- Grid and List show file names and icons, not PDF pages
- Downloads need to be enabled for visitors to save files
- Printing or exporting restrictions may depend on future updates
Overview
PDF Viewer from Elfsight lets you place PDF documents on a Squarespace page, so visitors can read them there or download them when downloads are enabled. It is an embeddable widget hosted on Elfsight's platform, not native Squarespace code. You build it in Elfsight's online editor, where PDFs can be added by upload, URL, or selection from recently uploaded files. Choose File Viewer for on-page reading with scrolling, pagination, and zoom, or use Grid or List to show file names and icons. You can name files, set a widget title and width, adjust icon and interface colours, and change selected text sizes.
Who it suits
This suits Squarespace site owners who need to share PDFs such as guides, menus, brochures, manuals, or catalogues on a page. It offers an inline viewer as well as list and grid displays, with options for visitors to download files. A free plan is available to start with.
One honest caveat
Grid and List layouts show file names and icons rather than PDF pages, so use File Viewer for reading documents on the page. Downloads depend on the download option being enabled, and the vendor notes that restricting printing or exporting may depend on future feature updates. Free tier widgets carry Elfsight branding and monthly view limits; paid plans remove those. The widget stops showing if the Elfsight account lapses.
Installation
Build the widget in Elfsight's online editor, add your PDFs and adjust its layout and appearance, then copy the embed code. In Squarespace, add a Code Block to the page where you want the viewer and paste in the code. Later editor changes update automatically.
Related guide: browse more Squarespace utility and developer plugins, or the full Squarespace plugins hub.
Choose File Viewer when you want visitors to read a document in the page. It provides scrolling, pagination, and zoom. Grid and List layouts organise file names and icons into a grid or list, and visitors can select an item to open or download it. The widget can include several PDFs on the same page.
Appearance controls include a widget title, width set in pixels or percentages, and options to show or hide the file icon and select its colour. You can set font sizes for the widget title, file name, and Download label, and choose colours for six interface details. The Squarespace page text also describes adjustments to colours, fonts, borders, and layout settings.
Build and configure the widget in Elfsight's editor, then place its embed code in a Squarespace Code Block. The widget is hosted on Elfsight's platform rather than being native Squarespace code. Changes made later in the editor update automatically on the page. You can enable a download button for visitors, and replace a PDF with a newer version while keeping its position and settings.
- Add PDFs by upload, URL, or recent file selection
- File Viewer, Grid, and List display options
- Scrolling, pagination, and zoom in File Viewer
- Set file names, widget width, and interface colours
- Free plan with Elfsight branding and view limits
Full specifications
Specifications
File viewer, grid, and list display options
Scrolling, pagination, and zoom in file viewer
Set file names, widget width, and interface colours
Free plan with elfsight branding and view limits
Restaurants publishing menus
Educators sharing research documents
Creators displaying guides and brochures
Downloads need to be enabled for visitors to save files
Printing or exporting restrictions may depend on future updates