Pdf Embed vs PDF Viewer Block (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org PDF Plugins top 10: Pdf Embed at #9 and PDF Viewer Block at #10. They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Pdf Embed
PDF embedder with official Adobe Embed API.
PDF Viewer Block
PDF Viewer Block for Gutenberg
A simple and 100% free Gutenberg Block to display PDF Viewers / Readers on your website.
Who leads on what
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
Pdf Embed ranks higher on WordPress.org: #9 against #10 in PDF Plugins.
Both report 10,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Pdf Embed has 6, PDF Viewer Block has 9. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
PDF Viewer Block has more reviews behind its score: 9 against 6.
PDF Viewer Block was updated more recently, on August 28, 2026; Pdf Embed on May 30, 2026.
Pdf Embed was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 2,061 times against 1,580.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Pdf Embed
Pick Pdf Embed if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the one being installed faster right now.
PDF Viewer Block
Pick PDF Viewer Block if you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Pdf Embed vs PDF Viewer Block side by side
| Pdf Embed | PDF Viewer Block | |
|---|---|---|
| PDF Plugins ranking | #9 | #10 |
| Rating | 5.0 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 6 | 9 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 279,638 | 82,766 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 2,061 | 1,580 |
| Last updated | May 30, 2026 | Aug 28, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 11, 2022 | Jan 29, 2019 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.7 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 5.6 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Pdf Embed ratings
PDF Viewer Block ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Pdf Embed nor PDF Viewer Block can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the PDF Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Pdf Embed vs PDF Viewer Block: common questions
Is Pdf Embed better than PDF Viewer Block?
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Pdf Embed ranks higher on WordPress.org: #9 against #10 in PDF Plugins.
Which has more users, Pdf Embed or PDF Viewer Block?
Pdf Embed ranks higher on WordPress.org: #9 against #10 in PDF Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Pdf Embed or PDF Viewer Block?
Both report 10,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are Pdf Embed and PDF Viewer Block free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Pdf Embed may also sell a paid version or add-ons. PDF Viewer Block may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Pdf Embed and PDF Viewer Block
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.