14 Best WordPress PDF Viewer Plugins for 2024

If you want to share documents on your WordPress website, you‘ll need more than just a link to open the PDF file. By installing a WordPress PDF viewer plugin, you can embed your PDFs right on the page for a seamless, user-friendly experience.

PDF viewer plugins not only make your documents look more professional, but also encourage visitors to spend more time engaging with your content directly on your site. Some other key benefits include:

  • Keep visitors on your site – Without a viewer plugin, PDFs open in a new window, taking people away from your site. Embedding the PDF keeps them on the page.

  • Document protection – Viewer plugins make it harder for users to edit, copy or share your PDF content without permission. You can also prevent search engines from indexing the PDF text.

  • Better UI/UX – Large PDF embeds can clutter your page and harm your site‘s appearance. Viewer plugins provide controls to fit the PDF neatly into your design.

So which WordPress PDF plugin is right for your site? Below we‘ve rounded up the 14 best tools with in-depth reviews of their features, pricing, pros and cons.

1. PDF Viewer for WordPress

Pricing: Regular license for $39

PDF Viewer for WordPress is a popular premium plugin that mimics the look and functionality of Adobe Reader. It provides an interactive PDF viewer that works seamlessly on any device.

Key Features:

  • Realistic page flip effect with zoom, scroll, thumbnail view and full-screen mode
  • Built-in analytics to track views, downloads and shares
  • Customizable skins and color schemes to match your branding
  • Shortcode generator for easy embedding

Pros:

  • Familiar Adobe-style interface
  • Analytics integration
  • Extensive customization options

Cons:

  • Pricey compared to some other tools
  • Configuration can be complex for beginners

2. PDF Embedder

Pricing: Free, with a premium version for $30

PDF Embedder provides a quick and easy way to embed PDFs into WordPress with a simple shortcode. The premium version unlocks extra features like download buttons, hyperlinks, tracking and more.

Key Features:

  • Clean, minimalist design
  • Automatic file resizing to fit posts/pages
  • Support for password-protected PDFs
  • Compatible with Gutenberg block editor

Pros:

  • Free, open source and regularly updated
  • No watermarks or other branding
  • Simple to set up and use

Cons:

  • Basic free version, many features limited to paid upgrade
  • Lacks more advanced controls compared to some other tools

3. WordPress PDF Light Viewer Plugin

Pricing: 100% free

This free and lightweight plugin is ideal if you need to embed very large PDFs on your WordPress site. It can handle unlimited file sizes and numbers of pages.

Key Features:

  • Fast loading of specific pages vs the entire PDF
  • Responsive design with touch navigation
  • Works on all devices and browsers
  • Supports unlimited PDFs

Pros:

  • Completely free to use
  • Renders PDFs quickly without slowing your site
  • Clean, mobile-friendly layout

Cons:

  • Can‘t customize appearance very much
  • Not as many features as some premium tools

4. PDF.js Viewer

Pricing: Free

PDF.js Viewer is another free, open source WordPress PDF plugin built on Mozilla‘s PDF.js library. It provides a simple, no-fuss way to embed documents using a shortcode or Gutenberg block.

Key Features:

  • Minimalist design with standard zoom/scroll controls
  • Supports large, high-res PDFs
  • Lazy loading for faster performance
  • Full-text search within PDFs

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Lightweight and fast
  • Active development on GitHub

Cons:

  • No advanced features or customization
  • Doesn‘t allow hyperlinks or other interactive elements

5. WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips

Pricing: Free

If you run an online store with WooCommerce, this plugin enables you to automatically send PDF invoices and packing slips to customers. You can also generate bulk invoice PDFs on demand.

Key Features:

  • Automatically attaches invoices to WooCommerce order emails
  • Fully customizable templates with HTML/CSS
  • Bulk export invoices for your records
  • Supports multiple languages

Pros

  • Integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce
  • Saves time creating order invoices manually
  • Professional templates impress customers

Cons:

  • Only for WooCommerce, not other ecommerce plugins
  • Can‘t customize without HTML/CSS knowledge

6. Send PDF for Contact Form 7

Pricing: Free

Contact Form 7 is the most popular contact form plugin for WordPress. This free add-on allows you to automatically generate a PDF version of the submitted form data and attach it to the email notifications.

