Which Open-Source PDF Libraries Are Recently Popular

docs/en/Community-Articles/2026-01-19-Trend-PDF-Libraries-For-CSharp/article.md

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+# Which Open-Source PDF Libraries Are Recently Popular ? A Data-Driven Look At PDF  Converters for .NET
+
+For .NET developers, library selection shouldn't rely on lifetime popularity alone. Two signals better indicate health and future viability: **recent download momentum** (via NuGet usage) and **ongoing GitHub activity** (commits, stars). Libraries with high daily downloads and frequent commits are more likely to stay maintained, secure, and compatible with newer .NET versions.
+
+This article compares some key PDF generation and automation libraries using these metrics from the last ~90 days that I wrote this article.
+
+## Popularity Comparison of  .NET PDF Libraries (*ordered by score*)
+
+| Library | GitHub Stars | Avg Daily NuGet Downloads | Total NuGet Downloads | **Popularity Score** |
+|---------|---------------|-----------------------------|----------------------------|---------------------|
+| **[Microsoft.Playwright](https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-dotnet)** | [2.9k](https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-dotnet) | [23k](https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.Playwright) | 39M | **71/100** |
+| **[QuestPDF](https://github.com/QuestPDF/QuestPDF)** | [13.7k](https://github.com/QuestPDF/QuestPDF) | [8.2k](https://www.nuget.org/packages/QuestPDF) | 15M | **54/100** |
+| **[PDFsharp](https://github.com/empira/PDFsharp)** | [862](https://github.com/empira/PDFsharp) | [9k](https://www.nuget.org/packages/PdfSharp) | 47M | **48/100** |
+| **[iText](https://github.com/itext/itext-dotnet)** | [1.9k](https://github.com/itext/itext-dotnet) | [17.2k](https://www.nuget.org/packages/itext) | 16M | **44/100** |
+| **[PuppeteerSharp](https://github.com/hardkoded/puppeteer-sharp)** | [3.8k](https://github.com/hardkoded/puppeteer-sharp) | [8.7k](https://www.nuget.org/packages/PuppeteerSharp) | 26M | **40/100** |
+
+*Score Calculation: Weighted composite score based on GitHub Stars (30%), Avg Daily NuGet Downloads (40%), and Total NuGet Downloads (30%). All values normalized to 0-100 scale before weighting. Higher score indicates stronger overall momentum.*
+
+## Library-by-Library Analysis
+
+### [PDFsharp](https://docs.pdfsharp.net/)
+
+![pdfsharp](pdfsharp.png)
+
+**NuGet Package:** [PdfSharp](https://www.nuget.org/packages/PdfSharp) | **GitHub Repository:** [empira/PDFsharp](https://github.com/empira/PDFsharp)
+
+**Primary use case:** Code-first PDF generation and manipulation (drawing graphics, text, images, merging, splitting). Not designed for HTML/browser rendering.
+
+**Momentum signal:** **Stable**. High total downloads (47M) with steady daily adoption (~9k/day). Recent commit on January 6, 2026 (2 weeks ago) shows active maintenance. Version 6.2.3 supports .NET 8–10. [GitHub activity](https://github.com/empira/PDFsharp) is consistent, though the repository has a modest star count (862 stars) compared to newer alternatives.
+
+**When to choose it:**
+
+- When you need full control over PDF content via C# APIs
+- For document generation without HTML/CSS dependencies
+- In environments where browser engines are undesirable
+- When working with graphics, vector content, or PDF manipulation workflows
+
+---
+
+### [iText](https://itextpdf.com/)
+
+![iText Logo](itext.jpg)
+
+**NuGet Package:** [itext](https://www.nuget.org/packages/itext/) | **GitHub Repository:** [itext/itext-dotnet](https://github.com/itext/itext-dotnet)
+
+**Primary use case:** Enterprise-grade PDF toolkit supporting generation, manipulation, digital signatures, forms, PDF/A/UA compliance, and HTML-to-PDF via add-ons.
+
+**Momentum signal:** **Growing**. Solid download base (16M total) with healthy daily adoption (~17.2k/day, highest among code-first libraries). Very recent commit on January 18, 2026 (yesterday) shows active maintenance. Strong GitHub community (1.9k stars). The library continues to evolve with new features and .NET compatibility updates. [Repository activity](https://github.com/itext/itext-dotnet) remains strong.
