12 Best PDF Merge Software in 2023
Jackson Kustec
jackson@macro.com
Some of the best PDF merge software are Marco, SmallPDF, PDFsam, i❤️PDF, PDF Converter, TinyWow, SodaPDF, UPDF, Adobe Acrobat, PDFCandy, PDFExpert, and Sejda PDF.
In this article, we will discuss these software’s merge functionalities and other PDF editing features.
What are the Best PDF Merge Tools?
When dealing with PDFs, merging is a powerful functionality. You might want to merge different book chapters, a finance report combining graphs and charts, or join multiple legal documents into one final contract.
The merge functionality helps streamline information, makes files easy to share, and helps maintain an organized digital workspace.
On that note, here are some of the best PDF merge software you can leverage to make your PDF merge process easy, quick, and efficient.
#1. Macro
Macro is an all-in-one PDF editor that combines ease of use and built-in intelligence, allowing you to draft smarter and faster.
It’s designed to be used by anyone from college students to Fortune 100 professionals.
With Macro's merge functionality, you can combine PDFs with just a few clicks and consolidate all the information into one PDF.
Here’s how easy it is to merge PDFs in Macro 👇
How to Merge PDF with Macro
Step 1: Open a PDF on Macro and click the ‘Pages’ icon (left-side top menu bar).
Step 2: Click ‘Organize, Export and Merge’ to open a dashboard.
From the dashboard, you can:
- Rearrange pages
- Select pages from the PDF you want to merge
- Merge PDFs
Step 3: To merge files as is, click ‘Add Files’ and add the second PDF file you want to merge with the already opened PDF.
Step 4: Select the PDF you want to merge and click ‘Open.’
And you’re done!
👀 Pro Tip: You can merge unlimited PDFs into one big PDF with Macro, for free.
Apart from the merge functionality, Macro can also help you edit PDFs.
Other Features
- Navigate PDFs with automatic hyperlinks and multiple tabs
- Compare multiple document versions and consolidate edits
- Convert Word documents into PDFs and vice versa
- Add, underline, strikethrough, and redact text with Macro’s PDF editor
- Comes with AI-powered error detection that helps you avoid costly contract mistakes
And much more…
Pricing
If you just want to merge PDFs, Macro lets you do it for free. But if you want to leverage the full platform for everythingPDF-related, and onboard your team, you can opt for Macro’s paid plans.
- Professional: $49 per month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
#2. SmallPDF
SmallPDF offers simple online tools that handle most necessary tasks when it comes toPDFs. Among these lies the PDF merge tool, which helps you combine multiple PDFs.
SmallPDF Merge Features
- A simple drag-and-drop interface allows users to easily upload multiple PDFs, rearrange, delete pages, or merge everything within seconds.
- Users get cloud-based storage to save edited or merged docs without worrying about device storage.
- Integrates with Dropbox and Google Drive, making it easy to upload, store, and share PDFs directly through the cloud.
Other Features
- SmallPDF has several other online tools to split, edit, e-sign or convert PDFs to other formats.
- Use SmallPDF on your PC, online, or on mobile.
Pricing
SmallPDF is a free-forever PDF merge software. However, for a smooth usage of the platform, you may need to opt on its paid plans:
Pro: $12 per month (per user)
Team: $10 per month (per user)
Business: Custom pricing
#3. PDFsam
PDFsam is a free, open-source PDF merge software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. You don't need a high-end PC to run the software. It can work easily on 64 bits, 256 MB RAM, and 70 MB disk space.
Besides its merge capabilities (the most popular module in PDFsam), the software comes with many modules for you to choose from.
PDFsam Merge Features
- Merge PDFs completely or partially. Meaning you get to select page ranges for every PDF file getting merged.
- While merging, choose discard, include, or even create a new bookmarks tree with one entry for every merged PDF file.
- If PDFs have Acroforms embedded, you can either completely discard them or merge and rename fields to create an entirely new form.
- Add ‘Table of Contents’ with clickable elements to enhance PDF’s navigability.
Other Features
- Split PDFs into separate documents based on triggers: file size, bookmarks, 'n' pages, even or odd pages, and more.
- PDF Mix module lets you shuffle two or more PDF files setting pages in straight or reverse order, perfect for merging single-sided scans.
- PDFsam offers other modules like rotate, extract, and insert - to help merge PDFs in different ways.
Pricing
For merging PDFs, PDFSam is a free to use tool. You can download its desktop app and get started.
#4. i❤️PDF
When working with PDFs, i❤️PDF has got everything covered. It offers a complete suite of free, easy-to-use tools to: organize, merge, edit, convert, and protect PDF documents. Most importantly, the entire suite is available online, mobile, desktop, and REST API.
i❤️PDF Merge Features
- Simple drag-and-drop function to import PDFs into the online merge tool. You can also import PDFs from Dropbox or Google Drive.
- Share merged PDF documents via smart, shareable links or directly download them to your phone via QR code.
- If you use the tool’s online version, uploaded PDFs or remaining archives get automatically deleted within two hours.
