Best PDF merger tool of 2024

Trending 1 month ago
An image of an archive pinch drawer open, showing files.
(Image credit: Shutterstock / 300 librarians)

We database nan champion PDF merger tools, to make it elemental and easy to harvester documents together into 1 file.

We put nan apical devices to nan trial to spot which makes for nan champion workflow. 

The easiest measurement to merge a PDF is via conscionable astir immoderate of nan best PDF editors. For those regularly utilizing PDFs to store, sign, These are nan perfect prime if you’re a regular PDF personification and request entree to an precocious statement of devices beyond PDF merge software, for illustration redaction devices and PDF to Excel converters.

Some of nan best free PDF editors and very fewer of nan best free PDF readers besides characteristic a free PDF online merger, but they tin beryllium much limited. Extra devices extracurricular of a basal editor, viewer, and collaboration features are often locked down a paywall. 

Whether you’re collating invoices and reports aliases stitching full web pages into 1 document, we’ve tested nan champion PDF merger package online, successful app, and connected your desktop. We went hands-on to trial nan champion programs for merging PDFs, comparing usability, speed, and checking retired further features for a amended archive guidance workflow. 

Reduce PDF record sizes fast with nan best PDF compressors.


Why you tin spot TechRadar We walk hours testing each merchandise aliases work we review, truthful you tin beryllium judge you’re buying nan best. Find retired much astir really we test.

Best PDF merger instrumentality overall

Online PDF editor Soda PDF successful action

(Image credit: Soda PDF)

Our apical PDF merging program

Reasons to buy

+

All-in-one PDF software

+

Available for web and desktop

+

Limited free type available

+

Connects to unreality storage

Reasons to avoid

-

No page reordering successful free version

-

Doesn’t see PDF encryption

Soda PDF is an all-in-one level pinch a stellar PDF merger app. What’s peculiarly bully astir this level is that it’s disposable some connected nan web and arsenic desktop package for Windows and Mac. 

Both versions of nan level link to Dropbox and Google Drive truthful you tin quickly entree your files successful nan cloud. This is peculiarly useful successful nan era of distant working, wherever individuals often usage aggregate different devices to negociate their files. With Soda PDF's unreality options, you shouldn't person to interest astir wherever you've saved your PDF documents. You tin besides email merged PDFs correct from nan software. 

During our testing of nan software, we recovered " you person galore devices astatine your disposal to merge aggregate documents together, insert aliases extract pages, switch them aliases move them around. There’s moreover a instrumentality to export nan images embedded successful a PDF."

Overall, we thought nan package was incredibly accessible, offering conscionable astir each instrumentality you request to edit and manipulate PDFs.

You tin usage Soda PDF for free, but this type is somewhat limited. You can’t reorder individual pages aliases person betwixt record types. Paid subscriptions are disposable arsenic an yearly fee, aliases arsenic a one-time licence interest and comes pinch customer support.

Read our afloat Soda PDF review.

  • ^ Back to nan top

Best free online PDF merger tool

ILovePDF website screenshot

(Image credit: ILovePDF)

A free PDF merging instrumentality successful your browser

Reasons to buy

+

Connects to Google Drive and Dropbox

+

Drag and driblet to rearrange

+

Free up to 25 files

+

Includes different PDF tools

Reasons to avoid

-

Pricey to merge much than 25 files

-

Ads erstwhile utilizing free version

I Love PDF is simply a one-stop shop for moving pinch PDFs and includes a elemental instrumentality for merging files. You person to upload your PDFs to nan online level to commencement nan merge process, but this process is made easy acknowledgment to a resistance and driblet option. You tin besides link I Love PDF to your Google Drive aliases Dropbox accounts. 

When we tried retired nan tool, we felt offered galore devices for manipulating PDFs documents - though it's not imaginable to alteration nan existing contented successful nan files. On nan different hand, you tin still adhd further matter boxes, shapes, images, and more. Overall, it's an easy PDF merger, and nan output is of awesome quality.

Among nan fantabulous features connected connection successful this PDF merging program, you tin merge, split, compress, convert, unlock and watermark PDFs pinch conscionable a fewer clicks. Once your files are online, you tin rotate pages aliases resistance and driblet PDFs to rearrange nan merge order. The level displays thumbnails of each page to make moving pinch your files easier. When you’re ready, conscionable click ‘Merge PDF’ and your caller archive will download automatically. 