+
+**When to choose it:**
+
+- For advanced PDF features: compliance (PDF/A, PDF/UA), digital signatures, form handling
+- When enterprise licensing and vendor support are acceptable
+- For complex PDF manipulation workflows beyond basic generation
+- When HTML-to-PDF conversion is needed alongside code-based generation
+
+---
+
+### [Microsoft.Playwright](https://playwright.dev/dotnet/)
+
+![Playwright Logo](playwright.png)
+
+**NuGet Package:** [Microsoft.Playwright](https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.Playwright) | **GitHub Repository:** [microsoft/playwright-dotnet](https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-dotnet)
+
+**Primary use case:** Browser automation and rendering. Converts HTML/CSS/JavaScript content to PDF via headless Chromium, WebKit, or Firefox engines.
+
+**Momentum signal:** **Growing**. High download volume (39M total) with strong daily adoption (~23k/day, highest in the comparison). Repository shows active development with last commit on December 3, 2025. Strong Microsoft backing ensures long-term support and compatibility with latest .NET versions. [GitHub repository](https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-dotnet) has solid community engagement (2.9k stars). Growing adoption for web automation and PDF generation from HTML content.
+
+**When to choose it:**
+
+- When rendering HTML/CSS/JavaScript content with browser fidelity is required
+- For dynamic content, SPAs, or web-based templates
+- When PDF generation is part of a broader browser automation workflow
+- When layout accuracy matching real browsers is critical
+
+---
+
+### [PuppeteerSharp](https://www.puppeteersharp.com/)
+
+![PuppeteerSharp Logo](PuppeteerSharp.png)
+
+**NuGet Package:** [PuppeteerSharp](https://www.nuget.org/packages/PuppeteerSharp) | **GitHub Repository:** [hardkoded/puppeteer-sharp](https://github.com/hardkoded/puppeteer-sharp)
+
+**Primary use case:** Similar to Playwright—browser-based rendering via headless Chromium for HTML-to-PDF conversion, screenshots, and automation.
+
+**Momentum signal:** **Stable**. Recent commit on January 12, 2026 (last week) indicates active maintenance. Daily downloads (~8.7k/day) show steady usage, though lower than Playwright's ~23k/day. Total downloads (26M) demonstrate established adoption. [GitHub repository](https://github.com/hardkoded/puppeteer-sharp) has good community interest (3.8k stars), but growth appears slower than Playwright, which has Microsoft backing and broader browser support.
+
+**When to choose it:**
+- When you prefer Puppeteer's API model or have existing Puppeteer (JavaScript) workflows
+- If Playwright's multi-browser approach is unnecessary
+- For Chromium-specific rendering requirements
+- When migrating from Node.js Puppeteer implementations
+
+---
+
+
+
+### [QuestPDF](https://github.com/QuestPDF/QuestPDF)
+
+![QuestPDF Logo](QuestPDF.png)
+
+**NuGet Package:** [QuestPDF](https://www.nuget.org/packages/QuestPDF) | **GitHub Repository:** [QuestPDF/QuestPDF](https://github.com/QuestPDF/QuestPDF)
+
+**Primary use case:** Code-first PDF generation with a fluent, component-based C# API. Designed for reports, invoices, and structured documents without HTML rendering.
+
+**Momentum signal:** **Growing**. Strong download momentum (15M total, ~8.2k/day average) combined with very recent commits (January 18, 2026, yesterday) and highest [GitHub star count](https://github.com/QuestPDF/QuestPDF) (13.7k stars) among all libraries indicates rising adoption. Active development, modern API design, and .NET-native approach contribute to its growth and strong community engagement.
+
+**When to choose it:**
+- When you want expressive, code-driven layout control in C#
+- For reports, invoices, and structured documents defined programmatically
+- When avoiding browser dependencies is important
+- For high-performance document generation in server environments
+- When type safety and maintainable layout code are priorities
+
+
+
+## Which Libraries Are Trending Up Right Now?
