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flowpaper

By getflowpaper

Content Management / Document Management & Downloads

Reviewed by Abdul Hameid

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

flowpaper Review - In-Depth Analysis

FlowPaper is a PDF viewer plugin that allows embedding PDF catalogs and magazines as flipbooks on your website. It supports most browsers and devices.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

7.01/10

User Rating

3.4/5 (based on 37+ reviews)

Active Installations

10,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

5 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

FlowPaper is a PDF viewer plugin that allows you to embed your PDF catalogs, magazines, and brochures as flipbooks on your website in HTML5 format for free.

The plugin supports the majority of browsers and devices. It is currently limited to PDF documents that are 15 megabytes or smaller for PDFs that are not uploaded to FlowPaper cloud. To publish larger PDF documents, customize the look, and to show the viewer without FlowPaper branding, please visit our homepage. It supports both light and dark themes.

To embed a PDF using a URL, simply add the plugin shortcode to a post. Change the PDF URL to the PDF file you want to display. For PDFs uploaded to WordPress, upload your PDF document, copy the URL, and use the shortcode in your post. You can also embed publications uploaded to FlowPaper Cloud by copying the link created by the desktop publisher.

Customization options include setting the viewer theme, opening in a lightbox overlay, and modifying the header and publication title displayed. FlowPaper is a publishing platform that uses various technologies to present your PDF documents on the web in a user-friendly manner.

Comparing to Alternatives

Flowpaper competes with several PDF flipbook and embedder plugins, offering a unique set of features but also facing stiff competition from well-established alternatives.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Offers a simple and user-friendly flipbook interface
Supports embedding PDFs with a flipbook style
Has a pro version with additional features
Compatible with multiple WordPress setups
Provides a neat and visually appealing PDF display

Weaknesses

Inconsistent PDF loading and recognition issues reported
Limited file size support (15 MB limit) not clearly communicated
Medium security risk with past stored XSS vulnerabilities
Support responsiveness concerns noted by users

User Sentiment Analysis

User reviews show a mixed sentiment with nearly half giving 5 stars but a significant portion (37.8%) rating it 1 or 2 stars, indicating reliability and support issues.

Positive highlights

'Great simple plugin' - meganderry77
'Thanks for a great plugin!' - dsonarobe77
'I've used this on multiple web sites with great result' - dsonarobe77
'Ease of use is great' - meganderry77

Common complaints

Plugin often fails to recognize valid PDF URLs
Unreliable PDF loading causing frustration
File size limit of 15 MB not clearly stated, leading to lost pages
Poor or non-responsive support

Weaknesses

Security vulnerabilities related to stored XSS in past versions
Unclear communication about file size limitations
Inconsistent performance with PDF loading

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a straightforward PDF flipbook plugin with basic features and a visually appealing interface, especially those willing to upgrade to pro for more functionality.

Not ideal for

Users needing reliable PDF loading for large files over 15 MB, those requiring robust support, or those concerned about past security vulnerabilities.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers basic PDF flipbook functionality with a 15 MB file size limit and simple embedding features.

Pro version

The pro version typically includes advanced customization options, removal of file size limits, enhanced features, and priority support.

Final Verdict

Flowpaper provides an easy-to-use PDF flipbook experience with a visually appealing interface and a pro version that adds valuable features. However, users should be aware of its limitations, including inconsistent PDF loading, a restrictive file size limit, and past security vulnerabilities that have been addressed in updates.

While it competes with several strong alternatives, Flowpaper may suit users looking for simplicity and basic flipbook functionality. Those requiring more reliability, larger file support, or stronger security might consider exploring other options.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free flowpaper plugin.

Flip Book

Flipbook

Pdf Viewer

Viewer

Web Pdf Viewer

Screenshots

FAQ

It has a limitation of 15 megabytes for publications that are not hosted on FlowPaper cloud. Self hosted publications reaches the majority of devices and browsers. For full browser coverage and for more options on styling the viewer, please visit the FlowPaper home page.