Rust crate alternatives · data Oct 27, 2026
Alternatives to pdf
Short answerThe closest alternatives to pdf on crates.io data are lopdf (142K real downloads a day), printpdf (19.1K real downloads a day), pdfium-render (14.8K real downloads a day). Of the 3 we list, the most used is lopdf, and 3 shipped a release in the last year. pdf itself gets 763 a day with 17 dependents.
Every alternative we found
| Alternative | Real downloads a day | vs pdf | Dependents | Last release | Why it is listed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lopdf Established | 141,599 | 185.58x | 400 | 6d | keyword "pdf" | compare |
| printpdf Established | 19,068 | 24.99x | 105 | 52d | keyword "pdf" | compare |
| pdfium-render Pulled in | 14,845 | 19.46x | 74 | 51d | keyword "pdf" | compare |
How to choose
- Same job, not the same API. Each line is listed because it shares a crates.io category or keyword with pdf; read its description before you swap.
- More dependents means more answered questions and a smaller chance it disappears.
- Check the last release against how fast you need fixes. For pdf: is it still maintained?
Rules
Alternatives = tracked crates (top 1000 by downloads) that share a specific crates.io category (2 points each) or keyword (3 points each) with pdf, most similar first; its own parts (same name prefix) and crates it depends on or that depend on it are left out, because those are companions, not substitutes. Real downloads = quiet-day median, crates.io data Oct 27, 2026. Built when we find 3 or more.
Up next
The closest alternative: Established and steady. 141,599 real downloads a day.lopdfRust crate. A Rust library for PDF document manipulation. Real use: 142K downloads a day on quiet days; 400 crates depend on it.Read it next →Also worth your time
Art: Nicholas Roerich, Nag Lake (1925). Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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