# Zapier integration

Call pdf-mcp from a [Zapier](https://zapier.com) Zap with Webhooks by Zapier. The same setup works for invoices, reports, certificates, and other HTML-based documents.

## What Zapier does

Zapier connects more than 5,000 apps without code. A Zap can call pdf-mcp to:

- Generate PDFs when form responses are submitted
- Create invoices automatically from payment events
- Produce reports when spreadsheet rows are added
- Convert HTML templates to PDFs in any Zap

---

## Before you start

1. A Zapier account (Free or paid plan)
2. A pdf-mcp account with an API key ([Get your API key](https://pdf-mcp.io/docs/quick-start))
3. Basic familiarity with Zapier Zaps

---

## Quick setup

### Step 1: Create a Zap

1. Log into [zapier.com](https://zapier.com) and click **Create Zap**
2. Set up your trigger (the event that starts the Zap)
3. Add an action step and search for **Webhooks by Zapier**

### Step 2: Configure the webhook action

1. Select **Webhooks by Zapier** as your action app
2. Choose **POST** as the action event
3. Click **Continue** to configure the webhook

### Step 3: Set up the request

Configure the webhook with these settings:

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| URL | `https://api.pdf-mcp.io/htmlToPdf` |
| Payload Type | `json` |
| Data | Your HTML content (see below) |
| Headers | `Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY` |
| Headers | `Content-Type: application/json` |

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with your actual API key from the dashboard.

---

## Webhook settings

### Basic settings

| Setting | Value |
|---------|-------|
| URL | `https://api.pdf-mcp.io/htmlToPdf` |
| Payload Type | `json` |

### Headers

Add these headers to authenticate and specify content type:

| Header | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Authorization | `Bearer YOUR_API_KEY` |
| Content-Type | `application/json` |

### Data fields

Configure the JSON payload with these fields:

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| html | Your HTML content or mapped field from trigger |
| filename | `document.pdf` or dynamic filename |
| css | Optional CSS styles |

---

## Configure the webhook

### 1. Add the webhook action

After your trigger, click the **+** button and search for "Webhooks by Zapier":

1. Select **Webhooks by Zapier**
2. Choose **POST** as the event
3. Click **Continue**

### 2. Configure the URL

Enter the pdf-mcp API endpoint:

```
https://api.pdf-mcp.io/htmlToPdf
```

### 3. Set the payload type

Select **json** from the dropdown.

### 4. Add data fields

Add the required fields:

**Field 1:**
- Key: `html`
- Value: Your HTML content (can be static or dynamic from trigger)

**Field 2 (optional):**
- Key: `filename`
- Value: `document.pdf` (or use dynamic data)

**Field 3 (optional):**
- Key: `css`
- Value: `@page { size: A4; margin: 2cm; }`

### 5. Configure headers

Add two headers:

**Header 1:**
- Key: `Authorization`
- Value: `Bearer YOUR_API_KEY`

**Header 2:**
- Key: `Content-Type`
- Value: `application/json`

### 6. Test the webhook

Select **Test step**. A successful request returns the PDF data.

---

## Dynamic HTML with Zapier fields

Use Zapier's field mapping to create dynamic PDFs from your trigger data.

### Form response example

If your trigger is a form submission (Google Forms, Typeform, etc.), map the fields:

**Data field `html`:**
```html
<h1>Form Submission</h1>
<p><strong>Name:</strong> {{Name}}</p>
<p><strong>Email:</strong> {{Email}}</p>
<p><strong>Message:</strong> {{Message}}</p>
<p><em>Submitted on {{Date}}</em></p>
```

Replace `{{Name}}`, `{{Email}}`, etc. with the actual field mappings from your trigger by clicking in the value field and selecting from the dropdown.

