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PyPDF2 VS PortableSigner

Compare PyPDF2 VS PortableSigner and see what are their differences

PyPDF2 logo PyPDF2

PyPDF2 - A utility to read and write pdfs with Python

PortableSigner logo PortableSigner

PortableSigner is a signing (with X.509 certificates) program for PDF files.
  • PyPDF2 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-30
  • PortableSigner Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-05-08

PyPDF2 features and specs

  • Open Source
    PyPDF2 is an open-source library, making it accessible for developers to use, modify, and contribute to its development without licensing costs.
  • Cross-Platform
    Being a Python library, PyPDF2 is cross-platform and can be used on any system that supports Python, including Windows, MacOS, and Linux.
  • Basic PDF Manipulation
    It allows basic PDF functionalities such as reading, merging, and splitting PDF files, providing a straightforward solution for simple PDF tasks.
  • Lightweight
    PyPDF2 is lightweight and easy to install with minimal dependencies, making it an ideal choice for projects that require a quick PDF solution without the need for a heavy framework.
  • Active Community
    It has an active community and regular updates, which help in improving the library's functionalities and addressing issues.

Possible disadvantages of PyPDF2

  • Limited Advanced Features
    PyPDF2 lacks advanced PDF manipulation features like editing content, handling annotations, and complex form operations, which might limit its use for more sophisticated tasks.
  • Performance
    Handling large PDF files or performing complex operations can be slow and resource-intensive with PyPDF2, which might not be suitable for high-performance applications.
  • Inconsistent Documentation
    While PyPDF2 has official documentation, users often find it lacking detail and examples, which can make it challenging for beginners to use effectively.
  • Limited Support for Encryption
    While it supports basic decryption, PyPDF2 has limited capabilities when it comes to handling encrypted PDFs, which may necessitate additional tools for handling secure documents.
  • Quality of Output
    Some users report issues with the quality of PDFs generated or modified, such as incorrect rendering or loss of content, which can be problematic in cases where precision is crucial.

PortableSigner features and specs

  • Portability
    PortableSigner can be used as a standalone application without the need for installation, making it easy to carry and use on different devices.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, PortableSigner allows users to inspect, modify, and enhance the code, providing greater transparency and customization.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    The application can run on multiple operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux, offering flexibility and accessibility to various users.
  • User-Friendly
    The application offers a straightforward and easy-to-use interface, which makes the digital signing process accessible for non-technical users.
  • Digital Signature Support
    PortableSigner supports standard digital signature formats, ensuring that documents are signed in compliance with industry standards.

Possible disadvantages of PortableSigner

  • Limited Support
    As an open-source project, support may be limited compared to commercial alternatives, leaving users to rely on community forums for help.
  • Feature Set
    The application may lack some advanced features available in proprietary software, such as cloud integration or advanced document management tools.
  • User Experience
    While functional, the user interface may not be as polished or intuitive as some of the more popular commercial digital signing applications.
  • Security Concerns
    As with any open-source software, there may be concerns regarding regular updates and patches, potentially exposing vulnerabilities if not maintained.
  • Documentation
    The availability and comprehensiveness of user documentation may not be as robust as that offered by commercial products, possibly hindering new users.

PyPDF2 videos

Web Scraping : Extract tabular data from PDF with Python - Tabula, Camelot, PyPDF2

PortableSigner videos

No PortableSigner videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PyPDF2 and PortableSigner)
PDF Tools
59 59%
41% 41
Office & Productivity
30 30%
70% 70
PDF Editor
100 100%
0% 0
PDF Creator
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PyPDF2 seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

PyPDF2 mentions (1)

  • How to convert SVGs containing text to a PDF?
    I still haven't needed to do that part in Rust yet, unfortunately. My mother is still using the pypdf-based concatenator I wrote for her years ago. Source: over 2 years ago

PortableSigner mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of PortableSigner yet. Tracking of PortableSigner recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing PyPDF2 and PortableSigner, you can also consider the following products

PDF24 PDF Creator - Create PDF and convert documents to PDF for free with the free PDF24 PDF Creator.

iSafePDF - iSafePDF is a free open source PDF protection software.

Merge PDF (by Smallpdf) - No file limit, no ad watermarks - a free and beautiful tool to combine your PDF files exactly the way you want it.

Foxit PhantomPDF - Edit PDF files with our feature-rich PDF Editor. Download Foxit PDF Editor to convert, sign, scan / OCR & more. A speedy PDF Editor alternative to Adobe Acrobat.

eXPert PDF Reader - eXPert PDF Reader is a free to use PDF reader and views for the Windows operating systems.

Cool PDF Reader - Just like its name Cool PDF Reader, this small PDF reader is a really a cool PDF reader for viewing, reading and editing PDF files for free.