Converting webpages to PDF can be extremely useful for saving and sharing content. A PDF keeps the formatting of a webpage intact while making it easy to print, search, and send to others.
With so many PDF conversion tools out there, it can be tricky to identify the best options for handling webpages. In this comprehensive guide, we will compare 12 top-rated tools to help you find the right fit.
Why Convert Webpages to PDF?
Here are some of the most common reasons people convert webpages to PDFs:
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Archiving content – Save webpages in an unalterable format for future reference. PDFs retain all formatting and don‘t require web access.
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Printing – Print long webpages without getting cut off or having to deal with special print settings.
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Portability – Email, share, and read web content on any device through a compact PDF file.
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Citations/references – Reliably cite unchangeable PDF versions of website content.
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Accessibility – Allow use of screen readers and other assistive technology to access content.
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Focus reading – Avoid distractions from other parts of websites. PDF formats content concisely.
Top 12 Webpage to PDF Converter Tools
1. PDFelement – Best Overall
PDFelement strikes the optimal balance of power, flexibility and ease-of-use. With top-grade conversion accuracy and fast speeds, it handles complex webpages with ease.
Key Features
- Convert entire websites or individual pages
- Retains all formatting, images, hyperlinks
- Batch processing
-Annotations and editing tools - OCR functionality
Pros
- Very accurate conversions
- Preserves CSS styling exceptionally well
- Easy to use drag and drop interface
- Good value for premium features
Cons
- Link conversion can sometimes be hit-or-miss
Pricing
- Free trial available
- One-time payment for perpetual license: $99
2. Adobe Acrobat Pro – Top Premium Pick
The industry standard tool for working with PDFs, Adobe Acrobat Pro provides exceptional formatting accuracy at a premium price.
Key Features
- Pixel-perfect conversions
- Edit and annotate toolsets
- OCR for searchable text
- Built-in security options
Pros
- Extremely accurate rendering
- Smooth integration with other Adobe apps
- Industry leading editor
Cons
- Very expensive
- Overkill for basic conversions
Pricing
- 14-day free trial
- Annual subscription: $180/year
3. SmallPDF – Best Free Tool
Boasting over 25 million users, SmallPDF makes PDF conversion wonderfully simple and reliable – all at no cost.
Key Features
- Drag and drop interface
- Retains images, links and CSS
- 25MB size limit
- No signup required
Pros
- Intuitive design
- Speedy performance
- Completely free with no catches
Cons
- Size caps on uploads
- Lacks batch uploading
Pricing
- 100% free
4. CloudConvert – Best Bulk Processing
Need to handle converting tons of webpage URLs to PDF? CloudConvert was built for efficient bulk processing.
Key Features
- API and webhook support
- Zapier integration
- Convert over 200 file types
- Batch processing
Pros
- Perfect for developers
- Lightning fast speeds
- Scales to handle large volumes
Cons
- Interface not beginner-friendly
- Free tier lacks essential features
Pricing
- Free tier with limitations
- Premium plans: $49+/mo
5. PDFChef – Best Browser Extension
Instantly create PDFs right from your Chrome browser while surfing across the web with PDFChef‘s extension.
Key Features
- Browser integration
- HTML/PPTX to PDF
- Retains all media and CSS
- No account signups
Pros
- Effortless browser conversions
- No uploading needed
- User friendly design
Cons
- Lacks advanced controls
- Occasional stylesheet issues
Pricing
- Completely free
6. Sejda – Best Privacy
Maintain full privacy control over your PDF conversions with Sejda‘s emphasis on data protections.
Key Features
- Files deleted after 2 hours
- Set access passwords
- 256-bit AES encryption
- 50MB free conversions
Pros
- Very strong privacy
- Intuitive web interface
- Good support docs
Cons
- Requires Java
- Strict usage caps
Pricing
- Freemium model
- Plans from $6/month
7. ILovePDF – Best Web App
ILovePDF‘s slick webapp provides instant access to PDF tools without any software installs.
Key Features
- 35+ PDF conversion options
- Drag and drop interface
- Multi-device friendly access
- No signup required
Pros
- Fast, effortless conversions
- Responsive on mobile
- Completely free basic usage
Cons
- Limit of 5 tasks per hour
- Contains ads
Pricing
- 100% free basic
8. Soda PDF – Best Desktop App
Tackle conversions faster directly through Soda‘s sleek desktop interface while saving web content offline.
