wkhtmltopdf
wkhtmltopdf converts HTML pages into PDF files, while wkhtmltoimage renders HTML as images.
What wkhtmltopdf is
wkhtmltopdf converts HTML pages into PDF files, while wkhtmltoimage renders HTML as images. Both command-line tools use the Qt WebKit rendering engine and operate headlessly, without a display service. PDF jobs can combine web pages, a cover page, and a table of contents. Options include page size, orientation, margins, headers and footers, outlines, and grayscale output. The project releases the command-line tools as open source under LGPLv3 and provides a C library with documentation. Downloads document an AWS Lambda package and a Serverless framework example. Stable packages are listed for Windows, macOS, and multiple Linux distributions and architectures. The current stable series is version 0.12.6, released June 11, 2020. The project says Qt 4 has lacked support since 2015 and its WebKit has not been updated since 2012. It warns that untrusted HTML can enable complete server takeover, so supplied HTML and JavaScript should be sanitized.
Good
- Free LGPLv3 command-line tools
- Headless HTML-to-PDF and image rendering
- Combines pages, covers, and contents
- Supports Lambda and Serverless deployment
- C library and documentation provided
Watch out
- Qt 4 unsupported since 2015
- WebKit unchanged since 2012
- Untrusted HTML can compromise servers
- Current stable series dates to 2020
Who it suits
It suits developers needing command-line HTML conversion, image rendering, PDF customization, or library integration across listed systems. Teams processing user-supplied HTML should account for the stated security warning.
Verdict
wkhtmltopdf offers scriptable HTML conversion with extensive PDF layout controls and several deployment paths. Its aging rendering stack and security warning require care when choosing it for current or untrusted workloads.
Plans and prices
From wkhtmltopdf's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| wkhtmltopdf (open source) | Free | LGPLv3 command-line tools and C library · no paid tiers listed |
The facts
Each one read from wkhtmltopdf's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Customization
- The command-line options include page size, orientation, margins, headers and footers, outlines, and grayscale output.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The downloads page documents an AWS Lambda package and an example of using the binaries with the Serverless framework.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The documentation page says the project currently provides auto-generated wkhtmltopdf documentation and C library documentation.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Engine status
- The project status page says Qt 4 has not been supported since 2015 and its WebKit has not been updated since 2012.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Features
- PDF output can combine web pages, cover pages, and a table of contents.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Library
- The project also provides a C library and library documentation.checked 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The project describes its command-line tools as open source under LGPLv3.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- wkhtmltopdf converts HTML pages into PDF, while wkhtmltoimage renders HTML into image formats.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Release status
- The downloads page identifies version 0.12.6, released June 11, 2020, as the current stable series.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Rendering
- The tools use the Qt WebKit rendering engine and run headlessly without a display service.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Security
- The project warns against processing untrusted HTML because it can allow complete takeover of the server, and recommends sanitizing user-supplied HTML and JavaScript.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs users to its mailing list for help and GitHub for issue reports.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Supported systems
- The stable downloads listed include Windows, macOS, and multiple Linux distributions and architectures.checked 9 Oct 2026
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