.NET is a versatile, cross-platform development framework that supports multiple programming languages and runs on Windows, Linux, Android, and Apple operating systems. It provides a unified runtime environment for various languages to operate and interact seamlessly. C# is a popular choice for .NET development, offering simplified development, enhanced code readability, and maintainability. Consequently, developers often use C# to build applications on the .NET framework.
For developers looking to create a Windows PDF viewer and editor in C#, a robust and flexible .NET PDF library is essential to streamline the development process. This article will introduce and compare the leading .NET PDF libraries available for C#, helping you select the best option for your needs.
Considerations for Choosing C# .NET PDF Library
Many developers are still seeking the best C#/ .NET PDF Library, but don't know how to choose the one that appropriately matches your business. In fact, the criteria to select a PDF library is similar to choosing an open source PDF editor. We explore key considerations for selecting the most suitable C# PDF library below, which will simplify your decision-making.
- Features
- Ease of Use
- Performance
- Compatibility
- Community and Support
- Licensing and Cost
- Security
- Performance and Scalability
- Updates and Maintenance
- Third-party Integration
Best Professional C# .NET PDF Library
ComPDFKit
ComPDFKit provides powerful PDF libraries with support for all platforms even cross-platforms. For the server side, ComPDFKit PDF Library for .NET allows building a Windows PDF viewer without relying on any external dependencies. For the client side, ComPDFKit for Windows is compatible with various frameworks including .NET Framework, .NET Core, WPF, UWP, MAUl, and more, and most programming languages such as C#, ASP.NET, ASP.NET Core, VB.NET, C/C++, Python, and Java.
ComPDFKit C# PDF library not only processes PDF files with previews, annotations, signatures, form filling, content editing, data extraction, etc. but also helps developers to seamlessly integrate PDF functions into .NET applications with comprehensive technical documentation and 1v1 technical support. You can directly download and install ComPDFKit PDF SDK for .NET in NuGet or GitHub.
User Scenarios
Comprehensive PDF Features: Developers who need both fundamental and advanced features from annotation to extracting data from PDFs will be satisfied with ComPDFKit .NET PDF Library’s comprehensive functionality.
High Compatibility: So far, ComPDFKit provides WPF SDK that supports Windows 11/ 10/ 8/ 8.1/ 7 and UWP SDK that works with Windows 11/ 10. Meanwhile, it is compatible with Microsoft Surface devices (x86/x64). ComPDFKit PDF library for .NET Core supports all versions of Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Diverse Deployment Options: ComPDFKit C# PDF Library has three deployment options - the offline SDK, online API, and self-hosted Processor. Developers are free to choose based on demands.
Prompt Technical Support: In addition to detailed and well-structured development guides, ComPDFKit's R&D team will help developers via email, Skype, WhatsApp and any other means requested.
Projects with Limited Budgets: It is easy to obtain ComPDFKit’s 30-day free trial license to integrate the .NET PDF Library into your apps. Also, you can sign up for a free ComPDFKit API account to process 1000 files per month. If you are on a budget, it has a community license designed specifically for startups and individual developers.
PDFSharp
PDFSharp is an open source .NET library that easily processes PDF documents under Windows, Linux, Mac, and all other .NET platforms. It supports most fundamental PDF features, such as creating new PDF documents, and modifying, merging, and splitting existing PDF files. With it, developers can use just one source code for drawing on a PDF page as well as in a window or on the printer. Due to PDFSharp's performance limitations for complex operations, it is more suitable for basic tasks.
iTextSharp
iTextSharp now known as iText Core offers both open-source packages and additional commercial extensions, empowering developers to tailor their solutions to their unique needs. It is allowed to develop PDF applications in Windows, Linux, and macOS. In PDF workflow, despite its rich PDF capabilities and flexibility, iText is frequently criticized for its demanding learning curve, verbose and unfriendly code examples, and intricate API, thereby posing usability challenges in contrast to alternatives such as ComPDFKit.
IronPDF
IronPDF is a professional and dedicated C#/ .NET PDF library designed to simplify PDF generation, manipulation, and rendering within .NET applications. Its comprehensive features empower developers to effortlessly and seamlessly integrate PDF functionality into their projects. However, while IronPDF streamlines PDF handling in .NET environments, its licensing costs may pose a constraint for smaller projects or individual developers. Furthermore, some developers may find its learning curve steep, requiring time investment to fully utilize its extensive features.
Syncfusion PDF
Syncfusion's C# PDF Library is high-performance and feature-rich. One notable advantage is its blazing-fast performance is optimized for server environments, ensuring efficiency and low memory usage. The library boasts powerful and comprehensive APIs, granting access to all elements of a PDF document. Extensive documentation, a knowledge base, and sample codes further facilitate easy integration and troubleshooting. Whether you're developing for .NET, Blazor, .NET MAUI, .NET Core, Flutter, WinUI, Xamarin, or UWP, Syncfusion's .NET PDF Framework provides a versatile solution for PDF creation and manipulation.
PSPDFKit
PSPDFKit's GdPicture.NET Library is a cross-platform SDK, encompassing OCR, data extraction, editing, PDF conversion, barcode generation, scanning, and more. With its rich API, developers quickly add PDF, imaging, and intelligent data processing capabilities to any .NET application. No matter which development environment, you can leverage GdPicture.NET SDK to create applications and effortlessly deploy them across different platforms.
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