Mario Nosbisch

#1. TalkHelper PDF Converter (Recommended)

TalkHelper PDF Converter is your all-in-one go-to PDF splitter software that has both speedy PDF split options and high accuracy concomitant to it. This PDF converter is superior enough to split both native and scanned PDF files, at a page level, without any hiccups.

This means that both the layout and formatting will remain intact even after the split. And when you have a ton of PDF documents to split, calling the batch convert feature is your best bet to save a great deal of time and effort.

For convenience when locating the split PDF pages, TalkHelper PDF Converter adds a "split" suffix to the original filename to differentiate the new files. Other than that, you have a pretty straightforward interface that poses no steep learning curve.

Pros:

• High-speed processing without quality loss
• Offers batch PDF split options
• Allows you to extract specific PDF pages or page ranges
• Comprehensive Windows support
• Offers options to merge the extracted PDFs

Cons:

• Windows only

Supported Platforms: Windows Vista/7/8/8.1/10/11

Best for: A comprehensive batch and partial PDF splitting process, offline, on the Windows platform.

#2. PDFsam Split and Merge

PDFsam is a free and open-source tool to split PDFs that is available on the most popular desktop platforms. This PDF splitter offers various ways that you can base your split task for flexibility purposes. You can choose to split PDF files after every page, after every odd/even page, after certain pages, or after a specific page range.

Also, you can opt to split your PDF documents into smaller files of a given size or by bookmark level. Apart from these split options, PDFsam also allows you to extract specific pages or page ranges that you can export in an entirely new PDF file ready for further actions. Keep in mind that batch processing options are also at your disposal.

Pros:

• Split PDFs based on pages, size, or bookmark levels
• Extract specific pages or page ranges
• Batch processing options are available
• Free and open-source
• Allow you to customize the output filename
• Offers a portable and command-line version

Cons:

• No editing options

Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

Best for: Splitting PDFs at predefined pages, specific pages, or size and bookmark level, all for free across multiple platforms.

#3. Adobe Acrobat

Just like PDFsam, Adobe Acrobat brings in high levels of flexibility in the process of splitting PDF files. First, you get to split PDF documents by the number of pages, file size (in MBs), or by top-level bookmarks. You are free to split multiple PDFs simultaneously too, besides access to file labeling options. To be specific, you can use bookmark names for file names and whether to add labels and numbers before or after the original name.

Besides, you are open to extract pages from a PDF with the option to delete pages after extraction or saving the extracted PDF pages as separate PDFs. Even better, you are provided with options to edit the PDF documents by applying page rotations where necessary.

Pros:

• Allows you to split/edit multiple pages at once
• Offers a dedicated batch PDF splitter tool
• Split documents by bookmark level, number of pages, or file size
• Offers an option to extract PDF pages
• Boasts some editing options like page rotation
• Very fast and efficient

Cons:

• Expensive

Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, Mobile, Web-based

Best for: Quickly separate PDFs into separate files of the highest quality, both online and offline.

#4. Icecream PDF Split & Merge

Icecream PDF Split & Merge presents several split modes to choose from; split PDF files into single-page documents, split by a group of pages, by page ranges, and even get rid of certain unwanted pages from a PDF with ease. The split PDF documents can also be merged easily into a single file when the need arises.

Also, this PDF splitter supports password-protected documents and allows you to encrypt the output too to restrict access. Even better, you are free to process PDFs of any size with no limitations whatsoever. For convenience, you can split and merge PDFs from the Windows context menu, besides a built-in PDF viewer, 100% file security, and more options.

Pros:

• Multiple PDF split modes
• Supports password-protected PDFs
• No file size limitations
• Can be used from the Windows context menu
• Offers a built-in PDF viewer and merger

Cons:

• Limited free version

Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac

Best for: Splitting PDF documents (including password-protected ones) using various split modes, with no file size limitations, and options to edit the output file metadata.

#5. iLovePDF

iLovePDF is a web-based app that offers two distinct ways to split PDF files. The first one involves splitting by range where you can choose between custom and fixed pages ranges depending on your preference. The other is where you get to extract pages, all or select pages, to suit your needs.

In both methods, you have a nifty option of merging the split ranges or extracted pages into one PDF for easy management without the need to seek external tools. To save your storage resources on your device, you are free to use the integrated Google Drive and Dropbox cloud services to import or save the split PDFs.

Pros:

• Allows you to split PDFs and extract pages
• Integrates Dropbox and Google Drive cloud services
• Available for offline and online use
• Offers an option to merge PDF files
• Multiplatform

Cons:

• The free version has ads
• No editing options

Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, Mobile, Web-based

Best for: 100% free online PDF splitting in just a matter of clicks, with options to merge the output in a single PDF.

