Why VeryPDF is the Better Choice Over Print Friendly for Webpage to PDF Conversion
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Tired of messy web-to-PDF conversions? Here’s why developers prefer VeryPDF over Print Friendly for clean, customisable, secure HTML to PDF output.
Every time I hit “Print” on a webpage, something broke.
You know the drill. You’re working on a tight deadline, and you need to save a clean PDF version of a webpage. Maybe it’s for archiving legal records, maybe for sharing a blog post with sponsors, or just creating a slick downloadable version of a webpage. Whatever the reason, you Google “convert webpage to PDF” and hit Print Friendly.
The result? Half the CSS is gone. Fonts look weird. Images vanish like they’ve got stage fright. Worst of all, interactive elements get flattened or worse, broken.
That’s what pushed me to look for a better solutionespecially as a developer who needed control, automation, and flexibility. That’s when I found VeryPDF Webpage to PDF Converter API, and honestly, it changed the game for me.
Why I Ditched Print Friendly (and Never Looked Back)
Print Friendly might be okay for the average user needing a one-off conversion. But when you’re building platforms or workflows that rely on consistent and high-fidelity HTML to PDF conversion, it just doesn’t cut it.
Here’s what I was struggling with using other tools:
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No control over headers/footers.
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Inconsistent rendering (especially on dynamic websites).
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Limited support for modern CSS and JavaScript.
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No automationmanual downloads every time.
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Zero security options (and I’m handling sensitive client data).
I needed a tool that could integrate into my stack, handle bulk tasks, and give me pixel-perfect output every time. That’s when I started using VeryPDF’s HTML to PDF API.
What Makes VeryPDF Stand Out?
Let me break it down. This isn’t your typical “drag-and-drop then pray” tool.
VeryPDF’s API is a developer-grade solution. Think clean RESTful endpoints, fast responses, and smart customisation options. I integrated it into my Node.js app in under an hour. After that, it was all plug-and-play.
Here’s where it blew me away:
1. Chrome-Based Rendering Engine
Forget rendering issues. This beast uses a headless Chrome engine.
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It supports all the modern CSS goodiesflexbox, grid, web fonts.
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Javascript-heavy pages? Handled like a champ.
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No more messing with layout breakage or weird font rendering.
I tested it on a single-page app built in React with Tailwind CSS. Print Friendly couldn’t even see the page properly. VeryPDF? Flawless output.
2. Fully Customisable Output
This was big for me.
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Add headers/footers with variables like
[page]
and[date]
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Inject custom CSS or JavaScript.
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Choose paper size, orientation, marginsdown to the millimetre.
Use case? I had a client that wanted branded reports with timestamps, logos, and formatted footers. We baked it into the PDF output using a simple config. Done and dustedno extra design work.
3. Fast + Scalable
We’re talking PDF generation in under 2 seconds.
Need to convert thousands of web pages in bulk? Queue them with webhooks or run parallel conversions. I once triggered a batch job to generate PDFs of every product page on an e-commerce sitecompleted in minutes.
Compare that to Print Friendly, where you’d be manually converting each page like it’s 2009.
Real-World Use Cases: How I’m Actually Using It
This isn’t just theory. Let me give you some actual scenarios where I’ve deployed VeryPDF’s API.
Archiving Legal Docs
One of my clients needed daily snapshots of contract landing pages for compliance.
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We use a cron job + API call.
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The PDFs are stored directly in their AWS S3 bucket.
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Everything’s encryptedmeeting their HIPAA and GDPR standards.
No manual intervention. No data leaks. Just clean automation.
Creating Shareable Blog PDFs
We work with content marketers who want to share blog posts as downloadable PDFs.
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Using the API, we generate these directly from CMS URLs.
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Headers include the brand logo + URL. Footers carry social handles + page numbers.
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Outputs look sharp on mobile and print.
It’s now a core feature of their content pipeline.
Generating Open Graph Images
Here’s a fun one: We also use VeryPDF to grab webpage screenshots and turn them into social banners.
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Send in the URL + styling parameters.
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Out pops a preview image with the correct OG format.
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It even supports charts, maps, and interactive embeds.
Try doing that with Print Friendly. Spoiler: You can’t.
Data Security That’s Actually Bulletproof
Let’s be real. If you’re dealing with user data, compliance isn’t optional.
With VeryPDF:
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Files aren’t stored unless you choose to.
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128-bit encryption comes standard.
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Fully HIPAA-compliant for healthcare use cases.
I sleep better knowing I’m not risking client info every time I generate a document.
Who Is This For?
If you’re just saving your grandma’s cookie recipe, maybe stick with Print Friendly.
But if you’re:
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A developer automating content workflows
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A legal team archiving web-based contracts
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A SaaS founder who needs to export dashboards as PDFs
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A marketer building shareable PDFs or OG images
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A designer needing full CSS support for printouts
then VeryPDF is your tool.
Why I Recommend It
Honestly, I’d recommend VeryPDF’s Webpage to PDF Converter API to anyone who needs reliable, customisable, secure, and fast HTML to PDF conversion.
I’ve tried a dozen tools. This is the one that actually works the way you’d expectwith developer-first logic and real-world performance.
Click here to try it out for yourself:
https://www.verypdf.com/online/webpage-to-pdf-converter-cloud-api/try-and-buy.html
Start your free trial now and boost your productivity.
Custom Development Services by VeryPDF
Need more than just webpage conversion?
VeryPDF also offers custom-built tools tailored to your environment. Whether you’re on Linux, macOS, Windows, or a server-based system, they’ve got the tech chops to make it work.
Some highlights:
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Development in Python, PHP, C/C++, .NET, JavaScript, and more.
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Creation of virtual printer drivers for formats like PDF, EMF, TIFF, and JPG.
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Advanced API interception for monitoring print jobs and file access.
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OCR tech for scanned PDFs and TIFFs, including table recognition.
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Barcode generation, font embedding, digital signature support, and even DRM protection.
You can also get help with form generators, document viewers, and cloud-based conversion platforms.
Got a specific workflow in mind? Reach out to their team here:
FAQs
1. Can I batch convert multiple webpages to PDFs?
Yes. VeryPDF supports batch processing and concurrency handling. Ideal for large-scale operations.
2. Is my data stored after conversion?
Nope. By default, your data isn’t storedunless you opt into temporary storage.
3. Do I need to create an account to test it?
No account needed. You can test the API with demo access right away.
4. What if I need SDKs for integration?
While there aren’t SDKs, the REST API is simple enough to integrate with any language using HTTP.
5. What happens if I hit my usage limit?
Conversions continue, but you’ll be billed for the extra usage based on your plan’s overage rate.
Keywords
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VeryPDF HTML to PDF API
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Convert webpage to PDF for developers
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Better alternative to Print Friendly
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Automate HTML to PDF conversion
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Secure PDF API for web pages