PDF.co vs PDFOptim

PDF.co has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.

PDFOptim provides browser tools to compress, merge, split, rotate, and reorder PDF files, alongside native apps for macOS, iOS, iPad, and Windows. Browser processing uses JavaScript and WebAssembly without uploading files to PDFOptim servers, and the tools work offline after the page has loaded; initial loading and license verification need internet access. Compression offers Web, Standard, Print, and Custom settings, and can reduce PDF size by up to 90%. Compress Only mode strips metadata and compresses internal streams without re-rendering software-created PDFs, preserving selectable text. Multiple PDFs can be batch-compressed, while downloading all results as a ZIP requires Pro. The free plan allows three operations per day on files up to 25 MB. Pro Monthly costs $4.99 a month and includes unlimited operations, files up to 200 MB, and batch ZIP downloads. Lifetime costs $19, paid once, with the same operation and file limits, batch ZIP downloads, future tools, and priority email support. The native apps process documents locally; a 30-day money-back guarantee is also listed.