PDFsam
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Free and open source desktop application to split, merge, extract pages, rotate and mix PDF files.
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- braky updated PDFsam
- braky liked PDFsam
smallpdffree added PDFsam as alternative to SmallPDFfree
RoxyCole added PDFsam as alternative to Merge & Split PDF Tool
PDFsam information
Developed by
Andrea VacondioLicensing
Open Source (AGPL-3.0) and Freemium product.Pricing
One time purchase (perpetual license) ranging between $59 and $129 + free version with limited functionality.Written in
Rating
Average rating of 3.3Alternatives
135 alternatives listedSupported Languages
AlternativeTo Categories
Office & Productivity, File ManagementGitHub repository
- 3,748 Stars
- 360 Forks
- 115 Open Issues
- Updated Apr 28, 2025
Comments and Reviews
PDFTK Builder [1] and PDFsam [3] are the only free portable apps able to split or merge more than 140 pages. If you need a free portable app able to split or merge 147 pages, you can use PDFTK Builder [1], which is available only in english, however. PDFsam is also portable and availaible in many languages (german also). 7-PDF Split & Merge [2] (german + english) can split only max. 50 pages and merge max. 5 files for free. If you want to to split or merge more than 50 pages you must pay 10 EUR for "7-PDF Split & Merge PRO".
[1]
PDFTK Builder
[2]
7-PDF Split & Merge
[3]
PDFsam
[Edited by em4020, April 30]
I have split 600+ page electronic textbooks with PDFSam with no trouble.
Until now PDFSam had no tag "portable" and I did not know, hat there is a portable version until now!
Today I have added the tag "portable" to PDFsam. Thank You dthatcher7 for Your interesting information!
Horrible. Avoid this software.
Complaint #1: Does not provide the functionality promised. I purchased the "enhanced" or premium product and it did not ever provide me with the functionality promised. No ability to edit PDFs as promised.
Complaint #2: The subscription to a premium version fails. Although installed on my computer, it keeps reverting to the "free" version.
Complaint #3: It is very hard to impossible to stop PDF Sam from automatically charging your credit card in the future for renewals. You may have to actually cancel your credit card. Complaint #4: There is no way to reach customer service by phone. Complaint #5: My final complaint is a lawyer-specific complaint but may apply in other professions where you need to upload documents to a government agency. I am a lawyer and frequently need to electronically file documents with courts. Documents that are merged or saved using PDFSam are **rejected **by Court websites. Although they are saved as a PDF, there is something different about these files that causes them to be rejected.
Use Adobe Acrobat instead.
Totally agree, this app is a joke.
I use this for scanning double-sided documents on a non-duplex scanner ADF. You scan all the pages once, flip the stack and scan the other side, and then use the Alternative Mix function. There aren't many programs that can do this and they others I tried were hard to use or expensive (or both). Paperport, which came with my scanner, could do this but is now defunct and won't install on Windows 11 so I was happy to find this free alternative.
Almost unusable in the basic version, as you cannot delete pages etc. This is possible in PDFsam Visual, which costs 29,00 € as a yearly subscription price or 49,00 € as a perpetual license. The most powerful version, PDFsam Enhanced, is only available as a subsciption from $ 69 up to 129 $ per year, which is way too expensive.
PDFsam Visual should be satisfying the most needs, like merge, split, delete etc. I will test the program in more detail.
Anyway, there are less expensive or even free programs which do the job similarly well.
Bait-and-switch installer, wanted the basic but it installed both basic AND "enhanced," and the only way to do the edit I needed was locked behind a paywall.
I purchased the enhanced version feeling great about supporting a developer that contributes to open source; and finished up bled dry on a renewal the company refuses to refund despite me requesting the refund within days of the renewal; and for a product that NEVER worked after the first 3 months due to the login failing (Note: My password as stored in the password manager has NOT changed). I'm out of pocket $215 AU and feeling abused. I don't trust these guys
Hidden cross sale for the Enhanced Version resulting in an additional charge. After three days the enhanced version has not been delivered yet and customer support is non responsive. Had to file a dispute with my bank to try and get my money back. Whatever you do, stick to the free and open source version and do not buy!