VeryPDF vs DocRaptor: Which API Handles Responsive Web Design Better in PDF Output
Meta Description:
Struggling with responsive design in PDF exports? I compared VeryPDF and DocRaptorhere's who wins for devs who care about CSS fidelity.
Every developer who's ever tried to convert a responsive web page into a clean, branded PDF knows this pain.
That moment when your pixel-perfect design looks like it fell down the stairs after conversion.
The CSS breaks.
Your grid layout turns into chaos.
And the footer? Gone.
I've been there.
I was working on a marketing dashboard that pulled in real-time data, visualised with charts, and needed to be exported to PDF for weekly exec reports.
DocRaptor was my first pickit's a solid option. But things got messy when flexbox layouts and custom fonts came into play.
So I decided to test VeryPDF Webpage to PDF Converter API side by side with DocRaptor.
Let's break down what I found, what features stood out, and why I ended up switching entirely to VeryPDF for responsive PDF generation.
Why I Gave VeryPDF a Shot
I stumbled onto VeryPDF after a colleague casually mentioned it in a Slack thread.
They said, "It nails responsive layouts without needing a bunch of CSS overrides."
That was enough to catch my interest.
So I signed up (without even needing to make an account, which is a plus), plugged in one of our dashboard URLs, and ran a few test conversions using the VeryPDF Webpage to PDF Converter API.
Results?
Honestly, shocked by how well it handled CSS.
Let's dive into what makes this tool click.
Who This Tool is Built For
If you're:
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A dev shipping PDF exports from web apps
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Running a SaaS platform that sends visual reports to clients
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Working with dashboards, CRMs, or CMS-generated pages
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Managing responsive UIs that must look good in PDF
Then VeryPDF is built for you.
Whether you're generating invoices, performance reports, Open Graph images for social sharing, or even just grabbing clean screenshots of sites, this thing is tight.
3 Reasons I Switched from DocRaptor to VeryPDF
1. CSS Support That Just Works
DocRaptor has decent CSS compatibilitybut it trips up on newer CSS features.
When I tested a layout using Tailwind + custom flex grids, DocRaptor butchered it.
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Fonts were off
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Divs floated weirdly
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Media queries? Half-respected
With VeryPDF, I didn't need to write a single override.
It supported:
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Flexbox
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Grid
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Custom web fonts
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Media queries for mobile layouts
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Even animations (though PDF doesn't animate, the layout logic respected them)
I ran the same page through both APIs.
DocRaptor gave me 7/10 fidelity.
VeryPDF? Solid 9.8/10.
2. Performance That Actually Scales
Let's talk speed.
VeryPDF renders HTML to PDF in under 2 seconds.
That's fast enough to power real-time exports in a SaaS app.
Even better:
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Supports parallel conversion I ran batch jobs with over 1,000 PDFs
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Includes webhooks so I could trigger automation post-conversion
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Doesn't choke on high-load spikes
DocRaptor has queues.
VeryPDF? Doesn't sweat it.
We're now integrating it into our CI/CD pipeline to auto-generate release notes and team changelogs as PDFs.
3. Customisation Options that Don't Suck
Here's what made me say "yes" to VeryPDF permanently:
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Add custom headers and footers (with live data like time/date/page number)
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Inject custom JS or CSS during the render
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Choose paper size, margin control, orientation
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Fully secure with 128-bit encryption
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No file storage unless you choose to enable it
Bonus: The API integrates with AWS S3 if you want to push final docs directly to your bucket.
No extra work. One API call.
Real-World Use Cases
This API is not just for devs doing basic webpage-to-PDF stuff. I've used it in:
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Invoice generation from Stripe + custom HTML templates
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Creating Open Graph banners automatically for new blog posts
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Capturing weekly web app dashboards with D3.js charts
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Archiving legal docs with time-stamped headers
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Screenshotting entire sites in grayscale mode for branding reviews
And because it uses a Chrome-based rendering engine, what you see in your browser is exactly what gets output in the PDF.
The Downsides?
No tool's perfect.
Here's what tripped me up:
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No SDKs You need to hit the RESTful API manually (but honestly, it's easy)
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Documentation could use a polish (some advanced features took trial and error)
But I'd take that over getting stuck with outdated render tech any day.
Verdict: Who Wins? VeryPDF or DocRaptor?
If you care about responsive design, CSS fidelity, and speed VeryPDF wins.
It's leaner, faster, more accurate, and the level of control you get is unmatched.
DocRaptor's fine for static, basic layouts.
But if you're dealing with dynamic UIs, charts, frameworks like Tailwind or Bootstrap skip the hassle.
VeryPDF made our weekly reporting workflows way smoother.
PDFs now look like the actual website, not some weird printer-friendly Frankenstein version.
Want to Try It Out?
I'd highly recommend this to anyone who deals with modern web UIs and needs accurate PDF output.
Start your free trial now and boost your productivity:
Click here to try it out for yourself
Need a Custom PDF Solution?
If you've got unique technical needs, VeryPDF can help build a tailor-made solution.
They offer custom development services across Linux, macOS, Windows, and cloud systems.
They can build:
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Custom Windows Virtual Printer Drivers that generate PDFs, EMFs, PCLs, etc.
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Hook layers for API interception and file monitoring
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OCR-based tools for scanned PDFs and TIFFs
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Barcode readers, layout analysers, and secure document systems
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Tools for printing, PDF protection, watermarking, and image processing
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High-performance tools built with C++, .NET, Python, PHP, JavaScript, and more
Reach out and explain your project via the VeryPDF Support Center. They'll hook you up.
FAQs
1. Can I use VeryPDF without creating an account?
Yes, you can run conversions without signing up. Simple and frictionless.
2. Is VeryPDF faster than DocRaptor?
Yes. VeryPDF routinely converts documents in under 2 seconds and supports parallel jobs.
3. Does it support batch HTML to PDF conversions?
Absolutely. Schedule and run bulk conversions using the API with ease.
4. Will my data be stored after conversion?
No, unless you enable optional storage. VeryPDF prioritises privacy and is HIPAA compliant.
5. Can I cancel or change my plan later?
Yep. Manage your subscription directly from the dashboard. Cancel or upgrade any time.
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