COMPARISON

Haukcode.DinkToPdf vs IronPDF: Technical Comparison Guide

Published:

When .NET developers look at PDF generation options, Haukcode.DinkToPdf stands out as a continuation of the discontinued DinkToPdf project, which uses the wkhtmltopdf binary. While Haukcode.DinkToPdf offers basic HTML-to-PDF conversion, it carries significant security risks from wkhtmltopdf that will never be fixed due to the project's discontinuation. IronPDF presents a different option: an actively maintained library using a modern Chromium engine with regular security updates.

This comparison reviews both libraries across relevant technical aspects to assist developers and architects in making informed choices for their .NET PDF needs.

Exploring Haukcode.DinkToPdf

Haukcode.DinkToPdf is a continuation of the once-popular DinkToPdf library, built on the now-defunct wkhtmltopdf binary. The library aims to remain compatible with .NET Core while providing HTML-to-PDF conversion. As a continuation of an abandoned project, Haukcode.DinkToPdf has notable limitations.

Haukcode.DinkToPdf uses SynchronizedConverter with PdfTools for conversion. Configuration is managed through HtmlToPdfDocument objects containing GlobalSettings for page options (ColorMode, Orientation, PaperSize, Margins) and ObjectSettings for content (HtmlContent for HTML strings, Page for URLs). The converter.Convert(doc) method returns raw byte[] data.

The library requires platform-specific native binaries: libwkhtmltox.dll (Windows), libwkhtmltox.so (Linux), and libwkhtmltox.dylib (macOS). Thread safety requires using the SynchronizedConverter in a singleton pattern due to wkhtmltopdf limitations.

Exploring IronPDF

IronPDF is an independently developed .NET library that uses a modern Chromium rendering engine. The library is actively maintained with regular updates, professional support, and continuous security patching.

IronPDF uses ChromePdfRenderer as its primary rendering class with configuration through RenderingOptions properties. Methods like RenderHtmlAsPdf() and RenderUrlAsPdf() return PdfDocument objects that can be saved with SaveAs() or accessed as BinaryData. The library is self-contained with no external native binaries required, and it's thread-safe by design without requiring singleton patterns.

The Critical Security Consideration

The most significant difference between these libraries involves security. Haukcode.DinkToPdf inherits CVE-2022-35583, a critical Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability with a CVSS score of 9.8.

CVE-2022-35583 Attack Vectors:

  • Malicious HTML content can make the server fetch internal resources
  • AWS metadata attacks can access http://169.254.169.254 to steal credentials
  • Internal network scanning and access to internal services
  • Local file inclusion via file:// protocol
  • Potential for complete infrastructure takeover

There is no fix for this vulnerability because wkhtmltopdf is abandoned (archived since January 2023, with the last release being 0.12.6 in 2020).

Security AspectHaukcode.DinkToPdfIronPDF
Critical CVEsCVE-2022-35583 (CVSS 9.8, unfixable)Actively patched
Underlying Enginewkhtmltopdf (Qt WebKit ~2015)Chromium (regularly updated)
Project StatusFork of abandoned projectActively developed
Security UpdatesNone expectedRegular releases
SupportCommunity onlyProfessional support

Architecture and Engine Comparison

The fundamental architectural differences affect rendering quality, modern web standards support, and deployment complexity.

AspectHaukcode.DinkToPdfIronPDF
Rendering EngineQt WebKit (~2015)Chromium (current)
HTML5/CSS3LimitedSupported
JavaScriptLimited, insecureFull V8 engine
Native BinariesRequired (platform-specific)Self-contained
Thread SafetyRequires singleton patternThread-safe by design
UpdatesNone expectedRegular releases

Haukcode.DinkToPdf's reliance on the outdated Qt WebKit engine means missing years of security patches and limited support for modern web standards. IronPDF's Chromium engine provides current web standards support with regular updates.

Code Comparison: Common PDF Operations

HTML to PDF Conversion

The most fundamental operation demonstrates the API design differences.

