Over the last few years, we have been using different PDF plugins to create, edit, and embed documents on our website.
However, after much trial and error, we realized that not every plugin is built the same. In fact, choosing the right PDF plugin for your business or eCommerce website can be an intimidating task since there are so many available.
In this article, we will explain everything we learned from testing the best options on the market. We’ll also narrow down the best WordPress PDF plugins so you can easily choose one that fits your needs.
If you are in a hurry, you can make a decision quickly by reviewing our expert picks.
| # | Plugins | Best For | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | WP PDF Embedder | Embed PDF files in pages and posts | $29.50/yr + Free |
| 🥈 | EmbedPress | Uploading videos, Google Maps, PDF, and Docs | $39/yr + Free |
| 🥉 | E2PDF | Create, edit, and display PDF | $20/yr + Free |
| 4 | WPForms | Creating file upload forms | $49.50/yr + Free |
| 5 | PDF & Print | Adding a PDF download and print button | Free |
| 6 | WooCommerce PDF Invoices | Generate and send PDF invoices | Free |
| 7 | PDF Poster | Embedding PDF files | Free |
| 8 | PDF.js Viewer | Show PDF files using shortcode | Free |
| 9 | MonsterInsights | Tracking PDF file downloads | $99.60/yr + Free |
How We Test And Review WordPress PDF Plugins
WordPress does not support PDF embedding or downloading blog posts as PDFs by default.
A WordPress PDF plugin allows you to display the documents in your articles. Your visitors can then view them in a PDF viewer while staying on your website. It also helps users download any blog post or page as a PDF document.
When we were testing the popular PDF plugins, we paid special attention to the following factors:
Ease of Use: For this showcase, we have included plugins that are beginner-friendly and do not require any coding knowledge. We have also prioritized extensive documentation.
Features: We have included plugins that offer all the necessary features like a PDF viewer, annotation, navigation features, a PDF embed option, customization, and more.
Reliability: To give you the best options, we have only recommended the plugins that we have tested ourselves on real websites.
Why Trust WPBeginner?
WPBeginner has a team of experts with years of experience in WordPress, hosting, online marketing, SEO, and more.
We thoroughly test and extensively review each plugin in the list to give you the best recommendations. To learn more, see our editorial process.
With that said, let’s look at the best PDF plugins for WordPress.
1. WP PDF Embedder
WP PDF Embedder is the best PDF plugin for WordPress. It allows you to easily embed mobile-friendly PDF files in WordPress posts and pages.
The plugin uses JavaScript to embed files with a fully functional toolbar, allowing users to zoom in, navigate to specific page numbers, and even download the PDF file. This makes the plugin different from others on our list.
JavaScript allows you more flexibility on how your PDF documents will appear. The plugin automatically adjusts the size of your PDF files. You can also enter the width manually, and the plugin will automatically calculate the height.
There is a free version of the plugin that you can use to get started. However, the premium version comes with more powerful features like PDF downloads, clickable hyperlinks, and more.
There’s also a Secure PDF plugin that prevents viewers from downloading or printing your original PDF files. It includes all of the features of the original premium plugin.
2. EmbedPress
EmbedPress is a complete plugin that allows you to add and display PDF files in your WordPress posts and pages. It’s easy to use, and you can upload your PDF documents through the media library and place them anywhere on your site.
EmbedPress also lets you upload other types of media to your WordPress website. You can use it to add videos from YouTube, Vimeo, or Twitch.
Besides that, EmbedPress lets you upload Google Maps, docs, forms, sheets, Facebook posts, audio files, and much more.
3. E2Pdf
E2Pdf is a clean and simple WordPress PDF plugin that lets you create, edit, and display PDF documents to your visitors.
You can show static or dynamic PDF files to your audience. It lets you create and edit PDF documents and forms without leaving your WordPress site.
The plugin also lets you auto-generate PDF forms based on your WordPress posts, pages, or web forms.
4. WPForms
WPForms is the most beginner-friendly WordPress contact form plugin used by over 6 million website owners. With WPForms, you can allow users to submit PDF files to your website through a file upload form.
This way, you don’t have to give access to your website’s backend to others to collect PDF files.
If you want to share your contact form submissions with someone else, then WPForms lets you download them as a PDF document as well.
You can check out our guide on how to create a file upload form in WordPress.
5. PDF & Print by BestWebSoft
PDF & Print by BestWebSoft, as the name suggests, adds a PDF download and print button to your WordPress posts, pages, and custom post types.
You can add your website title, featured image, custom styles, and fonts. The plugin can also execute shortcodes when generating PDFs or creating a printer-friendly version.
6. WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips
WooCommerce PDF Invoices and Packing Slips is a PDF plugin for WordPress that allows you to generate, download, and send PDF invoices with order confirmation emails on your WooCommerce store.
You get basic templates with the ability to customize them according to your business needs. The plugin also helps you handle your packing slips and invoices from your WooCommerce admin area.
7. PDF Poster
PDF Poster is another user-friendly WordPress plugin that you can use to embed PDF files on your website.
Using a shortcode, you can add PDF documents to your WordPress posts, pages, widget area, and theme files. Plus, you can add a download button so people can easily access your PDF files.
And when you embed a file, it removes the black viewer frame, so visitors get a clean experience.
