DF files are everywhere-from invoices to reports, contracts, and learning materials. When working on React.js projects, displaying PDFs can be simple or complex, depending on your needs. If you only need to show a static document, browser options like iframes might do the trick. But if your users need better viewing, zooming, searching, or interactive features, you’ll need a dedicated PDF viewer.
Choosing a PDF viewer for a React.js or Next.js application depends on your project’s needs. Here’s a quick breakdown of six options to consider:
- PDF.js (Open Source): Reliable, no-frills viewing for simple applications.
- react-pdf (Open Source): Lightweight wrapper for PDF.js, built for React.
- React PDF (Paid): A newer library with a more complete feature set than react-pdf. Customizable and powerful.
- React PDF Viewer (Paid): Provide a more comprehensive feature set than react-pdf. It offers a polished and customizable UI.
- PDF.js Express (Hybrid): Start with free basics, with optional premium add-ons.
- Syncfusion React PDF Viewer (Hybrid): Feature-rich, enterprise ready, ideal for complex needs.
In this article, I’ll be comparing six popular PDF libraries for React.js. Each library has its strengths and weaknesses, and my goal is to help you pick the best one for your project’s unique needs.
Why a Good PDF Viewer Matters
When your React.js or Next.js app needs to display documents, the quality of your PDF viewer shapes both development and user experience. Whether you’re building a simple PDF document viewing system, an educational platform, or an AI-driven document management system, having the right viewer simplifies your work and helps keep users happy.