Haukcode.DinkToPdf:

// NuGet: Install-Package DinkToPdf
using DinkToPdf;
using DinkToPdf.Contracts;
using System.IO;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var converter = new SynchronizedConverter(new PdfTools());

        var doc = new HtmlToPdfDocument()
        {
            GlobalSettings = {
                ColorMode = ColorMode.Color,
                Orientation = Orientation.Portrait,
                PaperSize = PaperKind.A4,
            },
            Objects = {
                new ObjectSettings() {
                    HtmlContent = "<html><body><h1>Hello World</h1></body></html>",
                }
            }
        };

        byte[] pdf = converter.Convert(doc);
        File.WriteAllBytes("output.pdf", pdf);
    }
}
// NuGet: Install-Package DinkToPdf
using DinkToPdf;
using DinkToPdf.Contracts;
using System.IO;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var converter = new SynchronizedConverter(new PdfTools());

        var doc = new HtmlToPdfDocument()
        {
            GlobalSettings = {
                ColorMode = ColorMode.Color,
                Orientation = Orientation.Portrait,
                PaperSize = PaperKind.A4,
            },
            Objects = {
                new ObjectSettings() {
                    HtmlContent = "<html><body><h1>Hello World</h1></body></html>",
                }
            }
        };

        byte[] pdf = converter.Convert(doc);
        File.WriteAllBytes("output.pdf", pdf);
    }
}
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IronPDF:

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

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<html><body><h1>Hello World</h1></body></html>");

        pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");
    }
}
// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;
using System.IO;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<html><body><h1>Hello World</h1></body></html>");

        pdf.SaveAs("output.pdf");
    }
}
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Haukcode.DinkToPdf requires creating a SynchronizedConverter with PdfTools, constructing an HtmlToPdfDocument with nested GlobalSettings and ObjectSettings objects, calling Convert() to get raw bytes, then manually writing to disk with File.WriteAllBytes().

IronPDF creates a ChromePdfRenderer, calls RenderHtmlAsPdf() with the HTML string directly, and saves with SaveAs(). The operation is significantly more concise with a modern API design.

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

URL to PDF Conversion

Converting web pages shows the different approaches to handling external content.

Haukcode.DinkToPdf:

// NuGet: Install-Package DinkToPdf
using DinkToPdf;
using DinkToPdf.Contracts;
using System.IO;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var converter = new SynchronizedConverter(new PdfTools());

        var doc = new HtmlToPdfDocument()
        {
            GlobalSettings = {
                ColorMode = ColorMode.Color,
                Orientation = Orientation.Portrait,
                PaperSize = PaperKind.A4,
            },
            Objects = {
                new ObjectSettings() {
                    Page = "https://www.example.com",
                }
            }
        };

        byte[] pdf = converter.Convert(doc);
        File.WriteAllBytes("webpage.pdf", pdf);
    }
}
// NuGet: Install-Package DinkToPdf
using DinkToPdf;
using DinkToPdf.Contracts;
using System.IO;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var converter = new SynchronizedConverter(new PdfTools());

        var doc = new HtmlToPdfDocument()
        {
            GlobalSettings = {
                ColorMode = ColorMode.Color,
                Orientation = Orientation.Portrait,
                PaperSize = PaperKind.A4,
            },
            Objects = {
                new ObjectSettings() {
                    Page = "https://www.example.com",
                }
            }
        };

        byte[] pdf = converter.Convert(doc);
        File.WriteAllBytes("webpage.pdf", pdf);
    }
}
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IronPDF:

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

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

        var pdf = renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf("https://www.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://www.example.com");

        pdf.SaveAs("webpage.pdf");
    }
}
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Haukcode.DinkToPdf uses the same HtmlToPdfDocument structure with ObjectSettings.Page property for URL specification. IronPDF provides a dedicated RenderUrlAsPdf() method that accepts the URL directly—a cleaner API for this specific use case.

Note that URL rendering with Haukcode.DinkToPdf carries the CVE-2022-35583 SSRF vulnerability risk, as malicious URLs or redirects could exploit the server.

Custom Page Settings

Page configuration demonstrates the different configuration models.

Haukcode.DinkToPdf:

// NuGet: Install-Package DinkToPdf
using DinkToPdf;
using DinkToPdf.Contracts;
using System.IO;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var converter = new SynchronizedConverter(new PdfTools());

        var doc = new HtmlToPdfDocument()
        {
            GlobalSettings = {
                ColorMode = ColorMode.Color,
                Orientation = Orientation.Landscape,
                PaperSize = PaperKind.Letter,
                Margins = new MarginSettings() { Top = 10, Bottom = 10, Left = 10, Right = 10 }
            },
            Objects = {
                new ObjectSettings() {
                    HtmlContent = "<html><body><h1>Landscape Document</h1><p>Custom page settings</p></body></html>",
                }
            }
        };

        byte[] pdf = converter.Convert(doc);
        File.WriteAllBytes("landscape.pdf", pdf);
    }
}
// NuGet: Install-Package DinkToPdf
using DinkToPdf;
using DinkToPdf.Contracts;
using System.IO;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var converter = new SynchronizedConverter(new PdfTools());

        var doc = new HtmlToPdfDocument()
        {
            GlobalSettings = {
                ColorMode = ColorMode.Color,
                Orientation = Orientation.Landscape,
                PaperSize = PaperKind.Letter,
                Margins = new MarginSettings() { Top = 10, Bottom = 10, Left = 10, Right = 10 }
            },
            Objects = {
                new ObjectSettings() {
                    HtmlContent = "<html><body><h1>Landscape Document</h1><p>Custom page settings</p></body></html>",
                }
            }
        };

        byte[] pdf = converter.Convert(doc);
        File.WriteAllBytes("landscape.pdf", pdf);
    }
}
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IronPDF:

// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;
using IronPdf.Rendering;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

        renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.Letter;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperOrientation = PdfPaperOrientation.Landscape;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginLeft = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginRight = 10;

        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<html><body><h1>Landscape Document</h1><p>Custom page settings</p></body></html>");

        pdf.SaveAs("landscape.pdf");
    }
}
// NuGet: Install-Package IronPdf
using IronPdf;
using IronPdf.Rendering;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();

        renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperSize = PdfPaperSize.Letter;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.PaperOrientation = PdfPaperOrientation.Landscape;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginTop = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginBottom = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginLeft = 10;
        renderer.RenderingOptions.MarginRight = 10;

        var pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<html><body><h1>Landscape Document</h1><p>Custom page settings</p></body></html>");

        pdf.SaveAs("landscape.pdf");
    }
}
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Haukcode.DinkToPdf configures page settings through GlobalSettings with nested MarginSettings objects. Properties use enums like Orientation.Landscape and PaperKind.Letter.

IronPDF uses RenderingOptions properties directly on the renderer. Properties are set individually (PaperSize, PaperOrientation, MarginTop, etc.) with typed enums (PdfPaperSize.Letter, PdfPaperOrientation.Landscape). Both use millimeters for margin units.

Learn more about rendering configuration in the IronPDF tutorials.

API Mapping Reference

For developers evaluating Haukcode.DinkToPdf migration or comparing capabilities, this mapping shows equivalent operations:

Converter Class Mapping

Haukcode.DinkToPdfIronPDF
SynchronizedConverterChromePdfRenderer
BasicConverterChromePdfRenderer
PdfToolsN/A
IConverterN/A

Document Configuration Mapping

Haukcode.DinkToPdfIronPDF
HtmlToPdfDocumentMethod call
GlobalSettingsRenderingOptions
ObjectSettingsRenderingOptions
converter.Convert(doc)renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf(html)

GlobalSettings Property Mapping

GlobalSettings PropertyIronPDF Property
ColorModeRenderingOptions.GrayScale
OrientationRenderingOptions.PaperOrientation
PaperSizeRenderingOptions.PaperSize
Margins.TopRenderingOptions.MarginTop
Margins.BottomRenderingOptions.MarginBottom
Margins.LeftRenderingOptions.MarginLeft
Margins.RightRenderingOptions.MarginRight

ObjectSettings Property Mapping

ObjectSettings PropertyIronPDF Equivalent
HtmlContentFirst parameter to RenderHtmlAsPdf()
Page (URL)renderer.RenderUrlAsPdf(url)
HeaderSettings.Right = "[page]"TextHeader.RightText = "{page}"

Placeholder Syntax Differences

Header/footer placeholders use different syntax between the libraries:

Haukcode.DinkToPdfIronPDF
[page]{page}
[toPage]{total-pages}
[date]{date}

Thread Safety and Dependency Injection

Haukcode.DinkToPdf requires careful handling due to thread safety limitations inherited from wkhtmltopdf.

Haukcode.DinkToPdf (Singleton Required):

// Startup.cs - MUST be singleton due to thread safety issues
public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
{
    services.AddSingleton(typeof(IConverter), new SynchronizedConverter(new PdfTools()));
}
// Startup.cs - MUST be singleton due to thread safety issues
public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
{
    services.AddSingleton(typeof(IConverter), new SynchronizedConverter(new PdfTools()));
}
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IronPDF (Flexible):

// Startup.cs - Can be singleton or transient (both work)
public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
{
    IronPdf.License.LicenseKey = Configuration["IronPdf:LicenseKey"];
    services.AddSingleton<IPdfService, IronPdfService>();
    // Or services.AddTransient<IPdfService, IronPdfService>() - both are safe!
}
// Startup.cs - Can be singleton or transient (both work)
public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
{
    IronPdf.License.LicenseKey = Configuration["IronPdf:LicenseKey"];
    services.AddSingleton<IPdfService, IronPdfService>();
    // Or services.AddTransient<IPdfService, IronPdfService>() - both are safe!
}
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IronPDF is thread-safe by design, allowing flexible dependency injection patterns without the singleton requirement.

