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9 Best PDF Viewer WordPress Plugins: Embed Pdfs Neatly Into Your Content

Last Updated on April 29th, 2024

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PDF is one of the most reliable, versatile, and effective document formats popular worldwide. Therefore, displaying PDF files on your WordPress site helps you provide users with a better experience and grow your business. For instance, bloggers can leverage PDF files to provide in-detail information about their blog posts in exchange for their email subscription

Even though your website is on WordPress, the leading content management system worldwide, it lacks the ability to embed and display PDF files in posts & pages and create PDF documents from content.

Thankfully, there are plenty of WordPress PDF viewer plugins through which you can easily integrate PDFs into your website, allowing your visitors to view, download, and print your content in a professional-looking format.

In this blog, we have compiled a list of the best PDF viewer WordPress plugins that can help you add PDFs to your website with ease. Whether you are a blogger, marketer, educator, or business owner, you will find a PDF viewer for websites as per your need.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

Best PDF Viewer for WordPress in 2024

Here is the list of the best free & paid PDF viewer plugins for WordPress.

1. PDF Viewer Block for Gutenberg

pdf viewer block for gutenberg wordpress plugin

PDF Viewer Block for Gutenberg is a simple, lightweight plugin that adds a new PDF viewer block to the embedded menu of the Gutenberg editor. That makes inserting PDFs into your content an absolute breeze.

By default, the PDF viewer is preset to the entire width of your content. However, it is possible to configure the height and width to your preferences. Furthermore, the plugin is responsive, so embeds display optimally regardless of the screen they are being viewed on.

Pros

  • An easy way of adding a basic, but neat PDF viewer to your content.
  • Configurable sizing and alignment.

Cons

  • It uses JavaScript, so if visitors have that disabled, a download link will be displayed instead.

Price

  • PDF Viewer Block for Gutenberg is entirely free.

Get PDF Viewer Block for Gutenberg

2. PDF.js Viewer

pdf.js viewer wordpress plugin

Like PDF Viewer Block for Gutenberg, PDF.js Viewer is another free plugin that uses JavaScript to embed PDFs into the content. However, this plugin boasts more features, most notably the option to embed PDFs using shortcode or via a Gutenberg block.

Other features of this PDF viewer plugin include a theme that adapts to dark and light mode (but only if the browser supports dynamic CSS), customizable buttons, PDF zoom, search, password protection, and more.

Pros

  • The plugin has an open-source library, which means that it is free to use and can be customized to suit the needs of individual users or organizations.
  • Compatible with multiple platforms and browsers.
  • PDF.js Viewer is famous for fast rendering speeds. Hence, PDF files can be loaded quickly and efficiently within a web browser.

Cons

  • Like PDF Viewer Block, the plugin uses Javascript, so if that has been disabled, the embeds won’t display.
  • Various users reported performance issues while rendering large or complex PDFs using the plugin.

Price

  • PDF.js Viewer is a free plugin.

Get PDF.js Viewer

3. EmbeddPress

embeddpress pdf viewer for wordpress

EmbedPress is an easy-to-use PDF plugin for WordPress. The freemium plugin is suitable for adding and displaying PDF files on your site. Documents can be uploaded directly into your media library and placed wherever you need them in your content.

EmbedPress is not restricted only to PDFs – it can also embed various other media types, such as videos, sound clips, and documents from various sources, including YouTube, Vimeo, Google Docs, Google Maps, and many more.

Pros

  • The free version has the functionality to embed PDFs and other document types. Pro adds features mostly related to video content.
  • Gutenberg is compatible with 14 blocks included.
  • Pro has a 14-day moneyback guarantee.
  • EmbedPress saves time by providing a quick and efficient way to embed content without writing code.

Cons

  • Limited features are available in the free version.
  • Several features need coding, which might not be suitable for several users.
  • It might not work with several WordPress themes & plugins.

Price

  • The core EmbedPress plugin is free. Pro currently costs $39 for a single site or $239 for unlimited domains.

