Split PDF — Fast, Free, Private
Split a PDF by page ranges, extract pages, cut every N pages, or split in half — all in your browser
Drop a PDF and pick how you want to split it. By ranges (type 1-3, 4-6, 7 to get three PDFs), Every N pages (one number, and we chunk the document for you), Extract all (one PDF per page), or Split in half (front + back, one click). 100% in-browser — your PDF never leaves your device. No upload, no signup, no watermark, no file limit.
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PDF · No upload — 100% local.
How to Split a PDF Into Multiple Files
1. Drop your PDF
Drag your PDF onto the drop zone above, or click to browse. The file loads into your browser — nothing is uploaded to a server.
2. Pick a split mode
By ranges, Every N pages, Extract all, or Split in half. Each mode covers a different real-world workflow — see the deep dive below.
3. Configure (if needed)
By ranges wants a list like 1-3, 4-6, 7. Every N pages wants one number. Extract all and Split in half run with no input — just click Split.
4. Download
Every split PDF appears on the ready screen with its own Download button, plus a Download all option that fires every download in sequence. No watermark, no signup, no upload.
Why This is the Best Free PDF Splitter
Four split modes, not one
Most splitters give you page ranges and nothing else. We ship four modes — ranges, every N, extract all, split in half — because these cover every real-world way people actually cut PDFs. No forced typing when one click would do.
100% local processing
Your PDF doesn't touch our servers because we don't have any for your files. Compare: iLovePDF, Smallpdf, Adobe, PDFgear, and Drawboard all upload everything. We literally cannot see your document — there is no network request at all during the split.
No page-count limit
Drop a 10-page PDF, a 1000-page PDF, or a 5000-page textbook. Only bound by device memory. iLovePDF and Smallpdf cap free use at a handful of splits per hour; some PDF tools silently truncate at 100 pages. We don't.
Batch download out of the box
When your split produces many PDFs, the ready screen shows a Download all button that fires every download in sequence (with a tiny delay so your browser doesn't throttle). Saves clicking 50 times for a 50-way split.
Live preview before you split
As soon as you type your ranges, the tool tells you exactly how many PDFs and how many pages you're about to produce — and flags invalid ranges before you hit Split. No surprise 404s, no "your range is wrong" after waiting for the run to finish.
Truly Free, Forever
No trial, no premium tier, no per-file charge. Split as many PDFs as you want, as often as you want. Ad-supported so it stays free for everyone.
No account, no email
Start splitting immediately. No signup, no email capture, no credit card. The way desktop software used to work before "free trials" became traps.
Works offline
Once this page has loaded you can disconnect from the internet and the splitter still works. Great for sensitive PDFs (medical, legal, financial) you'd rather process without a network around.
No watermark on the output
The split PDFs are exactly the pages from your source document. No added logo, no footer, no "split with…" text, no ad page at the end. Clean output, always.
The Four Split Modes, Explained
By ranges — maximum control
Type a comma-separated list like 1-3, 4-6, 7 to produce three PDFs: pages 1-3, pages 4-6, and page 7. Skip pages by leaving them out: 1-5, 10-15 ignores pages 6-9 entirely. Single pages and ranges mix freely. Use when: you know exactly which pages go where. Common for separating chapters, detaching a signed section, or producing a single extract PDF.
Every N pages — regular chunks
Enter a single number — say 5 — and a 23-page PDF becomes five PDFs: pages 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-23. Great for chunking a long document into email-sized pieces, producing per-chapter files from a textbook with uniform chapter length, or processing a combined scan where every N pages is one record.
Extract all — one PDF per page
Splits every single page into its own PDF. A 50-page document becomes 50 separate files (named page-01.pdf, page-02.pdf, …). Use when: archiving page-by-page, preparing evidence for a legal filing system that expects one PDF per page, or producing thumbnails-as-PDFs.
Split in half — one click, no typing
Cuts the PDF down the middle. A 100-page doc becomes two 50-page PDFs; a 101-page doc becomes a 51-page + 50-page pair. Handy for emailing a large document as two parts, separating a front+back combined scan, or producing a test-yourself workflow (hide the second half while reading the first).
PDF Edit vs iLovePDF, Smallpdf, Adobe, PDFgear, Drawboard
| Feature | PDF Edit | iLovePDF | Smallpdf | Adobe | PDFgear | Drawboard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Files uploaded to a server? | No — 100% local | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Split modes? | 4 (ranges / every N / all / half) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Page-count limit (free tier)? | None | Limited | 2 tasks/hour | Cloud caps | None | Limited |
| Account required? | Never | Free tier limited | 2 tasks/hour free | Free tier limited | No | No |
| Batch download of every split? | Yes — one button | ZIP only | ZIP only | ZIP only | ZIP only | ZIP only |
| Preview range count before splitting? | Yes — live | Partial | Partial | Yes | No | No |
| Watermark on output? | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Works offline after load? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| No file-size limit? | Yes (device memory only) | Free tier: 200 MB | Free tier limited | Free tier limited | None stated | Limited |
The point isn't that iLovePDF or Adobe are bad tools — they're not. The point is that if you care about not uploading your document in the first place, you need a local-only splitter. We built one. Nobody else in the top ten has.
Who Splits PDFs?
Emailing a large document
Corporate email gateways reject attachments above 10-25 MB. A 120-page PDF from a scanner often hits 50 MB+. Split in half (or every 40 pages) to produce pieces your recipient's mail server will actually deliver.
Extracting chapters from a textbook
Drop the combined book, type 1-24, 25-60, 61-102 to produce three chapter PDFs. Each one is a real PDF with its own page numbering preserved from the source — not a screenshot rasterization.
