PDF Embedder 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 Embedder at #2 and PDF Viewer Block at #10. PDF Embedder leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
PDF Embedder
PDF Embedder – PDF Viewer & Embed PDF Files for WordPress
Embed PDF files in WordPress posts and pages with a responsive PDF viewer block, live Block Editor preview, and no third-party services.
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
PDF Embedder leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
PDF Embedder ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #10 in PDF Plugins.
PDF Embedder has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: PDF Embedder has 526, PDF Viewer Block has 9. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
PDF Embedder has more reviews behind its score: 526 against 9.
PDF Viewer Block was updated more recently, on August 28, 2026; PDF Embedder on August 14, 2026.
PDF Embedder was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 42,057 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 Embedder
Pick PDF Embedder if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one being installed faster right now.
PDF Viewer Block
Pick PDF Viewer Block if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
PDF Embedder vs PDF Viewer Block side by side
| PDF Embedder | PDF Viewer Block | |
|---|---|---|
| PDF Plugins ranking | #2 | #10 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 526 | 9 |
| Active installs | 300,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 5,689,884 | 82,766 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 42,057 | 1,580 |
| Last updated | Aug 14, 2026 | Aug 28, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 21, 2015 | Jan 29, 2019 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 5.6 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
PDF Embedder 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 Embedder 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 Embedder vs PDF Viewer Block: common questions
Is PDF Embedder better than PDF Viewer Block?
PDF Embedder leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. PDF Embedder ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #10 in PDF Plugins.
Which has more users, PDF Embedder or PDF Viewer Block?
PDF Embedder ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #10 in PDF Plugins.
Which is rated higher, PDF Embedder or PDF Viewer Block?
PDF Embedder has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are PDF Embedder and PDF Viewer Block free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. PDF Embedder may also sell a paid version or add-ons. PDF Viewer Block may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to PDF Embedder 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.