Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PDFtk VS PDFsam Basic

Compare PDFtk VS PDFsam Basic and see what are their differences

PDFtk logo PDFtk

PDFtk is a simple tool for doing everyday things with PDF documents.

PDFsam Basic logo PDFsam Basic

A free and open source software to merge, split, rotate and extract pages from PDF files
  • PDFtk Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-28
  • PDFsam Basic Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-27

PDFtk features and specs

  • Versatility
    PDFtk provides a wide range of capabilities for manipulating PDF files, such as merging, splitting, encrypting, and decrypting, which make it highly versatile for various PDF tasks.
  • Command-line Interface
    PDFtk has a command-line interface, which allows for automated, scriptable PDF processing, ideal for integration into other systems and workflows.
  • Cross-Platform
    PDFtk is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it accessible for users across different platforms.
  • Cost
    It's available as a free and open-source tool, making it an economical choice for individuals and businesses looking to manage PDFs without incurring extra costs.
  • Simplicity
    PDFtk is straightforward to use for common PDF tasks, with clear functionality that doesn't require extensive learning or setup.

Possible disadvantages of PDFtk

  • Limited GUI
    While PDFtk offers powerful command-line tools, its graphical user interface is limited, which might be a disadvantage for users who prefer or need a visual interface.
  • Lack of Advanced Editing Features
    PDFtk lacks advanced editing capabilities found in some other PDF tools, such as text editing, annotation, and form creation, which may limit its usefulness for users needing these features.
  • Support and Documentation
    As an open-source tool, support may be limited compared to commercial solutions, and some users might find the available documentation insufficient for complex tasks.
  • Performance
    For very large PDF files or extensive batch operations, users might experience performance limitations compared to more robust, enterprise-level solutions.

PDFsam Basic features and specs

  • Cost
    PDFsam Basic is free to use, making it accessible for users who need basic PDF capabilities without financial investment.
  • Simplicity
    Offers a straightforward interface that is easy to navigate, even for users with minimal technical expertise.
  • Functionality
    Provides essential PDF operations like splitting, merging, rotating, and extracting pages, meeting the needs of most basic users.
  • Cross-Platform
    Available on multiple operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring broad accessibility.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source application, PDFsam allows users to inspect and modify the source code, ensuring transparency and customization.

Possible disadvantages of PDFsam Basic

  • Advanced Features
    Lacks advanced PDF editing features found in paid software like text editing, form filling, or OCR.
  • Performance
    May not handle very large PDF files as efficiently as some paid alternatives, potentially leading to slower processing times.
  • User Support
    Limited user support options compared to professional paid versions, which may offer dedicated customer service.
  • Interface
    Although functional, the user interface can be seen as basic or outdated, lacking the polished look of some commercial software.

PDFtk videos

PDFTK Builder - RedUSERS

More videos:

  • Review - Demo of PDFTK Builder.avi

PDFsam Basic videos

No PDFsam Basic videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PDFtk and PDFsam Basic)
PDF Tools
50 50%
50% 50
Word
100 100%
0% 0
PDF Editor
40 40%
60% 60
Tool
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using PDFtk and PDFsam Basic. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PDFsam Basic seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

PDFtk mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of PDFtk yet. Tracking of PDFtk recommendations started around Mar 2021.

PDFsam Basic mentions (6)

  • PDF-Merger
    It looks good and seems easy to use, however its function might already be covered by PDFSam Basic (also open-source). Source: over 3 years ago
  • concerned about work being stolen - plagiarism
    Free and open-source solution for pdf merging: https://pdfsam.org/pdfsam-basic/. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Service Manual Generac Guardian 24Kw G0072101
    Since PDFs are provided. You can build (merge) one using a tool such as PDFSam. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Need a cheap PDF Editor....Is Ashampoo legit?
    If I understand correctly, you want to merge PDFs basically. I think PDF Sam Basic (open-source too I think) and Sejda Desktop might work, depending on how many PDFs you need to edit every day. Source: over 4 years ago
  • LPT: If you need to edit PDF documents such as split, merge, extract, etc. and don't want to pay for expensive software, you should know about pdfsam.org, a free and open source application which allows you to edit PDF documents offline, and protects your privacy.
    Edit functions such as split, merge, extract, mix and rotate are all free. Yes, they have a premium version, but the free version is definitely way more than a glorified viewer: https://pdfsam.org/pdfsam-basic/. Source: over 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing PDFtk and PDFsam Basic, you can also consider the following products

PDFsam - PDFsam Basic, a free, open source, multi-platform software designed to split, merge, extract pages, mix and rotate PDF files

Foxit PhantomPDF - Edit PDF files with our feature-rich PDF Editor. Download Foxit PDF Editor to convert, sign, scan / OCR & more. A speedy PDF Editor alternative to Adobe Acrobat.

AutoMetadata - AutoMetadata is a tool for exploring and manipulating metadata, document properties, and viewer preferences in multiple PDF documents.

Wondershare PDFelement - All-in-one PDF editor

Pdfinfo - Pdfinfo is a PDF document information and metadata extractor tool.

Foxit Reader - Foxit Reader is a free and light-weight multi-platform PDF document viewer.