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Paid plans start at $2.91/mo. There's also a free plan.
PDFsam Basic costs nothing and covers PDF splitting and merging for personal and commercial use. Paid plans start at $34.90 per user per year for Visual, or $69 per year for Enhanced Standard. The advertised $2.91 monthly Visual price is an annual-billing equivalent; monthly billing prices are not published. Visual also has a $59 perpetual license. Enhanced is for Windows, while Basic works on Windows, macOS and Linux. The right choice depends on whether you need page tools, editing or OCR.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDFsam Basic | $0 | $0 | Free PDF splitting and merging |
| PDFsam Visual (14-Day Free Trial) | — | Quote | Trying Visual’s full toolset |
| PDFsam Visual (Subscription) | $2.91 | — | Users wanting ongoing Visual access |
| PDFsam Visual (Perpetual) | — | Quote | Users who prefer a perpetual license |
| PDFsam Enhanced (Free View & Create) | $0 | $0 | Free PDF viewing and creation on Windows |
| PDFsam Enhanced Standard | $5.75 | — | Basic PDF editing on Windows |
| PDFsam Enhanced Pro | $7.42 | — | PDF workflows needing forms and security |
| PDFsam Enhanced Pro + OCR Advanced | $10.75 | — | Windows users needing OCR tools |
Add-ons and overages
- Visual priority support for business or volume licenses: +20% of license total, minimum €99/year
What a team pays per month
| Plan | 1 seat | 5 seats | 10 seats | 25 seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDFsam Visual (Subscription) | $2.91 | $14.55 | $29.10 | $72.75 |
| PDFsam Enhanced Standard | $5.75 | $28.75 | $57.50 | $143.75 |
| PDFsam Enhanced Pro | $7.42 | $37.10 | $74.20 | $185.50 |
| PDFsam Enhanced Pro + OCR Advanced | $10.75 | $53.75 | $107.50 | $268.75 |
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
Annual billing only
Subscription prices are annual. The pricing details do not publish a monthly billing option.
Two-computer license cap
Paid Visual and Enhanced licenses cover one user on two computers, not unlimited devices.
Enhanced is Windows-only
Enhanced plans are for Windows. Basic is the listed free option for macOS and Linux.
Priority support costs extra
Visual priority support for business or volume licenses adds 20% of the license total, with a €99-per-year minimum.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| People who split or merge | PDFsam Basic | It is free for personal and commercial use, has no watermarks or file size limits, and works on Windows, macOS and Linux. |
| Users needing page tools | PDFsam Visual (Subscription) | It includes all tools and unlimited upgrades for $34.90 per user per year, billed annually. |
| Windows users who need OCR | PDFsam Enhanced Pro + OCR Advanced | At $129 per user per year, it includes OCR and all Pro modules, with use on two computers. |
04Is PDFsam worth the money?
PDFsam Basic is a strong free pick if splitting and merging are enough: the pricing details list no watermarks or file-size limits. The trade-off is that page-based tools, editing and OCR sit in paid products rather than one all-purpose free tier. Visual costs $34.90 per year or $59 once; Enhanced starts at $69 per year and is Windows-only. For a basic desktop workflow, paying may be unnecessary. For advanced work, compare the exact tools you need with the tier limits before switching.
PDFsam pricing FAQ
How much is a PDF editor license?
PDFsam Enhanced Standard is $69 per user per year; Pro is $89, and Pro + OCR Advanced is $129. Visual costs $34.90 per user per year on subscription or $59 for a perpetual license. Subscription prices are annual; monthly billing prices are not published.
Is PDFsam free?
PDFsam Basic is free for personal and commercial use, with no watermarks or file-size limits, according to the pricing details. Enhanced also has a free View & Create option for Windows, but it requires registration. Visual offers a 14-day trial.
Is PDFsam reliable?
PDFsam Basic is described as free, open-source desktop software, and the listed versions support Windows, macOS and Linux. The information available here does not provide independent reliability data or uptime figures, so we cannot make a stronger reliability claim.
What is the best free version of PDFsam?
For splitting and merging, PDFsam Basic is the clearest free choice: it has no watermarks or file-size limits and supports Windows, macOS and Linux. Windows users who only need viewing and PDF creation can also consider Enhanced Free View & Create, which requires registration.