Use the PDFBetter API and create an API key

The API lets your own code do what you'd do in the app: create documents, fill fields, export PDFs, send signature requests, read form responses and bulk-fill from spreadsheets. It's part of the Business plan. Full reference: developer docs.

Create a key

1. 1

   Step 1: Open API keys

   Click Settings at the bottom of the sidebar, then API keys. If your plan doesn't include the API, you'll see Start Business instead.

2. 2

   Step 2: Name the key

   Enter a Key name that tells you where it's used, such as "CRM integration". Only you see it.

3. 3

   Step 3: Choose permissions

   Under Permissions, tick only what this integration needs, such as Read documents or Send signature requests. Give each integration its own key.

4. 4

   Step 4: Create and copy it

   Click Create key, then Copy. The key is shown once; we store only a hash. Click I've saved it when done.

Call the API

• Base URL: https://api.pdfbetter.com/v1/. Paths end with a slash.
• Send the key as Authorization: Bearer pb_live_… from your server. The API is server-to-server only and refuses browser requests.
• Requests and responses are JSON, except file uploads.
• The OpenAPI description is at https://api.pdfbetter.com/v1/openapi.json for Postman, Insomnia or SDK generators.
• Each key has a per-minute request limit. Every response carries RateLimit-* headers, and you get 429 when you go over.

The API isn't a way around plan limits: exports, signature requests and bulk-fill rows count exactly as they do in the app.

Revoke a key

In API keys, click the trash icon next to the key, then Revoke key. Anything using it stops working immediately, and this can't be undone. A lost key can't be recovered: revoke it and create another. The Last used column helps you spot keys nobody uses.

Current limitations

• There's no sandbox. Keys act on live data, and signature requests email real recipients.
• Keys act as the account that created them. Each team member needs their own key.
• Editing page content (text, images, redaction) is only available in the editor.
• Signature and button fields in a PDF can't be filled through the API.