Other Features
- Access over 25+ tools to organize, optimize, edit, convert, and secure PDFs.
- The platform is translated into 25 languages; choose yours from the menu.
- Premium features include managing in-house teams, adding a watermark, resetting page numbers, and more.
Pricing
i❤️PDF’s free version has merge limitations such as file size barriers (25 MB) and batch upload limits (25 files). Besides, the free version only works online. To get rid of these constraints, you can opt for premium subscriptions. Such as:
- Premium: $7 per month
- Business: Custom pricing
#5. PDF Converter
PDF Converter is an easy-to-use free online PDF merge software. Although free, this platform has limited features. Besides, it has a 30-minute wait time after every file is processed. To avoid wait time and get premium features, you must sign up for paid plans.
PDF Converter Merge Features
- Users can merge multiple file formats such as PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, JPG, PNG, and more.
- With PDF Converter, you can mix and merge PDF and JPG files. The tool automatically converts any other format to PDF and merges them.
- Gives options to choose files from the system or load files from cloud apps like Dropbox, Google Drive, and URLs.
- Simple drag-and-drop interface makes PDF merging a quick and easy process.
- Merged PDF files are encrypted using a 256-bit encryption system. This ensures that the information processed remains secured from threats during downloading.
Other Features
- Get unlimited access to 21+ PDF tools for editing and no limits on the number of PDF conversions or file size.
- Advanced features like custom compression, PDFA support, custom protection, etc.
- Uploaded files automatically get deleted three hours after every merging process.
Pricing
PDFconverter is a membership platform. The platform’s membership plans are as follows:
- Monthly: $6
- Yearly: $48 (discounted price)
- Lifetime: $99
#6. TinyWow
TinyWow offers a repository of over 200 online tools that help more than 1 million active users solve daily-life problems related to – Images, Video, Creative Block, and PDFs.
The platform has 45+ PDF editing tools, one of which is the online PDF merge software.
TinyWow Merge Features
- Comes with an easy-to-use interface, simple drag-and-drop features, and click-and-done functions.
- The integration with Google Drive makes it easy to upload and save PDFs on the cloud without leaving the platform.
- TinyWow makes it easy for you to download merged PDFs. Get it downloaded on your system, scan QRs to get files on your smartphone, or upload directly to Google Drive.
- Send PDFs to any other tool in the TinyWow appverse with a single click.
Other Features
- Excellent data compliance as uploaded files are automatically deleted 1 hr after upload.
- Other PDF tools include PDF translator (35+ languages), password remover, organizer, conversions, and more.
Pricing
TinyWow is a free-forever tool.
#7. SodaPDF
SodaPDF is a one-stop solution for all your PDF-related work. The software has almost every tool in its arsenal to edit, merge, and rearrange PDFs.
Meanwhile, it's a trusted PDF solution for renowned companies like TATA, government organizations like NASA, and financial institutions like Scotiabank (Canada's third-largest bank).
SodaPDF Merge Features
- Merge multiple file formats (.docx, JPG, PNG) into a single PDF. After uploading, the software automatically converts non-PDF files into PDFs.
- Merge PDFs via its web-based app, or go completely offline with SodaPDF’s desktop app.
- It has options to select page ranges from individual PDFs to be merged. You can also rearrange PDFs.
- The platform integrates with cloud-based data points like Sharepoint, OneDrive, DropBox, and Google Drive to import or save merged PDFs. You may also import files via URLs.
Other Features
- Comes with state-of-the-art 3D page-flipping technology to view & read PDFs or EPUBs.
- The split PDF feature can split large PDFs into separate, smaller PDF files.
- Has other intuitive tools to edit, compress, and convert PDF files. You can also access advanced PDF features like OCR and e-sign with certain paid plans.
- MS Word-like interface with all essential tools available in the menu bar makes SodaPDF accessible.
Pricing
SodaPDF offers 14-day access to all its features, for which you must pay $1.97. If you like the platform, you can opt for its annual plan, which costs $59 (offer price).
#8. UPDF
UPDF is an AI-powered software that helps ease your daily tussle with PDF files. Its resource-light design and user-friendly interface help increase work productivity.
The tool offers a highly innovative PDF combiner with all essential features for merging or combining PDFs.
Besides, it's an excellent option if you're searching for a tool that can be utilized in both workplace and academics.
UPDF Merge Features
- Merge multiple image files into a single PDF on Mac. UPDF supports multiple image formats, including JPG, PNG, JPEG, BMP, TIFF, and GIF.
- If you want to merge all PDF files into one, you can use UPDF's batch combine feature.
- High-quality PDF merge results with the same layout and formation as the separate PDFs had before merging.
- Upload your merged PDF on the cloud and access it from anywhere.
- Apply password protection to multiple PDFs at once.
Other Features
- Using its advanced capabilities, you may highlight, underline, and strikethrough text in your PDF document. Furthermore, use Sticky notes and comments to share opinions with your team.
- It's easy to e-sign files and share them among co-workers.
- Using UPDF as a PDF converter allows you to export your PDF files to Microsoft Word or Excel.
