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Tcpdf VS Aspose.PDF for Java

Compare Tcpdf VS Aspose.PDF for Java and see what are their differences

Tcpdf logo Tcpdf

TCPDF: Open Source PHP Class for generating PDF documents

Aspose.PDF for Java logo Aspose.PDF for Java

Aspose.Pdf is a Java PDF component to create PDF documents without using https://alternativeto.
  • Tcpdf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-04
  • Aspose.PDF for Java Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-22

Tcpdf features and specs

  • Open Source
    TCPDF is an open-source library, which means it is free to use and has a community of developers contributing to its improvement.
  • No External Dependencies
    TCPDF does not rely on any external libraries, making it easier to integrate and manage within projects without worrying about additional dependencies.
  • High Customizability
    The library offers extensive customization options for PDF creation, including layouts, fonts, images, and more.
  • Supports Multiple Languages
    TCPDF has built-in support for several languages, including those with special character sets like Arabic, Chinese, and Cyrillic.
  • Wide Range of Features
    TCPDF includes a wide range of features like barcodes, QR codes, page compression, encryption, and digital signatures.
  • Detailed Documentation
    TCPDF comes with comprehensive and detailed documentation, making it easier for developers to learn and implement its features.

Possible disadvantages of Tcpdf

  • Performance Issues
    For large PDF files or documents with complex layouts, TCPDF can be slower and consume more memory compared to some other PDF libraries.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Due to its rich feature set and flexibility, new users might find it difficult to learn and navigate TCPDF initially.
  • Limited Support for Modern Features
    TCPDF may lack support for some modern and advanced PDF features, such as interactive forms or JavaScript within PDFs.
  • Dated Codebase
    The library has been around for a long time, and some parts of its codebase may not follow modern PHP coding practices, making it less elegant to work with.
  • No Official Support
    Being an open-source project, there is no official customer support, so resolving issues might rely on community assistance.

Aspose.PDF for Java features and specs

  • Comprehensive PDF Manipulation
    Aspose.PDF for Java provides a wide range of features for creating, editing, and converting PDF documents, making it a versatile tool for developers.
  • Platform Independence
    Being a Java library, it runs on any platform with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), offering cross-platform compatibility.
  • No Dependency on Adobe Acrobat
    The library allows developers to manipulate PDFs without relying on Adobe Acrobat or any other third-party software.
  • Robust API Documentation
    Aspose provides extensive documentation and a vast array of code examples, helping developers quickly learn and implement PDF functionalities.
  • Commercial Support
    Subscription to Aspose.PDF for Java includes technical support, ensuring any issues can be addressed by the provider's support team.

Possible disadvantages of Aspose.PDF for Java

  • Costly Licensing
    Aspose.PDF for Java can be expensive, especially for small businesses or individual developers, as it requires purchasing a license for full features.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Given the extensive array of features, new users might find it challenging to master the library without a significant time investment.
  • Performance Overhead
    Complex PDF operations might result in slower performance, especially in comparison to lighter-weight libraries that focus on specific tasks.
  • Limited Open-Source Community
    As a proprietary solution, it lacks the community-driven support and enhancement that open-source alternatives might offer.

Tcpdf videos

Make PDF report in PHP with TCPDF | TCPDF Tutorial #1

Aspose.PDF for Java videos

Migrating your code to Aspose.Pdf for Java 2.5.0 or higher versions

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Tcpdf and Aspose.PDF for Java)
HTML To PDF
46 46%
54% 54
PDF Tools
32 32%
68% 68
PDF Editor
0 0%
100% 100
PDF Conversion API
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Tcpdf seems to be a lot more popular than Aspose.PDF for Java. While we know about 11 links to Tcpdf, we've tracked only 1 mention of Aspose.PDF for Java. 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.

Tcpdf mentions (11)

  • Generating PDF documents in Laravel
    Other popular PDF libraries include TCPDF, FPDF, and Snappy. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • PostScript’s Sudden Death in Sonoma
    TCPDF has full support for rendering an EPS into a PDF. It can be fussy. https://tcpdf.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Python to what?
    Idk what’s the big problem. Maybe it’s just something like https://tcpdf.org ? Using that for years. Source: about 2 years ago
  • pdf generation
    Running a headless browser to render HTML is a resource intensive task. If you only need to generate simple documents, you're better off using a tool that generates PDF directly. In the old days we used FPDF and its successors (TCPDF was the most popular). Both seem to have recent releases. There's also mPDF , that seems to be another child of FPDF. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Create PDF from Excel.
    You may want to look at a PDF library (Python/PHP/Perl/Java, etc.) You can do all you mention with a lot of flexibility. Tcpdf comes immediately to mind, there is also a Python port. If you want to learn a language, I recommend python. Learning how to make a basic program when it is something that you want, and you know what you want is a great way to learn. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

Aspose.PDF for Java mentions (1)

  • Convert HTML (with CSS) to PDF using Java?
    One option is https://products.aspose.com/pdf/java/. Source: almost 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Tcpdf and Aspose.PDF for Java, you can also consider the following products

PDFShift - Convert any HTML documents to high-fidelity PDF using a single POST request

IronPDF - SDK for creating and editing PDFs.

HTML PDF API - Easily generate PDF documents from HTML code with our powerful API

Docotic.Pdf - Docotic.Pdf is a high-performance C# PDF library for .NET. You can use it to create, read, and edit PDF documents in .NET Core, ASP.NET, Windows Forms, WPF, Xamarin, Blazor, Unity, and HoloLense applications.

pdflayer - Free, powerful HTML to PDF API supporting both URL and raw HTML conversion. Unlimited document size, lightning-fast and compatible PHP, Python, Ruby, etc.

Aspose.Pdf for Cloud - Aspose.Pdf for Cloud is a REST API to create, edit & manipulate PDF files.