Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

WordPress PDF Files Download: A Complete Guide

Have you ever wondered about the best way to offer PDF files for your WordPress users to download? Maybe you want to share an e-book, a whitepaper or a brochure, but you don’t know what’s the best option to do so. Well, it turns out that WordPress provides a few alternatives to achieve this goal. In this article, we’ll show you everything you need to know about how to enable PDF files download on your WordPress website.

Option 1: The Classic Way – Add Download Links Manually

The traditional way to allow your users to download PDF files is to manually add download links to your website. To do so, you need to:

1. Upload your PDF file to your web server, using your WordPress hosting file manager or an FTP client.
2. Create a new WordPress page or post where you want to offer the PDF file for download.
3. Write a text with a brief description of your PDF file and a clear call-to-action (CTA) that tells your users to click on a link to download the file (e.g., “Download our free e-book now!”).
4. Highlight the keyword or phrase that represents the CTA, and click on the “Add Media” button on the top of your page/post editor.
5. Select the “Upload Files” tab, and click on the “Select Files” button to browse your PDF file.
6. Once your PDF file is uploaded, select it and click on the “Insert into post” button.
7. Your PDF file should now be linked to the selected text. Publish your page/post, and you’re done!

However, this classic way has some drawbacks. For example:

• You need to handle the file upload and management manually.
• Your users have to click on the link to open the PDF file in a new tab or window, which might be confusing or annoying for them.
• You don’t have any control over the PDF file preview or download settings.

Option 2: The Quick Way – Use a WordPress PDF Download Plugin

If you want to offer a cleaner and more streamlined PDF download experience for your users, you can use a WordPress plugin that specifically handles this task. There are many plugins available in the WordPress plugin repository that can help you achieve this goal with just a few clicks. Here are some of the most popular options:

PDF Embedder

PDF Embedder allows you to upload and embed PDF files directly into your WordPress pages and posts, using its own custom shortcode. You can choose from different display modes, such as full-screen, thumbnail preview, or download button, and customize the colors, fonts, and dimensions of your PDF viewer. The plugin takes care of the file optimization and security, so your users can enjoy a smooth and safe PDF reading experience.

PDF Viewer for WordPress

PDF Viewer for WordPress is another plugin that lets you add PDF files to your website in a hassle-free way. It uses the Google Drive Viewer engine to show your PDF files within your WordPress content, without requiring any additional software or settings. You can choose the default zoom level, toolbar settings, and language of your PDF viewer, and enable or disable the download and print options. The plugin also supports password-protected and secure PDF files, so you can keep your content private and safe.

PDF & Print by BestWebSoft

PDF & Print by BestWebSoft is a versatile plugin that enables you to convert your WordPress pages and posts into PDF documents or printer-friendly versions, and offer them for download or sharing. You can customize the PDF layout and design using various templates, choose the page range, add watermarks or headers and footers, and select the PDF or print button placement and style. The plugin integrates with popular third-party PDF rendering services, such as PrintFriendly and PDF.js, and supports multi-language and RTL environments.

Conclusion: Which Option Is Best for You?

As you can see, there are multiple ways to enable PDF files download on your WordPress website, depending on your preferences, needs, and skills. Whether you choose the classic way of manual upload and linking, or the quick way of using a dedicated plugin, make sure to offer your users a smooth and hassle-free experience, with clear instructions and valuable content. With PDF files, you can amplify your message and reach, and empower your audience with valuable insights and knowledge. Happy PDF-ing!