BCL EasyPDF SDK vs IronPDF: Technical Comparison Guide

HTML to PDF Conversion

Converting HTML content to PDF demonstrates the fundamental API differences.

BCL EasyPDF SDK:

// NuGet: Install-Package BCL.EasyPDF
using BCL.EasyPDF;
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var pdf = new PDFDocument();
        var htmlConverter = new HTMLConverter();
        htmlConverter.ConvertHTML("<h1>Hello World</h1>", pdf);
        pdf.Save("output.pdf");
        pdf.Close();
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package BCL.EasyPDF
using BCL.EasyPDF;
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var pdf = new PDFDocument();
        var htmlConverter = new HTMLConverter();
        htmlConverter.ConvertHTML("<h1>Hello World</h1>", pdf);
        pdf.Save("output.pdf");
        pdf.Close();
    }
}

IronPDF:

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World</h1>");
        pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello World</h1>");
        pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");
    }
}

BCL EasyPDF SDK requires creating a PDFDocument, instantiating a separate HTMLConverter, calling ConvertHTML() to populate the document, then saving and explicitly closing. IronPDF consolidates this into creating a ChromePdfRenderer, calling RenderHtmlAsPdf(), and saving—no explicit close required as PdfDocument implements IDisposable.

For advanced HTML rendering options, explore the HTML to PDF conversion guide.

URL to PDF Conversion

Capturing web pages as PDF documents shows similar pattern differences.

BCL EasyPDF SDK:

// NuGet: Install-Package BCL.EasyPDF
using BCL.EasyPDF;
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var pdf = new PDFDocument();
        var htmlConverter = new HTMLConverter();
        htmlConverter.ConvertURL("https://example.com", pdf);
        pdf.Save("webpage.pdf");
        pdf.Close();
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package BCL.EasyPDF
using BCL.EasyPDF;
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var pdf = new PDFDocument();
        var htmlConverter = new HTMLConverter();
        htmlConverter.ConvertURL("https://example.com", pdf);
        pdf.Save("webpage.pdf");
        pdf.Close();
    }
}

IronPDF:

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://example.com");
        pdf.SaveAs("webpage.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
        var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://example.com");
        pdf.SaveAs("webpage.pdf");
    }
}

BCL EasyPDF SDK uses the same multi-step pattern with HTMLConverter.ConvertURL(). IronPDF's RenderUrlAsPdf() directly returns a PdfDocument ready to save, using the Chromium engine for full CSS3 and JavaScript support.

Learn more about URL rendering in the URL to PDF documentation.

PDF Merging Operations

Combining multiple PDF documents demonstrates different API approaches.

BCL EasyPDF SDK:

// NuGet: Install-Package BCL.EasyPDF
using BCL.EasyPDF;
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var pdf1 = new PDFDocument("document1.pdf");
        var pdf2 = new PDFDocument("document2.pdf");
        pdf1.Append(pdf2);
        pdf1.Save("merged.pdf");
        pdf1.Close();
        pdf2.Close();
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package BCL.EasyPDF
using BCL.EasyPDF;
using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var pdf1 = new PDFDocument("document1.pdf");
        var pdf2 = new PDFDocument("document2.pdf");
        pdf1.Append(pdf2);
        pdf1.Save("merged.pdf");
        pdf1.Close();
        pdf2.Close();
    }
}

IronPDF:

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var pdfs = new List<PdfDocument>
        {
            PdfDocument.FromFile("document1.pdf"),
            PdfDocument.FromFile("document2.pdf")
        };
        var merged = PdfDocument.Merge(pdfs);
        merged.SaveAs("merged.pdf");
    }
}

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var pdfs = new List<PdfDocument>
        {
            PdfDocument.FromFile("document1.pdf"),
            PdfDocument.FromFile("document2.pdf")
        };
        var merged = PdfDocument.Merge(pdfs);
        merged.SaveAs("merged.pdf");
    }
}

BCL EasyPDF SDK uses Append() to modify the first document in place, requiring explicit Close() calls for both documents. IronPDF uses a static PdfDocument.Merge() method that accepts a collection and returns a new merged document, using standard .NET collection patterns.

Explore additional merge operations in the PDF merging documentation.

Core Operations

Configuration Options

Note the timeout difference: BCL EasyPDF SDK uses seconds while IronPDF uses milliseconds.