Separating signed pages
After scanning a stack of individually signed forms as one PDF, use Extract all to get one PDF per page — ready to file each one into its own record in a case-management or expense system.
Legal evidence packages
Electronic filing systems often require one PDF per exhibit. Drop the consolidated package, Extract all or By ranges to produce one-exhibit-per-file output ready for upload into CM/ECF, Relativity, or similar.
Post-processing a multi-receipt scan
You fed 20 receipts through a sheet-fed scanner as one PDF. Pick Extract all and get 20 separate receipt PDFs, each ready to attach to its corresponding expense row.
Medical records
Separating a combined lab + imaging + notes package into individual PDFs for upload to a specialist portal. HIPAA-covered content should not be uploaded to a stranger's server — local-only splitting matters here.
Print jobs with different settings
Some pages need color, others grayscale. Some pages need A4, others Letter. Split the combined PDF into the subsets that share print settings, then queue each to the right printer with its own page setup.
Cutting reports into sections
Monthly reports that combine executive summary + detail + appendices. Split into sections so the CFO gets the summary, the auditors get the details, and the board gets a clean 4-page version without forwarding the 80-page monster.
Redacting by omission
The most reliable redaction is the one that removes the page entirely. Use By ranges to include only the pages you want to share — pages 1-10 and 20-30 of a 50-page document — producing a clean PDF that literally doesn't contain the omitted pages. No forgotten metadata, no invisible layer behind a black box.
Split PDF on iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, and Chromebook
Our PDF splitter works on every device with a modern browser — Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, iPad, iPhone, and Android. No app install, no plugins, no admin rights. Once the page has loaded you can disconnect from the internet and continue splitting — everything runs locally. Files up to device-memory size work; a modern laptop handles 1000-page / multi-GB documents without trouble, and a current-gen phone handles 500-page PDFs comfortably.
How Does Browser-Based PDF Splitting Actually Work?
Your PDF is read into your browser's memory. For every range you configure, we create a brand-new empty PDF, copy the source pages into it, and save the result — all in-browser. The split PDFs are standard PDF 1.7 that open in every PDF viewer ever made. Internal page-to-page links whose destination lands inside the same split are preserved; cross-split links can't survive because their destination page isn't in the new file. Form fields and annotations on the split pages travel with the page. No server involved anywhere in the pipeline — your document stays on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I split a PDF into multiple files for free?
Drop your PDF on the page above, pick By ranges, type something like 1-3, 4-6, 7, and click Split PDF. You get three separate PDFs. Every mode runs locally — no signup, no upload, no watermark.
How do I extract specific pages from a PDF?
Pick By ranges and list the pages you want — e.g. 3, 7-9, 12 produces one PDF containing page 3, pages 7 through 9, and page 12. The rest of the document is skipped.
How do I split a PDF every N pages?
Pick the Every N pages preset and enter a number. Every 5 pages on a 23-page PDF produces five PDFs (1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-23). Common values: 1 (one per page), 2 (pairs), 10 (chapter-size chunks).
How do I split a PDF in half?
Pick the Split in half preset — one click, no typing. A 100-page PDF becomes two PDFs of 50 pages each; a 101-page PDF becomes a 51-page PDF and a 50-page PDF. Useful for emailing a document in two parts.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. The split happens entirely in your browser. Your PDF never touches our servers.
Is there a page-count or file-size limit?
No artificial limit. Desktop handles 1000-page PDFs and multi-GB files without trouble. Mobile browsers comfortably handle 500 pages; older phones may run short of memory above 2000 pages.
Will the split PDFs have a watermark?
No. Your split PDFs contain exactly the pages from the original document with nothing added.
Are internal links, bookmarks, and form fields preserved?
Internal links whose destination lands inside the same split are preserved. Cross-split links cannot survive because the destination page is in a different file. Form fields and annotations on the split pages travel with the page.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
If the PDF has an owner-password only (open-access, edit-locked), yes. If it has a user-password (open-locked), unlock it via /unlock-pdf first, then split. Both tools run locally — your password never leaves your device.
Can I split a PDF on my phone?
Yes — open this page on your phone's browser, tap Select PDF, pick a mode, and split. Works on iPhone Safari, iPad, Android Chrome, and every other modern mobile browser. No app install required.
What's the difference between splitting and extracting pages?
Splitting produces multiple PDFs from one input. Extracting produces one PDF containing only the pages you want. This tool handles both — one range = extraction, several ranges = split. Same engine, same modal.
Does it work offline?
Yes, once the page has loaded. The splitter runs entirely in your browser.
Can I split, then merge the parts back together?
Yes. Our /merge-pdf tool does the reverse — drop the split PDFs in any order, drag to re-sequence, combine into one file. Round-trip (split → edit → merge) is a common workflow.
Does the output include my redactions or annotations?
Yes. Marker-redactions, annotations, form fills, and any other on-page content that's part of the source PDF travels with the page into each split. For new redactions, use our main editor at /index.html which offers full redaction, signing, and markup.
Can I choose how the split files are named?
Files are auto-named with the source filename plus a range label — e.g. report.pdf splits into "report (pages 1-3).pdf", "report (pages 4-6).pdf", "report (pages 7).pdf". Rename in your download folder if you need a specific convention.
Is this the best PDF splitter?
For privacy-first workflows, four split modes in one tool, and zero signup friction, we think so. For a cloud-synced flow across devices, Adobe Acrobat online may fit better. Pick the tradeoffs that match your actual needs — we explicitly compare ourselves to every major competitor above.