Smallpdf Merge PDF: customer experiences
Reviewers report mixed experiences with Smallpdf’s Merge PDF feature, with a roughly balanced split between positive and negative feedback. The majority of praise centers on the tool’s speed, ease of use, and reliability when merging files, particularly in the free version. Users highlight its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and consistent output quality. However, several recurring complaints focus on unexpected charges, misleading free trial behavior, and technical issues like incorrect file ordering or app crashes. Over time, the sentiment has fluctuated, with multiple 1-star reviews in early 2025 and late 2026, but a noticeable improvement in recent months, including several 5-star ratings in 2026. The overall trend suggests that while core functionality is well-regarded, user trust has been strained by billing practices and inconsistent performance in some cases.
What customers praise
Customers frequently praise the Merge PDF tool for its speed, simplicity, and reliability. Many note that the drag-and-drop interface makes combining files intuitive and fast, even with unstable internet connections. The tool consistently delivers accurate results, with users reporting smooth uploads, clean downloads, and no corruption in the final file. Several reviewers highlight that the free version offers strong performance, making it a go-to choice for everyday use.
What customers said:
- „I have already abandoned y Love PDF“
„I have already abandoned y Love PDF“
Original„já abandonei y Love pdf“
- „Merge worked smoothly and perfectly.“
- „First use creating a single file from 2 PDFs: very intuitive and easy to use.“
„First use creating a single file from 2 PDFs: very intuitive and easy to use.“
Original„1ère utilisation en créant 1 seul fichier de 2 pdf : très intituitif et facile d'utilisation.“
Common complaints
Common complaints include the app incorrectly merging files in the wrong order, which frustrates users needing precise control. Some users report that the tool forces them to merge files one by one, making the process inefficient. Others mention that the free version does not clearly indicate which features are locked, leading to confusion after selecting files. A few users also experienced crashes during the merge process, especially in the initial minutes of use.
What customers said:
- „When you want to join, you have to do it one by one as the app leaves everything…“
„When you want to join, you have to do it one by one as the app leaves everything disorganized“
Original„cuando se quiere unir hay que unir uno por uno ya que la app deja todo desordenado“
- „Merges pdf files in wrong order.“
How it has changed over time
The feature’s reputation has shifted over time, with multiple 1-star reviews in early 2025 and late 2026, often tied to billing issues and app instability. However, recent months show a positive trend, with several 5-star ratings in 2026, particularly in April and June. The increase in higher ratings suggests improvements in performance and user experience, though the presence of negative feedback indicates ongoing concerns, especially around transparency and pricing.
What customers said:
- „what a waste of my time“
- „Even 7 day trial also asks for a payment details..“
- „Their system didn’t inform me, and they continued offering free trials with misleading…“
„Their system didn’t inform me, and they continued offering free trials with misleading information.“
Practical takeaways
For users seeking a fast, free way to merge PDFs, Smallpdf remains a strong option, especially for occasional use. The tool works well on browsers and handles large files efficiently. However, users should be cautious about billing, free trials require payment details, and some features become inaccessible after a few uses. To avoid surprises, it’s best to use the free version carefully and avoid entering payment information unless committed to a subscription.
What customers said:
- „Smallpdf.com is really wonderful to merge the files“
- „The PDFs upload well, it shows which ones I want to merge into one PDF.“
- „joins all PDFs just by dragging“
„joins all PDFs just by dragging“
Original„junta todos pdfs apenas arrastando“
Over time
Data as table
| Month | Avg. rating | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-12 | 1.00 | 2 |
| 2025-02 | 1.00 | 1 |
| 2025-03 | 1.00 | 1 |
| 2025-06 | 1.00 | 1 |
| 2025-08 | 5.00 | 1 |
| 2025-09 | 5.00 | 1 |
| 2025-11 | 1.00 | 1 |
| 2026-02 | 5.00 | 1 |
| 2026-04 | 3.00 | 4 |
| 2026-05 | 5.00 | 1 |
| 2026-06 | 5.00 | 3 |
| 2026-07 | 4.33 | 6 |
Sentiment over time
Data as table
| Month | Positive | Neutral | Negative | Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-12 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 2 |
| 2025-02 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 1 |
| 2025-03 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 1 |
| 2025-06 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 1 |
| 2025-08 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 1 |
| 2025-09 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 1 |
| 2025-11 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 1 |
| 2026-02 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 1 |
| 2026-04 | 50% | 0% | 50% | 4 |
| 2026-05 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 1 |
| 2026-06 | 100% | 0% | 0% | 3 |
| 2026-07 | 83% | 0% | 17% | 6 |
Customer voices
Short excerpts - full reviews are available at the original source.
„WHY DOES THE APP ASK TO PAY FOR EVERY SINGLE TOOL?“
„Great value for money“
„friendly customer support“
„I highly recommend it to everyone from someone who works a lot with PDF files or someone who just needs to edit a single file“
„Only after clicking 'merge files' and selecting files does it finally tell you that this is only possible after making a subscription.“
„a very good result“
„I can thus still exclude the wrong ones uploaded.“
„THE BEST AND FASTER MERGE PDF“