[Solved] How to Merge PDF Files in Google Drive & Using Alternatives

You may need to merge multiple PDF files into one. This can be useful for various tasks, such as combining scanned documents into a single file, creating a presentation from multiple PDF slides, or creating a portfolio from multiple PDFs. Google Drive is popular globally for cloud storage services for managing files, including the ability to merge PDF files. This article will show you how to merge PDF files in Google Drive using the best methods.

Part 1. How to Merge PDF Files with Google Drive

"Can you merge PDF files in Google Drive?"

Sure! Here're many extension apps on Google Drive that you can use as free PDF mergers in Google Drive. We've listed 3 of them. Check them out:

Way 1: How to Merge 2 PDF Files in Google Drive Using the Merge PDF Files Add-On

The Merge PDF Files add-on for Google Drive is a free and easy-to-use tool that lets you merge PDF files into a single file or multiple files.

Here is how to merge PDF files in Google Drive using Merge PDF files:

Step 1: Open the Google Drive website and sign in to your Google account. In the marketplace, go to the Merge PDF Files.

Step 2: Click on Install to download the app. Click on Continue from the pop-up.

Step 3: Now, locate and right-click on the desired PDF File on Google Drive.

Step 4: Hover over Open with and click on PDF Merge. From the newly opened tab, click on From Google Drive.

Step 5: Select the desired account and click Continue to permit Merge PDF Files to access your Google Account.

Step 6: Select the desired PDF Files and click on Select. Click on Merge and wait a few seconds to save your merged PDF in Google Drive.

Pros

• It is a free and easy-to-use method to merge files.
• If you merge the PDF files into multiple files, you can specify each file's name and size.

Cons

• You need to install an add-on to use this feature.
• The add-on may not be able to merge PDF files that are password-protected or encrypted.
• Ads included.

Way 2: How to Merge PDF Files on Google Drive Using the PDF Merge and Split Add-On

PDF Merge and Split is a free and open-source tool that lets you merge PDFs from Google Drive. It is a powerful tool that can help you to organize and manage your PDF documents.

Below are the steps on how to merge PDFs using Google Drive, PDF Merge and Split app:

Step 1: Head over to the Google Workspace Marketplace, then search PDF Merge and Split. Click the Install button.

Step 2: Once the app is installed, open Google Drive. Click on the three dots icon next to one of the PDF files you want to merge and select Open with > PDF Merge and Split.

Step 3: Select the other PDFs you want to merge in the PDF Merge and Split window. Click the Create PDF button. The merged PDFs will be saved in your Drive.

Pros

• It offers more features than the built-in Google Drive merge tool.
• It is easy to use.
• It is accessible to anyone with a Google Drive account.

Cons

• It is not free to use.
• It does not allow you to customize the output PDF file as much as other PDF merger apps.

Way 3: How to Merge PDF Files on Google Drive Using the PDF Mergy Add-On

PDF Mergy is a web app that allows you to merge PDF files in Google Drive with a simple drag-and-drop interface. It is a convenient and easy way to organize your PDF files in Google Drive.

To use PDF Mergy, you need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to Google Workspace and install PDF Mergy. Permit to use your Gmail account.

Step 2: Upload the PDFs you want to merge to your Google Drive. Or, you can use the ones you've already uploaded.

Step 3: Select the PDF files, right-click on them, and choose Open With > PDF Mergy. The app will take you to a new window.

Step 4: Drag and drop the files in the desired order in the new window. Delete unwanted files by clicking on them and pressing the Delete key on your keyboard.

Step 5: When satisfied with the order, click Merge to start the merging process.

Step 6: After merging, choose the Save to Drive option. Give authorization if needed. Confirm the file name in the pop-up window that appears. If everything is okay, click Save to Drive again to save the merged PDF file to your Google Drive.

Pros

• You don't need much technical skills or special software to merge PDF files in Google Drive.
• The app can handle large, complex PDF files without errors or delays.
• It is secure and private.

Cons

• It is still in the beta phase. Some bugs or issues may need to be fixed or improved.

More office solutions:

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Part 2: How to Merge PDFs from Google Drive Using Alternatives

You can also try an assortment of merger alternatives. This section discusses some of the alternative ways to merge PDF files for Google Drive.

