The Best PDF Compression Software in 2026
We researched PDF compression software from official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Products were ranked on the category’s core job, value for money, and verified features such as file limits, compression controls, batch workflows, and platform support.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
BentoPDF Hyper Compress#1 of 369.3/10A flexible compression engine with private processing and developer-focused interfaces.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
iText pdfOptimizer#2 of 369.1/10A developer-focused PDF optimizer with detailed controls, automation, and flexible licensing.
Free plan · 30-day trial
-
Top-ranked free plan
PDFOptim#3 of 369.0/10A flexible PDF compressor with previews, batch processing, and cross-platform coverage.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 36 tools, best first
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Best forDevelopers needing flexible, private compression
A flexible compression engine with private processing and developer-focused interfaces.
- API access
9.3/10★★★★★Visit BentoPDF -
Best forDevelopers embedding PDF optimization
A developer-focused PDF optimizer with detailed controls, automation, and flexible licensing.
- API access
- Batch compression
Free plan · 30-day trial Our iText pdfOptimizer verdict → Visit iTextFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #2 · $99/mo →9.1/10★★★★★Visit iText -
Best forUsers wanting previews and cross-platform workflows
A flexible PDF compressor with previews, batch processing, and cross-platform coverage.
- Offline desktop app
- Batch compression
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit PDFOptim -
Best forPrivacy-focused users wanting free desktop compression
A privacy-focused, open-source desktop compressor with batch workflows and three quality profiles.
- Offline desktop app
- Batch compression
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit GitHub -
Best forBusinesses automating PDF compression workflows
A paid PDF automation API with compression controls, integrations, and self-hosted support.
- API access
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit PDF.co -
Best forUsers needing target-size compression online
A broad PDF toolkit with target-size compression and coverage across web, desktop, and mobile.
- Offline desktop app
- Batch compression
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit PDF2Go -
Best forUsers wanting compression across many devices
A flexible PDF compressor for users moving between web, desktop, and mobile.
- Offline desktop app
- Batch compression
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Xodo -
Best forUsers needing free configurable compression
A free, configurable compressor for users who want control beyond basic file shrinking.
- API access
- Offline desktop app
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit DocuPub -
Best forEnterprise API-based PDF optimization
A mature API-based optimizer for teams automating detailed PDF size and output controls.
- API access
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit PDF Tools -
Best forWindows users needing technical PDF optimization
A focused Windows compressor with deep optimization controls and developer-facing interfaces.
- API access
- Offline desktop app
- Batch compression
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Neevia -
Best forPrivacy-focused scanned-PDF compression
A privacy-focused choice for compressing scanned PDFs locally, in batches or through an API.
- API access
- Batch compression
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit HankPDF -
Best forHigh-volume Windows document operations
A Windows-focused compressor for high-volume scanned and born-digital document workflows.
- Offline desktop app
- Batch compression
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Foxit -
Best forWindows users wanting free local PDF utilities
A local Windows PDF utility with compression modes, PDF/A conversion, and broad file-management tools.
- Offline desktop app
- Batch compression
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forMac users needing paid local batch compression
A focused Mac compressor with batch workflows and a one-time price.
- API access
- Offline desktop app
- Batch compression
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Compresto -
Best forEnterprise Windows or Linux optimization
A powerful enterprise optimizer for automated PDF workflows, priced for larger teams.
- API access
- Offline desktop app
- Batch compression
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Datalogics -
Best forTechnical users batch-processing PDF folders
A focused open-source CLI for technical users processing PDF folders in bulk.
- Batch compression
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit kompre -
Best forCLI users wanting lightweight open compression
A lightweight open-source CLI for local, batch PDF compression across major desktop platforms.
- Offline desktop app
- Batch compression
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit presse -
Best forCLI users needing broad PDF automation
A broad local PDF CLI for batch compression and document workflows.
- Batch compression
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit pdf-cli -
Best forUsers wanting simple local desktop compression
A straightforward local PDF compressor for users who value privacy and simplicity.
- Offline desktop app
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit PDFLight -
Best forUsers wanting a polished all-purpose PDF service
A broad PDF toolkit with compression, editing, conversion, OCR, forms, and signatures.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Smallpdf -
Best forGeneral users needing broad PDF coverage
A broad PDF toolkit with free compression, offline desktop processing, and mobile apps.
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit iLovePDF -
Best forAffordable broad PDF editing
A low-cost PDF toolkit for users who need compression alongside everyday document work.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit PDF Candy -
Best forUsers needing offline editing with compression
A broad PDF editor with compression, OCR, conversion, and local desktop processing.
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Sejda -
Best forWeb users needing strong compression and PDF tools
A web-based PDF toolkit with MRC hyper-compression, batch processing, and a free tier.
