Foxit PDF Compressor vs PDFOptim

Foxit PDF Compressor reduces PDF size through a free online tool or desktop software. The online workflow is to upload a PDF, start compression, and download the smaller file; it accepts one file at a time up to 150 MB, without requiring an account. Foxit says online compression preserves text clarity, images, and formatting, while OCR-friendly compression can shrink scanned or image-heavy documents and keep scanned text readable. It says files are encrypted in transit and deleted from its servers after processing. For offline work, Foxit PDF Editor provides compression, batch processing, and optimization settings with multiple levels. The product page describes using compressed PDFs with SharePoint, OneDrive, Google Drive, and Microsoft Teams. PDF Editor costs $129.99 a year, PDF Editor+ costs $159.99 a year, and the perpetual PDF Editor 14 license costs $209.99 as a one-time purchase. PDF Editor+ includes a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. Foxit was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.

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.