#6. PDF2Go

PDF2Go is another avid online PDF splitter tool that helps you to split selected PDF pages into individual documents, divide the PDF into several equal parts, or split the PDF after a certain range of pages. During this process, you can choose your preferred sort method and delete specific pages that you do not need in a PDF. The good thing is that you are not limited regarding the file length or size like what other apps do. As an online PDF split app, PDF2Go guarantees 100% file security and privacy at all times.

Pros:

• No file length or size limits
• Provides a Chrome and Firefox browser add-on
• Fast and free
• Can be used on multiple platforms
• Split PDFs from URLs, Dropbox, or Google Drive
• Offers several split modes

Cons:

• No option to batch split PDF files

Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, Mobile, Web-based

Best for: Secure, online PDF splitter software capable of splitting pages from any PDF no matter the length or size.

#7. PDF Utils (Android)

PDF splitting is not only a desktop thing but can also be done from Android devices including smartphones and tablets. This is made possible by the PDF Utils app that is lightweight, dedicated, free, and available for offline use. Using this Android app, you can split any page range from a PDF file hassle-free.

Also, you get the chance to delete pages from a PDF, besides access to a built-in mode to help merge PDF documents. The good thing about such an app is that you get to split PDFs even while you are on the go without being tied to a desktop setup. The straightforward interface also goes a long way to accommodate novice users.

Pros:

• Available for complete offline use
• Splits PDFs by custom page ranges
• Allows you to delete PDF pages easily
• Free to use
• Offers output encryption options
• Offers a PDF merger too

Cons:

• Ad-laden
• No batch processing options

Supported Platforms: Android

Best for: Offline and dedicated tool to split PDFs into smaller PDF files on Android, all for free.

At a Glance

Expert's Rating

Our Verdict

PDF Architect 6 Professional is an affordable business-ready Acrobat alternative that doesn't sacrifice performance for price.

PDF Architect 6 is billed as the only customizable PDF editor. What that means is it's offered as a free download and three different paid packages, each containing a specific set of PDF tools it calls "modules." These modules, which determine how much you can do with a PDF, can also be purchased individually based on your needs. We took a look at the business-ready Professional version, which comes with just about every available tool.

Like virtually every other PDF editor worth its salt, PDF Architect employs an Office-style ribbon interface that organizes tools in a baker's dozen of tabs. While the first 12 tabs cover common document tasks like creating, converting, reviewing, and securing PDFs, the 13th is an empty "custom" tab to which you can add your favorite tools and create a personalized ribbon bar. A series of tabs in the document pane let you navigate PDFs by page, thumbnail, bookmark, link, or text search.

You can create PDFs from scanned documents or from more than 300 file formats. PDF Architect also supports one-click conversion of PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML, text, rich text format, PDF/A, and image formats. In my tests, it had little problem faithfully reproducing documents in any of these formats. It also supports batch conversion.

This review is part of our best PDF editors roundup. Go there to learn about our testing and how all the competitors performed.

PDF Architect

The Review tab includes tools for highlighting, underlining, and striking out text. You can also annotate documents with sticky notes or the customizable stamping tool, and draw on the document freehand or with a selection of predefined shapes. The editor also allows you to compare document versions to track collaborative changes. If a document contains sensitive data that you don't want some recipients to see, you can secure all or part of the PDF with password encryption, permissions, redaction, or digital signatures.

A particular benefit for business settings is an optional e-sign feature that lets you send and track documents for e-signatures from right inside PDF Architect Professional. There are two ways to send for a signature: Quick Send allows you to quickly put a signature field on a document and shoot it out for a single signer, while Advanced Send enables you to more painstakingly prepare and package multiple documents for multiple signers.

PDF Architect Professional is available for a one-time fee of $109. PDF Architect Pro + OCR adds the ability to scan documents to editable PDFs and convert images in PDFs to editable text and make them searchable; it costs $139. The Standard version removes the collaboration, form creation, and security features and can be purchased for $69, while the free download just lets you view and create PDFs with limited editing power.

PDF Architect

The E-Sign service must be purchased separately, but an unlimited option that lifts restrictions on how many signatures you can request is available with any package for $40.

Bottom line

PDF Architect Professional is a flexible, easy-to-use PDF editor with all the tools you need to work with business documents. It's also one of the most affordable. If you need an inexpensive Acrobat alternative that doesn't sacrifice essential functionality, look no further.