Feature Comparison Summary

FeatureHaukcode.DinkToPdfIronPDF
Source OriginFork of abandoned projectIndependent development
SecurityInherited CVEs from upstream (unfixable)Proactively patched and secure
Community & SupportSmall and sporadicLarge, active, and dedicated
Features & UpdatesLimited and sporadicRegular with active development
Multi-threading SupportRequires singleton patternFully supported and optimized
Native BinariesRequired (platform-specific)Self-contained
HTML5/CSS3LimitedSupported
JavaScriptLimitedFull V8 engine
LicenseMIT (Free)Commercial with free trial

When Teams Consider Moving from Haukcode.DinkToPdf to IronPDF

Development teams evaluate transitioning from Haukcode.DinkToPdf to IronPDF for several reasons:

Critical Security Vulnerabilities: CVE-2022-35583 (SSRF) is a critical vulnerability with CVSS 9.8 that will never be patched. For applications processing user-provided HTML or rendering external URLs, this vulnerability enables AWS credential theft, internal network access, and local file inclusion attacks.

Abandoned Underlying Technology: wkhtmltopdf is abandoned (archived January 2023, last release 2020). Haukcode.DinkToPdf as a continuation cannot address fundamental issues in the underlying technology. The outdated Qt WebKit engine (~2015) misses years of security patches.

Native Binary Management: Haukcode.DinkToPdf requires distributing platform-specific binaries (libwkhtmltox.dll, libwkhtmltox.so, libwkhtmltox.dylib). This complicates deployment, CI/CD pipelines, and containerization. IronPDF is self-contained with no external binaries.

Thread Safety Limitations: The required SynchronizedConverter singleton pattern limits architectural flexibility and can create bottlenecks under load. IronPDF is thread-safe by design, allowing per-request instances.

Modern Web Standards: Limited HTML5/CSS3 support and insecure JavaScript execution restrict rendering capabilities for modern web content. IronPDF's Chromium engine provides current web standards support.

Long-Term Viability: Dependency on abandoned technology creates technical debt that compounds over time. As projects scale toward .NET 10 and C# 14 through 2026, maintaining reliance on unmaintained wkhtmltopdf wrappers becomes increasingly problematic.

Strengths and Considerations

Haukcode.DinkToPdf Strengths

  • Free and Open Source: MIT License with no licensing costs
  • Basic Functionality: Supports fundamental HTML-to-PDF conversion
  • Existing Codebase: Familiar to teams already using DinkToPdf

Haukcode.DinkToPdf Considerations

  • Critical Security Vulnerabilities: CVE-2022-35583 is unfixable
  • Abandoned Technology: Built on discontinued wkhtmltopdf
  • Native Binary Dependency: Platform-specific DLLs required
  • Thread Safety Issues: Singleton pattern required
  • Limited Web Standards: Outdated Qt WebKit engine
  • No Professional Support: Community-only assistance
  • Technical Debt: Dependency on abandoned project compounds risk

IronPDF Strengths

  • Active Security Patching: Regular updates address vulnerabilities
  • Modern Chromium Engine: Current web standards support
  • Self-Contained: No native binary dependencies
  • Thread-Safe Design: Flexible deployment patterns
  • Full HTML5/CSS3/JavaScript: Modern rendering capabilities
  • Professional Support: Dedicated engineering support
  • Comprehensive Resources: Extensive tutorials and documentation

IronPDF Considerations

  • Commercial License: Required for production use

Conclusion

Haukcode.DinkToPdf and IronPDF represent fundamentally different approaches to PDF generation in .NET applications. Haukcode.DinkToPdf, as a continuation of the abandoned DinkToPdf project wrapping the discontinued wkhtmltopdf binary, carries critical security vulnerabilities (CVE-2022-35583) that will never be patched. The library requires native binary distribution, singleton patterns for thread safety, and provides limited modern web standards support.

IronPDF provides an actively maintained alternative with a modern Chromium engine, regular security updates, and thread-safe architecture. The self-contained library eliminates native binary management while providing full HTML5/CSS3/JavaScript support.

As organizations plan for .NET 10, C# 14, and application development through 2026, the choice between maintaining dependency on abandoned technology with critical unfixable vulnerabilities and adopting an actively maintained solution with modern capabilities significantly impacts both security posture and development velocity. Teams requiring secure PDF generation, modern rendering, or simplified deployment will find IronPDF addresses these requirements effectively.

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