capabilities of ComPDFKit.

• Customizability: Extensive customization options allow developers to tailor the viewer to their needs.

• Support: Excellent customer support with quick response times and helpful guidance.

• Cost-Effectiveness: Rich in features and a cost-effective solution, particularly for small businesses or individual developers who benefit from specific discounts.

 

Disadvantages

• Brand Awareness: As a newer brand in the SDK market, ComPDFKit originated from PDF Technologies, Inc., which was initially focused on developing and selling PDF Reader Pro. However, ComPDFKit's technology has been refined and optimized over a decade, making it a mature and comprehensive PDF library.

 

PSPDFKit / Nutrient for Web

 

PSPDFKit / Nutrient for Web is favored for its extensive features and intuitive interface, supported by regular updates and thorough documentation. However, its high cost could be a barrier for small developers, and it faces some performance issues with large documents, impacting user experience.

 

 

Advantages

• Feature-Rich: Offers a broad range of PDF functionalities, including annotation, form filling, and collaboration tools.

• User-Friendly Interface: Features a well-designed interface that provides a smooth user experience.

• Regular Updates: Consistently updates with new features and improvements.

• Comprehensive Documentation: Includes detailed documentation and various example projects.

 

Disadvantages

• Cost: The associated costs can be high for some users, particularly small businesses or independent developers. It may not cater to those with limited budgets.

• Performance: While generally good, some users have reported performance issues with very large documents.

• Limited Customization: For budget-conscious users, additional customization needs might not be met.

 

Apryse / PDFTron

 

@pdftron/webviewer is the product of Apryse/PDFTron company and it excels in handling large PDFs with high performance and supports multiple formats, offering flexibility for document needs. Yet, its complex setup, less intuitive interface, and sometimes slow technical support can be challenging, particularly given its high cost.

 

 

Advantages

• Comprehensive: Provides a range of PDF functionalities, including viewing, editing, and annotation.

• Performance: Known for its efficient and quick rendering, particularly with large documents.

• Versatility: Highly versatile, supporting various file formats beyond PDF.

 

Disadvantages

• Cost: Similar to other premium solutions, the price is relatively high and may not fit all budgets.

• Complexity: Initial setup and configuration can be complex and time-consuming.

• Interface: Some users find the default interface less intuitive compared to other alternatives.

• Updates: Updates may not fully consider existing users, for example, previously purchased licenses may become inactive.

• Technical Support: The support team is not as responsive, with delays in solving issues or some problems remaining unresolved.

Open Source JS PDF Library Comparison

 

For projects requiring high performance, sophisticated features, or strong support for handling complex PDFs, opting for a commercial PDF library is advisable. However, if your goal is simply to display PDFs in web applications, several reliable open-source JavaScript libraries for PDF viewing are available.

 

 

pdf.js

 

 

PDF.js is an open-source JavaScript library developed by Mozilla aimed at rendering PDF files directly in web browsers without the need for additional plugins. It emphasizes providing a seamless PDF reading experience across different platforms.

 

Advantages 

• Highly versatile and comprehensive for handling PDF files directly in the browser.

• Well-supported by Mozilla, with an active community and regular updates.

• Completely free and open-source, suitable for a variety of applications and development frameworks.

• Support partial annotation features in addition to reading.

• Offer plugins.

 

Disadvantages 

• Large package size.

• Performance may be an issue with very complex PDFs, and lacks some features compared to commercial options.

• Limited support for rendering non-standard or more complex PDF structures.

• Users have previously encountered frequent page preview failures in Internet Explorer.

• Allows code modification and redistribution, but is not as flexible as the MIT license.

 

react-pdf

 

 

React-pdf is a library specifically designed to integrate with React applications, allowing developers to render PDFs within their React components. It offers a flexible solution for frontend developers working within the React ecosystem.

 

Advantages 

• Seamless integration with React, ideal for projects built using this library.

• Easy to use with clear documentation, focusing on usability for React developers.

 

Disadvantages 

• Only for React projects.

• Relies on PDF.js, so it shares the same issues present in PDF.js.

• Limited functionality compared to more powerful libraries, often requiring additional plugins for extended features.

• Performance may decline when handling larger or more complex PDF files.

 

pdfmake

 

 

Pdfmake is a versatile PDF creation library in JavaScript that allows programmatic generation of PDF files. It is known for its ability to create complex, styled PDFs programmatically with ease, making it suitable for creating dynamic documents.

 

Advantages 

• Provides server-side PDF generation, suitable for dynamic content creation.

• Highly customizable, supporting complex document structures and styles.

• Supports a broad range of browsers.

 

Disadvantages 

• May be complex to learn for beginners due to its extensive configuration options.

• Performance limitations can occur when creating very large files or complex designs.

 

ng2-pdf-viewer

 

 

Ng2-pdf-viewer is a straightforward Angular component that enables PDF viewing capabilities in Angular applications. It focuses on simplicity and ease of integration within Angular frameworks.

 

Advantages 

• Lightweight and easy to integrate with Angular applications.

• Focuses on efficient rendering and display of PDFs.

 

Disadvantages 

• Limited in advanced features, which may require additional packages for a complete solution.

• Updates and community support may not be as strong compared to larger projects.

 

ngx-extended-pdf-viewer

 

 

Ngx-extended-pdf-viewer is an Angular library that offers extensive features for displaying PDF files in Angular applications. It is valued for its configurability and feature-rich behavior, catering to complex PDF handling needs.

 

Advantages 

• Supports almost all major modern browsers.

• Offers a wealth of features and customization options, particularly suitable for Angular projects.

• Supports extensive PDF functionalities including text selection, annotations, and form processing.

 

Disadvantages 

• Large package size.

• If only basic features are needed, the plethora of functions might seem overwhelming.

• Due to its extensive feature set, the package size is large and may not be ideal for all scenarios.

• Allows code modification and redistribution, but is not as flexible as the MIT license.

 

 

 

FAQ

 

1. How to Create a PDF Viewer with ComPDFKit for Web?

Click for step-to-step documentation and video guides.

 

2. How to Build a JS PDF Viewer with PDF.JS?

Click for detailed Steps and example code.

 

3. Where Can I find a  PDF.JS PDF Viewer Demo?

Here is a PDF.JS PDF Viewer demo.

 

4. How does PDF.js work?  

Developed by Mozilla, PDF.js is an open-source JavaScript library that uses HTML5 and Canvas to render PDFs in the browser. It leverages the browser's built-in graphics and text rendering capabilities, eliminating the need for additional software.

 

5. Can I customize a JavaScript PDF viewer?  

Yes, many libraries allow for customization. Developers can alter the viewer’s user interface, modify toolbar contents, and add functionalities like annotations, bookmarks, and search.

 

6. Are there any limitations to using JavaScript PDF viewers?  

Performance can suffer with large or complex PDFs, and there could be compatibility issues with certain PDF features. Security concerns may arise with client-side rendering, especially with sensitive data.

 

7. Can JavaScript PDF viewers work offline?  

Yes, many can function offline if the necessary resources, such as libraries and PDF files, are available locally, making them ideal for applications requiring offline access.

Conclusion

 

The previously mentioned PDF Viewer libraries serve as popular alternatives to PDF.JS. For those seeking an open-source solution that supports both PDF viewing and annotating, consider using ngx-extended-pdf-viewer. If you're working on a React project, react-pdf is a suitable option. For more comprehensive PDF functionality, ComPDFKit might be the ideal choice.