How to Separate Pages in PDF

We often need to break a PDF into parts – for instance, you may need to extract an image or a chart from a PDF document or split large documents into smaller chunks to make sharing easier. It’s generally preferable if the file can be processed fast and accurately. If you are new to splitting PDFs, it can be tricky to figure out which PDF splitter will work best for you and is compatible with your computer’s operating system.

Movavi provides solutions for both Windows and Mac computers and an online platform for Linux and portable devices. Using our software, you can join or export pages from existing PDF files without the risk of losing quality or data.

Keep reading to learn how to separate pages in PDF using PDFChef by Movavi or its online cousin PDFChef Online.

If you want to export just one page from a PDF file, there is no need to use the page management mode. You can do it directly in the Preview panel.

If you want to know how to cut PDF pages into multiple BMP, JPG, or PNG images, this step is for you.

For those who prefer working online, we suggest PDFChef. PDFChef is a simplified web-based version of the PDF Editor, which lets you split PDF files right in your browser without downloading any software. However, note that it supports only the PDF format, so you cannot extract individual pages as image files.

PDFChef by Movavi for Mac has the same functionality as the Windows version. Using it, you can separate a PDF into several files and extract pages from a PDF one by one. However, there’s also a default PDF-editing tool called Preview. Here’s how it works.

If you have Google Chrome installed on your computer, you can use this browser to separate PDF pages. The main advantage of this option is that it’s free. Let’s see how you do it.

Adobe^® Acrobat^® Reader^® is a popular PDF viewer. Even though it has editing options in the interface, the program itself doesn’t let you edit PDFs. Extracting pages is only available if you purchase the Pro version, which is called Adobe^® Acrobat^® Pro DC. To see how splitting a PDF works in the software, read the instructions below.

If you’re not satisfied with any of the options above, here’s a list of software you can try. Hopefully, you’ll find a program that will satisfy you. All the picks below are listed in no particular order. All of them are worth your attention equally.

CutePDF is a free online PDF editor. It lets users extract, rotate, resize, and delete pages. Other features are merging several PDFs into one, changing security settings (like adding passwords for viewing and changing a PDF file) and document properties (a title, author, keywords, etc.). The main advantage of this editor is that you don’t need to sign up or install anything. CutePDF has a paid program that’s called CutePDF Professional. This software has more editing features than the online version; for example, it can replace the contents of a page and downsize large PDF files. However, for exporting pages from PDF documents, the free online version works great.
Here’s how to extract pages from a PDF with CutePDF Editor:

1. Go to the CutePDF website.
   CutePDF Editor online
2. Click Start to Edit Your PDF File Now - FREE!
3. Drag and drop your PDF into the highlighted area of the browser’s window.
4. Click the Extract Pages tool.
5. Select one of the range-defining options and enter the pages you want to save separately.
6. Click OK and wait for the program to process your file.
7. On the top bar, click the Save button. The edited file will be downloaded to your computer.

PDFsam is a free, open-source desktop application. It has versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Its main features are merging and splitting PDF files, rotating and extracting separate pages. The application supports batch processing, so if you have several files of the same pattern, this program will serve you better than the rest of this list.
The program has a free version called PDFsam Basic and a paid one called PDFsam Enhanced. The advantages of the paid versions are more advanced editing tools and an ability to convert PDFs to other formats. But to extract several pages from a PDF document, having the Basic version is enough.
Here’s how to extract pages from a PDF with PDFsam Basic:

1. Go to the PDFsam website and download the PDFsam Basic installation file.
   PDFsam Basic download page
2. Follow the installation instructions and launch the program when the process is over.
3. On the program’s dashboard, click Extract.
4. Click the Add button in the top-left corner, locate and select the files you want to extract pages from, and click Open.

   Warning: all the files you upload at once will be treated as a batch. The program will export pages with the same number from all the uploaded files. Since you can’t define the extraction range for each file separately, don’t use batch processing unless you know that you need the same pages from each item in the batch (e.g., you only need the title pages from several theses).

5. In the Extract settings, define the page range following the rules in the tooltip. It’s almost the same rules as in Google Chrome, with an addition of a rule for a range that starts with a defined page and ends at the end of the document (for example, if you want to save pages from 3 to 5 in a 5-page file, enter “3-”).
6. In the Output settings, pick the folder where you want to save the extracted file. You can select the same folder as your source file. If you wish to add a specific prefix to your extracted file, enter it in the field below. If you don’t, the software will add a numeral in front of it by default (it won’t overwrite the source file).
7. Click Run in the bottom-left corner. In the warning window, click Overwrite. Wait until the program completes the extraction. To view the resulting file, click the Open button.

