Embed PDF Viewer vs Vanilla PDF Embed (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 3.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Embed PDF Viewer has accumulated 309K+ total downloads while Vanilla PDF Embed has 99K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Embed PDF Viewer | Vanilla PDF Embed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ◄ | 4.6/5 |
| Total Reviews | 19 | ► | 32 |
| Active Installs | 20K+ | ◄ | 3.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 309K+ | ◄ | 99K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 9 years ago |
| First Released | 2016 | 2013 | |
| Age | 10 years | 13 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.0+ | 3.0.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.4.8 | 0.0.8 |
Rating Breakdown
Embed PDF Viewer
Vanilla PDF Embed
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Embed PDF Viewer averaged approximately 180 daily downloads while Vanilla PDF Embed averaged 5.
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.
Vanilla PDF Embed Reviews
Nice
Converts the URL of a PDF document automatically in to an embedded PDF. Very easy to use, very nice result.
Very easy to use
Just paste the link to pdf file on the same domain and you can view it just as pdf and not a link. This is what I was looking for. The best plugin to view the pdf. You can download and print too. Than
Does not embed PDF
There was no embedding; only the link to the PDF file was placed. I think that this plugin has not been updated as of the time of writing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Embed PDF Viewer or Vanilla PDF Embed more popular?
Which has better ratings — Embed PDF Viewer or Vanilla PDF Embed?
Are Embed PDF Viewer and Vanilla PDF Embed free?
Which plugin has better support — Embed PDF Viewer or Vanilla PDF Embed?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.