Playwright is a powerful browser automation framework, but using it for PDF generation means managing browsers, handling concurrency, and building your own API layer. PixDoc handles all of that for you.
| Feature | PixDoc | Playwright |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | API key, one HTTP call | Install browsers + npm package |
| Rendering Engine | Managed Chromium | Chromium, Firefox, or WebKit |
| CSS Support | Full CSS3, web fonts, flexbox, grid | Full CSS3 (same engine) |
| Scaling | Auto-scales, no server management | Manual: manage browser contexts and pools |
| Templates | Built-in template engine with variables | None — build your own |
| Screenshots | Same API, PNG/JPEG/WebP | Supported via page.screenshot() |
| Async / Webhooks | Built-in webhook delivery | DIY queue and callback system |
| Pricing | Flat $29/mo for 5,000 renders | Free, but you pay for servers |
See how much simpler it is to generate a PDF with PixDoc.
const { chromium } = require("playwright");
async function generatePdf(html) {
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const context = await browser.newContext();
const page = await context.newPage();
await page.setContent(html, { waitUntil: "networkidle" });
const pdf = await page.pdf({ format: "A4", printBackground: true });
await context.close();
await browser.close();
return pdf;
}curl -X POST https://pixdoc.dev/api/v1/pdf \
-H "Authorization: Bearer pd_live_..." \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"html": "<h1>Invoice #1042</h1>"}' \
-o invoice.pdfStart generating PDFs, screenshots, and OG images in minutes. No browser management, no infrastructure, no per-document fees.