Puppeteer requires you to install Chrome, manage browser instances, and handle crashes yourself. PixDoc gives you the same rendering quality through a single API call with zero infrastructure.
| Feature | PixDoc | Puppeteer |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | API key, one HTTP call | Install Chrome + npm package, launch browser |
| Rendering Engine | Managed Chromium | Self-hosted Chromium |
| CSS Support | Full CSS3, web fonts, flexbox, grid | Full CSS3 (same engine) |
| Scaling | Auto-scales, no server management | Manual: spawn processes, manage memory |
| 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 puppeteer = require("puppeteer");
async function generatePdf(html) {
const browser = await puppeteer.launch({
headless: "new",
args: ["--no-sandbox", "--disable-setuid-sandbox"],
});
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.setContent(html, { waitUntil: "networkidle0" });
const pdf = await page.pdf({ format: "A4", printBackground: true });
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.