What is the Nuvenar Split PDF tool?
Nuvenar Split PDF is a free, browser-side tool that extracts pages or page ranges from a PDF into one or more new PDF files. It uses the open-source pdf-lib library running in your browser, so your file never reaches a server. Two modes: split every page into its own file, or define custom ranges like 1-3, 5, 8-10 to control exactly which pages end up where.
When to use Split PDF
- Extract a single chapter, contract clause, or appendix from a long document.
- Break a scanned multi-page batch back into separate files (receipts, invoices, ID documents the scanner concatenated).
- Send only the relevant page to a client or colleague instead of forwarding a 200-page contract.
- Separate signed and unsigned pages after a DocuSign or Adobe Sign return.
- Distribute a court bundle in topical sections to different counsel.
How Split PDF works
The tool reads the source PDF into memory, parses the page tree with pdf-lib, copies the requested pages into one or more new PDFDocument instances, serialises each, then bundles all outputs into a single ZIP using JSZip. Everything runs in your browser tab; the Network panel in DevTools will show zero outbound requests during the split.
How custom ranges work
Type ranges as comma-separated tokens. A single number like 5 extracts that page on its own. A hyphenated pair like 8-10 extracts pages 8, 9, and 10 into one PDF. Mix freely: 1-3, 5, 8-10 produces three output files in the ZIP. Pages out of range are skipped silently.
Split PDF vs alternatives
Functionality across the major UK-relevant tools is comparable. The differentiators are privacy (browser-side vs server upload), daily task caps on free tiers, and subscription price.
| Tool | Browser-side | Watermark on free | Free tier limit | Paid price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuvenar Split PDF | Yes | Small Nuvenar mark on free | 10 output pages per run | £9/mo unlimited |
| Smallpdf | No | No watermark, 2 tasks/day | 2 splits/day | €9/mo |
| iLovePDF | No | No watermark | Free, 25 MB upload | €6/mo |
| Adobe Acrobat Online | No | No watermark | 2 splits/day with Adobe ID | £15.17/mo + VAT |
| PDF24 Online | No | No watermark | Free, ad-supported | Free online |
Privacy and security
The PDFs people split are very often the most sensitive (contracts, court bundles, medical files, payroll packs). Browser-side processing means the file stays on your device. No server log, no privacy-policy promise to verify, no third-party data-processing record needed for UK GDPR.
Common use cases by profession
- Solicitors: split a 400-page court bundle into per-counsel topical extracts.
- Accountants: separate scanned receipt batches back into individual receipt PDFs for client portals.
- Consultants: extract a single section of an SOW or proposal to share with a stakeholder who only needs that part.
- Estate agents: split combined tenancy packs (offer, agreement, inventory) when one party only needs the agreement.
- Aesthetics and clinic operators: extract the signed consent page from a longer treatment-record PDF for archiving.
- HR teams: split combined recruitment packs (CV, cover letter, work samples) for review by different panel members.
What is included free vs Tools Pro
Free: up to 10 output pages per run, Every page and Custom range modes, small Nuvenar watermark on outputs. Tools Pro at £9/mo: unlimited output pages, no watermark, priority support, plus access to every other Nuvenar PDF tool (merge, compress, rotate, watermark, page numbers) and 25+ business calculators.
Frequently misunderstood things about splitting PDFs
- Myth: splitting removes the watermark on a watermarked source. Reality: page-level content (including watermarks) is preserved in the split outputs.
- Myth: page numbers automatically renumber after splitting. Reality: the extracted PDF keeps the original page numbers in any baked-in footers. Use our add page numbers tool to renumber.
- Myth: splitting halves the file size. Reality: file size is roughly proportional to page count, but shared resources (fonts, images repeated across pages) duplicate in each output.
- Myth: the split tool can also extract just the text. Reality: this tool produces PDFs, not plain-text extracts. For text extraction use a dedicated OCR or text-extraction tool.