How to merge PDF files in WPS Office — and what the free tier actually allows

1. The short answer

Merging PDFs in WPS Office happens on your own machine. That matters more than most guides admit: every free "merge PDF online" site requires uploading the document, which for a contract, a payslip or a medical form is a data-protection decision, not a convenience.

The desktop merge avoids that entirely. You select the files, choose the order, and write a new PDF to disk. Nothing leaves the computer.

2. How to merge, step by step

1. Open any PDF in WPS Office. Double-click a PDF, or use File > Open. The PDF toolbar appears above the page.
2. Choose Merge. It sits in the PDF toolbar. A panel opens listing the current file.
3. Add the other files. Use Add files and select everything you want combined. They appear as a list.
4. Set the order. Drag rows up or down. The output follows this list exactly — top to bottom becomes page 1 onward.
5. Trim page ranges if needed. If you only want pages 2–4 of a 20-page appendix, set the range on that row rather than merging everything and deleting afterwards.
6. Save. Choose the output path. The merged file keeps selectable text.

3. What the free tier actually allows

WPS splits PDF features across tiers, and the split is not always obvious from the menu — a toolbar button can open a panel that then asks for Pro. What we could confirm:

Be careful with "limited". Free-tier PDF limits change between builds and between regions. If merging is business-critical for you, test it on your own files in the free build before you rely on it — and check whether a watermark appears on the output.

4. Local merging versus online tools

A free online merge site works like this: you upload the file to their server, they process it, they return a link, and their privacy policy determines how long the original is kept. For a wedding invitation that is fine. For a signed contract, an employment letter or anything with a passport scan in it, it is a disclosure you cannot undo.

The desktop app keeps the file on disk. That is the whole argument, and it is worth the install.

5. Getting the page order right

The single most common mistake is merging in filename order. Files named scan1.pdf, scan10.pdf, scan2.pdf sort 1, 10, 2 — so a ten-page document comes out out of order and nobody notices until a client does.

• Rename with zero-padding before merging: scan01, scan02, scan10.
• Or set the order explicitly by dragging rows — do not trust the default sort.
• After merging, check the page count and scroll to the seams where two files meet.

6. Sources and method limits

• WPS Office 12.1.2 Free on Ubuntu 24.04 — menu and tier behaviour observed directly, 11 Nov 2026.
• WPS public pricing and feature pages — tier split (read 11 Nov 2026).
• Not tested: batch merging of more than ten files, or password-protected inputs.