11 Best Split PDF Tools (2024) [FREE]

1. Introduction

PDF files are among the most widely used document formats, offering a varied and flexible range of uses. Despite their many advantages, large and cumbersome PDF files can sometimes prove challenging to handle, especially when specific pages or portions need to be extracted or referenced separately. This necessity gives rise to the need for an effective Split PDF tool.

1.1 Importance of Split PDF tool

A Split PDF tool has become a vital productivity software used in many professions and industries. These tools allow you to break a PDF document into multiple, smaller PDF files, making it easier to manage, share, or use specific segments of a larger document. The splitting process can be done based on individual pages, page ranges, or even bookmark levels, depending on your specific needs and preferences. Whether you need to share only a chapter from a large book, extract data from a specific report section, or ease the load on memory-intensive files, Split PDF tools can greatly enhance your workflow’s efficiency and convenience.

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1.3 Objectives of this Comparison

This comparison aims to assist users in selecting the Split PDF tool that best suits their needs. By analyzing various popular and widely-used tools, we’ll examine their definitive pros and cons to provide a comprehensive picture of each tool’s capabilities. We will discuss the factors that set each apart, such as their ease of use, features, reliability, and flexibility. This comparison is intended to simplify the decision-making process and help you choose the most advantageous solution for your specific needs.

2. Adobe Acrobat Split PDF

Adobe Acrobat Split PDF is a part of Adobe’s suite of tools designed for extensive document handling. Renowned for its reliable performances and comprehensive features, it stands out as a professional tool that offers robust splitting options without compromising the security and quality of PDF pages.

2.1 Pros

• Reliability: Being an Adobe tool, users can trust its consistency and effectiveness in splitting PDFs.
• Robustness: It offers a comprehensive range of features, not just limited to splitting but also adding, deleting, and reordering PDF pages.
• Security: Adobe Acrobat ensures high security, offering options like password protection and encryption.

2.2 Cons

• Cost: Adobe Acrobat Split PDF isn’t free. While it offers a trial period, long-term use requires a subscription, making it pricier compared to other tools.
• Complexity: While its robust features are beneficial, they can also make the interface quite complicated for new or casual users.

3. iLovePDF Split PDF

iLovePDF Split PDF is an easy-to-use web-based tool that fulfills the PDF splitting requirements of various users. It stands out due to its simplicity and accessibility, offering minimalistic yet effective features. The iLovePDF platform includes multiple additional functionalities – not just limited to splitting PDFs.

3.1 Pros

• User-friendly Interface: The platform offers an intuitive, clutter-free user interface that’s easy to master, even for less tech-savvy users.
• Convenience: Being an online tool, it requires no downloads or installations and is accessible from any device with internet connectivity.
• Free Basic Service: It allows for free use with basic features, providing an economical solution for casual users or one-time tasks.

3.2 Cons

• Dependent on Internet: Due to its online nature, it requires a stable internet connection, making it unsuitable for offline or unstable connectivity scenarios.
• Limited Features in Free Version: While basic service is free, access to advanced features and higher processing speeds requires a premium subscription.

4. Smallpdf Split PDF

Smallpdf Split PDF is an internet-based utility that exemplifies ease and simplicity. It boasts a range of features that not only allow splitting of PDF files but also include merging, converting, and editing options, saving users from the need for multiple tools handling different tasks.

4.1 Pros

• Simplicity: The platform is straightforward to use, thanks to a user-friendly interface and easy instructions.
• Cloud Access: Smallpdf offers cloud storage access, allowing users to work directly with files stored on Google Drive or Dropbox.
• Multi-Lingual Support: It is available in 20+ languages, enhancing convenience for non-English speaking users.

4.2 Cons

• Internet Dependence: As a completely online tool, an active internet connection is required at all times for access.
• Usage Limitations: The free version imposes usage restrictions. For unlimited access and extra features, a Pro subscription is necessary.

5. 7-PDF Split & Merge

7-PDF Split & Merge is a downloadable software that offers users the tools to seamlessly split and merge PDF files. It is designed to work with Windows operating systems, making it suitable for users with desktops or laptops running Windows.

5.1 Pros

• Offline Functionality: As a desktop application, it does not require an internet connection to perform its tasks.
• Double Utility: It offers the dual feature of splitting and merging, enhancing its functionality and appeal.
• User-friendly Interface: The software is designed with simplicity in mind, offering an easy-to-use interface even for beginners.

