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Gotenberg vs Carbone Document Engine

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
GO Gotenberg API for converting documents to PDF VS CA Carbone Document Engine Template-based report and document generator
FeatureGotenbergCarbone Document Engine
CategoryDocument ManagementOffice Suites
LicenseMITApache-2.0
LanguageGoJavaScript
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM512 MB512 MB
Deploymentdockerdocker, source
GitHub stars★ 12,808★ 2,087
First released20192015
ReplacesAdobe PDF ServicesDocRaptor, Adobe PDF Services

Why pick each one

Choose Gotenberg if…

  • Simple powerful conversion API
  • Easy to integrate
Gotenberg details

Choose Carbone Document Engine if…

  • Released under the Apache-2.0 license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Active community (2.1k GitHub stars)
  • Written in JavaScript
Carbone Document Engine details

Frequently asked questions

Is Gotenberg or Carbone Document Engine better?

Gotenberg is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Carbone Document Engine if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Gotenberg and Carbone Document Engine free and open-source?

Yes. Gotenberg is licensed under MIT and Carbone Document Engine under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Gotenberg and Carbone Document Engine with Docker?

Gotenberg: yes. Carbone Document Engine: yes.

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