When you sell physical products online, customers can see photos from every angle. When you sell digital documents, eBooks, templates, reports, worksheets, guides, customers see a title, a description, and a buy button. They’re essentially buying blind.
That’s a conversion killer. Buyers want to flip through a few pages, check the formatting, evaluate the writing quality, and see if the content matches what they need. Without a preview, many potential buyers hesitate and leave.
Document Preview for WooCommerce solves this by embedding a document viewer directly on your product pages. Customers can browse through preview pages of your PDF, DOCX, or other document files before purchasing, just like the “Look Inside” feature on Amazon.
What Is Document Preview for WooCommerce?
Document Preview for WooCommerce is a plugin that adds an interactive document viewer to your WooCommerce product pages. Buyers can read, scroll, and browse through a limited number of preview pages without downloading anything. After purchase, they get the full document.
Here’s what the plugin provides:
- Embedded document viewer, Preview documents directly on the product page without downloads or external tools
- Page limit control, Choose how many pages buyers can preview (first 5 pages, first 10, etc.)
- Multiple format support, Preview PDFs, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, and other common document formats
- Watermark protection, Add watermarks to preview pages to prevent screenshots from replacing purchases
The experience is seamless: buyers browse the preview on the product page, decide if the content meets their needs, and purchase with confidence.
Key Features
In-Page Document Viewer
The viewer embeds directly in the product page, no popups, no new tabs, no plugins required on the buyer’s end. They see the document rendered cleanly with page navigation, zoom controls, and a page counter. It works in every modern browser on desktop and mobile.
Configurable Page Limits
You decide exactly how much content to show. Set a global default (e.g., first 5 pages for all products) or customize per product. An eBook might preview the table of contents plus the first chapter. A template pack might show 3 of 20 templates. A research report might preview the executive summary.
Watermark Protection
The Pro version adds customizable watermarks to preview pages. Text watermarks (“PREVIEW, Purchase for Full Document”), image watermarks (your logo), or both. This prevents buyers from screenshotting preview pages as a substitute for purchasing, while still showing enough to evaluate quality.
Multiple Document Formats
The plugin handles the most common document formats:
- PDF, The most popular format for eBooks, reports, and guides
- DOCX, Word documents for templates, contracts, and editable content
- XLSX, Spreadsheets for financial templates, trackers, and data tools
- PPTX, Presentations and slide decks
Separate Preview Files
You can upload a separate preview file that’s different from the downloadable product. This is useful when you want to create a curated preview, a PDF with selected pages from different sections rather than just the first few pages sequentially.
Responsive and Mobile-Ready
The document viewer adapts to any screen size. On mobile, it adjusts to portrait orientation with pinch-to-zoom and swipe navigation. Pages render clearly on both Retina and standard displays.
Free vs. Pro
Embedded document viewerYesYes
PDF previewYesYes
DOCX/XLSX/PPTX previewLimitedFull support
Page limit controlGlobal onlyPer-product
Watermark protectionNoText + image watermarks
Custom preview filesNoYes
Viewer customizationBasicFull styling control
Download preventionBasicAdvanced
AnalyticsNoView counts, page depth
Start with the free version to test the concept. Upgrade to Pro when you need watermarking, per-product preview settings, multi-format support, or viewer analytics.
Who Should Use Document Preview?
eBook Authors and Publishers
Self-published authors and digital publishers can let readers sample the first chapter or key sections before buying. This mimics the experience readers get on Amazon or Apple Books and significantly increases conversion rates for unknown authors or niche topics.
Template Marketplaces
Selling resume templates, business plan templates, social media templates, or design assets? Buyers need to see the actual template, not just a thumbnail. Document Preview lets them browse through the full layout, check formatting, and evaluate quality before purchasing.
Research and Report Sellers
Market research firms, analysts, and consultants who sell reports can preview the executive summary and table of contents. Buyers see enough to confirm the report covers their industry, while the detailed findings remain behind the paywall.