5.2 Cons

• Platform Limitation: 7-PDF Split & Merge is primarily designed for Windows, making it less flexible for users of other OS platforms like macOS or Linux.
• Limited Free Version: The free version comes with certain usage limitations. The Pro version is available at a cost for extensive features.

6. PDFsam Basic

PDFsam Basic, an abbreviation for PDF Split and Merge, is a free, open-source software that effortlessly handles PDF documents. Designed with the everyday user in mind, it provides the fundamental features of splitting and merging PDF files with additional utilities like rotating and mixing PDFs.

6.1 Pros

• Cost: Being a free, open-source tool, it does not involve any monetary investment, making it a popular choice amongst budget-conscious users.
• Versatility: It allows splitting in many ways, such as by even or odd pages, at specific bookmarks, or into individual pages.
• Offline Use: Being a desktop software, it can be used offline, providing flexibility to users without consistent internet connectivity.

6.2 Cons

• Complex Interface: The user interface, although powerful, can be overwhelming for some users, especially novices.
• Limited Features: PDFsam Basic, as the name suggests, offers only basic features. For advanced features like PDF editing, a paid upgrade to PDFsam Enhanced is required.

7. FlexiPDF

FlexiPDF is a comprehensive PDF editor that does more than just split PDF files. Whether you need to modify text or images, rearrange pages, delete them, or extract them, FlexiPDF makes it as easy as using a word processor.

7.1 Pros

• Comprehensive Editing Capabilities: FlexiPDF is designed to handle nearly any PDF editing task, offering users a complete package in a single software.
• Convenience: The splitting tool is easy to use, enabling users to separate documents into multiple sections or extract single pages with just a few clicks.
• OCR Functionality: It includes a built-in OCR feature that is capable of converting scanned text into actual editable text.

7.2 Cons

• Cost: FlexiPDF is not a free software. It comes with a cost, which might be discouraging for those looking for a cost-effective solution.
• Complex Interface: With its wide range of functionalities, the interface can seem quite complex, especially for users who simply need a basic PDF splitter.

8. PDF Candy Split PDF

PDF Candy Split PDF is an online tool, part of the larger PDF Candy suite, known for its clean and user-friendly interface. It allows users to split their PDF files into separate pages or extract particular page ranges from their documents.

8.1 Pros

• User-friendly Interface: PDF Candy offers a simple, easy-to-navigate interface that makes it an excellent choice for users of all skill levels.
• Multiple Functions: Alongside splitting, it provides various other PDF-related services, enhancing its usefulness.
• No Sign-Up Needed: The tool does not require users to sign up, enabling instantaneous use with no strings attached.

8.2 Cons

• Internet Dependency: Being an online tool, PDF Candy Split PDF requires an active internet connection for usage.
• Limited Batch Processing: It allows handling only up to 10 files simultaneously in the free version. For extra capacity, a paid upgrade is necessary.

9. CubexSoft PDF Split Tool

CubexSoft PDF Split Tool is an advanced splitting utility that is designed to help users split their large PDF files into multiple smaller documents. It provides a range of splitting criteria, including split by page, by range, by size, or even by specific text.

9.1 Pros

• Diversity: It offers a variety of splitting options, catering to a wide range of user needs.
• Batch Processing: CubexSoft allows for multiple PDFs to be split simultaneously, speeding up the processing time.
• Doesn’t Affect Quality: While splitting, it maintains the original quality of the PDF, ensuring no loss in resolution or clarity.

9.2 Cons

• Cost: The tool isn’t free and requires a one-time purchase, which could be a con for some users.
• Lack of Other Features: The tool is specifically designed for splitting and does not offer additional features like merge, convert, or edit.

10. PDF Split&Merge

PDF Split&Merge from Icecream Apps is a user-friendly, lightweight, desktop application that provides both splitting and merging functionalities in one package. This dual-purpose tool splits and merges PDF documents with ease and precision.

10.1 Pros

• Dual Purpose: It enables the user to split and merge PDF documents in one place, enhancing the ease of use.
• Preview Feature: Comes equipped with a built-in PDF reader for previewing input files which adds to the convenience.
• No Internet Required: As a downloadable software, it can be used offline, eliminating dependency on internet connection.

