How to combine PDF files — Quick guide
PDFs preserve formatting but sometimes you want multiple files as a single document. Below are easy ways to merge PDFs, whether you prefer online convenience or local privacy.
1) Adobe Acrobat (desktop and free online)
Adobe Acrobat desktop lets you open Tools > Combine Files, add documents (PDF, Word, Excel, images), reorder pages, remove unwanted pages and click Combine to save a single PDF. If you don’t have the desktop app, use Adobe’s free web merge tool: Adobe Merge PDFs.
2) Free online alternatives
- iLovePDF — easy drag-and-drop merging; free tier limits (25 files / 100 MB).
- Sejda — emphasizes security and auto-deletes uploaded files after processing; free tier has task limits.
- Foxit Online Merge — simple online merge (suitable for small, non-sensitive files).
3) Desktop programs (offline)
- PDFsam Basic — free, open-source, runs on Windows/macOS/Linux; merges locally for privacy.
- PDF24 Creator — Windows tool with virtual printer and merge features.
4) macOS — Preview
On a Mac you can use Preview (preinstalled): open one PDF, enable the thumbnail sidebar, drag another PDF into the sidebar where you want it, then choose File > Export as PDF to save the combined file.
Choosing the right method
Pick Adobe Acrobat for the most features and smooth workflow (desktop requires subscription). Use online tools (iLovePDF, Sejda) for quick tasks but avoid uploading sensitive files. Use PDFsam or PDF24 to keep everything local. Mac users can do basic merges with Preview without extra software.
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Source: original article published on Engadget (no RSS link included).