HTML2PDF
HTML2PDF is a free, self-hosted PHP library that creates PDF documents from valid HTML 4.01.
What HTML2PDF is
HTML2PDF is a free, self-hosted PHP library that creates PDF documents from valid HTML 4.01. It is intended mainly for table-based business paperwork such as invoices, delivery documents, and other official records. The library uses TCPDF for PDF generation and is installed through Composer. It does not directly convert complete web pages: the maker says input must be specially prepared and must omit the html, head, and body tags. Not every HTML tag is supported. The README requires PHP greater than 7.2, Composer, and the gd and mbstring extensions. The project is distributed under the Open Software License. The homepage lists version 5.3.3, published June 8, 2025. Questions can go to the project forum, while the README also points to GitHub Issues for questions and bug reports. The maker describes HTML2PDF as a free solution for businesses generating PDFs in web applications and states it is not responsible for data loss or hardware damage from program use.
Good
- Free plan at no cost
- Uses TCPDF for PDF generation
- Self-hosted deployment
- Composer installation
- Open Software License
Watch out
- Requires PHP greater than 7.2
- Requires gd and mbstring extensions
- Does not support all HTML tags
- Input must omit html, head, and body tags
Who it suits
It suits businesses and developers building table-based PDF documents in PHP web applications. It is intended for self-hosted use with specially prepared HTML rather than complete webpages.
Verdict
HTML2PDF focuses on generating structured business PDFs from constrained HTML rather than converting webpages. Its free, self-hosted model fits PHP projects that can meet the stated runtime and input requirements.
Plans and prices
From HTML2PDF's own pricing page, checked 5 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| HTML2PDF | Free | Valid HTML 4.01; does not support all tags; requires specially prepared HTML |
The facts
Each one read from HTML2PDF's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Current listed version
- The maker’s homepage lists version 5.3.3, published June 8, 2025.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The project README says to install the library with Composer.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The project README identifies TCPDF as its PDF engine and Composer as its installation method.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The maker describes the library as a free solution for businesses to generate PDFs in web applications.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Intended use
- The library is designed mainly for table based documents such as invoices, delivery documents, and other official documents.checked 5 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is distributed under the Open Software License (OSL).checked 5 Oct 2026
- Not a webpage converter
- The maker says HTML2PDF is for creating PDF files, not directly converting existing HTML pages, and that its input must not use the html, head, or body tags.checked 5 Oct 2026
- PDF engine
- HTML2PDF uses TCPDF for PDF generation.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- HTML2PDF is a PHP library for generating PDF documents from valid HTML 4.01.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Runtime requirements
- The project README specifies PHP greater than 7.2, Composer, and the gd and mbstring PHP extensions.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Security and compliance
- The maker’s homepage states that it cannot be held responsible for data loss or hardware damage resulting from use of its programs.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- The website directs questions to its forum, while the project README directs questions and bug reports to GitHub Issues.checked 5 Oct 2026
