PDF file merging is the process of combining two or more files with a .pdf extension in a single document. This is beneficial in many situations, for example, if you want to put different articles together in a single document.
Merging pdf files in free software is a powerful way for managing your files. I have got some pdf files on my computer and I think they are in large volume, but it’s a waste of time to open each page and print them one by one. So how can I merge them into one file? If you ever encounter the same problem, this tool will be very useful for you.
PDF file merge tool – pdf is the world’s most popular document exchange format. It uses a layered architecture and permits files of any size and structure to be split over many files and then reassembled by the document recipient. The resultant file can be viewed using a free adobe pdf reader. Pdf is the first choice for documents and other static and dynamic documents that are used for information sharing via the internet or email, etc
SmallPDF
If you’re going to shell out money for a PDF merger, SmallPDF is one of your best options. In addition to merging an unlimited number of files, this platform includes tools for converting between document formats, signing PDFs, and securing files. You can merge PDFs, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and JPGs seamlessly.
SmallPDF shows you thumbnails of your PDFs and enables you to easily drag and drop files to reorder them. You can also delete individual pages while merging documents, which is nice if you need to eliminate cover pages or other extraneous sheets. Once you merge your PDFs, you can download the new file or save it directly to Dropbox or Google Drive.
You can try SmallPDF free for 7 days, and after that, you can subscribe either monthly or annually. It’s a bit of an investment, but it can be well worth it if you work with PDFs often.
PDFSam Basic
PDFSam Basic is a free and open-source that is both a PDF merger and splitter. Just like TalkHelper PDF Converter, you can choose to combine specific pages, page ranges, or the entire PDFs. This software goes past this to help you organize the bookmarks of the merged PDF documents by allowing you to drop the existing ones to save space or create new bookmarks altogether.
Also, you have the option to add a table of contents at the beginning of the merged PDF to facilitate easy navigation. Besides, you can rotate the PDF pages, mix them by taking pages from each PDF alternately, not forgetting the option to split PDFs at predefined pages, after every n pages, by size, or by bookmarks.
Pros:
- Allows you to rotate PDFs before merging
- Offers bookmark and AcroForm management options
- Allows you to add a table of contents
- Also functions as an avid PDF splitter
- Allows you to mix PDFs
- Supports partial PDF merging
Cons:
- Requires java to function
Soda PDF
Soda PDF delivers a family of online tools including the one to merge PDF documents. The online version is more popular but still you can work offline using the desktop version of Soda PDF. It is a free and easy solution that also happens to integrate popular cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox.
Once you have added the PDF files to merge, you get the chance to change their order to suit your needs. The good thing is that, even while you can make such an alteration, the original size and orientation of the PDF pages remain intact. Also, using the PDF Split tool, you get to remove any unwanted pages from the original document.
Pros:
- Batch PDF import options
- Integrates Dropbox and Google Drive cloud services
- Keeps the original PDF size and orientation
- Provides a PDF Split tool
- Available for online and offline use
- Security and privacy are guaranteed
Cons:
- The free version limits size and daily usage
iLovePDF
iLovePDF is another top online PDF merger software and still offers a desktop version for offline enthusiasts. With it, you can quickly combine PDF files and be ready to download the output in a matter of seconds.
But before you can export the merged PDF files, you get the chance to rotate the PDFs and rearrange the PDFs alphabetically, including reverse, or simply drag and drop PDFs to specify a custom arrangement. Also, the Google Drive and Dropbox cloud services are integrated to facilitate convenient PDF file import and saving. Even better, you are opened up to high levels of efficiency while keeping your documents away from unauthorized access using encrypted connections.
Pros:
- Allows you to rotate PDFs before merging
- You are free to rearrange the PDFs
- Your documents remain safe and secure
- Supports Google Drive and Dropbox services
- Very fast and straightforward
Cons:
- Limited free version
PDF Converter
PDF Converter is a reliable PDF merger that can handle most of your file needs. You can merge PDFs, Word documents, images, and more through seamless conversion. The web-based merge tool is easy to use and enables you to drag and drop files to reorder them. When you’re done, you can compress your new PDF to save space on your hard drive.
The catch to this tool is that its name is misleading. PDF Converter allows you to conduct just one merge for free per hour. So, once you merge files, you’ll need to wait 60 minutes before you can merge any more unless you purchase a Premium subscription. Subscription options include monthly, yearly, or a one-time lifetime license that comes with priority account support.
The most important thing about PDF Converter for some users, however, will be the fact that all uploads are secured with 256-bit encryption. For any individuals that frequently convert sensitive documents into PDFs, this feature could make PDF Converter a must-have.
PDFBinder
PDFBinder is an overly simple PDF merge tool that allows you to combine an unlimited number of PDF documents into a single PDF file. With this PDF combine tool, you get to say goodbye to slow, cumbersome, and expensive software.
Even for large PDFs, PDFBinder sees exemplary speeds without any quality compromise; the original file sizes remain intact. Also, you are free to arrange the PDFs to match your preferred order before you hit the merge button. This PDF merger is pretty lightweight too, making a small footprint on the computer resources and the simple UI helps to accommodate first-timers without any steep learning curve.
Pros:
- Absolutely free
- Fast output delivery
- Retains the original document size
- Supports the drag-and-drop option
- Easy to use
Cons:
- No editing features at all
- No option to insert a PDF in another
PDF Split Or Merge
PDF Split Or Merge is a free and powerful utility that lets you merge or split PDF files. You can merge two or more PDF files together in four simple steps. You can reorder the files before merging. You can merge files in seconds. It is an easy-to-use software and has a nice interface.
PDF Helper
PDF Helper is free software that splits or merges PDF files. To merge PDF files you need to put two or more files in the input folder of PDF Helper as c:\temp\pdfhelper\input then launch PdfHelper.exe from the extracted folder and click Start, the merged result will be in c:\temp\pdfhelper\output folder with the name of merged.pdf file. The merge sequence is based upon input files’ name sequence.
Ultra PDF Merger
Ultra PDF Merger is a free software to merge multiple files into a single PDF. It is very easy to use and has a nice interface. You can add PDF files from any location to its window through add button. You can rearrange the order of merging files by moving up or down any file. When done, click the merge files button and give the name and the destination folder for a merged file. It comes as portable software.
Arduo PDF Merger
Arduo PDF Merger is a free software to merge and split PDF files easily. You can merge multiple PDF files or only a part into a new PDF file. You can add PDF files to its window and can change or set the merging order. The program has a very easy interface and is easy to use.
Conclusion
PDF (Portable Document Format) is the de facto standard for document exchange and archiving. pdf conversion is one of the most often tasks in document management, document conversion research also. There are tons of scenarios where you have to process a bulk of pdf files in a variety of various ways, for example searching for a keyword, splitting a book-size pdf into parts, combining a few documents into one, extracting marked pages from a multipage TIFF image, etc. You might be saying that there are some specialized tools on the market that have been crafted specifically for those particular tasks. But these kinds of tools can either cost hundreds of dollars or just not work as required because they were made with specific needs of specific clients in mind.