Statements, invoices and reports often have no bookmarks but do have a marker: the word “Invoice”, a reference number, or a section heading. Split by text finds that marker on the page and starts a new document there.
Step by step
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1
Upload your PDF
Drag your PDF onto the box or click Choose file. It is sent over an encrypted connection and only used for this task.
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2
Set the options
Adjust text should start with (optional), page area left (pt), page area top (pt) and page area width (pt). Every field has a sensible default, so you can usually run the tool straight away.
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3
Run it and download
Press Split by text and the page shows progress while it works. When it finishes you get a download link — nothing is emailed and nothing is stored longer than it needs to be.
What counts as the start
The marker is matched at the beginning of the page text. Use the optional “text should start with” field to avoid matching a word that merely appears in a paragraph. For a footer-only marker, the page-area fields restrict the search to the region where the marker actually lives.
Preview before cutting
Run the detection and inspect the list of pages it will use as starts. A missing match usually means a scan without OCR, a different spelling or the marker sitting outside the chosen area. Fix the source or the area and run again rather than accepting a bad split and repairing every part by hand.
Names and the final check
Use the file-name pattern to include the marker and part number. Open the first and last part, check the page count and confirm the text that triggered the split. If the document is a scan, run OCR first so the words exist for matching.
Good habits for Split by text
- Page thumbnails are tap-friendly, so you can reorder and delete on a phone.
- Every tool works on a copy — your original file is never modified.
- Use Split by text when a document has no bookmarks to split on.
Common questions
Is this tool free?
Yes. Every tool on this site is free to use, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily task limit.
Do I need to install anything?
No. The tools run in your browser and are processed by this server.
What happens to my files?
They are stored under an unguessable id and swept automatically after a couple of hours. Nothing is shared or indexed.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The page pickers and editors are built for touch, so dragging, rotating and selecting pages all work without a mouse.
What does Split by text do exactly?
Split when specific text changes from page to page.
Can I split a scanned PDF by text?
Only after OCR. A scan has no text layer for the detector to read. Run OCR on a copy, then split the searchable PDF.
Why did a page not match?
The marker may be outside the start of the page, outside the selected area, spelled differently, or inside an image. Check the page text and the search area.
Can I use a regex pattern?
The field is a literal phrase rather than a full regular expression. Use the simplest unique text that marks each section.