Educational Content Creators
Teachers, tutors, and course creators selling worksheets, study guides, lesson plans, or educational materials can show sample pages. Parents and educators can evaluate whether the content matches their curriculum needs and difficulty level.
Recipe Collections and Cookbooks
Food bloggers and chefs selling digital cookbooks can preview a few recipes, showing the photography, formatting, and recipe style. If the preview recipes look appealing, buyers are confident the full collection is worth purchasing.
Legal and Business Document Sellers
Contract templates, NDA templates, business agreements, and legal form packs benefit from previews. Buyers can check that the document structure, clauses, and formatting match their needs before purchasing.
How to Set Up Document Preview
Step 1: Install and Activate
Download the free version from WordPress.org or purchase Document Preview Pro. Install and activate through your WordPress dashboard. The plugin requires WooCommerce to be active.
Step 2: Configure Settings
Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Document Preview. Set your global preview page limit, enable or disable watermarking (Pro), choose the viewer style, and configure download protection settings.
Step 3: Add Previews to Products
Edit any WooCommerce product and find the Document Preview section. Upload the document you want to preview, this can be the same file as the downloadable product (the plugin will limit visible pages) or a separate curated preview file.
Step 4: Set Page Limits
Choose how many pages to preview for this product. The default uses your global setting, but you can override it per product. Consider the content type: eBooks need more preview pages than one-page templates.
Step 5: Add Watermarks (Pro)
If you’re selling premium content, enable watermarking. Add your text (“PREVIEW COPY”), your logo, or both. Position and opacity are customizable so the watermark is visible but doesn’t obscure the content.
Document Preview vs. Other Approaches
Document Preview pluginInteractive viewer on pagePage limits + watermarksLow (plugin)
Screenshot imagesStatic, no interactionNone (images are public)Manual per product
Sample PDF downloadSeparate downloadMinimalManual per product
Google Docs embedExternal viewer, clunkyNonePer product setup
No preview at allBuy blindMaximum (nothing shown)None
Document Preview gives the best balance: buyers get an interactive, professional preview experience while you maintain control over how much content is visible and protected.
Tips for Selling Digital Documents
- Preview strategically. Show enough to demonstrate value but not so much that there’s no reason to buy. For a 200-page eBook, 10-15 preview pages is generous. For a 5-page template, show 1-2 pages.
- Include the table of contents. For longer documents, always include the table of contents in the preview. It tells buyers exactly what’s covered and helps them decide if the content matches their needs.
- Use watermarks on premium content. If your documents sell for $20+, watermarking prevents the most common form of piracy (screenshots shared on social media or forums).
- Optimize your preview file. If using a separate preview file, curate it to show the best parts, not just the first pages. Include a mix of content that demonstrates variety and quality.
- Combine with strong descriptions. The preview shows quality; your description should sell the value. Include what buyers will learn, achieve, or save by purchasing the full document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can buyers copy text from the preview?
The plugin disables text selection in the document viewer by default. Combined with watermarking, this provides solid protection against casual content theft. The Pro version offers additional copy-protection settings.
Does the preview load quickly?
Yes. The viewer renders pages on demand as the buyer scrolls, it doesn’t load the entire document at once. First page load is nearly instant, and subsequent pages render as needed. Large documents preview just as quickly as small ones.
Can I use different preview files for different product variations?
Yes, with the Pro version. You can assign different preview documents to different WooCommerce product variations. This is useful for bundle products where each tier includes different documents.
Does it work with membership or subscription plugins?
Yes. Document Preview works with any WooCommerce product type, including subscription products. You can offer document previews for subscription-gated content, giving potential subscribers a taste of what they’ll access.
What’s the maximum file size for preview documents?
The plugin handles documents up to your server’s WordPress upload limit (typically 64MB-128MB). However, for best performance, keep preview files under 20MB. If your full document is larger, use a separate, optimized preview file.