Key Features:

  • Captures form submissions as PDFs
  • Works with any Contact Form 7 form
  • Customizable PDF templates
  • Option to send PDF as email attachment

Pros:

  • Makes it easy to save Contact Form 7 entries as PDFs
  • Straightforward setup wizard
  • Useful for creating PDF quotes, contracts, receipts, etc.

Cons:

  • Requires Contact Form 7 plugin
  • Customizing templates requires some coding

7. Print, PDF, Email by PrintFriendly

Pricing: Free

PrintFriendly creates PDF versions of your WordPress posts and pages and adds a "Print/PDF" button visitors can click to download a PDF copy. It can also display the PDF in a lightbox.

Key Features:

  • One-click PDF conversion of posts/pages
  • Editable PDF preview before downloading
  • Optimizes PDFs for easy printing
  • Shortcode to place button anywhere

Pros:

  • User-friendly for both admins and visitors
  • More lightweight than embedding entire PDFs
  • Customizable button text and appearance

Cons:

  • PDF output sometimes cuts off content
  • Ads in free version (but can be disabled)

8. EmbedPress

Pricing: Premium, starting at $39/year for a single-site license

EmbedPress is an all-in-one embed plugin that supports PDFs, Google Docs, YouTube, social media posts, maps and more. The PDF viewer offers a unique interface that lets you showcase documents alongside other interactive embedded content.

Key Features:

  • Stylish grid-based layout for embedding multiple PDFs
  • Supports password-protected PDFs
  • Detailed viewer stats and analytics
  • Integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.

Pros:

  • Design-focused viewing experience
  • All-in-one solution vs separate plugins
  • Actively developed with regular updates

Cons:

  • No free version, only premium
  • Steeper learning curve than some other tools

9. WooCommerce Store Catalog PDF Download

Pricing: $49/year

This premium plugin adds a PDF catalog/brochure of your WooCommerce products to incentivize sales. Customers can browse the PDF, click products to go back to your site, and print it for offline viewing.

Key Features:

  • Automatically syncs the PDF with your store
  • Customizable templates and layouts
  • Places a prominent "Download Catalog" button
  • Built-in social sharing buttons

Pros:

  • Keeps product info accessible offline
  • Professional way to showcase bestsellers, sale items, etc.
  • Boosts customer loyalty and retention

Cons:

  • Requires separate license from WooCommerce
  • PDF doesn‘t update instantly, has to be manually regenerated

10. Gravity PDF

Pricing: Free, with paid add-ons available

Gravity PDF is an advanced PDF extension for one of the most powerful WordPress form plugins, Gravity Forms. It automatically turns form submissions into PDFs with extensive customization options.

Key Features:

  • Drag-and-drop PDF template builder
  • Dynamically populates PDFs with form data
  • Conditional logic support
  • Password protection and print restrictions

Pros:

  • Ideal if you already use Gravity Forms heavily
  • Excellent developer documentation
  • Active support and development

Cons:

  • Only works with Gravity Forms, not other form plugins
  • Many advanced features limited to paid add-ons

11. Flowpaper

Pricing: Free to use, requires FlowPaper.com account ($21/month)

Flowpaper converts PDFs into responsive flipbooks with realistic page-turning animations and interactive features. You can create unlimited PDFs and embed them in WordPress posts/pages.

Key Features:

  • Stylish 3D flipbook interface
  • Links, videos, images and other multimedia
  • SEO-friendly indexing of PDF text
  • White-label viewer with no Flowpaper branding

Pros:

  • Most engaging, app-like PDF experience
  • Easy to add rich media and links
  • Works on all devices

Cons:

  • Requires separate paid Flowpaper hosting account
  • More expensive than most WordPress plugins

12. Real3D Flipbook WordPress Plugin

Pricing: $49/year

Real3D Flipbook is an interactive PDF viewer plugin featuring realistic 3D page flip animations. You can embed PDFs with custom logos, colors, backgrounds, multimedia links and more.