### Payment invoice example

If your trigger is Stripe or PayPal:

**Data field `html`:**
```html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head><title>Invoice</title></head>
<body>
  <h1>Invoice #{{Invoice Number}}</h1>
  <p>Customer: {{Customer Name}}</p>
  <p>Email: {{Customer Email}}</p>
  <table style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse;">
    <tr style="background:#f0f0f0;">
      <th style="border:1px solid #ddd; padding:8px;">Description</th>
      <th style="border:1px solid #ddd; padding:8px;">Amount</th>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td style="border:1px solid #ddd; padding:8px;">{{Product Name}}</td>
      <td style="border:1px solid #ddd; padding:8px;">${{Amount}}</td>
    </tr>
  </table>
  <p><strong>Total: ${{Amount}}</strong></p>
</body>
</html>
```

**Data field `filename`:**
```
invoice-{{Invoice Number}}.pdf
```

---

## Zap examples

### 1. Google Form to PDF receipt

```
[Google Forms: New Response] → [Webhooks: POST to pdf-mcp] → [Gmail: Send Email with Attachment]
```

**Trigger:** Google Forms - New Form Response
**Action 1:** Webhooks by Zapier - POST with form data as HTML
**Action 2:** Gmail - Send Email, attach the PDF from webhook response

### 2. Stripe payment to invoice PDF

```
[Stripe: New Payment] → [Webhooks: POST to pdf-mcp] → [Dropbox: Upload File]
```

**Trigger:** Stripe - New Payment
**Action 1:** Webhooks by Zapier - POST with invoice HTML
**Action 2:** Dropbox - Upload File with PDF data

### 3. Google Sheets to certificate

```
[Google Sheets: New Row] → [Webhooks: POST to pdf-mcp] → [Email: Send Certificate]
```

**Trigger:** Google Sheets - New Spreadsheet Row
**Action 1:** Webhooks by Zapier - Generate certificate PDF
**Action 2:** Send certificate via email

### 4. Airtable record to report

```
[Airtable: New Record] → [Webhooks: POST to pdf-mcp] → [Google Drive: Upload File]
```

**Trigger:** Airtable - New Record
**Action 1:** Webhooks by Zapier - Generate report PDF
**Action 2:** Google Drive - Upload to specific folder

---

## API endpoints

Configure your webhook with these endpoints:

| Endpoint | Method | Description |
|----------|--------|-------------|
| `/htmlToPdf` | POST | Convert HTML to PDF |
| `/textToPdf` | POST | Convert plain text to PDF |
| `/imageToPdf` | POST | Convert images to PDF |
| `/pdfToImage` | POST | Convert PDF pages to images |
| `/extractText` | POST | Extract text from PDF |
| `/extractPages` | POST | Extract specific pages |
| `/mergePdfs` | POST | Combine multiple PDFs |
| `/pageCount` | POST | Get PDF page count |

See the [API reference](https://pdf-mcp.io/docs/api-reference) for request and response details.

---

## cURL examples

Test the API directly before configuring Zapier:

### Basic HTML to PDF request

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.pdf-mcp.io/htmlToPdf \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "html": "<h1>Hello, World!</h1><p>Generated from Zapier workflow.</p>"
  }' \
  --output document.pdf
```

### Styled invoice

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.pdf-mcp.io/htmlToPdf \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "html": "<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><title>Invoice</title></head><body><h1>Invoice #12345</h1><table><tr><th>Item</th><th>Amount</th></tr><tr><td>Service Fee</td><td>$99.00</td></tr></table><p>Total: $99.00</p></body></html>",
    "css": "@page { size: A4; margin: 2cm; } body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; } table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; } th, td { border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 8px; }",
    "filename": "invoice-12345.pdf"
  }' \
  --output invoice-12345.pdf
```

