Merge multiple PDF files into one PDF file

Recently I needed to combine two PDF documents that I created with the TurboScan App on my Iphone (file sizes 528.5 kByte and 421.9 kByte and was searching for free options I can use with Ubuntu Linux. I found the following options:

The web service http://www.mergepdf.net/:
  • Usability: Easy; excellent for merging PDF files
  • Functionality: no other functions available
  • File size of the merged file: 950.1 kByte
The free online PDF editor PDF Hammer http://www.nitropdf.com/free/hammer/index.htm.

  • Usability: almost as easy as mergepdf
  • Functionality: other functions available
  • File size of the merged file: 949.8 kByte
The Linux command line pdftk toolkit: http://www.accesspdf.com/pdftk/
  • Usability: follow examples on the webpage; easy if you are comfortable with the command line
  • Functionality: other functions available
  • File size of the merged file:  949.8 kByte
The open source PDF editor PDFedit http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfedit/ and http://pdfedit.petricek.net/en/index.html
  • Usability: intuitive usage for merging PDF files possible
  • Functionality: other functions available
  • File size of the merged file: 950.3 kByte
I couldn't see a difference in the PDF quality. The file size was almost the same.

Keep in mind, that the online services - even if they are easy to use and platform independent (you need only a web browser) - use unencrypted file transfer. In addition to this security risk you have to trust the service provider. Therefore you might not use this for PDF documents containing confidential information.

For documents that don't contain confidential information http://www.mergepdf.net/ is very nice and simple to use and you don't need to install anything. If you don't mind using the command line, pdftk might be the best tool for you. Otherwise, PDFedit might be the tool of choice.

BTW - On Mac OS X 10.6 the functionality to merge multiple PDF files is already part of the Preview application installed as part of Mac OS X 10.6 (see e.g http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4075).

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