3-Heights PDF Analysis & Repair Tool vs PDFOptim

3-Heights PDF Analysis & Repair Tool analyzes damaged PDF documents and attempts to repair or recover their contents. It inspects objects, page trees, and content streams, then can report error types, codes, descriptions, page numbers, and event counts, with messages written to a log. Repair options include restoring data streams, fonts, cross-reference tables, pages, and images; recovery can rebuild a PDF from legible content that remains. It reads encrypted PDFs and can encrypt restored files with permission flags. Inputs include PDF 1.x, PDF 2.0, and PDF/A-1, PDF/A-2, and PDF/A-3; the manuals cite ISO 32000-1 and ISO 32000-2 conformance. Pdftools documents Shell command-line and API variants, with Windows, Linux, and macOS support and local repair delivery. Batch repair is supported. The product is paid, with pricing on request and a 30-day trial. The evaluation version analyzes files but disables Save As, so repaired or recovered files cannot be saved or viewed without the full version. The vendor cautions that some files and image compression methods cannot be recovered.

PDFOptim compresses and optimizes PDF files to reduce their size while retaining visual quality. Four automatic methods analyze a document and apply a compression approach, while a synchronized side-by-side preview lets users compare the original and compressed files before saving. Manual controls include JPEG quality, image downsampling, color profiles, and hidden metadata removal. The Mac app can process folders in batches using multiple CPU cores and drag-and-drop queues. Scanned documents can be converted to grayscale, monochrome, or bitonal profiles; RootRise says this can produce files up to 40 times smaller. A five-level vector optimization feature removes excess anchor paths and structural data from vector-heavy PDFs. Apple Shortcuts can trigger compression, and the maker describes using the app as a Finder Quick Action. RootRise says processing runs locally, files are not uploaded, and core features work offline; internet is used for purchase validation. The free version allows one compressed PDF export per week and restricts Shortcuts Actions. Premium plans are $0.99 a month, $6.99 a year, or $9.99, paid once.