PDFShift Alternative
PDFShift is a reliable HTML-to-PDF API with headless Chrome rendering and good CSS support. AgentGen covers the same core capability but adds token-based pay-as-you-go pricing, CDN-hosted output, and built-in image generation — making it better suited for AI agent and automation workloads.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | AgentGen | PDFShift |
|---|---|---|
| Rendering engine | Headless Chrome (Chromium) | Headless Chrome (Chromium) |
| Pricing model | Token-based (pay per use) | Monthly subscription |
| Starting cost | $9 for 500 tokens (~250 pages) | $19/month for 250 conversions |
| Unused credits | Never expire | Reset monthly |
| AI-agent ready | ✓ Returns CDN URL | — Returns binary / S3 |
| File hosting | CDN-hosted, 30-day link | Optional S3 storage |
| Free tier | 50 tokens on signup | No free tier |
| Image generation | ✓ HTML → PNG/JPEG/WebP | — PDF only |
The monthly reset problem
PDFShift's subscription model works well if your generation volume is steady and predictable. But most developers and AI agents generate PDFs in spikes — 50 invoices at month-end, then quiet for two weeks. A monthly plan charges you the same whether you use 10% of your credits or 100%.
AgentGen's token model means you buy once and use over time. Tokens never expire. If you buy 500 tokens and only use 200 this month, the other 300 are waiting next month at no extra cost.
Image generation included
AgentGen generates both PDFs and images (PNG, JPEG, WebP) from HTML. If your workflow involves OG images, social cards, or HTML screenshots alongside PDF documents, you use one API and one set of tokens instead of two separate services.
FAQ
Is AgentGen a PDFShift alternative?
Yes. Both AgentGen and PDFShift convert HTML to PDF via headless Chrome. The main differences are pricing model (token-based vs monthly subscription) and that AgentGen is designed for AI agent workflows with CDN-hosted output URLs.
How does AgentGen pricing compare to PDFShift?
PDFShift's base plan is $19/month for 250 conversions. Credits reset monthly — unused conversions are lost. AgentGen charges per use (2 tokens per PDF page, starting at $9 for 500 tokens). Tokens never expire, so you only pay for what you generate.
Does AgentGen use the same rendering engine as PDFShift?
Both use headless Chromium, so HTML/CSS rendering quality is comparable. AgentGen additionally returns a CDN-hosted URL for the generated file, whereas PDFShift returns the PDF binary directly.
Try AgentGen free
50 tokens on signup — no credit card, no subscription.