Web pages change and disappear. Saving one as a PDF keeps a fixed copy of an article, a policy page, an announcement or a product listing as it looked at that moment. Web Page to PDF fetches a public page from its address, together with its stylesheets and images, and lays it out as PDF pages you can keep, cite or share.
How to use Web Page to PDF
- Enter the full address of a public page, starting with https://.
- Select Save Page as PDF.
- Download the PDF, which is named after the website.
- Check that the content you need is present, especially on sites that load content with JavaScript.
How the page is captured
- Downloaded and rendered: VelloDoc downloads the page from its public address, fetches the stylesheets, images and fonts it references, and renders everything with WeasyPrint.
- Print styles are applied: If the site provides print styles, they're applied, which often removes navigation and advertising and produces a cleaner document.
- Every address is checked: Every resource address is checked before it's fetched, and redirects are checked at each hop as well, so a page can't quietly send the renderer somewhere it shouldn't go.
Pages that won't capture well
- JavaScript-built pages: The renderer doesn't run JavaScript, so pages that build their content in the browser, like many web apps, dashboards and some news sites, may come out empty or incomplete.
- Logins, paywalls and consent walls: Pages behind a login, paywall or consent wall capture the wall instead of the content, because VelloDoc has no access to your browser session.
- Use your browser instead: For those pages, your browser's own print-to-PDF option works better.
- For HTML files you have: For HTML files you already have, use HTML to PDF.
Security and responsible use
- Private addresses are blocked: To stop the tool being used to reach private systems, addresses that resolve to private, loopback, link-local, reserved or other internal network ranges are refused, including when a public page redirects to one. Only http and https addresses are accepted.
- Saving versus republishing: Saving a page for personal reference is common practice, but republishing it can infringe copyright.
- If the file is large: If the resulting file is large, Compress PDF helps, and the format guide covers archival options.
When people use Web Page to PDF
Keeping a copy of terms or policies
Save the terms of service or a refund policy as they stood on the day you agreed to them.
Research and citations
Archive the pages you cite so your sources stay available even if the originals change.
Public notices and announcements
Keep a dated record of a public announcement, price list or planning notice for your files.
Limitations to know
Web Page to PDF doesn't run JavaScript, can't reach pages behind logins or paywalls, and refuses private and internal network addresses. Layout follows the site's print styles where they exist, so the PDF may differ from the screen. WeasyPrint must be installed on the server.
Web Page to PDF: common questions
Why is my PDF blank or missing content?
The page probably builds its content with JavaScript, which isn't run during capture. Use your browser's print-to-PDF function for that page instead.
Can I save a page that needs a login?
No. VelloDoc fetches the page as an anonymous visitor, so it sees the login or paywall screen. Save that page from your own browser.
Why was the address rejected?
Only public http and https addresses are accepted. Addresses that point to private or internal networks, like 192.168.x.x or localhost, are blocked, as are sites whose names can't be resolved.
Are images and styles included?
Yes, when they're publicly reachable. Each one is fetched and checked in the same way as the page itself.