Start with the file goal
Before choosing a PDF tool, decide what the final file must do. If several documents need to become one application packet, use Merge PDF. If only selected pages are needed, use Split PDF or Extract PDF pages. If the page order is wrong after scanning, reorder the pages first, then compress the final file only after the structure is correct.
Split, reorder, and clean before compressing
Compression is often the last step. First remove blank pages, delete duplicates, extract only the pages you need, and put the document in the right order. Compressing too early can make later checks harder and may reduce image clarity more than necessary. Keep the original file until the final upload is accepted.
Conversion and privacy checks
Use PDF to image when a page needs to be previewed, inserted into a slide, or shared as a picture. Use Images to PDF when photos, scanned pages, or screenshots should be sent as one document. For sensitive files, check the tool page privacy note and avoid uploading personal documents to services you do not trust.