Best PDF Compression Software in 2026
Updated
In short: PDF Candy is ranked #1 of 37 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of PDF24 Compare PDF and PDF2Go. The best-ranked option with a free plan is PDF24 Compare PDF. The lowest first paid tier on this page is PDF Candy at $0.33/mo.
PDF compression software is for reducing file sizes, and the listed specifications help you compare how each option handles that task. Compression modes and batch compression describe available approaches; maximum file size and offline desktop app availability can matter for your documents and working setup. Compare supported platforms and API access as well, and weigh free plans against paid-from pricing. PDF Candy, PDF24 Compare PDF, and PDF2Go are among the entries, along with Xodo Compress PDF. Think about the kinds of files you need to process and whether you want compression to happen through a desktop app or another listed platform.
37 PDF compression software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
13 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PDF CandyWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $0.33/mo | 6.8 | |
| 2 | PDF24 Compare PDFWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | Free | 6.8 | |
| 3 | PDF2GoWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Extension | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | Free | 6.8 | |
| 4 | Xodo Compress PDFWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Extension | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $0.67/mo | 6.8 | |
| 5 | SmallpdfWeb · Windows · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $10/mo | 6.7 | |
| 6 | AvePDFWeb · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $3.75/mo | 6.6 | |
| 7 | PDFOptimWeb · Windows · Mac · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $4.99/mo | 6.6 | |
| 8 | Sejda PDF EditorWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 9 | FS PDF CompressorWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 10 | PDF CompressorWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 11 | Adobe PDF Services APIWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 12 | Online2PDFWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 13 | CompressifyWeb | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.2 | |
| 14 | iLovePDFWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 5.8 |
| 15 | BentoPDF Hyper CompressWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 16 | gs-batch-pdfWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 17 | HankPDFWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 18 | PDF Compressor by DocuPubWeb · Windows | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 19 | pdf-cliWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 20 | PDFifyMac | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 21 | PDFLightWindows · Mac | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 22 | presseWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 23 | Foxit PDF CompressorWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 24 | iText pdfOptimizerAPI | One bar | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 25 | MinimalPDF CompressWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which PDF compression software is ranked first on Freedom251?
PDF Candy is ranked #1 of 37 with a score of 6.8. PDF24 Compare PDF 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 free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.