PDF-API.io is a PDF template API with two editors: a drag and drop designer for non technical users and an HTML and CSS editor for developers. Templates support repeatable table rows, conditional elements, QR codes, barcodes and fillable form fields, and Pro users can upload an existing PDF as the starting point. There is a free plan of 100 PDFs a month and a Zapier integration. It is a simple template API for your own team, which makes it a different offer to PDF Generator API. The comparison below breaks down where each fits.
PDF-API.io pricing vs PDF Generator API
PDF-API.io bills by PDFs per month, from a free plan of 100 to $114/month on its largest Pro tier. PDF Generator API is a document generation platform from €8/month with a 14-day free trial, an embeddable editor, and dedicated or on-premises deployment.
PDF-API.io
Visual and HTML templates · billed per PDF
- Free$0 (100/mo)
- From$18/mo (Basic)
- Scales to$114/mo (Pro)
Free covers 100 PDFs a month, 1 user and 1 template. Basic runs from $18 to $48 a month with 10 templates, QR codes, barcodes and form fields; Pro runs from $54 to $114 a month with teams, unlimited templates, PDF upload and webhooks. Yearly billing gives 2 months free, paid plans have a 7 day trial, and generation stops at the monthly limit until the next month. The API is synchronous at 60 requests a minute, with Zapier as the only listed integration and email support. There are no SDKs, signature fields (listed as coming soon), embeddable editor, ISO 27001 certification, or dedicated and on premises option.
PDF Generator API
Cloud plans · billed by credits · 14-day free trial
- Individualfrom €8/mo
- Teamfrom €52/mo
- Scales to250k credits/mo
Individual starts at 50 credits and 5 templates; Team starts at 1,000 credits, 25 templates and 10 workspaces, with unlimited templates and the embedded editor on higher tiers. Every plan includes a 14-day free trial, and on-premises deployment is available on request.
PDF-API.io alternative: which one fits
PDF-API.io keeps template work simple: a drag and drop designer and an HTML editor side by side, repeatable rows and conditional elements, QR codes, barcodes, fillable text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons and dropdowns, and on Pro an existing PDF as the starting layout. A merge endpoint renders several templates into one PDF in a single call, Pro adds team roles and webhooks, and the free plan of 100 PDFs a month lets you test without a card. It fits small teams and no code users who generate a moderate volume of PDFs through the API or Zapier. It has no SDKs and no async generation, signatures are still announced, and it lists no security certification or hosting region beyond GDPR and Swiss data protection law in its privacy policy.
PDF Generator API starts at a higher entry price and adds what a product team or a regulated buyer asks for: a drag and drop embeddable editor your own customers use in their own workspace, signature fields and document signing, web forms that collect data, async and batch generation, XRechnung and Factur-X electronic invoices, 8 official SDKs, integrations with Zapier, Make and n8n, ISO 27001 certification with GDPR and HIPAA compliance, shared cloud in the US, EU, UK and Australia, and dedicated or on premises deployment. To compare, rebuild one of your PDF-API.io templates during the free trial and send it the same JSON.
PDF-API.io vs PDF Generator API: FAQ
Is PDF-API.io cheaper than PDF Generator API?
At the entry level, yes. PDF-API.io has a free plan of 100 PDFs a month, Basic from $18 a month and Pro from $54 to $114 a month, with 2 months free on yearly billing. PDF Generator API starts at €8 a month for 50 credits and €52 for 1,000, where one credit covers a document of up to 5 pages, and scales to 250,000 credits a month. PDF-API.io stops generating when you reach your monthly limit, so check the volume you need against its largest tier.
What is the best PDF-API.io alternative?
For another template API with a visual editor, PDFMonkey and APITemplate.io are the closest. If your own customers need to edit templates inside your product, or you need signature fields, async generation, SDKs, ISO 27001, or dedicated or on premises hosting, PDF Generator API covers those.
Does PDF-API.io support e-signatures?
Not yet. PDF-API.io lists digital signatures as coming soon on its Pro plan. PDF Generator API includes signature fields in templates and embeddable document signing, so you can generate a contract and collect the signature in the same flow.
Comparing more tools? See PDFMonkey vs PDF Generator API and APITemplate.io vs PDF Generator API, or all comparisons. Last updated: October 2026.