Yes. It is open source under the MIT license and runs on your own servers (https://gotenberg.dev/, as of Sep 2026). The cost is your time to run, update and monitor it.

When is running Gotenberg yourself the right choice?

When you already run containers and your volume is high, or when documents may not leave your network. pdfrender saves the operating work at lower volume.

Can pdfrender convert Office files like Gotenberg?

No. Gotenberg includes LibreOffice for Office files and Chromium for pages that need JavaScript (https://gotenberg.dev/, as of Sep 2026). pdfrender converts HTML to PDF and nothing else.

pdfrender vs Gotenberg

Gotenberg is a free, MIT-licensed Docker image with Chromium and LibreOffice that you run yourself. pdfrender is a hosted API with no container to run.

Last updated Sep 24, 2026

Gotenberg	Open source (MIT); a Docker image you run yourself; Chromium, LibreOffice, QPDF, pdfcpu and ExifTool; Chromium runs JavaScript (as of Sep 2026)
pdfrender	Hosted API at Hetzner in Nuremberg, Germany; WeasyPrint 70; no JavaScript; 1 credit per render; €20 a month for 10,000 credits

Gotenberg is software you run, pdfrender is a service. Gotenberg packages Chromium and LibreOffice behind an HTTP API in one Docker image, under the MIT license (gotenberg.dev, as of Sep 2026). You keep it updated, size memory for parallel renders and monitor it. pdfrender runs the engine for you behind POST /v1/render.

What each one costs

Gotenberg has no license fee and no fee per render. You pay for the servers and the time to operate them.

pdfrender charges 1 credit per render with an API key, whatever the page count. €20 a month buys 10,000 credits (pricing). Without a key, 10 renders a day are free.

When Gotenberg fits

You already run container infrastructure and render at high volume.
Documents may not leave your network.
You need Chromium for JavaScript and live web pages, or LibreOffice for Office files (gotenberg.dev, as of Sep 2026).

pdfrender runs no JavaScript, loads no URLs and converts no Office files.

When pdfrender fits

You want PDFs without adding a service to your infrastructure.
You want API keys, credits and an MCP server without building them around a renderer.
Your documents are HTML with print CSS, up to 50 pages each.

Paste up to 100 KB of HTML without an account: render it in the free tool.

FAQ

Is Gotenberg free?: Yes. It is open source under the MIT license and runs on your own servers (https://gotenberg.dev/, as of Sep 2026). The cost is your time to run, update and monitor it.
When is running Gotenberg yourself the right choice?: When you already run containers and your volume is high, or when documents may not leave your network. pdfrender saves the operating work at lower volume.
Can pdfrender convert Office files like Gotenberg?: No. Gotenberg includes LibreOffice for Office files and Chromium for pages that need JavaScript (https://gotenberg.dev/, as of Sep 2026). pdfrender converts HTML to PDF and nothing else.