The best PDF splitter depends on which split you need and how you want to run it. Splitting every page into its own file, cutting out chosen page ranges and pulling out a few pages are different jobs, and you can do them with a browser button, a desktop window or a script. Settle both before you choose.
Split PDF sounds like one job until you try it. Do you want every page on its own, a few chapters cut out as separate files, or two pages pulled out and the rest left alone? The tools below handle those jobs in different ways.
This list covers ten splitters, using only what each maker's own page or project page says, read on 2 Nov 2026 (as of Nov 2026). It's alphabetical and in no particular order, and it's only about cutting one PDF into several, not about editing what's inside. Editing what's inside a file is a different job, and Adobe Acrobat alternatives are the place to look for it.
PDF splitters and how you run them
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| FreeConvert | Online file converter with a split tool | Odd, even or half-page splits |
| iLovePDF | Online PDF toolkit | Ranges merged back into one file |
| PDF Arranger | Desktop app for PDF pages | Splitting and rearranging in a window |
| PDF Resizer | Online PDF splitter | One file per page or custom ranges |
| PDF24 | Online PDF tools with a desktop app | Splitting after a set number of pages |
| PDFsam | Open-source desktop app | Splitting on your own computer |
| PDFtk Server | Command-line PDF tool | Splitting from a script |
| Sejda | Online PDF editor and converter | Page ranges or every page |
| Smallpdf | Online PDF toolkit | Extract, split and save from one tool |
| Soda PDF | Online PDF toolkit | Importing from Google Drive or Dropbox |
Ten tools for splitting a PDF
FreeConvert
Best for: Separating a PDF into single pages, or using its odd and even pages or split-in-half modes.
iLovePDF
Best for: Splitting by page ranges, with an option to merge all the ranges back into one file.
PDF Arranger
Best for: Merging or splitting PDF documents and rotating, cropping and rearranging their pages in a graphical interface.
PDF Resizer
Best for: One-click splitting into single-page files, or typing ranges such as 1-3, 5, 8-12 for custom splits.
PDF24
Best for: Dividing a PDF after a fixed number of pages, separating even and odd pages, or cutting where you click.
PDFsam
Best for: Splitting, merging, extracting, rotating and mixing PDF pages in a desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux.
PDFtk Server
Best for: Pulling PDF pages into a new document from the command line, for client-side scripts or server-side processing.
Sejda
Best for: Cutting out specific page ranges, or extracting every page into a separate document.
Smallpdf
Best for: Extracting pages and saving them as separate documents on a site that also takes Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.
Soda PDF
Best for: Importing a PDF from your device, Google Drive or Dropbox and splitting it into separate documents.
Three kinds of split, three ways to run one
Here's the split a searcher wouldn't guess: 'split PDF' covers three jobs. Sejda will 'split specific page ranges or extract every page into a separate document', which is two of them in one sentence. iLovePDF adds a twist to the range job: once you've set your ranges, you can 'merge all ranges in one PDF file' instead of getting a file per range.
The other question is how you want to run the tool. PDFsam, which calls itself 'free and open source', is a desktop app. PDF Arranger helps you 'merge or split PDF documents and rotate, crop and rearrange their pages' in a graphical interface. And PDFtk Server can 'split PDF pages into a new document' from the command line.
- Every page on its own: one PDF becomes a set of single-page files.
- Chosen page ranges: you type the ranges and get a file for each, or one file for all.
- A few pages pulled out: you extract the pages you need.
- How you run it: a browser button, a desktop window or a script.
Once a page is separated, you can turn each page into an image if you need a picture instead.
Browser splitters and their split modes
FreeConvert lists several split modes on its page: a custom split, a custom range, odd and even pages into two files, a half pages mode that divides each page into two halves, and extract all pages, which puts every page into its own single-page PDF.
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PDF24 can divide a PDF after a fixed number of pages, separate even and odd pages, or cut exactly where you click. PDF Resizer offers two modes: split into pages with a single click, or custom page ranges you type in, such as 1-3, 5, 8-12. Its page also lists ZIP downloads and batch processing for several PDF files at once.
Smallpdf's split tool lets you extract, split and save pages as separate documents, and Soda PDF lets you bring the file in from your device, Google Drive or Dropbox.
If the document started in Word, the first step is one of these Word to PDF converters.
Desktop apps and a command line
If you'd rather work outside the browser, the desktop route is worth a look. The open-source app above says it's available for Windows, macOS and Linux with no Internet connection required, and it can mix two files by taking pages alternately from each, which its page says is the tool to use if you have a single-sided scanner.
The graphical app on this list describes itself as a small python-gtk application, so it's one for desktop users who'd like to see their pages while they work. The command-line tool is a different animal: its makers say it's commonly used for client-side scripting or server-side processing of PDFs, with an installer for Windows and packages in many Linux distributions.
Questions before you split a PDF
- Do I want every page as its own file, or only certain ranges?
- Should the ranges come out as separate files or one new PDF?
- Do I need odd and even pages separated?
- Am I splitting one file, or a batch?
- Would I rather work in a browser, a desktop app or a script?
- Is the PDF stored on my computer, Google Drive or Dropbox?
Do you make a PDF splitter or page tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My advice for splitting a PDF
Work out the split before you pick the tool. For a one-off, a browser splitter with a page-range box does the job. If you split files every week, a desktop app saves you uploading each one, and if splitting is part of a bigger process, a command-line tool you can call from a script is the one to look at. Whatever you use, keep the original file until you've checked the pieces.
If you only need a few pages out, here's how to extract pages from a PDF, and if you want to get rid of some instead, see how to delete pages from a PDF. For bigger edits, my list of the best PDF editors is the next stop.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
How do I split every page of a PDF into its own file?
Several splitters here do it in one step: one extracts every page into a separate document, one has an extract all pages mode, and one splits into single-page PDFs with a single click.
Can I split a PDF by page range?
Yes. One splitter takes custom ranges such as 1-3, 5, 8-12, another splits specific page ranges, and another can merge all the ranges back into one PDF file instead of making a file for each.
Can I separate odd and even pages?
Two splitters on this list say so: one has an odd and even pages mode that makes two files, and another can separate even and odd pages.
Can I split a PDF without a browser?
Yes. One desktop app here runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with no Internet connection required, another is a small graphical app for splitting and rearranging pages, and a command-line tool can split pages into a new document.
Can I split PDFs from a script?
One tool on this list is a command-line tool for working with PDFs, which its makers say is commonly used for client-side scripting or server-side processing.
Can I split several PDFs at once?
One splitter here lists batch processing for several PDF files at once, with all the split pages downloaded as a single ZIP archive.
