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Top 5 Free JavaScript PDF Viewers for Developers in 2025

April 30, 2025 By , , , , ,

By Sarbatra Inc.

Documentation workflow note: for finding screenshot tools, this Snagit Pro is a useful related reference.

As web applications become more document-centric, integrating reliable and lightweight PDF viewing solutions has become a necessity for developers. Whether you’re building an e-commerce site with downloadable invoices, an online education platform, or a documentation portal, having a solid JavaScript PDF viewer helps enhance user experience and functionality.

At Sarbatra Inc., we’ve tested and shortlisted the Top 5 Free JavaScript PDF Viewers in 2025 that are actively maintained, open-source, and developer-friendly.

1. PDF.js by Mozilla

GitHub: mozilla/pdf.js
License: Apache-2.0
Why We Like It:

  • Backed by Mozilla and actively maintained

  • Renders PDFs using HTML5 and Canvas

  • Easy to integrate and customize

  • Works great with vanilla JS or frameworks like React and Vue

Use Case: Ideal for most websites and dashboards needing in-browser PDF viewing.

2. PDFObject

Website: pdfobject.com
License: MIT
Why We Like It:

  • Lightweight and easy to embed PDFs using <embed> or <iframe>

  • Perfect for basic embedding without overhead

  • Good fallback handling

Use Case: Perfect for projects that just need to display PDFs without complex UI controls.

3. ViewerJS

Website: viewerjs.org
License: MPL 2.0
Why We Like It:

  • Uses PDF.js under the hood with a simple UI

  • Supports ODF (Open Document Format) files as well

  • Works entirely on the client-side

Use Case: Government or academic portals using open formats.

4. react-pdf

GitHub: wojtekmaj/react-pdf
License: MIT
Why We Like It:

  • Built specifically for React applications

  • Works well with Next.js and modern SPAs

  • Offers component-based rendering with flexibility

Use Case: Modern frontend apps where React is the core framework.

5. pdf-viewer-reactjs

GitHub: mikecousins/pdf-viewer-reactjs
License: MIT
Why We Like It:

  • React wrapper for PDF.js

  • Simple integration

  • Comes with navigation, zoom, and page controls out of the box

Use Case: Great for MVPs or projects needing quick plug-and-play PDF rendering in React.

Final Thoughts

Each of these tools has strengths depending on your project type and tech stack. For Laravel + Vue or React-based applications like those built at Sarbatra Inc., tools like PDF.js, react-pdf, and pdf-viewer-reactjs offer robust, scalable solutions. Always consider your performance needs, UI control requirements, and deployment environments before integrating.

🧠 Pro Tip from Sarbatra Devs: Combine PDF.js with a Laravel API to build secure, role-based document viewers for client dashboards and admin panels.

Need Help Integrating PDF Viewers?

At Sarbatra Inc., we specialize in building seamless web experiences. If you’re planning to build a document-heavy web app or need custom PDF processing—contact our team. We’re ready to build smart solutions, powered by open-source and driven by performance.

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