### Text to PDF

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.pdf-mcp.io/textToPdf \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "text": "Meeting Notes\n\nDate: January 15, 2025\n\n1. Project status review\n2. Timeline discussion\n3. Next steps",
    "filename": "meeting-notes.pdf"
  }' \
  --output meeting-notes.pdf
```

---

## MCP clients

> For an MCP client, enter the hosted Streamable HTTP URL directly. There is no pdf-mcp package or local server to install. See the verified [MCP client setup guide](https://pdf-mcp.io/docs/mcp-server).

---

## Handle the response

The Webhooks action returns the PDF as binary data. Map that output into the next action that needs the file.

### Send by email

Use Gmail, Outlook, or SMTP actions to send the PDF as an attachment:

1. Add an email action after the webhook
2. In the attachment field, select the response body from the webhook step
3. Set the attachment filename (e.g., `document.pdf`)

### Upload to cloud storage

Use Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive actions:

1. Add a file upload action after the webhook
2. Map the webhook response body to the file content
3. Specify the destination folder and filename

### Save to a CRM

Some CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot) accept file attachments:

1. Use the CRM's "Add Attachment" or "Upload File" action
2. Map the PDF data from the webhook response

---

## Error handling

Zapier can notify you about failures or route them through a separate path.

### Common status codes

| Code | Description | Solution |
|------|-------------|----------|
| 200 | Success | PDF generated successfully |
| 401 | Unauthorized | Check your API key in headers |
| 402 | Payment Required | Add credits to the account |
| 403 | Forbidden | Verify API key permissions |
| 400 | Bad Request | Check your request body format |
| 500 | Server Error | Review HTML syntax or contact support |

### Set up error notifications

1. Go to your Zap settings
2. Enable **Error notifications**
3. Choose to be notified by email when the Zap fails

### Use paths for errors

Add a **Paths** action after the webhook to handle success/failure differently:

```
[Webhook] → [Paths]
              ├── Path A: Status = 200 → [Continue with PDF]
              └── Path B: Status != 200 → [Send Alert Email]
```

---

## Troubleshooting

### PDF is empty or not generated

- Verify your API key is correct and has credits
- Check that the `html` field contains valid HTML
- Ensure headers are correctly formatted
- Test with a simple HTML string first

### Authentication errors (401/403)

- Check the Authorization header format: `Bearer YOUR_API_KEY`
- Ensure there's a space between "Bearer" and your key
- Verify your API key hasn't been revoked

### Insufficient credits (402)

- Check your credit balance in the dashboard

### Webhook timeout

- Large or complex HTML may take longer to process
- Simplify your HTML template
- Use inline styles instead of external resources

### Data mapping issues

- Click into the field value to see available mappings
- Use Zapier's Formatter action to prepare data
- Test each step individually before running the full Zap

### Binary data not recognized

- Some downstream actions may not accept binary data directly
- Use a Code step to base64 encode if needed
- Check the specific app's documentation for file upload requirements

---

## Implementation notes

### Performance

- Keep HTML simple for faster generation
- Use inline CSS instead of external stylesheets
- Avoid large images - use compressed versions

### Reliability

- Test your Zap thoroughly before turning it on
- Use Zapier's built-in error notifications
- Monitor your API credit balance

### Security

- Never share your API key publicly
- Use Zapier's secure storage for sensitive data
- Review your Zap's data exposure

### Credit usage

- Batch similar operations when possible
- Use filters to only generate PDFs when necessary
- Monitor your credit usage in the dashboard

---

## Related documentation

- [Quick start](https://pdf-mcp.io/docs/quick-start): get an API key
- [HTML to PDF](https://pdf-mcp.io/docs/api-html-to-pdf): endpoint details
- [API reference](https://pdf-mcp.io/docs/api-reference): all available endpoints
- [MCP server](https://pdf-mcp.io/docs/mcp-server): AI agent integration
- [n8n integration](https://pdf-mcp.io/docs/integration-n8n): n8n setup
- [Make integration](https://pdf-mcp.io/docs/integration-make): Integromat/Make setup

---

## Credit usage

Zapier requests use the same credits as direct API requests:

- **HTML to PDF**: 1 credit for the first page, plus 0.01 per additional page
- **Render template**: 1 credit for the first page, plus 0.01 per additional page
- **PDF to image**: 1 credit for the first page, plus 0.01 per additional page
- **AI template generation**: 1 credit per successful message
- **Other PDF utilities, including form operations and file search**: 0.01 credits per request
- **Direct file, template, asset, and theme management**: free

The [dashboard](https://app.pdf-mcp.io) shows current usage.