PDFsam Basic
PDFsam Basic is a free, open-source desktop application for splitting, merging, rotating, mixing, and extracting PDF pages.
What PDFsam Basic is
PDFsam Basic is a free, open-source desktop application for splitting, merging, rotating, mixing, and extracting PDF pages. Merge tools can work with selected page ranges, handle bookmarks and AcroForms, and add a table of contents. Splitting can be based on individual pages, specified page numbers, approximate output size, or bookmark level. The Mix function interleaves pages from multiple PDFs in forward or reverse order, while Rotate turns pages by 90, 180, or 270 degrees. Files are processed locally; the application’s privacy policy says nothing is sent or collected by it. PDFsam Basic runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with no browser version. It is released under the GNU Affero General Public License v3. The free plan has no watermarks or file-size limit, and company use is allowed. Listed system requirements are 256 MB RAM and at least 70 MB of disk space. The maker provides FAQs, documentation, and tutorials for its PDF tasks, and the FAQ describes silent installation support.
Good
- Free with no watermarks or file-size limit
- Processes files locally
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Merge handles bookmarks and AcroForms
- Company use is allowed
Watch out
- No browser version
- Requires at least 256 MB RAM
- Requires at least 70 MB of disk space
Who it suits
It suits people who want a free desktop tool for common PDF page operations and prefer local processing. It is available on Linux, macOS, and Windows, including for company use.
Verdict
PDFsam Basic covers core page-level PDF tasks in a free desktop app, with local processing and support for three operating systems. Choose it if those tools fit your needs and a desktop application works for you.
Plans and prices
From PDFsam Basic's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| PDFsam Basic | Free | No watermarks · no file size limit · free for company use |
The facts
Each one read from PDFsam Basic's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Business use
- PDFsam Basic can be used in a company for free.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Command line
- PDFsam Basic is powered by Sejda SDK, whose sejda-console command line interface offers PDF tasks; the FAQ also describes silent installation support.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Local processing
- PDFsam Basic processes PDF files locally, and its privacy policy says nothing is sent or collected by the application.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Merge
- Merge supports selecting page ranges, handling bookmarks and AcroForms, and adding a table of contents.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Mix and rotate
- Mix interleaves pages from multiple PDFs in straight or reverse order, and Rotate applies 90, 180 or 270 degree rotations.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Open source
- PDFsam Basic is released under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Purpose
- PDFsam Basic is a free, open-source desktop app for splitting, merging, rotating, mixing and extracting PDF pages.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Requirements
- The download page lists 256 MB RAM and at least 70 MB disk space as system requirements.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Split
- PDFsam Basic can split PDFs by page, specified page numbers, approximate output size or bookmark level.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Support and guidance
- The maker provides FAQ answers, documentation and tutorials for Basic, including merge, split, mix, rotate, extraction and silent installation guides.checked 4 Oct 2001
The company
- Founded
- 2006checked 23 Sep 2001
- Headquarters
- Bibbiano, Reggio Emilia, Italychecked 23 Sep 2001
- Maker
- PDFsam is made by Sober Lemur S.r.l., whose listed address is in Bibbiano, Italy.checked 4 Oct 2001
Where it runs
- Not a browser app
- PDFsam Basic is a desktop application and has no browser version.checked 4 Oct 2001
- Platforms
- The maker provides installers for Windows, Linux and macOS; the current download page lists Windows 10 or later, macOS 11 or later, and 64-bit Linux.checked 4 Oct 2001
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