- API access
- Batch compression
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit AvePDF -
Best forWindows users wanting a free PDF suite
A free Windows PDF suite that adds compression, OCR, batch processing, and form tools.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit PDF24 -
Best forPrivacy-conscious users needing simple browser compression
A focused open-source compressor with local processing, batch support, and adjustable quality.
- Batch compression
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit OpenToolKit -
Best forUsers compressing many PDFs for free online
A practical free web compressor for large batches, with a 100 MB combined upload limit.
- Batch compression
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit PDF Resizer -
Best forSimple large-file web compression
A straightforward free web compressor for PDFs up to 100 MB.
- API access
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit PDFCompress -
Best forFree browser batch compression
A free browser tool for batch PDF compression with previews and ZIP downloads.
- Batch compression
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit 11zon -
Best forUsers needing simple free batch compression
A straightforward free web tool for compressing up to 20 PDFs in one batch.
- Batch compression
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit PDF Compressor -
Best forOccasional single-file web compression
A practical free web compressor for occasional single-file PDF and document reduction.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit WeCompress -
Best forUsers needing a free online PDF utility
A free web utility for compressing, converting, organizing, and OCR-processing PDFs.
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Online2PDF -
Best forBasic free desktop compression
A straightforward free desktop compressor with page-by-page processing and five PDF settings.
- Offline desktop app
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Free PDF -
Best forMac users combining OCR with compression
A Mac-focused OCR and scanning workflow that also compresses PDFs.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit PDFify -
Best forDevelopers needing a broad PDF API
A broad PDF automation API with a free tier, but compression is not its documented focus.
- API access
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Adobe -
Best forFigma and WordPress users optimizing image assets
Image optimization for Figma and WordPress, with PDF tools as a secondary feature.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Compressify
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Batch compression | Offline desktop app | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BentoPDF Hyper Compress | Yes | $99/yr | 9.3 | ||
| 2 | iText pdfOptimizer | Yes | Free | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 3 | PDFOptim | Yes | $4.99/mo | Yes | Yes | 9.0 |
| 4 | FS PDF Compressor | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 5 | PDF.co | No | $8.99/mo | 8.8 | ||
| 6 | PDF2Go | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 7 | Xodo Compress PDF | Yes | $7.99/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.6 |
| 8 | PDF Compressor by DocuPub | Yes | Free | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 9 | 3-Heights PDF Optimizer | No | No | 8.4 | ||
| 10 | Neevia PDFcompress | No | $99 one-time | Yes | Yes | 8.3 |
| 11 | HankPDF | Free | Yes | No | 8.2 | |
| 12 | Foxit PDF Compressor | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | ||
| 13 | MinimalPDF Compress | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | 8.0 |
| 14 | Compresto | No | $49 one-time | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
| 15 | Datalogics PDF Optimizer | No | $2,999/yr | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
| 16 | gs-batch-pdf | Free | Yes | No | 7.7 | |
| 17 | presse | Free | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | |
| 18 | pdf-cli | Free | Yes | No | 7.5 | |
| 19 | PDFLight | Yes | Free | Yes | 7.4 | |
| 20 | Smallpdf | Yes | $7/seat/mo | 7.3 | ||
| 21 | iLovePDF | Yes | 7.2 | |||
| 22 | PDF Candy | Yes | $6/mo | 7.1 | ||
| 23 | Sejda PDF Editor | Yes | 7.0 | |||
| 24 | AvePDF | Yes | Yes | No | 6.9 | |
| 25 | PDF24 Creator | Yes | Free | 6.8 | ||
| 26 | OpenToolKit CompressPDF | Yes | Free | Yes | No | 6.7 |
| 27 | PDF Resizer | Yes | Free | Yes | 6.6 | |
| 28 | Online PDF Compressor | Yes | Free | No | No | 6.5 |
| 29 | 11zon Compress PDF | Yes | Free | Yes | 6.4 | |
| 30 | PDF Compressor | Yes | Free | Yes | No | 6.3 |
| 31 | WeCompress | Yes | Free | No | No | 6.2 |
| 32 | Online2PDF | Yes | Free | 6.1 | ||
| 33 | Free PDF Compressor | Yes | Free | Yes | 6.0 | |
| 34 | PDFify | Yes | 6.0 | |||
| 35 | Adobe PDF Services API | Yes | 6.0 | |||
| 36 | Compressify | Yes | 6.0 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- BentoPDF Hyper Compress vs iText pdfOptimizer
- BentoPDF Hyper Compress vs PDFOptim
- BentoPDF Hyper Compress vs FS PDF Compressor
- BentoPDF Hyper Compress vs PDF.co
- BentoPDF Hyper Compress vs PDF2Go
- BentoPDF Hyper Compress vs Xodo Compress PDF
- BentoPDF Hyper Compress vs PDF Compressor by DocuPub
- iText pdfOptimizer vs PDFOptim
- iText pdfOptimizer vs FS PDF Compressor
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How we rank PDF compression software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update