Key Features:

  • Fully customizable 3D flipbook layout
  • Import PDFs from WordPress Media Library or URL
  • Supports unlimited PDFs, pages and file sizes
  • Optimized for touchscreens and mobile devices

Pros:

  • Eye-catching 3D animations
  • Flexible publishing options (link, lightbox, etc.)
  • Backed by Envato‘s expert support

Cons:

  • No free version available
  • Some features cost extra (e.g. removing branding)

13. E2Pdf

Pricing: Free, with premium templates starting at $20/year

E2Pdf lets you create interactive, personalized PDF documents from WordPress form submission data. It integrates with popular form plugins like Gravity Forms, Ninja Forms, Contact Form 7 and WooCommerce.

Key Features:

  • Drag-and-drop PDF designer
  • Supported form fields include text, images, barcodes and digital signatures
  • Automatically attaches PDFs to emails
  • Conditional logic and HTML templates

Pros:

  • Powerful tool for generating custom PDF documents
  • Extensive documentation and demos
  • Pay only for the templates you need

Cons:

  • Not a traditional embedded PDF viewer
  • Requires coding skills for advanced usage

14. PDF & Print by BestWebSoft

Pricing: Free, premium version for $43/year

This user-friendly WordPress PDF plugin places a prominent "Download PDF/Print" button on your posts and pages. You can fully customize the button and PDF output settings.

Key Features:

  • One-click PDF conversion
  • Set custom PDF margins, orientation and DPI
  • Option to save PDFs with custom names
  • Supports watermarks and passwords (Pro only)

Pros:

  • Simple setup with no coding required
  • Fast PDF generation
  • Reliable basic functionality

Cons:

  • Pro version needed for many features
  • Some formatting issues with complex page layouts

Choose the Right PDF Viewer Plugin for Your Needs

With so many great WordPress PDF plugins out there, how do you pick the best one? Here are some factors to consider:

  • Basics vs advanced features – For a simple document embed, free plugins like PDF Embedder or PDF.js Viewer will suffice. For interactive flipbooks, paywalls, forms and such, you‘ll need a more full-featured tool.

  • Ease of use – Some PDF plugins are plug-and-play, while others have a steep learning curve. Consider your tech skills.

  • Customization – If matching your site‘s design is a priority, choose a plugin with robust styling and template options.

  • Compatibility – Test how well the plugin plays with your WordPress theme, page builder and other tools. The WordPress Plugin Directory is a good place to check reviews.

  • Pricing – Weigh one-time vs recurring costs and be wary of excessive upsells. Often a moderately-priced tool is enough for most users.

Tips for Using PDF Plugins Effectively

To make the most of your WordPress PDF viewer, follow these best practices:

  • Optimize PDFs – Compress images, fonts and other elements for faster loading. Most PDF editors have a built-in optimizer feature.

  • Add engaging thumbnails – Encourage clicks with an eye-catching cover image. Use a high-res image sized to fit the viewer window.

  • Make downloads easy – Include a clear download link/button below the embed. Use anchor text like "Download Your Free Copy."

  • Design for mobile – Most plugins automatically resize PDFs for smartphones. But stick to simple page layouts for best mobile UX.

  • Consider SEO – Some PDF plugins allow search engines to index the full text. If your goal is lead gen vs gated content, enable this option.

Embed PDFs Like a Pro With These Powerful Plugins

PDFs are a versatile, professional way to share documents on your WordPress site. Whether you‘re embedding whitepapers to capture leads, delivering personalized contracts, or building a searchable resource library, one of these PDF viewer plugins will help you get the job done.

For most users, we recommend starting with a free, well-rated plugin like PDF Embedder or WordPress PDF Light Viewer. Upgrade to a premium tool if you need advanced features like 3D flipbooks, form-filling, access control and such.

By following the tips above and choosing the right plugin for your specific needs, you‘ll be able to seamlessly integrate PDFs into your WordPress website. Your visitors will appreciate being able to view documents without leaving the page, while still having the option to download or print a copy for later reference.

Give one of these top WordPress PDF viewer plugins a try and see how it can improve your site‘s user experience and content strategy. With the right tool in place, you‘ll be ready to embed PDFs like a pro!

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