TypeScript PDF Libraries: jsPDF vs PDFKit vs LibPDF

Feb 21, 2026

Purpose

This post compares TypeScript PDF libraries to help you choose the right one for your project.

When I need to generate PDFs in TypeScript, I find myself choosing between three main options: jsPDF, PDFKit, and the newer LibPDF. Each has different strengths depending on where your code runs and how much TypeScript support you need.

Quick Comparison

Library	TypeScript Support	Browser	Node.js	Bundle Size	Active Maint.
jsPDF	✅ DefinitelyTyped	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	~95 KB minzipped	⚠️ Sporadic
PDFKit	✅ DefinitelyTyped	❌ No (needs polyfills)	✅ Yes	N/A (Node-only)	⚠️ Slow updates
LibPDF	✅ Native TypeScript	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	TBD (new)	✅ Very Active

I think the key decision point is your runtime environment. If you’re browser-only, jsPDF works well. For Node.js backends, PDFKit is powerful. If you need universal support with first-class TypeScript, LibPDF is worth considering.

jsPDF: Browser-First Approach

jsPDF started in the 2010s as a browser-focused library. It’s mature and has zero dependencies, making it simple to use for client-side PDF generation.

Here’s how I use jsPDF in a browser project:

import jsPDF from 'jspdf'

const doc = new jsPDF()
doc.text('Hello TypeScript!', 10, 10)
doc.save('document.pdf')

This approach works when I need to generate PDFs directly in the browser without server involvement. The API is straightforward - create a document, add content, save it.

I like jsPDF for these use cases:

Simple browser-based PDF generation
When bundle size matters (~95 KB minzipped)
Legacy codebases already using jsPDF

The TypeScript types come from DefinitelyTyped. They work well enough, but I sometimes miss autocomplete for less common features. The maintenance is sporadic, so I don’t expect rapid bug fixes or new features.

PDFKit: Node.js Power

PDFKit launched in 2012 with a Node.js-first design. It uses streams for efficient PDF generation, making it suitable for large documents on the server.

Here’s how I generate PDFs with PDFKit in Node.js:

import PDFDocument from 'pdfkit'
import fs from 'fs'

const doc = new PDFDocument()
doc.pipe(fs.createWriteStream('output.pdf'))
doc.fontSize(16).text('Hello TypeScript!', 100, 100)
doc.end()

The streaming architecture is powerful. I can pipe the output directly to a file stream, which keeps memory usage low even for large PDFs.

PDFKit shines for:

Node.js-only workflows
Complex document requirements
Very large documents (streaming support)
Advanced features like encryption and digital signatures

The TypeScript types are also from DefinitelyTyped. They’re comprehensive but sometimes lag behind new features. Maintenance is slow - updates happen, but not frequently.

LibPDF: TypeScript-Native Alternative

LibPDF released in 2025 as a TypeScript-first library. It’s designed for modern development with native TypeScript types and async/await patterns.

Here’s how I use LibPDF:

import { PDFDocument, Text, Page } from 'libpdf'

const pdf = new PDFDocument()
pdf.addPage(new Page())
pdf.add(new Text('Hello TypeScript!', { x: 10, y: 10 }))
await pdf.save('document.pdf')

The API feels more ergonomic to me. The type definitions are built-in, so autocomplete works better. The Promise-based approach fits naturally with modern async/await patterns.

LibPDF is interesting for:

TypeScript-first development experience
Universal runtime (works in browser and Node.js)
Modern async/await patterns
Projects willing to adopt newer libraries

Since it’s new, the bundle size and real-world performance are still being measured. But the active development is promising.

Feature Comparison

I compared the three libraries across common PDF generation needs:

Feature	jsPDF	PDFKit	LibPDF
Basic text/shapes	✅	✅	✅
Custom fonts	✅ (limited)	✅	✅
Image embedding	✅	✅	✅
Tables	⚠️ Plugin	⚠️ Manual	TBD
Document merging	❌	❌	TBD
Password protection	❌	✅	TBD
Digital signatures	❌	⚠️ Plugin	TBD
Vector graphics	⚠️ Basic	✅	✅

jsPDF handles the basics well but needs plugins for advanced features. PDFKit supports more features out of the box, especially security-related ones. LibPDF is still building out its feature set.

Environment Considerations

Browser Performance

When I work in the browser, bundle size matters. jsPDF adds ~95 KB minzipped, which is acceptable for most apps. PDFKit isn’t practical in browsers because it needs Node.js polyfills. LibPDF should work, but I don’t have real bundle size data yet.

For browser-based generation, I consider:

Initial page load impact
Worker thread support for non-blocking generation
Memory usage for large documents
Mobile browser compatibility

Node.js Performance

In Node.js, PDFKit’s streaming approach is efficient for large PDFs. I can generate documents without loading everything into memory. LibPDF’s Promise-based approach also works well in Node.js, especially with concurrent generation needs.

jsPDF can run in Node.js but isn’t optimized for it. I only use it there if I need to share code between browser and server.

Universal/Isomorphic Patterns

I find myself needing the same PDF generation code in both browser and Node.js environments. This happens with:

SSR frameworks like Next.js and Remix
Edge functions on Vercel or Cloudflare
Build systems like Vite and Webpack

LibPDF is designed for this universal use case. jsPDF also works universally. PDFKit requires Node.js, so it’s not suitable for isomorphic code.

Real-World Use Cases

I match libraries to specific problems:

Invoice generation (server-side, template-based): PDFKit

Streaming handles large invoices
Security features protect sensitive data
Template-based generation fits the API

Report downloads (browser-triggered, data-driven): jsPDF

Client-side generation avoids server load
Simple API for data-to-PDF conversion
Mature browser support

Document manipulation (merging, splitting, form filling): None of these

These libraries generate, don’t manipulate
I’d need separate tools for that

Certificate generation (batch processing, custom fonts): PDFKit

Streaming handles batch jobs efficiently
Custom font support is robust
Node.js environment suits server-side batch work

Decision Framework

I choose jsPDF when:

I need simple browser-based PDF generation
Bundle size is critical
I’m working with a legacy codebase
I want a stable, battle-tested solution

I choose PDFKit when:

I’m working in Node.js only
I need complex document features
I’m generating very large documents (streaming)
I need advanced features like encryption

I choose LibPDF when:

TypeScript developer experience is my priority
I need universal runtime support
I prefer modern async/await patterns
I’m willing to adopt a newer library

Summary

In this post, I compared three TypeScript PDF libraries: jsPDF, PDFKit, and LibPDF. The key point is choosing based on your runtime environment and TypeScript support needs.

jsPDF remains the pragmatic choice for simple browser needs. PDFKit dominates server-side complex document generation. LibPDF emerges as the first TypeScript-native option with ergonomic API, true universal support, and modern async patterns.

For new TypeScript projects requiring cross-environment support, I would evaluate LibPDF. For legacy browser apps or established Node.js workflows, I’d stick with jsPDF or PDFKit unless specific pain points force a migration.

Final Words + More Resources

My intention with this article was to help others share my knowledge and experience. If you want to contact me, you can contact by email: Email me

Here are also the most important links from this article along with some further resources that will help you in this scope:

👨‍💻 LibPDF GitHub
👨‍💻 jsPDF Documentation
👨‍💻 PDFKit Documentation

Oh, and if you found these resources useful, don’t forget to support me by starring the repo on GitHub!