Page Indexing Difference

A critical difference exists in page indexing:

Platform Support

BCL EasyPDF SDK is Windows-only with no support for Linux, macOS, or containerized environments:

// BCL EasyPDF SDK: Windows-only, requires interactive session
Printer printer = new Printer();
// Error on Linux: Cannot find printer driver
// Error in Docker: Interactive session required

// BCL EasyPDF SDK: Windows-only, requires interactive session
Printer printer = new Printer();
// Error on Linux: Cannot find printer driver
// Error in Docker: Interactive session required

IronPDF runs cross-platform:

// IronPDF: Works on Windows, Linux, macOS, Docker
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
// No printer drivers, no Office, no interactive session needed

// IronPDF: Works on Windows, Linux, macOS, Docker
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html);
// No printer drivers, no Office, no interactive session needed

Installation and Dependencies

BCL EasyPDF SDK requires complex installation:

• MSI installer
• Virtual printer driver installation
• COM interop registration
• Microsoft Office installation for document conversion
• GAC registration

IronPDF uses a single NuGet package:

# BCL EasyPDF SDK: No NuGet package
# Uninstall via Programs and Features or remove DLL references

# IronPDF: Simple NuGet installation
dotnet add package IronPdf

# BCL EasyPDF SDK: No NuGet package
# Uninstall via Programs and Features or remove DLL references

# IronPDF: Simple NuGet installation
dotnet add package IronPdf

Server Deployment

BCL EasyPDF SDK requires interactive Windows sessions, causing issues in server environments:

// BCL EasyPDF SDK: May hang or fail on server
printer.Configuration.TimeOut = 120;
try
{
    printer.RenderHTMLToPDF("<h1>Report</h1>", "report.pdf");
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    // Common errors: printer not found, timeout, session errors
    Console.WriteLine($"Error: {ex.Message}");
}

// BCL EasyPDF SDK: May hang or fail on server
printer.Configuration.TimeOut = 120;
try
{
    printer.RenderHTMLToPDF("<h1>Report</h1>", "report.pdf");
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    // Common errors: printer not found, timeout, session errors
    Console.WriteLine($"Error: {ex.Message}");
}

IronPDF runs headless:

// IronPDF: Works reliably on servers
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
renderer.RenderingOptions.Timeout = 120000;
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Report</h1>");
pdf.SaveAs("report.pdf");
// No printer drivers, no Office, no interactive session!

// IronPDF: Works reliably on servers
var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
renderer.RenderingOptions.Timeout = 120000;
var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Report</h1>");
pdf.SaveAs("report.pdf");
// No printer drivers, no Office, no interactive session!

BCL EasyPDF SDK Strengths

• Familiar Tools: Leverages Microsoft Office formatting capabilities
• Established Methodology: Virtual printer approach with track record for desktop applications
• Document Format Support: Accommodates formats supported by printer drivers
• Office Integration: Deep integration with Microsoft ecosystem

BCL EasyPDF SDK Considerations

• Windows-Only: No support for Linux, macOS, or containers
• Office Required: Must install Office on every server
• Complex Installation: MSI installers, COM interop, GAC registration
• Server Challenges: Requires interactive sessions, frequent timeout and "access denied" errors
• Legacy Dependencies: COM interop creates DLL loading errors and version conflicts
• Limited .NET Core: Struggles with modern .NET environments

IronPDF Strengths

• Cross-Platform: Windows, Linux, macOS, Docker, Kubernetes
• No Dependencies: No Office installation or printer drivers required
• Simple Installation: Single NuGet package
• Server-Ready: Runs headless without interactive sessions
• Modern .NET: Supported for .NET 5/6/7/8/9
• Chromium Engine: Full CSS3, JavaScript, Flexbox, Grid support
• Native Async: Modern async/await patterns
• Extensive Resources: Comprehensive tutorials and documentation

BCL EasyPDF SDK and IronPDF represent fundamentally different approaches to PDF generation in .NET applications. BCL EasyPDF SDK provides a familiar approach for Windows-only environments with deep Office integration, though at the cost of complex deployment requirements and modern platform limitations.

IronPDF offers a modern alternative that eliminates Office dependencies, runs cross-platform, supports containerization, and provides full modern .NET compatibility. For teams requiring server deployment, container support, cross-platform execution, or modern HTML rendering, IronPDF addresses the fundamental deployment challenges inherent in BCL EasyPDF SDK's architecture.

As organizations adopt cloud-native architectures, containerized deployments, and modern .NET versions through 2026, the limitations of Windows-only, Office-dependent solutions become increasingly significant. IronPDF's architecture aligns with these evolving requirements while providing the PDF capabilities modern applications demand.

Start evaluating IronPDF with a free trial and explore the comprehensive documentation to assess fit for your specific requirements.