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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesUse PDFsam Basic, the free and open-source edition, to merge PDFs or split them into smaller files on Ubuntu or Linux Mint. Download the Linux .deb package or portable .tar.gz archive, open PDFsam, and choose Merge or Split. The vendor’s download page listed version 6.0.5 when checked on September 30, 2026; check it again before installing because versions and downloads can change.
Which PDFsam download should you use on Linux?
Choose PDFsam Basic for ordinary merging and splitting. PDFsam’s official download page lists two Linux package formats:
| Download | What it is | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
.deb |
A Debian package | Ubuntu or Linux Mint users who prefer installing a package through their desktop or package installer. |
Portable .tar.gz |
A compressed archive | Users who prefer an archive rather than a Debian package and are comfortable with any manual setup the current package requires. |
Ubuntu and Linux Mint are Debian-based, but that does not guarantee compatibility with every release. The vendor’s page listed PDFsam Basic 6.0.5, 64-bit Linux, 256 MB of RAM, and at least 70 MB of disk space when checked on September 30, 2026. These are the requirements stated on that page, not a guarantee that every distribution release is supported. Confirm the current version, package details, and requirements on the official download page before installing.
- Open the PDFsam Basic download page.
- Choose the Linux
.debpackage or portable.tar.gzarchive. - Install or unpack the downloaded file using the method appropriate for that package and your system.
- Open PDFsam Basic, then choose Merge or Split for the task you want to do.
PDFsam’s documentation index links to separate merge and split tutorials and a Linux/OpenJDK guide. Refer to those for interface-specific instructions, which can change between versions. A package listing in Ubuntu’s Jammy manpage catalog is not, by itself, evidence that a current package is maintained for every Ubuntu or Mint release; the vendor’s download page is the appropriate starting point for this download.
#1 Best Overall
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- EASY SETUP — USB-powered connect to your computer for quick and simple scanning; No batteries or external power supply required to operate portable document scanner; Standard Connectivity: USB 2.0
How do I merge PDF files in Ubuntu or Linux Mint?
In PDFsam Basic, choose Merge, add the PDFs, and arrange them in the sequence you want in the output. The order matters: the merged document follows the chosen input sequence. You can combine complete documents or specify which pages to take from individual PDFs.
Merge complete PDFs
- Open PDFsam Basic and select Merge.
- Add the PDF files you want to combine.
- Arrange the inputs in the intended page order.
- Choose an output destination and run the merge using the controls shown in your installed version.
- Open the resulting PDF and check that the pages appear in the intended sequence.
Merge selected page ranges
For each input, you can specify page intervals rather than including the whole file. PDFsam gives the example 1-10, 14, 25-: pages 1 through 10, page 14, and page 25 onward. Use this when, for example, you need selected sections from several documents without first creating separate copies of those pages.
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- FAST SPEEDS - Scans color and black and white documents a blazing speed up to 16ppm (1). Color scanning won’t slow you down as the color scan speed is the same as the black and white scan speed.
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- WORKS YOUR WAY – Use the Brother free iPrint&Scan desktop app for scanning to multiple “Scan-to” destinations like PC, Network, cloud services, Email and OCR. (2) Supports Windows, Mac and Linux and TWAIN/WIA for PC/ICA for Mac/SANE drivers. (3)
- OPTIMIZE IMAGES AND TEXT – Automatic color detection/adjustment, image rotation (PC only), bleed through prevention/background removal, text enhancement, color drop to enhance scans. Software suite includes document management and OCR software. (4)
Optional merge settings
PDFsam Basic also offers settings for bookmarks, AcroForms, and a table of contents. These are optional: a straightforward merge does not require changing them. If your PDFs contain bookmarks or forms, review the relevant settings and inspect the output to confirm it behaves as you need.
How do I split a PDF into separate pages or smaller files?
Choose Split and select a rule that matches how you want the output divided. PDFsam Basic supports these split methods:
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Rank #3
- STAY ORGANIZED – Easily convert your paper documents into digital formats like searchable PDF files, JPEGs, and more.Power Consumption : 2.5W or less (Energy Saving Mode: 0.7W). Suggested Daily Volume : 500 scans..Does it contain liquid: no
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- FAST AND EFFICIENT – No technical hurdles or complicated setups here; easily scan both sides of a document at the same time, in color or black-and-white, at up to 12 pages-per-minute, and with a 20 sheet automatic feeder
- BROAD COMPATIBILITY – Works with both Windows and Mac devices, be it laptop or computer
| Split rule | Use it when |
|---|---|
| After every page | You want each page saved as a separate PDF. |
| After even pages or after odd pages | You want to divide a document according to page parity. |
| At selected page numbers | You know the boundaries where one section should end and another should begin. |
| Every n pages | You want regular-sized groups of a specified number of pages. |
| By file size | You want output files near a target size; PDFsam describes this split as approximate. |
| At bookmark levels | You want divisions based on the PDF’s existing bookmark structure. |
- Open PDFsam Basic and choose Split.
- Add the PDF to divide.
- Select the split rule that fits your goal and provide any required page numbers, interval, size, or bookmark level.
- Choose an output destination and run the operation using the controls in your installed version.
- Open the resulting files and check the page boundaries and order.
If the goal is one file per page, choose the after-every-page rule. If you need chapters or specific sections, use selected page boundaries or bookmark levels when the document’s bookmarks correspond to those sections. For regular page-count chunks, choose every n pages. Do not treat the size-based option as an exact file-size limit.
Can I merge PDFs without uploading them?
PDFsam’s publisher says PDFsam Basic processes files locally, does not upload them, and does not need an internet connection to perform the PDF operation. That is the publisher’s description of the application, not an independent security audit. You still need internet access to download the software and may need it for other online activities.
Rank #4
- IRIScan Express, portable scanner : scans color and black and white documents a blazing speed up to 8ppm simplex. Color scanning won’t slow you down as the color scan speed is the same as the black and white scan speed.
- IRIScan Express mobile scanner is powered via an included micro USB 2. 0 cable allowing you to use it even where there is no outlet available. Plug it into you PC or laptop and you are ready to scan. USB cable provided. AC Adapter not provided and not needed.
- IRIScan flatbed scanner uses a simplex scanning mode allows for quick and straightforward scanning of single-sided documents. IRIScan with its full portable features is the ideal document scanners for computers.
- IRIScan document scanner : Versatile scanning capabilities, including scanning to Word, PDF, and Excel formats with companion software provided Readiris OCR
- Receipt scanner and card scanner with Additional features include scanning business cards directly to Outlook, photo scanning, and receipt scanning for efficient document management
Is PDFsam Basic enough, or do I need Visual?
For merging and splitting described here, PDFsam Basic is the suitable edition. It is a free, open-source desktop application for Linux, Windows, and macOS. Its other tools include mix, rotate, extract, and insert pages.
PDFsam Visual is a separate Linux-capable product positioned for expanded, visual PDF work. The vendor lists more than 25 tools, including visual page organization, compression, cropping, and split-by-text, and lists a 14-day trial on its editions page. Consider it only if you need those additional capabilities; it is not required for the Basic merge and split workflow. The same page presents PDFsam Enhanced as Windows-only, so it is not the Linux edition alternative.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Scanner type: Document
- Connectivity technology: USB
- With Auto Scan Mode, the scanner automatically detects what you're scanning
- Digitize documents and images
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