Split-a-PDF is a free online PDF splitter. The best feature of the splitter is visualization. While the previous PDF-splitters make you enter page numbers, Split-a-PDF lets you select pages from a preview. However, you can only select pages that are following each other. For example, you can’t export pages 1 and 3 and skip page 2.
The monetization of the platform is done via ads on its pages and a voluntary donation banner. The team that designed the platform wants no money or registration from the users. They also promise never to share any of their users’ data, which is really sweet of them to mention in their mission statement. So, although using the platform is completely free, you can be sure that your data won’t lend into the wrong hands.
Here’s how to extract pages from a PDF with the Split-a-PDF online platform:

1. Enter the Split-a-PDF website:
   Split-a-PDF main page
2. Click Start Splitting, then drag-and-drop the file you’re going to edit into the frame in the browser window.
3. In the preview, select the pages to extract by clicking the first page from the range and then clicking the last one. If you want to choose one page, click it twice. Alternatively, you can enter page numbers in the fields below the preview.
4. When the range is defined, click the Split button in the bottom-right corner. Wait until the program processes your file. Then, click the Download button to get the edited file.

Foxit PDF software is very popular among users. You may have tried Foxit Reader – a free PDF reader with advanced viewing features. Unlike Foxit Reader, Foxit PhantomPDF is a paid program with two purchasing plans: Standard and Business. The Business plan has more advanced editing features, but it’s more expensive (Standard costs $139, Business is $179). There’s also a Mac version for $139. Foxit PhantomPDF has many PDF-editing features, and it lets you customize your files to fit your needs. You can add comments, convert PDFs to other formats, add signatures and other graphic objects, edit text, check spelling, change security settings, etc. So, you get good value for your money. If you’re unsure whether to invest your money or not, the program has a free 14-day trial version. To get it, you’ll have to provide your personal info, including your email and phone number. If you’re okay with this, check the software out.
Here’s how to extract pages from a PDF with Foxit PhantomPDF Standard:

1. Go to the Foxit PhantomPDF main page:
   Foxit PhantomPDF website
2. Click any one of the Download buttons on the page. On the Download Center page, select a suitable option and click Free Trial Download. Enter your data (you have to fill in every field) and then click Download Free Trial.
3. Launch the downloaded file and follow the instructions to install the software. During the installation, you’ll have to select a plan option once again, be mindful of this.
4. When the program launches, click the Open File button on the left-hand panel. Select the file you want to extract pages from and click Open.
5. Open the Organize tab and click Extract. In the window that opens, list the pages you want to extract and select the extraction mode (extracting as one PDF, extracting each page as a separate file, etc.).
6. When all the settings are selected, click OK. The program will open the extracted files. To save each new file, click it on the tab panel, then open the Files tab, click Save As, select a target folder, and click Save.

PDFs Split & Merge is a PDF editor for iOS devices. It lets you do necessary edits to your PDF-files without having to open your laptop or launch a desktop computer. Split and merge PDFs, delete specific pages, and manage the PDFs you have on your device.
Using a free trial version, you can edit two documents. If you decide to go on using the app, you’ll have to upgrade to the Pro version. Luckily, getting Pro requires a one-time purchase of $6.99 and not a monthly or yearly subscription. If you often work with PDFs on your iPhone or iPad, this app will prove really helpful.
Here’s how to extract pages from a PDF with PDFs Split & Merge:

1. Find the app in the App Store:
   PDFs Split & Merge page
2. Download and launch the app on your device. Don’t forget to give the app permission to access your files.
3. Tap Split PDF, choose the file you want to edit, and then select Split Options.
4. In the Split Options list, click a suitable option. The one that should suit you best is Extract a single document using a custom range.
5. Enter the range of pages you want to extract following the rules above thу text field. When the range is set, click Submit. The app will open the list of files saved to the device, and the file with the extracted pages will have a "Split" prefix.

PDF Utility is a multifunctional 17-in-1 app for owners of Android devices. PDF Utility allows users to merge multiple PDF files into one, rotate, delete, and extract pages, and even create PDF files from pictures. Of course, the app’s functionality includes a fast and effective splitting tool, too. Even large PDF files can be split in a matter of seconds. PDF Utility is a free app with some really unobtrusive ads appearing from time to time.
Here’s how to extract pages from a PDF with PDF Utility:

1. Download PDF Utility from Google Play:
   PDF Utility page on Google Play
2. Launch the app. A pop-up will appear saying you need to permit the app to access files on your device. Tap Allow to grant this permission.
3. On the main screen, tap the Split PDF icon.
4. On the next screen, tap Select File and choose the document you want to split into several files. Then select a split type: in the Numbers field, specify the number of pages or files your document will be divided into. You can also enter a specific range of pages to extract.
5. Finally, tap Split File. A window will appear saying that your document was successfully split. You will find your files in the folder specified by default.

Now you know about a big variety of programs you can use to split a PDF file and extract pages from it. You can try any of them and see which one is more suitable and convenient. However, we suggest you try PDFChef by Movavi first. During the 7-day trial period, you can test the functionality and the interface and set your mind about the software.