Key Features
- Chrome extension captures
- Annotate and edit PDFs
- OCR for searchable text
- Desktop and web access
Pros
- Great desktop experience
- Features integration
- Permanent offline access
Cons
- Confusing tier system
- Browser ext. lacks polish
Pricing
- Free triaI
- Web plans from $6/month
- Desktop plans from $40/year
9. PDFBear – Best Free Editing
Alongside effortless PDF conversions, PDFBear provides fantastic free markup and editing capabilities.
Key Features
- Edit and annotate PDFs
- Fill and sign documents
- OCR to make text searchable
- Secure encrypted transfers
Pros
- Robust free editor
- Accurate retention
- Intuitive interface
Cons
- Strict daily task limits
- Contains some ads
Pricing
- 100% free
10. Win2PDF
Retain the full look of complex webpages offline through Win2PDF‘s specialized HTML rendering.
Key Features
- Emulate web browser rendering
- Preserve CSS styling
- Set page breaks intelligently
- SSL/HTTPS site support
Pros
- Excel at complex pages
- Flexible print options
- Free version available
Cons
- Dated interface
- Lacks cloud support
Pricing
- 14-day free trial
- $29.95 flat license fee
11. Print Friendly
Quickly turn standalone web articles into simplified PDF formats while stripping away clutter.
Key Features
- Custom printing options
- Snippet capture mode
- Simplifies page content
- Browser extensions
Pros
- Specialized for articles
- Handy browser integration
- Fast snippet tool
Cons
- Not for full sites
- Heavy branding
Pricing
- Free basic
12. PDFZilla
Tackle PDF conversions in bulk batches for maximum efficiency with PDFZilla.
Key Features
- Schedule conversion batches
- Bulk generate from URLs
- Multithreading speeds
- Handles large volumes
Pros
- Purpose-built for bulk
- Efficient multitasking
- Affordable pricing tiers
Cons
- Very basic interface
- Steep learning curve
Pricing
- 15-day free trial
- Plans from $7/month
Choosing the Best Webpage to PDF Tool
With the wide range of conversion tools available, it‘s important to weigh your unique needs.
Key Evaluation Criteria
- Accuracy – How well does it retain formatting and media?
- Speed – Are conversion times fast enough?
- Usability – Is the interface intuitive or overly complex?
- Features – Does it offer valuable extras like editing tools?
- Pricing – What limits apply to free tiers? How affordable are premium plans?
- Privacy – What data protections and security does it offer?
Also consider your volume needs, platform preferences, and primary use cases.
Top Recommendations
For most users looking to occasionally convert the odd webpage here and there, PDFelement provides the best all-around value. It offers an unbeatable mix of great conversion accuracy, reasonable pricing for its features, and an easy-to-use interface.
Developers or companies needing to automate high-volume PDF conversions should look to CloudConvert or PDFZilla. Both tools specialize in efficiently handling batches of webpage URLs.
Those seeking completely free solutions can turn to SmallPDF or PDFChef‘s Browser Extension for solid performance with generous limits before running into hassles. For maximum privacy, Sejda deletes all data in 2 hours.
Converting Webpages to PDFs – Step-by-Step Tutorial
Let‘s run through a quick example of using PDFelement to turn a webpage into a PDF.
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Copy and paste the URL of the webpage you want to convert into the input field
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Click the blue "Convert Now" button to start the process
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Once finished, you can preview the resulting PDF before downloading
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Download the converted PDF file to your computer
That‘s all there is to it! The process is quick, easy, and produces fantastic looking PDF versions of your webpages.
Tips for Optimizing Webpage to PDF Conversions
Follow these tips to squeeze out the best possible PDF conversions:
- Simplify pages by removing unneeded clutter beforehand
- Use print or reader site modes to strip down layouts
- Check for conversion errors on vital pages
- Split up very long webpages
- Clean up pages with display issues before converting
- Always preview before downloading!
Troubleshooting Common PDF Conversion Problems
Pixelated images – Increase conversion DPI quality setting (if available)
Overrunning content – Set custom page sizes to fit full page width
Missing media – Check allow/block media settings
Styling issues – Try different rendering modes like Firefox/Chrome
Links not working – Enable link and bookmark conversion
Text glitches – Increase OCR quality (may require premium tool)
Conclusion
As you can see, converting webpages to PDF provides tremendous value for archiving, sharing, printing, and carefully reading content.
A huge range of capable conversion tools are available. PDFelement stands out as the best balanced premium option while SmallPDF serves as the top free choice.
Now that you know how to expertly handle turning webpages into PDF files, you can take your digital document workflow to the next level!
