Best PDF Compression Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Xodo Compress PDF is ranked #1 of 37 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of PDF Candy and PDF2Go. The best-ranked option with a free plan is PDF Candy. The lowest first paid tier on this page is PDF Candy at $0.33/mo.
Large PDFs can be inconvenient to store, send, or process, so compression software offers ways to reduce file size. Compared on compression modes, batch compression, and maximum file size, the entries help you assess controls and limits for your documents. An offline desktop app or API access may matter depending on how compression fits into your workflow, while supported platforms indicate where an option is available. Xodo Compress PDF, PDF Candy, and PDF2Go are among the tools shown. Check free plan availability and Paid from details as well, and compare the listed capabilities with the files and working environment you have.
37 PDF compression software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
37ranked
13free plans on this page
$0.33/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list PDF Compression Software 25 channels on this page · 93 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromCompression modesMaximum file sizeBatch compressionOffline desktop appAPI accessSupported platforms Spec sheet Score
01 Xodo Compress PDF Free planYesPaid from$7.99/moCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionYesOffline desktop appYesAPI accessnot statedSupported platformsweb, windows, macos, linux, android, ios 5/8spec lines stated 8.2
02 PDF Candy Free planYesPaid from$6/moCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionnot statedOffline desktop appnot statedAPI accessnot statedSupported platformsweb, windows, macos, linux, ios, android 3/8spec lines stated 8.0
03 PDF2Go Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file size50 MBBatch compressionYesOffline desktop appYesAPI accessnot statedSupported platformsweb, windows, macos, linux, ios, android 5/8spec lines stated 7.9
04 PDF24 Compare PDF Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionnot statedOffline desktop appnot statedAPI accessnot statedSupported platformsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.8
05 Smallpdf Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionnot statedOffline desktop appnot statedAPI accessnot statedSupported platformsweb, windows, ios, android, chrome extension 2/8spec lines stated 7.6
06 PDFOptim Free planYesPaid from$4.99/moCompression modesbalancedMaximum file size25 MBBatch compressionYesOffline desktop appYesAPI accessnot statedSupported platformsweb, macos, ios, windows 7/8spec lines stated 7.5
07 AvePDF Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file size128 MBBatch compressionYesOffline desktop appNoAPI accessYesSupported platformsweb 6/8spec lines stated 7.4
08 iLovePDF Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionnot statedOffline desktop appnot statedAPI accessnot statedSupported platformsweb, windows, macos, ios, android 2/8spec lines stated 7.4
09 Sejda PDF Editor Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionnot statedOffline desktop appnot statedAPI accessnot statedSupported platformsweb, Windows, macOS, Linux, API 2/8spec lines stated 7.3
10 FS PDF Compressor Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesbalancedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionYesOffline desktop appYesAPI accessnot statedSupported platformsmacos, windows, linux 5/8spec lines stated 7.2
11 BentoPDF Hyper Compress Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionnot statedOffline desktop appnot statedAPI accessYesSupported platformsweb, windows, macos, linux, api, self hosted 3/8spec lines stated 6.9
12 PDF Compressor Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionYesOffline desktop appNoAPI accessNoSupported platformsweb 5/8spec lines stated 6.7
13 Adobe PDF Services APIAdobe Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionnot statedOffline desktop appnot statedAPI accessYesSupported platformsnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.6
14 Online2PDF Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionnot statedOffline desktop appnot statedAPI accessNoSupported platformsnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.6
15 PDF.coArtifex Software, Inc. Free planNoPaid from$8.99/moCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionnot statedOffline desktop appnot statedAPI accessYesSupported platformsweb, api, self hosted 4/8spec lines stated 6.6
16 Compressify Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionnot statedOffline desktop appnot statedAPI accessnot statedSupported platformsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.4
17 3-Heights PDF Analysis & Repair Tool Free planNoPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionnot statedOffline desktop appNoAPI accessYesSupported platformsWindows, Linux, macOS 4/8spec lines stated 6.2
18 PDFify Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionnot statedOffline desktop appnot statedAPI accessnot statedSupported platformsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.2
19 PDF Compressor by DocuPub Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file size50 MBBatch compressionnot statedOffline desktop appYesAPI accessYesSupported platformsweb, windows, api 5/8spec lines stated 6.1
20 gs-batch-pdf Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionYesOffline desktop appNoAPI accessNoSupported platformsWindows, Linux, macOS 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
21 HankPDF Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionYesOffline desktop appNoAPI accessYesSupported platformswindows, macos, linux, api, self hosted 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
22 PDFLight Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionnot statedOffline desktop appYesAPI accessnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS 3/8spec lines stated 6.0
23 Datalogics PDF Optimizer Free planNoPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionYesOffline desktop appYesAPI accessYesSupported platformswindows, linux 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
24 MinimalPDF Compress Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modeslosslessMaximum file sizenot statedBatch compressionYesOffline desktop appYesAPI accessNoSupported platformswindows 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
25 Online PDF Compressor Free planYesPaid fromnot statedCompression modesnot statedMaximum file size100 MBBatch compressionNoOffline desktop appNoAPI accessYesSupported platformsweb 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Compression modes | Maximum file size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Xodo Compress PDF | 8.2 | Free plan | $7.99/mo | Yes | 7.99 /mo | — | — |
| 2 | PDF Candy | 8.0 | Free plan | $0.33/mo | Yes | 6 /mo | — | — |
| 3 | PDF2Go | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | 50 MB |
| 4 | PDF24 Compare PDF | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 5 | Smallpdf | 7.6 | Free plan | $10/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 6 | PDFOptim | 7.5 | Free plan | $4.99/mo | Yes | 4.99 /mo | balanced | 25 MB |
| 7 | AvePDF | 7.4 | Free plan | $3.75/mo | Yes | — | — | 128 MB |
| 8 | iLovePDF | 7.4 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | Sejda PDF Editor | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 10 | FS PDF Compressor | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | balanced | — |
| 11 | BentoPDF Hyper Compress | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 12 | PDF Compressor | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 13 | Adobe PDF Services API | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 14 | Online2PDF | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | PDF.co | 6.6 | No | $8.99/mo | No | 8.99 /mo | — | — |
| 16 | Compressify | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 17 | 3-Heights PDF Analysis & Repair Tool | 6.2 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 18 | PDFify | 6.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 19 | PDF Compressor by DocuPub | 6.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | 50 MB |
| 20 | gs-batch-pdf | 6.0 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 21 | HankPDF | 6.0 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 22 | PDFLight | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 23 | Datalogics PDF Optimizer | 5.9 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 24 | MinimalPDF Compress | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | lossless | — |
| 25 | Online PDF Compressor | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | 100 MB |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which PDF compression software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Xodo Compress PDF is ranked #1 of 37 with a score of 8.2. PDF Candy is second and PDF2Go third.
How many of these have a free plan?
13 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, PDF Candy has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.33/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.