How to Merge, Split and Edit PDF Files for Free
PDF files are everywhere in professional and personal life. Contracts, reports, invoices, forms, manuals, and presentations all arrive as PDFs. Knowing how to manipulate them quickly and for free saves significant time. This guide covers every common PDF task and how to do each one without installing software or paying for anything.
Why PDF editing matters
The PDF format was designed to present documents consistently across any device and operating system. That consistency is its strength, but it also means PDFs are not as easy to edit as a Word document or a spreadsheet. When you need to combine several PDFs into one, remove pages from a document, add a watermark before sharing, or rotate a scan that arrived sideways, you need tools designed specifically for working with PDF files.
In the past, doing any of these things required expensive desktop software. Today, all of the most common PDF tasks can be done for free in a browser without installing anything. The Ekly PDF tools collection gives you eleven separate tools covering every common PDF operation, all free and all accessible without creating an account.
How to merge PDF files for free
Merging PDFs means combining two or more separate PDF files into a single document. This is one of the most common PDF tasks, used when consolidating reports, combining signed documents with cover letters, assembling a portfolio, or gathering multiple scanned pages into one file.
Step 1: Open the PDF merge tool
Go to ekly.app/pdf-tools and select the Merge PDFs tool. The tool opens in your browser with no installation required.
Step 2: Upload your PDF files
Click the upload area or drag and drop your PDF files into it. You can upload multiple files at once. The tool accepts any standard PDF file regardless of how it was created.
Step 3: Arrange the order
Once your files are uploaded, arrange them in the order you want them to appear in the merged document. Drag files up or down to reorder them. The first file in the list becomes the first section of the merged PDF.
Step 4: Merge and download
Click the merge button. The tool combines your files into a single PDF and downloads it to your device automatically. The original files are not modified.
How to split a PDF for free
Splitting a PDF means breaking a single document into separate files. You might need to split a PDF to extract a specific section from a long report, separate individual invoices from a combined statement, or divide a large scanned document into smaller parts for easier sharing.
Split into individual pages
The Ekly PDF split tool can divide a document into individual single-page PDF files. Each page becomes its own separate file, which is useful when you need to work with or share specific pages independently.
Extract a page range
You can also specify a range of pages to extract. For example, if you have a 40-page report and need only pages 12 through 18, you can extract just those pages as a new PDF without affecting the original document.
How to use the split tool
Go to ekly.app/pdf-tools and select Split PDF. Upload your file, choose whether to split into individual pages or extract a specific range, and download the result. The process takes a few seconds for most documents.
How to rotate PDF pages for free
Scanned documents frequently arrive rotated incorrectly. A page that was scanned sideways or upside down makes the document difficult to read and unprofessional to share. The rotate tool corrects this without affecting any other aspect of the document.
Go to ekly.app/pdf-tools and select Rotate PDF. Upload your file, choose which pages to rotate and in which direction, either 90 degrees clockwise, 90 degrees counterclockwise, or 180 degrees, and download the corrected file. You can rotate all pages at once or select specific pages to rotate individually.
How to add a watermark to a PDF for free
Watermarks serve several purposes. They mark a document as confidential, draft, or for review only. They add branding to documents shared externally. They deter unauthorised reproduction of sensitive materials. Adding a text watermark to a PDF is straightforward with the right tool.
Go to ekly.app/pdf-tools and select Text Watermark. Upload your PDF, type the watermark text you want to add, and adjust the settings including the position, opacity, font size, and rotation angle of the watermark. Download the watermarked PDF when you are satisfied with the preview.
Common watermark texts include "Confidential", "Draft", "For Review Only", "Do Not Distribute", and company names. Keep the watermark visible enough to serve its purpose but not so opaque that it makes the document content difficult to read.
How to delete pages from a PDF for free
Sometimes a PDF contains pages you do not need, such as a blank page at the end, a cover sheet that is not needed in a particular context, or pages containing information that should not be shared with a specific recipient. The delete pages tool removes specific pages without affecting the rest of the document.
Go to ekly.app/pdf-tools and select Delete Pages. Upload your PDF and select the page numbers you want to remove. The tool generates a new PDF with those pages removed and downloads it to your device. The original file is not changed.
How to add page numbers to a PDF for free
Long documents are much easier to navigate and reference when they have page numbers. Reports, manuals, proposals, and contracts all benefit from numbered pages. If a PDF was created without page numbers, or if you have merged several PDFs and need consistent numbering across the combined document, the add page numbers tool handles this quickly.
Go to ekly.app/pdf-tools and select Add Page Numbers. Upload your file, choose the position of the page numbers on the page such as bottom centre, bottom right, or top right, and download the numbered document.
How to convert images to PDF for free
Converting images to PDF is useful when you need to share photos or scanned images in a format that is universally readable and not easily edited. Common use cases include submitting scanned documents for applications, combining multiple photos into a single presentable file, and converting a series of images into a document that can be printed consistently.
Go to ekly.app/pdf-tools and select Images to PDF. Upload your image files, which can be JPG, PNG, or other common formats, arrange them in the order you want them to appear, and download the resulting PDF. Each image becomes a page in the output document.
All 11 free PDF tools in one place
The Ekly PDF tools collection covers every common PDF task without requiring software installation or an account. Here is the full list of what is available.
Merge PDFs
Combine two or more PDF files into a single document in any order you choose.
Split PDF
Divide a PDF into individual pages or extract a specific range of pages as a new file.
Rotate PDF
Correct the orientation of pages that are sideways or upside down. Rotate all pages or specific pages individually.
Text watermark
Add a customisable text watermark to every page of a PDF. Control the position, size, opacity, and rotation of the watermark text.
Delete pages
Remove specific pages from a PDF without affecting the remaining content.
Add page numbers
Insert page numbers into a PDF at a position of your choice. Useful for documents that were created or merged without numbering.
Images to PDF
Convert one or more image files into a single PDF document. Each image becomes a page.
When to use online PDF tools versus desktop software
Online PDF tools are the right choice for most everyday tasks. If you occasionally need to merge a few documents, split out some pages, or rotate a scan, an online tool is faster than opening desktop software because there is nothing to install, update, or license. You open a browser tab, do what you need, and download the result.
Desktop software makes more sense if you are working with PDF files constantly throughout the day, if you need advanced features like form creation, digital signatures, or optical character recognition on scanned text, or if you work with sensitive documents that you prefer not to upload to any online service. For most people most of the time, a free online tool is faster and sufficient.
Tips for working with PDF files
Keep original files before editing
Before merging, splitting, or modifying any PDF, keep a copy of the original file. Online tools create new files from your uploads and do not modify the originals, but having the source files available prevents any situation where you need to go back to the unmodified version.
Check file size before uploading
Very large PDF files, particularly those containing high-resolution scanned images, can take longer to process. If a file is extremely large, consider whether it contains content that could be removed or compressed before working with it.
Use descriptive file names
When you download a processed PDF, rename it immediately with a descriptive name that reflects its contents. Files named something generic are difficult to locate later, particularly when working with multiple versions of a document.
Verify the output before sharing
Always open and review the processed PDF before sending it to anyone. Check that the page order is correct, the watermark appears as intended, the rotated pages are oriented correctly, and no content has been unintentionally removed or altered.
Get started
All eleven PDF tools are free to use with no account required. Go to ekly.app/pdf-tools to merge, split, rotate, watermark, delete pages, add page numbers, convert images to PDF, and more. Everything runs in your browser with no software to install.
If you use PDF tools regularly and want to save your work history and access documents from any device, create a free Ekly account. No credit card is required.