How to merge or split PDF files without paid software

You often need to join several PDF files to send them together, or pull two pages out of a long document. You do not need paid software: you can do both in your browser in minutes.

Merging PDF files

1. Open the Merge PDF tool and add your files.
2. Reorder them with the arrows: the first file in the list becomes the first pages of the result.
3. Click merge and download the file.

Tip: start your file names with a number (01, 02…) so they show up in order when you select them.

Extracting pages or splitting a file

In the Split PDF tool type the pages you want, for example 1-3, 5, 8- means pages 1 to 3, page 5, then 8 to the end. Or choose “Each page as a file” to get one file per page inside a ZIP.

Common problems

The file is password-protected

Encrypted files can only be processed after you remove the protection in a way you are allowed to.

The result is too large

Merging does not compress. If the size comes from images, convert the pages to images, compress them and turn them back into a PDF.

Pages are in an unexpected order

Page numbers in the tool start at 1 in file order and may differ from the numbers printed on the paper.

Summary

Merging and splitting are among the simplest PDF operations. Use the free tools and check the result before sending it.