Which plan includes URL to PDF?

PDF output is included in Basic, Growth and Scale. The Free plan covers PNG, JPEG and WebP; a Free key that asks for format pdf receives a 403 response naming the basic plan.

Can I set page size, orientation or margins in the request?

No. The request has no PDF options, and unknown fields such as pdfOptions are rejected. Every PDF is A4 with 1 cm margins. Your page CSS can still set @page margins, which took precedence in our Chromium tests.

Can I convert an HTML string to PDF?

No. The url field is required. Serve the document from a route in your application, protect it with a short-lived token or cookie, and send that URL.

How do I capture a page that requires login?

Send cookies or headers with the request. Cookies are scoped to the target domain; extra headers are sent with every request the page makes, so prefer cookies when the page loads third-party assets.

Does a failed render use my quota?

No. Only successful captures count toward the monthly allowance. Note that the renderer prints whatever your URL returns, including an error page, so confirm the document exists before you request it.

URL to PDF API: send a link, get an A4 PDF.

Screenshotly opens your page in Chromium, applies your print stylesheet and returns a paginated PDF with selectable text and working links. Use it for invoices, reports and exports your app already renders as HTML.

See plans with PDF output Read the PDF API guide →

PDF from Basic · fixed A4, 1 cm margins · failed captures cost 0

REQUEST

curl --request POST \
  https://screenshotly.app/api/screenshot \
  --header "x-api-key: $SCREENSHOTLY_API_KEY" \
  --header "content-type: application/json" \
  --data '{
    "url": "https://app.example.com/invoices/inv_8f2c/print",
    "format": "pdf",
    "fullPage": true,
    "waitForNetworkIdle": true
  }' \
  --fail --output invoice.pdf

RESPONSE

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Type: application/pdf
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="screenshot-….pdf"
X-Screenshot-Duration: …
X-Screenshot-Size: …

Output contract

What every PDF request returns

The PDF settings are fixed in the renderer, so the same URL produces the same layout every time. The trade-off: there are no paper-size or orientation fields.

Input	A public http(s) URL, up to 2,048 characters	Private networks are rejected. No raw HTML input: host the document on a route you control.
Output	application/pdf	Text stays selectable and searchable; links stay clickable.
Paper	A4 (210 × 297 mm)	Fixed. Letter, Legal and custom sizes are not available.
Margins	1 cm on every side	No API field. In our Chromium tests, an @page margin rule in your CSS took precedence.
Styles	Print media, backgrounds on	Your @media print rules apply, and background colors and images are printed.
Pages	As many as the document needs	Control page breaks with CSS: break-before, break-inside, <thead> repetition.
Delivery	Binary, signed link, async job or webhook	Signed links, jobs and webhooks are on Basic and above; batch submit is Growth and above.

Sample output

A two-page invoice, printed with these settings

Two A4 pages of a sample invoice PDF. The table header repeats at the top of page 2, the totals stay together, and each page has a "Page N of 2" footer. — A fixture invoice with fictional names and amounts, rendered locally on 13 November 2026 with Chrome 157 and the same page.pdf() settings as Screenshotly’s renderer: A4, 1 cm margins, background graphics on, fullPage: true. It was not captured through the production API, which uses a different Chromium build and Linux fonts, so typefaces will differ. The template’s own @page margin replaced the 1 cm default; the repeated header and page numbers come from its CSS. Download the sample PDF · See the template

How it works

A real browser prints your page

1. Load

Chromium opens your URL with the viewport, cookies and headers you send. Add waitForNetworkIdle, waitForSelector or delay for pages that load data late.

2. Print

The page is printed with print CSS to A4 with 1 cm margins and background graphics, across as many pages as it needs.

3. Deliver

The PDF bytes come back in the response. You can also ask for a signed storage link, queue an async job, or receive a signed webhook.

Use cases

Built for documents your app already renders

Invoices and receipts

Print the invoice page your app already renders, behind a short-lived token, and store the exact file you send.

Invoice PDF guide →

Scheduled reports

Queue month-end statements or weekly reports as async jobs with idempotency keys, then email the stored files.

Batch and email guide →

Dashboards and exports

Give users a "Download PDF" button that prints a dedicated print route instead of maintaining a second PDF layout.

PDF API guide →

Page records

Keep a paginated, text-searchable copy of a public page alongside the screenshots you already capture.

Archival guide →

Rendering behavior

What Chromium does to your page when it prints

We rendered test pages with Screenshotly’s exact PDF settings and inspected the output. Print behavior can vary between Chromium versions, so check a capture of your own document.

Breakpoints follow the paper: The printable width is 190 mm, about 718 CSS px. A min-width: 900px media query is false in the PDF even with a 1920 px viewport.
Fixed elements repeat: position: fixed headers and chat widgets print on every page. Hide them in @media print.
Table headers repeat: A real <thead> is repeated at the top of each page a long table spans.
Page numbers come from CSS: The API adds no header or footer. @page margin boxes such as @bottom-center with counter(page) printed in our tests.
Web fonts need fullPage: Font downloads are skipped unless the request sends fullPage: true. Otherwise the next font in your stack is used.
@page size is ignored: Named and custom @page sizes do not change the A4 paper. In our test the landscape keyword still produced A4 landscape.

Tested CSS for each of these is in the CSS print styling guide →

Plans

PDF output starts on Basic

Every paid plan includes PDF output. Plans differ in monthly volume, request rate and the controls that apply to the page before printing.

Plan	Price	Captures	Rate
Basic	$14/mo	2,500 captures / month	40 requests / minute
Growth	$59/mo	12,000 captures / month	80 requests / minute
Scale	$199/mo	50,000 captures / month	200 requests / minute

Growth adds selector hiding, custom JavaScript and batch job submission. The Free plan’s 100 captures cover PNG, JPEG and WebP, so you can test your page before upgrading. Compare plans →

When another tool is the better fit

Choose a dedicated PDF library or service if any of these apply:

You need US Letter, Legal or custom paper sizes.
You need PDF/A, encryption, passwords, form fields or digital signatures from the API.
You want to post an HTML string or template variables instead of a URL.
The page is only reachable on a private network or localhost.
You need narrow formats such as 80 mm thermal receipts.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which plan includes URL to PDF?: PDF output is included in Basic, Growth and Scale. The Free plan covers PNG, JPEG and WebP; a Free key that asks for format pdf receives a 403 response naming the basic plan.
Can I set page size, orientation or margins in the request?: No. The request has no PDF options, and unknown fields such as pdfOptions are rejected. Every PDF is A4 with 1 cm margins. Your page CSS can still set @page margins, which took precedence in our Chromium tests.
Can I convert an HTML string to PDF?: No. The url field is required. Serve the document from a route in your application, protect it with a short-lived token or cookie, and send that URL.
How do I capture a page that requires login?: Send cookies or headers with the request. Cookies are scoped to the target domain; extra headers are sent with every request the page makes, so prefer cookies when the page loads third-party assets.
Does a failed render use my quota?: No. Only successful captures count toward the monthly allowance. Note that the renderer prints whatever your URL returns, including an error page, so confirm the document exists before you request it.