Method 1: Merge 2 PDF Files Using Coolmuster PDF Merger [Recommended]

Coolmuster PDF Merger is a powerful PDF merger software that can help you merge any number of PDF files into one. It is convenient to use and offers a variety of features, making it an excellent choice for anyone who needs to merge PDF files regularly.

System Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.
• CPU: Intel or AMD processor with a clock speed of at least 750MHz.
• RAM: 512MB or more.
• Free Storage Space: 1GB or more.

Coolmuster PDF Merger offers the following features:

• Merge multiple PDF files into one.
• Merge PDF files in any order.
• Customize the output PDF file, including the output format, page size, and margins.
• Add watermarks to the merged PDF file.
• Password-protect the merged PDF file.
• Batch merge PDF files.
• Preview the merged PDF file before saving merging.

To use Coolmuster PDF Merger to merge PDF files, follow these steps:

01Download, install, and launch Coolmuster PDF Merger on your computer.

Free Download for PC

 

02Click the Add Files or Add Folder button to upload your files for merging.

03Click the Start button to merge the PDF files.

Method 2: Merge 2 PDF Files Using Smallpdf

Smallpdf is a popular online PDF tool offering a variety of features, including the ability to merge PDF files, split PDF files, and compress PDF files.

See the steps on how to use Smallpdf to merge PDF files:

Step 1: Go to the Smallpdf website. Click the Merge PDF function button.

Step 2: Hit the Upload button and select the PDFs you want to merge. Once the PDF files have been uploaded, they will be displayed in the merge tool.

Step 3: To change the order of the files, click and drag your PDFs to the desired location. Click the Merge button.

Pros

• It is a user-friendly and easy-to-use tool.
• It offers a variety of features for merging PDF files.

Cons

• The free plan does not allow you to merge PDF files in bulk or to password-protect your PDF files.
• The merge tool can be slow.

Method 3: Merge PDF Files Using PDF2Go

PDF2Go is a cloud-based PDF tool that allows you to perform various PDF tasks, such as merging PDF files, splitting PDF files, and adding watermarks to PDF files.

Steps on how to use PDF2Go to merge PDF files in Google Drive:

Step 1: Navigate to the PDF2Go website. Click on the Merge PDF button.

Step 2: Click the Upload Files button and select the PDF files you want to merge.

Step 3: Click on the Merge button.

Pros

• It is very user-friendly and easy to use, even for beginners.
• It offers a variety of PDF tasks
• It is free to use for basic tasks.

Cons

• The paid subscription can be expensive for some users.
• The output quality is not always the best.

Method 4: Merge PDF Files Using Apps Script and PDF.co

Apps Script and PDF.co is a more complex method for merging PDFs. It works by adding a script to Google Drive in the form of a Google Excel spreadsheet. This script allows you to merge PDFs by entering the URLs of the PDF files you want to merge.

Steps on how to combine PDFs using Apps Script:

Step 1: Open a new Google Sheet. Add your API key from the PDF.co website in the first cell.

Step 2: In the second cell, enter the URLs of the PDF files you want to combine. Separate the URLs with commas.

Step 3: Click the Run button.

Step 4: The script will combine the PDF files into a new PDF file called merged.pdf and save it to your Google Drive.

Pros

• The software provides the script, so you only need to copy and paste it into your Google Excel spreadsheet.
• The merged PDF file is saved to your Google Drive, allowing for convenient access.

Cons

• The process can be complex, especially if you are unfamiliar with Google Sheets or Apps Script.
• The script may not work for all PDF files, especially if they are password-protected or have DRM.

More to read:

No More Watermark Distractions: Learn How to Remove Them from PDFs

Stamp Out Boring PDFs: Add Custom Stamps to Make Them Pop

The Bottom Line

Merging PDFs is easy, and there are many different ways to do it. When choosing a PDF merging approach, there are a few things to remember: ease of use, features, and price. Coolmuster PDF Merger is a powerful PDF merger app that ticks all those boxes.

It is an excellent option for anyone needing to merge PDF files regularly. Download Coolmuster PDF Merger today to merge two PDF files on Google Drive quickly and conveniently.

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