---
title: "Instant Access vs. Request PDF: Comparing Document Delivery Options"
description: "ReadCube users with **document delivery** have two ways to access full-text articles: **Instant On-Demand Access** and **Request PDF**. ### **Instant On-Demand Access** Instant document delivery is available for specific publishers. Here's how it works: 1. Once an article is purchased,…"
url: "https://about.readcube.com/help-center/instant-access-vs-request-pdf-comparing-document-delivery-options/"
updated: "2025-05-14"
category: Installation and Setup
---

# Instant Access vs. Request PDF: Comparing Document Delivery Options

ReadCube users with **document delivery** have two ways to access full-text articles: **Instant On-Demand Access** and **Request PDF**.

### **Instant On-Demand Access**

Instant document delivery is available for specific publishers. Here's how it works:

1. Once an article is purchased, you have **full-text access** to the PDF.
2. On the publisher page, the **browser extension** will display a **Get PDF** option.
3. Select **Get PDF** to see a 1-page preview of the article.
4. In the preview, a **Buy PDF** button will appear. Select this to purchase full-text access to the article.
5. The article will also be automatically imported into your **ReadCube library**.

![](https://about.readcube.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image-4-1024x660.png)

![](https://about.readcube.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image-5-1024x367.png)

### **Request PDF** **(with DOI)**

If the **full-text PDF** (with a DOI) is not immediately available, you can request to purchase the article through document delivery. These requests are usually fulfilled within 48-hours.

To order an article through document delivery follow the steps below:

1. Click the **Request PDF** option.

![](https://about.readcube.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/request-pdf-readcube-document-delivery-1024x598.png)

1. You will receive a confirmation email when the request is placed in the queue.

![](https://about.readcube.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/purchase-request-confirmation-email-document-delivery-readcube-1024x705.png)

1. When the order is fulfilled and the PDF is available, you will get an email notification with a direct link to the article in ReadCube.

Requested PDFs will typically be saved in your **personal ReadCube library**, unless your organization has set up a custom workflow.

### **Request PDF** **(without DOI)**

You can also request an article even if it does not have a DOI. These requests are usually fulfilled within 48-hours, though make take longer in some cases. To do this, look for the "Request PDF" option:

![](https://about.readcube.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image-9.png)

## **Cancel a PDF Request**

If you no longer need the article or mistakenly requested it, you can **cancel** the request:

1. Click the **Get PDF** button again and you'll see an option to "Cancel Order", which will remove the order from the queue

![](https://about.readcube.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image-7-1024x402.png)

1. You will also receive a cancellation confirmation email.

![](https://about.readcube.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cancellation-email-readcube-document-delviery-1024x678.png)