Embed PDF Viewer vs Embedly (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Embed PDF Viewer has a higher user rating (4.7/5 from 19 reviews) and leads in active installations (20K+ vs 2.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Embed PDF Viewer has accumulated 309K+ total downloads while Embedly has 204K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Embed PDF Viewer | Embedly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ◄ | 3.5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 19 | ► | 20 |
| Active Installs | 20K+ | ◄ | 2.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 309K+ | ◄ | 204K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2016 | 2010 | |
| Age | 10 years | 16 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.0+ | 5.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.4.8 | 4.9.3 |
Rating Breakdown
Embed PDF Viewer
Embedly
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Embed PDF Viewer averaged approximately 168 daily downloads while Embedly averaged 22.
Recent Reviews
Embed PDF Viewer Reviews
Amazing plugin
This plugin save my 2 days coding task. If this plugin is not there i have to code this.
Works Great but no preview on mobile
Works great on web but when I try to access the website via mobile browser, the pdf has no preview available. BTW, I’m using WordPress 6.4.3. Thank you for your effort with this PDF plugin it is a
Perfect!
Love how easy it is to embed a PDF using the Block Editor and this plugin. It’s perfect.
Embedly Reviews
Great plugin, but very slow support
When I first discovered this plugin I wanted to write a stellar review and give it like 20 stars, as it seemed to solve one of the biggest problems of BuddyPress. But when by solving a problem you cre
Works
Dirty uninstallation and branding is why I gave this 4.
It mostly love ❤️ Embedly…mostly. No tweaking backend hurts it.
I use and have used Embedly for years now. Ultimately it’s handy and it’s a plugin I consider “core”. However… It doesn’t allow you to play with the back end of the plugin anymore. This means no cha
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.