Get EmbeddPress

4. WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips

woocommerce pdf invoices & packing slips wordpress plugin

There are no prizes for guessing what WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips do! Yup, this WordPress PDF plugin extends the functionality of your WooCommerce store to create email or print-ready PDF invoices and packing slips.

With this plugin, you can automatically add invoices to your chosen emails, plus there are plenty of customization possibilities for everything. What’s more, eighteen languages are currently supported.

Upgrading to the Professional version adds credit note and proforma invoice options, plus more customizations and the ability to save everything in Dropbox.

Pros

  • The free version is great for creating simple invoices and packing slips
  • Detailed documentation
  • Proactive support

Cons

  • None found

Price

  • The core WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips plugin is free. The Professional upgrade costs €39 for a single site license, €79 for three, and €139 for up to twenty-five. Note those prices are in Euros, not US Dollars.

Get WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips

5. PDF & Print by BestWebSoft

pdf & print by bestwebsoft pdf viewer wordpress plugin

PDF viewer plugin by BestWebSoft allows you to embed buttons in your pages, posts, and widgets that enable users to create, print, and save PDFs of your content. Users love this because printing from webpages using the browser print function is rarely ideal as it includes lots of extra ‘junk’ on the pages.

The free version of PDF & Print by BestWebSoft includes excellent functionality. With it, expect to find things like button customization and placement options, user role restrictions (great if you only want to allow registered users to create PDFs), plus basic customization options for the actual PDFs.

The Pro version adds tons more customization possibilities. However, one feature I really like about Pro is it lets you add your own watermark to PDFs, thereby helping safeguard your content’s copyright.

Pros

  • The free version is an excellent starting point for allowing users to create and print PDFs from your content.
  • Documentation includes video tutorials
  • Pro comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Cons

  • You may need to experiment with the settings to get the PDFs looking exactly how you want them.
  • Per domain pricing of Pro gets expensive if you have multiple sites

Price

  • PDF & Print by BestWebSoft is available for free in the WordPress plugin directory. However, should you wish to upgrade to the Pro version, which currently costs $43 per year or $310 for a lifetime subscription. All prices are per domain.

Get PDF & Print by BestWebSoft

6. DearFlip 3D Flipbook

dearflip 3d flipbook pdf viewer for website

DearFlip 3D Flipbook plugin allows you to add flipbooks to your WordPress posts. Those are great for creating books, magazines, and newsletter-type posts where users can ‘turn’ the pages on the screen rather than just scrolling through them. Such a feature adds a level of interactivity and visual impact much more engaging than regular ‘flat’ PDFs.

Creating flipbooks with the plugin is very easy – just upload the PDF into the plugin’s admin panel, paste the auto-generated shortcode where you want the flipbook to appear, and you’re done.

The free version includes excellent features, such as a content table generator for PDFs, thumbnail previews, and more. Furthermore, the Pro version adds customization possibilities, zoom controls, paper stiffness, etc.

Pros

  • The free version offers good functionality out of the box.
  • PDF flipbooks are more interactive and visually appealing, which helps drive user engagement.
  • Very easy to use.
  • Proactive support from the developer.
  • The pro version has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Cons

  • None found.

Price

  • DearFlip 3D Flipbook is a freemium plugin with free and paid (Pro) options. The Pro version for one domain costs $39 per year or $149 for a lifetime. Furthermore, annual and lifetime plans are also available for five or thirty sites.

Get DearFlip 3D Flipbook

7. PDF Viewer for WordPress

pdf viewer for wordpress plugin

It has been one of the best PDF Reader & FlipBook Plugin for WordPress since 2014. The premium PDF viewer plugin has over 7300+ sales and lets you display PDF files similar to Adobe Reader on your site regardless of device or screen size.

The plugin lets you display PDFs in a flipbook format and provide a highly interactive experience to your users. It ensures that users can quickly navigate through the pages by flipping them.

Pros

  • You can customize the PDF viewer using the colors that represent your brand and provide a cohesive experience to users on your site.
  • It offers a range of toolbar options like print, download, zoom, page, share, rotate, etc.
  • No limit on the size & number of files you want to upload on your website.
  • The plugin is easy to use.
  • It enables you to optimize your PDF files for search engines, which can help improve your website’s SEO.