8. PDF.js Viewer
PDF.js Viewer lets you show PDF files inside your WordPress posts and pages through a simple shortcode or Gutenberg block.
It uses Mozilla’s PDF.js to display PDF documents in a browser. Users get all the functionality, such as scrolling through the document, searching, printing, and downloading PDF files.
Besides that, the plugin lets you password-protect your PDF documents, set up advanced zoom settings, show a loading bar, and display partially loaded PDF documents.
9. MonsterInsights
MonsterInsights is the best WordPress analytics plugin used by over 3 million website owners. It helps you see how people find and use your website.
It has a built-in download tracking feature that helps you monitor how many PDF downloads you get from your WordPress site.
Aside from download tracking, it also lets you see how many people click on specific PDF files, links, buttons, or any other element on your site. You also see other important items such as real-time analytics, top referral sources, page-level analytics, custom dimensions, and more.
The PDF tracking feature is also available in MonsterInsights Lite, the free version of the plugin.
Bonus WordPress PDF Plugins
The following plugins don’t offer a way to generate or embed PDF files. However, if you serve PDF files on your WordPress site, then you may find them helpful.
10. SearchWP
SearchWP is a paid WordPress plugin. It allows you to add a better search experience to your WordPress site.
One of the features of this plugin is the ability to search the text inside PDF files. However, it cannot search PDF files that are encrypted, stored outside the media library, or have images as text. See our guide on how to improve WordPress search with SearchWP.
11. OptinMonster
OptinMonster is the best lead generation and conversion optimization plugin for WordPress.
It is a powerful tool that helps you grow your email list and convert abandoning visitors into subscribers. You can ask users to sign on to your email list to download PDF resources.
You can also use it to offer content upgrades. See this list of content upgrade ideas to increase your subscribers by 10X.
Which Is the Best PDF Plugin for WordPress?
The best WordPress PDF plugin depends on your needs. If you are looking for a plugin to easily embed PDF documents and other media files, then we recommend EmbedPress.
If you want to allow users to submit PDF files to your website, then WPForms is the best plugin.
As for creating and editing PDF documents right inside WordPress, we recommend E2Pdf.
If you want visitors to subscribe in exchange for PDF downloads, then use OptinMonster, and to track all PDF analytics, we recommend MonsterInsights.
We hope this article helped you find the best PDF plugins for WordPress. You may also want to see our list of the best WordPress guides to grow your website.
Best WordPress Guides for Your Business Website
- How to Easily Hide (Noindex) PDF Files in WordPress
- How to Add PDF Indexing and Searching in WordPress
- How to Add a PDF Download for Posts in WordPress (Easy Method)
- How to Add a PDF Viewer in WordPress (The Easy Way)
- How to Upload PDF Files to Your WordPress Site
- How to Regenerate PDF Thumbnails in WordPress
- How to Sell Personal Training Services with WordPress
- Best Drag and Drop WordPress Page Builders
- Best Email Marketing Services for Small Businesses
- Must-Have WordPress Plugins for Business Websites
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kzain
One plugin that stood out to me is PDF Embedder.
The fact that it maintains responsive design is crucial, especially since many of my readers access content from their mobile devices. Loving the information you are sharing!
Jiří Vaněk
Exactly, Kzain, I also dealt with how to best handle PDFs on my website, and responsiveness is key for me because, according to the metrics, almost 70% of my users are on mobile devices. It’s essential that these files look good everywhere. The PDF Embedder plugin is great in this regard, and like you, I can also recommend it. It’s unfortunate that WordPress doesn’t natively support this when PDF is such a widely used format for files and books today.
muhammad
i need one…. prevent download of these pdf
WPBeginner Support
While none of these are for displaying and preventing the download of PDFs, you may want to add branding or a watermark to dissuade people from downloading them while being able to view the entire document
Admin
Vern Rolton
Embed any document plugin works for me.
Iban
Hi.
Do you know any plugin which let you select images from a gallery, or a page, and generate a PDF with all those selected images?
Jayasheelan
Some plugins are out dated, however, very useful information, appreciated.
Farcas Gelu Danut
Are they all mobile friendly? And SEO is OK? Page speed?
Amy
Based on the changes with Wordpress 4.7 which pdf plugin do you recommend? I’m just looking to display a thumbnail of the pdf that’s clickable to open the pdf. WP 4.7 still won’t display the thumbnail on the page. A lot of these haven’t been updated based on the 4.7 changes. Do you have a recommendation?
thanks!
Lily
Do all of these plugins work for WordPress.com as well as .org? I have the free WordPress site & when trying to install the first plugin you mentioned it didn’t work. I know some plugins are only made for the .org so if you have a list for strictly WordPress.com that would be great. Ty
WPBeginner Support
Hi Lily,
No, none of these plugins can be installed on WordPress.com. Please see our guide on the difference between self hosted WordPress.org vs free WordPress.com blog.
Admin
Lis
Thanks for sharing this!
Richard
Is there a WP PDF plugin that will show the bookmarks and pages that the original Acrobat binder includes?
Thanks Sayed.
Grace Suarez
WP Viewer didn’t work for me. Tried it on two sites. Got an error message.
Steve
Great post. Thanks so much. Very useful.
Jennifer
Wow, this article is super helpful! It never even occurred to me to use a PDF plugin – thank you so much for the great tips.