PHP PDF Libraries Compared: DomPDF, TCPDF, mPDF & More

PHP remains the language behind most of the web, and PDF generation is a common task in PHP applications – invoices, reports, certificates, shipping labels. The library you pick affects performance, maintenance cost, and how much CSS/HTML you can reuse. The PHP ecosystem has several approaches: pure PHP HTML to PDF conversion, programmatic document construction, and browser-based rendering. This guide compares the most popular PHP PDF libraries with Packagist download numbers, working code examples, and a side-by-side feature table so you can choose the right fit for your project.
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PHP PDF Libraries: Download Statistics and Popularity Analysis
Packagist download statistics show which PHP PDF libraries developers actually use in production. The installation numbers and GitHub activity below highlight the most trusted options for PHP PDF generation.
PHP PDF Libraries: Total Downloads Comparison
The following table presents download statistics from Packagist.org and GitHub:
| Library | Total Downloads | Dependents | Stars | Forks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DomPDF | 134.5M | 637 | 10.8k ⭐ | 1.8k |
| TCPDF | 82.8M | 487 | 4.4k ⭐ | 1.6k |
| mPDF | 62.6M | 536 | 4.5k ⭐ | 1.1k |
| Snappy | 57.8M | 66 | 4.4k ⭐ | 437 |
| FPDF | 48.7M | 240 | 747 ⭐ | 219 |
Statistics and community metrics shown throughout this guide are current as of June 2025.
Visual Representation of Library Popularity

DomPDF leads by a wide margin, followed by TCPDF and mPDF. Snappy and FPDF hold steady user bases, each taking a different approach to PDF generation in PHP.
Long-Term GitHub Popularity Trends for PHP PDF Libraries

DomPDF grew fastest on GitHub and now has more than double the stars of any competitor. TCPDF, mPDF, and Snappy sit at similar levels, while FPDF tracks lower – consistent with its focus as a lightweight, no-frills library.
Best PHP PDF Generation Libraries: Review with Code Examples
Below you'll find each library with practical examples, feature analysis, and implementation notes.
Download trend charts throughout this section are sourced from pkgtrends.app.
DomPDF

DomPDF is the most downloaded HTML to PDF library in the PHP ecosystem. Written in pure PHP, it renders CSS 2.1–compliant output without external dependencies – a good fit when you want to convert existing HTML templates into PDF documents.
➡️ Key Features:
- Pure PHP implementation with no dependencies on external PDF libraries.
- CSS 2.1 compliance with select CSS3 properties support.
- Complex table support.
- Image support (JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP) with alpha channel.
- Support for international text and special characters out of the box.
- External stylesheet processing via HTTP/FTP.
➡️ Key Constraints:
- No support for modern CSS features (Flexbox, Grid).
- Table rows cannot be split across pages.
- Limited SVG embedding capabilities.
- No JavaScript execution support.
➡️ Installation:
composer require dompdf/dompdf
➡️ HTML to PDF Conversion Example:
- Code
- PDF Preview
<?php
require_once 'vendor/autoload.php';
use Dompdf\Dompdf;
use Dompdf\Options;
function generatePdf() {
// Configure DomPDF options
$options = new Options();
$options->set('defaultFont', 'Helvetica');
$options->set('isHtml5ParserEnabled', true);
// Create new DomPDF instance
$dompdf = new Dompdf($options);
// Define HTML content
$html = <<<HTML
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>DomPDF Example</title>
<style>
body { font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center; padding: 40px 0; }
h1 { color: #dd4526; }
p { font-size: 26px; margin: 25px 0; }
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>PDF Generated with DomPDF</h1>
<p>Why are PHP developers paid the most?</p>
<p><strong>Because they put $ before every variable.</strong></p>
</body>
</html>
HTML;
// Load HTML content
$dompdf->loadHtml($html);
// Set paper size and orientation
$dompdf->setPaper('A4', 'portrait');
// Render the PDF
$dompdf->render();
// Output the PDF to browser
$dompdf->stream('dompdf-example.pdf', ['Attachment' => false]);
}
generatePdf();
?>

Explore our detailed guide: HTML to PDF in PHP Using DomPDF.
TCPDF

TCPDF is a mature pure PHP PDF library with fine-grained control over document creation. It supports digital signatures, barcodes, fillable forms, and PDF/A archival output – features that make it a common choice for enterprise and compliance-heavy applications.
➡️ Key Features:
- Rich PDF feature set including forms and digital signatures.
- Unicode and Right-To-Left language support.
- Advanced typography with font subsetting.
- 1D and 2D barcode generation capabilities.
- XHTML and CSS processing with JavaScript support.
- PDF/A compliance for archival standards.