Cons

  • The plugin doesn’t have enough support from the team.
  • It might not be compatible with WordPress themes & plugins.

Price

  • Free version. The paid version costs $40 for a regular license and comes with 6 months from ThemeNcode.

GET PDF VIEWER FOR WORDPRESS

8. Gravity PDF

pdf viewer for wordpress plugin

It is a well-known self-hosted solution for dynamically building PDF documents with the help of Gravity Forms and WordPress. The best thing about the plugin is that it allows you to configure as many PDF files as you want on your website.

With the help of this plugin, you can personalize the look & feel of the PDF, like the logo, header, footer, orientation, font, color, and size. 

The plugin instantly emails the PDF to the admin and user when the form is completed. 

Pros

  • It offers enhanced privacy and security to prevent unauthorized access to your PDFs.
  • Create links to URLs or PDFs leveraging the shortcodes and merge tags.
  • Build complex workflows with the help of Gravity Flow.
  • Comprehensive documentation to get started with the plugin. Great support from the team.

Cons

  • It provides only four design styles in the free version.

Price

  • Free

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9. PDF Embedder

gravity pdf pdf viewer wordpress plugin

It is another well-known PDF viewer WordPress plugin you can rely on for adding PDF files to the site. Using this plugin, you can embed PDF files in posts & pages using JavaScript.

The plugin looks after multiple things like customizing the look & feel of the plugin or uploading a PDF file automatically.

It has a free & premium version. The premium version has various essential features, such as adding hyperlinks within the PDF, integrating download buttons, pagination, and more.

Pros

  • It automatically resizes the PDF based on the dimensions of the page. Hence, you don’t have to worry about documents hiding behind the website.
  • It offers some basic security features, such as preventing the downloading of the PDF file and disabling right-click options.
  • It is responsive, which means that the embedded PDF file will adjust its size and layout based on the screen size of the device used to view it.

Cons

  • Limited features in the free version. 
  • Embedding large PDF files can affect website performance, leading to slow loading times.
  • The plugin might not be compatible with WordPress themes and plugins, resulting in display issues and conflicts.

Price

  • Free version. The premium version costs $20 for a single site, $30 for 2-5 sites, and $50 for unlimited website.

GET PDF EMBEDDER

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, PDFs are becoming increasingly popular among website owners and content creators. Fortunately, WordPress offers a range of plugins that make it easy to create, manage, and display PDFs on your website. From simple tools for converting blog posts to PDFs to more advanced options for creating and customizing PDF documents, there are plenty of WordPress PDF viewer plugins.

Whether you’re looking to create downloadable resources for your audience, optimize your content for search engines, or simply enhance the user experience on your website, a WordPress PDF viewer plugin can help. By exploring the different features and benefits of the plugins discussed in this article, you’ll be able to find the best option for your needs and start using PDFs to improve your website today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I display a document on a WordPress site?

The best way to display a document on a WordPress site is using the PDF viewer WordPress plugins. You can leverage the features & functionalities of the plugin to offer an enhanced user experience and generate leads.

What to look for in the WordPress PDF viewer plugin?

Here are some of the most crucial factors you should consider for choosing the right WordPress PDF viewer plugin.

Functionality: Ensure the plugin has essential features like creating PDFs from your WordPress content, embedding PDFs on your site, and optimizing PDFs for download speeds.

Compatibility: The plugin should be compatible with your WordPress version and any other plugins you use.

Customization: It lets you customize the PDFs you create, including adding your own branding and customizing the layout.

User-Friendliness: The plugin should be easy to use, with a user-friendly interface.

Support: Check whether the plugin developer offers support and how responsive they are to user queries or issues.

Price: Consider the plugin’s and whether it offers good value for money.

Security: Look for a plugin with good security features to ensure your PDFs are secure and protected from unauthorized access or downloads.

A team of WordPress experts that love to test out new WordPress related software, WordPress plugins and WordPress themes.