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I am looking for options to create a PDF from webpages in Firefox, under Windows 8. I have found a ton around, but few appear to satisfy my list of requirements:

  1. Free to use (not just free to try)
  2. Simple to use
  3. Not using an online service
  4. Without bundled software, in particular, those often deemed as adware/spyware.

The best options that I found so far are:

  1. FoxIt PDF reader + Printer, although it "bundles" the reader, from the standpoint of the priner.
  2. Add-on Print pages to pdf. I used it, and I found it pretty decen. But it was removed by the author. EDIT: It might be available here (not tested).

Various notes (may be skipped if avoiding tl;dr):

PS: it would be interesting to know whether the solutions proposed are tested, in particular commenting on requirement 4. For instance, CutePDF is a candidate, but in that case, it would be interesting to know from experience which specific version does not bundle software, or has an option for not installing it which actually works as intended.

PS2: of course, pointing to related questions is welcome. It would be interesting in those cases to know if there are actual solutions to this OP.

PS3: Please, prior to marking this OP as a dupe (which I think it is not), check carefully if my requirements are really the same. Solutions proposed to different questions may be suitable here, but this does not make the OP a dupe.

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  • Presumably by operating offline you mean not using a web conversion - if you are truly offline then there will be not pages for firefox to save. Also which OS may make a difference. Sep 8, 2015 at 5:45
  • @SteveBarnes - 1) Offline: that is what I meant. And you could be truly offline, and have pages already loaded in FF, which you want to print while offline. 2) OS: Windows. I fixed both points for clarity. Thanks. Sep 8, 2015 at 5:50
  • I want to disrecommend PDFCreator. In it's newest version 2.1 it includes thy trial-software PDF Architect and I haven't found an option to not install it along with PDFCreator
    – nixda
    Sep 8, 2015 at 7:06
  • I have just found PDF It!. It is an Add-On, it seems to do the trick, similar to Print pages to pdf. Sep 9, 2015 at 1:34
  • @nixda Did you goto control panel Programs and Features and just uninstall PDF Architect? It is listed. Uninstalling it afterwards is relatively simple.
    – cybernard
    Sep 9, 2015 at 3:03

5 Answers 5

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There are a number of Windows print to pdf drivers for Windows, including:

  • Windows 10 has native support, some might consider the whole OS adware/spyware though, LoL, To activate the feature, simply navigate to the Windows 10 Settings page and click on Devices. When setting privacy you need to set it in settings and in every browser
  • I have used CutePDF writer in the past and it has worked well, been advert and watermark free, (from the main site), but you do need to install GNU Ghostscript again from the main site.
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I use PDFCreator. Basically, it creates a virtual printer to which you send your documents (in your case, a webpage) to "print", and it creates a PDF out of it. It fulfills your requirements.

Note: user @nixda reports (comment on the OP question) that latest versions include unwanted software. Older versions work fine for me. You could give it a try.

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  • Could you please specify which version are you using, which does not have any additional software (e.g., pdfforge toolbar)? Sep 13, 2015 at 3:58
  • It's v1.2.3. I refrained from updating exactly for these reasons.
    – dr_
    Sep 13, 2015 at 13:57
  • I have just launched the installer of 1.2.3. It installs the PDFCreator toolbar (there is no option for not installing), which is sort of spyware. I cancelled installation Sep 14, 2015 at 19:36
  • 1.2.3 is not safe, apparently. Check mywot.com/en/forum/…, and mularien.com/blog/2009/03/24/… Sep 14, 2015 at 19:43
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    Hands on the PDF creator is the best alternative. I have used it for years. there is always an option for not installing the toolbar.. just be attentive while going forward with the installer. Oct 25, 2015 at 12:44
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I have used NovaPDF before and it worked well for my needs. It's on my system now, but I don't use it much.

It's another PDF printer; you didn't say if you wanted a printer or a Firefox extension. I haven't updated it in a really long time, but when I installed it, it did not come with any unwanted extra programs.

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I've been using Bullzip PDF printer for many years. The interface isn't fantastic, but I've had very few problems and at least when I got it, it was free with all the functionality I wanted, and didn't come with any crapware. I'm using version 10.7.0.2277.

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  • Could you please specify which version are you using, which is free from additional software? Sep 13, 2015 at 3:59
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I have just found PDF It!. It is an Add-On, it seems to do the trick, similar to Print pages to pdf. It seems to meet the 4 requirements in the OP.

Cons: As far as I could test, there is no way of generating a pdf with actual text (to copy, e.g.) It is only an image.

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