I Love PDF is free for merging up to 25 PDFs and 100 MB successful total. A Premium relationship is disposable for a mini monthly interest and enables you to merge up to 200 files aliases up to 1 GB of data. However, nan inclusion of ads and a 25-file limit is surely not bad for a free solution. If you don't want to salary for your PDF merger, past this is nan instrumentality to spell for. 

Read our afloat I Love PDF review.

  • ^ Back to nan top

Best PDF merger instrumentality for Mac

Apple Preview User Guide website screenshot

(Image credit: Apple)

The cleanable prime for Apple users

Reasons to buy

+

Free, built by Apple

+

Comes preinstalled connected Mac

+

Limited but powerful editing tools

+

Ability to merge, annotate, and motion PDF files

Reasons to avoid

-

No OCR software

-

Not a afloat PDF editor for illustration Acrobat

Apple Preview is arguably nan champion PDF merge package for Mac - if only because it's free and comes pre-installed connected each modern Macs. 

Built by Apple, nan PDF manipulator isn't rather arsenic feature-filled arsenic rivals specified arsenic Adobe Acrobat and Nitro PDF Pro. But erstwhile we tested retired nan software, we were delighted pinch nan results. 

The first-party PDF package houses plentifulness of tools, including an elegant PDF merger and nan action to simply and seamlessly harvester PDFs. 

"One of nan champion PDF readers connected nan Mac which besides comes pinch powerful editing functions," we wrote successful our review, "Apple’s Preview should beryllium capable to cater to each but nan astir demanding PDF roadworthy warriors."

When it comes to PDF editing, Apple Preview is somewhat lacking. It's mostly constricted to reordering, rotating, and removing pages from documents. And there’s nary measurement to edit PDF matter here.  

But if you're a Mac proprietor who needs to swiftly merge PDF files, Apple Preview makes nan occupation a breeze.

Read our afloat Apple Preview review.

  • ^ Back to nan top

Best PDF merger instrumentality for ample files

PDFsam Basic website screenshot

(Image credit: PDFsam)

No record limits here

Reasons to buy

+

Desktop-based PDF merger

+

Works for Windows, Mac, and Linux

+

No record limits

+

Easily reorder individual pages

Reasons to avoid

-

Doesn’t link to unreality storage

-

No customer support

PDFSam Basic is simply a desktop-based PDF merging package for Windows, Mac, and Linux. In stark opposition to galore of its competitors, PDFSam doesn’t enforce immoderate limits connected really galore files you tin merge aliases really often you tin usage nan tool. The app besides offers batch processing devices if you person aggregate documents to woody with. 

Of course, you get what you salary for. This package has a alternatively elemental interface that tin merge and divided PDFs and alteration you to quickly reorder pages, but that’s astir it. You cannot link to your unreality retention aliases automatically email aliases stock merged PDFs from nan tool. It besides does not see record conversion, truthful you’ll request different instrumentality aliases you’ll person to upgrade to PDFSam Enhanced if you want to operation and lucifer record types.

Read our afloat PDFsam Basic review.

  • ^ Back to nan top

Best PDF merger instrumentality for intermediates

SmallPDF website screenshot

(Image credit: SmallPDF)

A awesome instrumentality pinch a awesome toolkit

Reasons to buy

+

Includes archive conversion tools

+

Delete individual pages during merge

+

Save merged PDFs to Drive aliases Dropbox

+

Free 14-day trial

Reasons to avoid

-

Expensive for PDF merging

-

Files are deleted aft 1 hour

-

Batch upload doesn’t ever work

If you’re going to ammunition retired money for a PDF merger, SmallPDF is 1 of your champion options. In summation to merging an unlimited number of files, this level includes devices for converting betwixt archive formats, signing PDFs, and securing files. You tin merge PDFs, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and JPGs seamlessly. 

SmallPDF shows you thumbnails of your PDFs and enables you to easy resistance and driblet files to reorder them. You tin besides delete individual pages while merging documents, which is bully if you request to destruct screen pages aliases different extraneous sheets. Once you merge your PDFs, you tin download nan caller record aliases prevention it straight to Dropbox aliases Google Drive. 

You tin effort SmallPDF free for 7 days, and aft that you tin subscribe either monthly aliases annually. It’s a spot of an investment, but it tin beryllium good worthy it if you activity pinch PDFs often.

Read our afloat SmallPDF review.

