By Joyce HeMon. 09 Jun. 20253 Minsmin Read

How to Split PDF for Free: Ultimate Guide for All Devices

Discover how to split PDFs into multiple files or separate PDF pages easily on Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, and online. Free methods, step-by-step tricks, and pro tips!
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Whether you’re a student separating lecture pages into chapters, a freelancer dividing client contracts, or just someone trying to break up a large file, free and easy-to-use tools exist for every device — Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, or online. 

 

In this guide, we’ll show you how to split PDFs using built-in apps, browser-based editors, and a multi-platform powerhouse that works everywhere. Let’s dive in!

 

How to Split PDF Online For Free: Top Choices & Step-by-Step Guide

 

Online PDF splitters are perfect for quick fixes on shared devices or urgent edits. But not all tools are created equal. Below, we compare the top 8 free online PDF splitters:

   

Tools

Free version

Page selection mode

Loading Speed

No need to log in

Overall rating

ComPDF’s Online PDF Splitter

Unlimited free trial without ads

Select any pages that you want to extract as a new PDF file

⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

✔️

5.0

iLovePDF

Limited free trial

Select any pages that you want to extract as a new PDF file

⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

✔️

4.7

SmallPDF

Limited free trial

Only continuous pages can be selected and extracted as a new PDF file

⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

✔️

4.6

Adobe

Limited free trial (only 1 time)

Only continuous pages can be selected and extracted as a new PDF file

⚡️⚡️⚡️

✖️

4.5

PDF2GO

Limited free trial

Select any pages that you want to extract as a new PDF file

⚡️⚡️

✔️

4.6

PDF24

Unlimited free trial with ads

Only continuous pages can be selected and extracted as a new PDF file

⚡️⚡️⚡️

✔️

4.6

iScanner

Unlimited free trial without ads

Select any pages that you want to extract as a new PDF file

⚡️⚡️⚡️

✔️

4.7

Sejda

Limited free trial

Only continuous pages can be  selected and extracted as a new PDF file

⚡️⚡️⚡️

✔️

4.5

 

Among all these online tools, ComPDF stands out with no limits, no watermarks, no login, flexible selection mode, and fast loading speed, making it ideal for students, professionals, or anyone splitting files regularly.

 

Here’s how to Split PDF with ComPDF’s Web Demo:

Step 1: Visit ComPDF’s Split PDF Tool.

Step 2: Click Open File to upload your PDF.

Step 3: Click the dropdown arrow next to Viewer  > click Document Editor

Step 4: Select the pages you want > Click Extract. You can also adjust the selected pages in the pop-up window

Step 5: Click Save, and the file will be automatically downloaded to the local folder— done in seconds!

 

How to Split PDF with Mac's Built-In Tool Preview

Preview isn’t just for viewing PDFs — it can split files too! While limited compared to dedicated editors, it’s ideal for basic splits:

Step 1: Open the PDF in Preview.

Step 2: Click View > Thumbnails to see all pages.

Step 3: Drag pages to your desktop to create new PDFs. You can hold the "Command" or "Shift" keys to select multiple pages.

Step 4: Save each extracted file.

 

🚫Limitations: No batch splitting, and it is clunky for large files and multi-file splits.

 

How to Split PDF Pages with Windows' Built-In Tool Microsoft Edge

Windows lacks a native PDF splitter, but Microsoft Edge offers a workaround:

Step 1: Open the PDF with Microsoft Edge.

Step 2: Press Ctrl + P to open the print menu.

Step 3: Under Printer, select Microsoft Print to PDF.

Step 4: Under Pages, enter specific pages you want to extract (e.g., 1-3, 5).

Step 5: Click Print and save as a new PDF.

 

🚫Limitations: No batch splitting, and it is clunky for large files and multi-file splits.

 

How to Separate PDF Pages with iPhone's Built-In Print Feature

iPhones don’t have a dedicated splitter, but the Print works:

Step 1: Open the PDF in Files or Safari.

Step 2: Tap Share > Print.

Step 3: Pinch to zoom into the thumbnail view.

Step 4: Select the pages you want > Tap Share > Save to Files.

 

🚫Limitations:  No batch splitting, and it is clunky for large files and multi-file splits.

 

How to Separate PDF Pages with Android's Built-In Print Feature

Android’s method mirrors iPhone’s:

Step 1: Open the PDF in a file manager.

Step 2: Tap Print > Save as PDF.

Step 3: Select the pages you want to extract under Page range.

Step 4: Tap Save to export.

 

🚫Limitations:  Limited to single splits, no batch options.

 

How to Split PDF into Multiple Files on All Devices

Juggling different tools for each device is exhausting. PDF Reader Pro solves this by offering one-click splitting on Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone — with modes tailored for every need:

Manual Selection: Select any pages you want to extract as a new file (perfect for extracting specific sections).

By Page Intervals: Automatically split a PDF at set page numbers. (ideal for dividing chapters).

Average Split: Split PDF into multiple PDFs with equal pages.

By Page Ranges: Define custom ranges (All Pages, Current page, Odd Pages Only, Even Pages only, Custom Pages).

 

The steps are also very simple:

Step 1: Download PDF Reader Pro (Windows/Mac/Android/iOS).

Step 2: Open the PDF > Click the button on the top left corner> Split PDF.

Step 3: Choose your split mode and customize settings.

Step 4: Save files to your device.

 

Why PDF Reader Pro is Better:

🆓 Flexible Selection Mode: Easily and efficiently split PDFs.

📱 Support Multi-Platform: Start splitting anywhere and anytime.

🛡️ Offline Security: No need to upload sensitive files to the Internet.

 

Conclusion & Final Recommendation

 

Whether you’re splitting a 200-page thesis on your laptop or trimming a receipt PDF on your phone, excellent solutions exist:

🌐For Online Convenience: ComPDF handles unlimited splits without sign-ups.

💻For Offline Power: PDF Reader Pro offers precision splitting across all devices.

We believe that this guide has helped you choose the right HTML to PDF converter that fits your workflow. No more struggling, work easily now! 

 

Get Started with PDF Reader Pro Today!
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