10.2 Cons

• Limited Free Version: The free version of the tool has certain limitations like a cap on the number of documents you can process at once.
• No Additional Features: It only provides basic splitting and merging functions. For complex functions like editing or conversion, users would need to use separate tools.

11. PDF24 Tools Split PDF

PDF24 Tools Split PDF is an online service designed to separate your PDF files into individual pages or extract certain sections. The web-based tool is part of the larger PDF24 suite, offering multiple utilities to manage and manipulate PDF documents.

11.1 Pros

• User-Friendly: The platform is intuitive, making the splitting process straightforward and self-explanatory.
• No Installations: As an online tool, it doesn’t require any downloads or installations, and is accessible from any device with internet access.
• Free to Use: PDF24 Tools Split PDF doesn’t come with any costs, making it an economical choice for many users.

11.2 Cons

• Internet Dependency: It requires an active internet connection to work, posing a challenge for tasks in areas with poor network connectivity.
• Ads: Being a free tool, it is ad-supported which may be distracting for some users.

12. PDF2Go Split PDF

PDF2Go Split PDF is a free online service that makes splitting of PDF files a breeze. The tool lives up to its name, offering quick conversion times and simple operation. It’s designed to make the process of working with bulky PDF files efficient and effortless.

12.1 Pros

• Simplicity: PDF2Go offers a clean, easy-to-use interface that is easy to understand and operate.
• No Installations Required: As a web-based tool, it can be used on any device with an internet connection with no need for downloads or installations.
• Retention of Formatting: While splitting, PDF2Go maintains original fonts, images and formatting to ensure consistency.

12.2 Cons

• Dependency on Internet: Being an online tool, it requires a stable internet connection for effective performance.
• Advertisements: The platform is ad-supported, which may be a distraction for some users.

13. Summary

After analyzing the different tools, we provide a concise comparison to help users make a well-informed decision.

13.1 Overall Comparison Table

Tool	Features	Ease of Use	Price	Customer Support
Adobe Acrobat Split PDF	Highly featured with robust splitting options	Average	Paid	High-quality
iLovePDF Split PDF	Basic splitting features with an intuitive interface	High	Free with premium upgrade	Responsive
Smallpdf Split PDF	Features accommodate splitting, converting, merging with cloud access	High	Free with premium upgrade	Reliable
7-PDF Split & Merge	Provides basic splitting and merging services	High	Free with premium version	Average
PDFsam Basic	Free tool offering split, merge, rotate and mix PDFs	Low	Free with premium version	Average
FlexiPDF	Ranges from splitting to advanced editing capabilities with OCR	Low	Paid	Responsive
PDF Candy Split PDF	Basic splitting service in addition to other PDF-related functions	High	Free	Average
CubexSoft PDF Split Tool	Advanced splitting options with excellent page handling	Average	Paid	High-quality
PDF Split&Merge	Basic split and merge functions	High	Free with premium version	Average
PDF24 Tools Split PDF	Schema basic splitting service	High	Free	Good
PDF2Go Split PDF	Mostly focuses on basic splitting feature	High	Free	Good

13.2 Recommended Tool Based on Various Needs

After considering different factors, the recommended tools are: For individual users requiring basic PDF splitting, iLovePDF and PDF2Go are great choices due to their user-friendly interfaces and free access. For businesses and professionals needing advanced services and can invest, Adobe Acrobat Split PDF and FlexiPDF would be more suited owing to their comprehensive features and reliable customer support.

14. Conclusion

14.1 Final Thoughts and Takeaways for Choosing a Split PDF Tool

Identifying the right PDF splitting tool is contingent upon your specific needs and requirements. Whether you’re an individual with occasional needs or a business needing complex processes, the market offers versatile products to cater to every demand. It’s crucial to consider a tool’s ease of use, features, pricing, and customer support to ensure it aligns with your preferences.

Selecting a free tool like PDF2Go or iLovePDF might suffice for basic splitting needs; whereas premium tools like Adobe Acrobat or FlexiPDF, albeit at a cost, provide robust and comprehensive features that can significantly increase workflow productivity and efficiency. At the end of the day, one must ensure they’re not just opting for a split PDF tool for its popularity, but because it provides the utility that suits their objectives and enhances their document handling needs.

Author Introduction:

Vera Chen is a data recovery expert in DataNumen, which provides a wide range of products, including a powerful Zip archive repair tool.