Alternate and Mix PDFs: Combine Pages in Turn

1. 00

   What's great about our PDF alternate and mix tool

   • Your files never leave your device. Everything happens right in your browser.
   • Take turns between two or more PDFs, page by page.
   • Reverse one PDF to put scanned back sides in line.
   • Choose how many pages each PDF gives per turn.
   • Pages are copied, so text stays selectable and searchable.
   • Free, no limits, no watermark, and it works offline after your first visit.
2. 01

   Add your PDFs

   Choose PDFs or drag them into the preview. Use Add More to add others later.

3. 02

   Set the mix

   • Drag the cards so the PDF that gives the first page of every turn is at the front.
   • Set Pages per Turn, and Reverse the Second PDF if the backs were scanned last page first.
4. 03

   Mix PDFs and download

   Click Mix PDFs, then Download. Change any option and the button goes back to Mix PDFs, ready for another run. Several files download together as a ZIP.

5. 04

   Loved it?

   • If you're on computer, bookmark this page to your browser.
   • If you're on mobile, add it to your home screen for one-tap access and offline use.
     • Android: Visit this page in Google Chrome > tap three-dot icon (⋮) at top > Install and create shortcut.
     • iPhone and iPad: Visit this page in Safari > tap menu icon in address bar > Share > Add to Home Screen.

How it works

The pages of each PDF are put in a line, and the new PDF is built by taking pages from each line in turn. Pages are copied from the originals, never redrawn.

The result is opened again and every page is compared with its source: text, size, turn and links must match, and the page count must be the sum of the pages used.

Frequently asked questions

• Is my PDF uploaded anywhere? No. Everything happens in your browser, on your device. Your PDF is never sent to a server.
• When do I need this? The classic case is a double-sided paper stack put through a scanner that only scans one side. Scan the fronts into one PDF, turn the stack over and scan the backs into another, then mix them: page 1 front, page 1 back, page 2 front, and so on.
• My back sides came out in the wrong order. When the stack is turned over, its last sheet comes first. Choose Reverse the second PDF: Yes, and the backs fall in line with the fronts.
• What does Pages per Turn do? With 1, you get page 1 of the first PDF, page 1 of the second, page 2 of the first, and so on. With 2, you take two pages from each PDF in every turn.
• What if one PDF is shorter? Keep the Rest adds the remaining pages of the longer PDFs at the end. Stop Early ends the mix when the shortest PDF runs out.
• How do I change the order of the PDFs? Drag a card, or use the arrows under it. The PDF at the top gives the first page of every turn.
• Does it change the pages? No. Pages are copied, so their text stays selectable and searchable. A safety check compares every page of the result with its source.
• Which PDFs are not supported? Password-protected PDFs cannot be read. Remove the password first with PDF Password Unlock.

What happens to your file

Nothing is uploaded, stored on a server or tracked. Your files stay in your browser's memory until you remove them or close the page. The mixed PDF is made on your device. The originals are not changed.

How to get the most out of it

• Check page 1 and page 2 of the result before throwing away the paper.
• To scan fronts and backs with a feeder that does both sides, you do not need this tool.
• Use Reverse the Second PDF: Yes when the backs were scanned from the turned stack.