+
+Based on the composite Popularity Score calculated from GitHub Stars, daily downloads, and total downloads:
+
+### Code-First PDF Libraries
+
+**[QuestPDF](https://github.com/QuestPDF/QuestPDF)** shows the strongest upward momentum in code-first libraries (Score: 54/100):
+
+- Solid daily downloads (~8.2k/day) with 15M total downloads - [View on NuGet](https://www.nuget.org/packages/QuestPDF)
+- Very recent commits (January 18, 2026, yesterday) - [View on GitHub](https://github.com/QuestPDF/QuestPDF)
+- Highest community engagement (13.7k stars) among all libraries
+- Modern API design attracting new projects
+
+**[iText](https://github.com/itext/itext-dotnet)** shows strong momentum (Score: 44/100):
+
+- Highest daily downloads among code-first libraries (~17.2k/day) - [View on NuGet](https://www.nuget.org/packages/itext)
+- Very recent commits (January 18, 2026, yesterday) - [View on GitHub](https://github.com/itext/itext-dotnet)
+- Strong community (1.9k stars) with 16M total downloads
+- Enterprise-grade features continue to attract adoption
+
+**[PDFsharp](https://github.com/empira/PDFsharp)** remains stable (Score: 48/100):
+
+- Largest total download base (47M) with steady usage (~9k/day) - [View on NuGet](https://www.nuget.org/packages/PdfSharp)
+- Recent maintenance (January 6, 2026, 2 weeks ago) - [View on GitHub](https://github.com/empira/PDFsharp)
+- Mature and reliable, though community engagement (862 stars) is lower than newer alternatives
+
+### HTML / Browser-Based PDF Libraries
+
+**[Microsoft.Playwright (.NET)](https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-dotnet)** is trending strongest:
+
+- Highest daily downloads overall (~23k/day) with 39M total - [View on NuGet](https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.Playwright)
+- Active repository with recent commits (December 3, 2025) - [View on GitHub](https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-dotnet)
+- Microsoft backing ensures long-term support
+- Strong community (2.9k stars) and growing adoption for HTML-based PDF generation
+
+**[PuppeteerSharp](https://github.com/hardkoded/puppeteer-sharp)** is stable but slower-growing:
+- Solid daily downloads (~8.7k/day) with 26M total - [View on NuGet](https://www.nuget.org/packages/PuppeteerSharp)
+- Active maintenance continues (January 12, 2026, last week) - [View on GitHub](https://github.com/hardkoded/puppeteer-sharp)
+- Good community (3.8k stars), though download velocity is lower than Playwright
+- Still viable for Chromium-focused workflows
+
+
+
+## Summary & Recommendations
+
+**For new code-first PDF projects:** **[QuestPDF](https://github.com/QuestPDF/QuestPDF)** offers the strongest community engagement (13.7k stars) and very recent commits, making it an excellent choice for modern projects. [Get it on NuGet](https://www.nuget.org/packages/QuestPDF) | **[iText](https://github.com/itext/itext-dotnet)** has the highest daily download rate (~17.2k/day) among code-first libraries and strong recent activity. [Get it on NuGet](https://www.nuget.org/packages/itext) | **[PDFsharp](https://github.com/empira/PDFsharp)** remains a solid, mature alternative with the largest total download base (47M) if you need lower-level control. [Get it on NuGet](https://www.nuget.org/packages/PdfSharp)
+
+**For HTML-based PDF generation:** **[Microsoft.Playwright](https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-dotnet)** is the clear leader with the highest daily downloads (~23k/day) overall, active development, and broad browser engine support. [Get it on NuGet](https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.Playwright) | **[PuppeteerSharp](https://github.com/hardkoded/puppeteer-sharp)** remains viable with steady usage (~8.7k/day) but shows less growth compared to Playwright. [Get it on NuGet](https://www.nuget.org/packages/PuppeteerSharp)
+
+**For enterprise/advanced features:** **[iText](https://github.com/itext/itext-dotnet)** provides the most comprehensive feature set with strong recent activity and highest code-first download velocity. Licensing should be carefully evaluated for commercial use. [Get it on NuGet](https://www.nuget.org/packages/itext)
+
+---
+
+*Data compiled from GitHub repositories and NuGet.org statistics as of January 19, 2026. Daily download averages reflect recent 90-day periods where available.*
+