Pricing
UPDF is free-to-use but is limited to 2 files at a time.
- UPDF Pro Yearly Plan: $29.99
- UPDF Pro Perpetual Plan: $49.99 (one-time fee)
- UPDF AI Add-on: $5 per month
- Enterprise Plan: $89 (one-time fee for 1 user)
#9. Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat is designed by expert developers, and the software comes with some impressive features to edit PDFs on mobile, desktop, and cloud.
Adobe Acrobat Pro Merge Features
- Enjoy simple workings mostly involving drag-and-drop or click-and-done functions, saving you time during PDF merges.
- Before merging PDFs, use the drag-and-drop cursor to organize, reorder and delete pages.
- Share merged files with other members via smart links for viewing, commenting, or adding signatures to PDFs.
- Built-in tool to compare two different PDF versions and review differences.
Other Features
- Adobe offers 20+ PDF tools to compress, edit, redact, and convert PDFs.
- Its OCR technology helps turn paper documents into editable PDFs. You can also protect files using encryption and passwords.
Pricing
Adobe Acrobat's PDF merge is a free-to-use tool. But if you want the full arsenal of tools Adobe Acrobat offers, you'd have to sign up to its Pro version, which has two options to choose from:
- Acrobat Pro: $14.99 per month
- Acrobat Standard: $12.99 per month
#10. PDFCandy
PDFCandy is a free online PDF merge software with a simple drag-and-drop interface. It automatically converts non-PDF formats into PDFs to speed up the merge process.
The software is available online and on a desktop app.
However, you won't need to download the software to merge PDFs. It's on the cloud.
PDFCandy Merge Features
- Combine multiple PDF files with no watermarks. Free of charge. You can also join photos and PDFs, as the tool supports all popular image formats (PNG, JPG, BMP, and TIFF).
- Easy to rearrange files with automatic sorting and PDF picture previews.
- Merge up to 100 PDF files online. To extend this limit, you can go for the software’s desktop version.
- The PDF merge is compatible with all operating systems – Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, or Linux.
- Integrates with cloud-storage software like Dropbox and Google Drive, making it easy to import and export PDFs directly to or from the cloud. Or share merged PDFs via direct link.
Other Features
- It has an impressive graphic user interface (GUI) that makes working with PDFs easy.
- Offers 47+ online tools to process PDF files in infinite ways.
- The platform is available in 17+ languages, making it a global PDF merge tool.
Pricing
PDFCandy is a free-to-use tool.
#11. PDF Expert
PDFExpert by Readdle is a solution built specifically for iOS and Mac users. Apple Store recently featured it as the most sought-after productivity tool for 2023.
The tool boasts impressive App Store ratings and powerful features to edit PDFs on Mac. One such feature is its merge capabilities.
PDFExpert Merge Features
- With PDFExpert, it’s easy to merge pages or entire PDFs into one. Use Split View to drag and drop pages directly from PDFs.
- For better navigation, insert headers, footers, and Bates numbering.
- Reorder, rotate, delete, or extract pages from merged documents via a simple drag-and-drop organizer.
- A rare feature - Flatten PDF (especially those with forms), makes your forms non-interactive, so nobody can change the data you entered in the form fields.
Other Features
- A perfectly optimized app for iPhone and iPad users. Easily edit, merge, compress, and convert PDFs.
- With PDFExpert, highlight, redact, annotate, comment, and e-sign PDFs. It also has advanced features like OCR (Optical Character Recognition).
Pricing
PDFExpert has two premium pricing models, both with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Yearly: $6.67 per month
- Lifetime: $139.90 one-time payment
#12. Sejda PDF
Sejda offers a powerful PDF merge tool that you can use online and on your desktop. Although you can merge PDFs on its web version, you may encounter threshold limits on the number of pages and hourly use.
Sejda PDF Merge Features
- Pick PDF files from Dropbox, Google Drive, PC storage, or upload files safely over an encrypted connection.
- Comes with a drag-and-drop cursor to easily change the merge order. Find pre-set organizing elements like buttons to sort file names alphabetically 'A-Z' or 'Z-A.'
- Its Alternate-and Mix feature helps merge pages from two or more documents, alternating between them.
- It's easy to save merged PDF files. You can directly save files to Dropbox or download them to your desktop without compromising PDF quality.
Other Features
- Uploaded files automatically get deleted after 2 hours.
- After merging, you can insert a customizable Table of Contents with clickable links that make navigating through PDFs easy.
- Has over 30+ PDF tools to help edit, compress, convert, secure, and e-sign documents.
Pricing
Sejda’s Desktop and Web versions are free to use with limited usage and features. For optimum use, you can choose from paid plans:
- Web Week Pass: $5
- Web Monthly: $7.50
- Desktop + Web Annually: $63
Read and Edit Documents Faster with Macro
The tools mentioned above are all capable of merging PDFs and much more. The only difference is some let you do it for free, and some have paid plans you can choose from.
If you’re short on time and want to merge PDFs immediately, sign up for Macro. It comes with free-to-use downloadable software you can use to merge your documents easily.