  • ^ Back to nan top

Best PDF merger instrumentality for privacy

PDF Converter website screenshot

(Image credit: PDF Converter)

6. PDF Converter

Keep it secret, support it safe

Reasons to buy

+

Seamless archive conversion

+

Drag and driblet files to reorder them

+

All uploads secured pinch 256-bit encryption

+

Premium subscription comes pinch support

Reasons to avoid

-

Only 1 free merge per hour

-

Doesn’t merge pinch unreality storage

-

Files removed aft 3 hours

PDF Converter is simply a reliable PDF merger that tin grip astir of your record needs. You tin merge PDFs, Word documents, images, and much done seamless conversion. The web-based merge instrumentality is easy to usage and enables you to resistance and driblet files to reorder them. When you’re done, you tin compress your caller PDF to prevention abstraction connected your difficult drive. 

The drawback to this instrumentality is that its sanction is misleading. PDF Converter allows you to behaviour conscionable 1 merge for free per hour. So, erstwhile you merge files, you’ll request to hold 60 minutes earlier you tin merge immoderate much unless you acquisition a Premium subscription. Subscription options see monthly, yearly, aliases a one-time life licence that comes pinch privilege relationship support.

The astir important point astir PDF Converter for immoderate users, however, will beryllium nan truth that each uploads are secured pinch 256-bit encryption. For immoderate individuals that predominant person delicate documents into PDFs, this characteristic could make PDF Converter a must-have.

  • ^ Back to nan top

Best PDF merger instrumentality FAQs

How to take nan champion PDF merge package for you

When deciding which PDF merge package aliases merger package is best, first see fund and platform. While afloat PDFs usually person desktop package and mobile apps, immoderate free devices only connection an online PDF merger. Handy - unless you don't person net connection.

Some of nan free PDF merger devices person regular merge limits aliases different record limits, truthful cheque nan app’s guidelines if you person plentifulness of files to merge. Similarly, if you’re moving pinch delicate documents, you’ll want to cheque for offline PDF merger tools, particularly ones that connection precocious information and encryption.

It's often worthy investing successful afloat featured PDF merger package if you usage PDF files often, and request a scope of further features for illustration nan best eSignature software, best OCR software, and extras for illustration nan best PDF to PowerPoint converters.

What is PDF merging software?

PDF merger package enables users to merge aggregate PDFs into a azygous document. Most PDF editor package fto you merge and divided PDFs, giving you much power complete archive management.

PDF (Portable Document Format) files are designed for easy sharing and entree crossed each compatible devices. But these files cannot beryllium modified straight and you request typical package to make changes.

For much tips, spot our guideline How to harvester PDF files.

How we tested nan champion PDF merger tools

We've tested, reviewed, and rated a scope of PDF tools, including nan best PDF scholar for Windows, best PDF scholar for Mac, and nan best PDF scholar for Android. 

When testing nan champion PDF merge programs, tools, and package connected nan market, we're looking astatine a scope of factors. This includes personification interface and acquisition - we want to spot PDF merger apps and online sites to beryllium intuitive to navigate, pinch clear directions and prompts to merge (or divided aliases convert) documents. As portion of this, we measure output value - nan very champion PDF merge package are adept astatine seamlessly combining PDF files together successful conscionable a fewer clicks. 

Pricing is simply a matter we return serious. We people comparison nan worth of each instrumentality against competitors to guarantee users are getting nan champion woody for their money. All charges, from subscriptions to life licenses, must beryllium displayed to users. Free PDF merger devices must genuinely connection nan work free, and immoderate paid-for upgrades must beryllium intelligibly signposted.

As portion of our wide tests, we besides measure optional extras and much precocious features, giving america a amended thought really each constituent of nan package useful together for nan user's benefit.

Create files for your connection processor pinch nan best free PDF to Word converters.

Get successful touch

  • Want to find retired astir commercialized aliases trading opportunities? Click here
  • Out of day info, errors, complaints aliases surgery links? Give america a nudge
  • Got a proposal for a merchandise aliases work provider? Message america directly
  • You've reached nan extremity of nan page. Jump backmost up to nan top ^

Sign up to nan TechRadar Pro newsletter to get each nan apical news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!

Barclay has been penning astir exertion for a decade, starting retired arsenic a freelancer pinch ITProPortal covering everything from London’s start-up segment to comparisons of nan champion unreality retention services.  After that, he spent immoderate clip arsenic nan managing editor of an online outlet focusing connected unreality computing, furthering his liking successful virtualization, Big Data, and nan Internet of Things. 

More
Source Technology
Technology