wkhtmltopdf
Simple python wrapper for wkhtmltopdf
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No. The package is abandoned (last release 2011-07-21, repository archived) and targets python 2.5+, which is long out of support. Install only if maintaining legacy Python 2 code already using this package. The system-level dependency burden, high install friction, and lack of maintenance make it unsuitable for new projects.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires system installation of Xvfb, wkhtmltopdf, xfonts-100dpi xfonts-75dpi xfonts-scalable xfonts-cyrillic, and flashplugin-nonfree before the Python package can function.
- High install friction: requires system-level dependencies (Xvfb, wkhtmltopdf, fonts, flashplugin-nonfree) to be installed separately before the Python package can function.
- Package is abandoned since 2011 with no maintenance activity.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD (permissive) — BSD license is permissive and poses no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution.
last release 2011-07-21 (5503 days) · last repo commit 2019-08-07 · 109 stars · archived
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 98,433 downloads/mo, #13,084 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
from wkhtmltopdf import WKHtmlToPdf
wkhtmltopdf = WKHtmlToPdf(
url='http://www.example.com',
output_file='~/example.pdf',
)
wkhtmltopdf.render()- Whether the package works with Python versions beyond 2.5–2.7
- Current compatibility with modern wkhtmltopdf versions and contemporary Linux distributions
- Whether Flash plugin dependency remains relevant or is a legacy artifact
What it is and what it does
python-wkhtmltopdf is a Python wrapper around the wkhtmltopdf command-line utility, which uses a headless WebKit renderer to convert web pages and HTML to PDF. It exposes wkhtmltopdf's rendering capabilities through a Python class and function interface, allowing you to specify a URL or HTML content, configure rendering options like screen_resolution, color_depth, dpi, orientation, and write the resulting PDF to a file.
The package includes optional Flash plugin support and can be used as a class, a function, a command-line tool, or an HTTP API. However, it has been abandoned since 2011 and requires substantial system-level setup: you must install Xvfb, wkhtmltopdf itself, system fonts, and flashplugin-nonfree before the Python package can run. No runtime Python dependencies are declared.
Use it for
- Generate PDFs from live web pages or HTML templates in legacy Python 2 applications
- Batch convert URLs to PDF files with customizable rendering parameters like dpi and orientation
- Render web content with Flash animations to PDF using the flash_plugin option
- Expose PDF generation as an HTTP API endpoint via the built-in API server
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No.
The package is abandoned (last release 2011-07-21, repository archived) and targets python 2.5+, which is long out of support. Install only if maintaining legacy Python 2 code already using this package. The system-level dependency burden, high install friction, and lack of maintenance make it unsuitable for new projects.
Install
wkhtmltopdf on PyPI
Before you install
High install friction: requires system-level dependencies (Xvfb, wkhtmltopdf, fonts, flashplugin-nonfree) to be installed separately before the Python package can function. Package is abandoned since 2011 with no maintenance activity.
Requires system installation of Xvfb, wkhtmltopdf, xfonts-100dpi xfonts-75dpi xfonts-scalable xfonts-cyrillic, and flashplugin-nonfree before the Python package can function.
License in practice
BSD license is permissive and poses no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution.
Quickstart
from wkhtmltopdf import WKHtmlToPdf
wkhtmltopdf = WKHtmlToPdf(
url='http://www.example.com',
output_file='~/example.pdf',
)
wkhtmltopdf.render()Verify before relying
- Whether the package works with Python versions beyond 2.5–2.7
- Current compatibility with modern wkhtmltopdf versions and contemporary Linux distributions
- Whether Flash plugin dependency remains relevant or is a legacy artifact
Package facts
| License | BSD permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 5,503 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | repository archived |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 98,433 / month, #13,084 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonTopic :: Internet :: WWW/HTTP :: Dynamic Content |
Evidence: wkhtmltopdf-0.2-py2.5.egg; wkhtmltopdf-0.2-py2.6.egg; wkhtmltopdf-0.2-py2.7.egg; wkhtmltopdf-0.2.tar.gz
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See also pdfkit · django-wkhtmltopdf · imgkit · fpdf · pdf2image · gh-md-to-html · gotenberg-client · nokap · pypandoc-binary · pypandoc