When to use the extension instead of the web tool
The web tool exists because sometimes you just need a PDF, on a device where installing anything is impractical. It is genuinely limited, and being clear about where it stops saves you finding out at a bad moment. Four situations call for the Chrome extension instead.
Takes about 1 min
Steps
You need selectable, searchable text
The web tool produces image-based PDFs. The extension renders through Chrome's native PDF engine, so text stays selectable and links stay clickable.
The page is behind a login
The web tool fetches the URL through a proxy that sees the page as an anonymous visitor. The extension runs in your own logged-in browser, so webmail, dashboards and account pages convert normally.
The page is built with JavaScript
JavaScript doesn't run in the web tool, so JS-driven pages render incompletely. The extension captures your already-rendered tab, so this never arises.
You need to remove ads or control the layout
The web tool has no element removal, no Article Mode, no margin or scale control and no single-page export. The extension has all of them.
Worth knowing
- The web tool has one real advantage: it works on any device with a browser, including phones and machines where you can't install extensions.
- URL fetches carry a soft rate limit. The extension has no limits at all, because there's no server involved.
- Neither tool does OCR, and neither bypasses paywalls.
Questions
What's the main difference between the web tool and the extension?
Output quality and reach. The web tool captures the rendered page as an image, can't see logged-in pages, and doesn't run JavaScript. The extension produces real PDFs with selectable text and working links, converts pages you're signed into, and adds element removal, Article Mode, margins, scale and single-page export.
Why use the web tool at all?
It works anywhere with a browser and needs no install or sign-up. On a phone, a locked-down machine, or someone else's computer, it's the option that exists.