Best PDF Compression Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Xodo Compress PDF is ranked #1 of 37 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of PDF Candy and PDF2Go. The best-ranked option with a free plan is PDF Candy. The lowest first paid tier on this page is PDF Candy at $0.33/mo.
Large PDF files can be awkward to store, send or process, and compression software helps reduce their size. Compare compression modes and batch compression to understand the available controls, then check maximum file size and whether an offline desktop app fits your workflow. API access and supported platforms matter when compression must connect with other tools or devices; free plans and paid starting prices help clarify access and cost. Xodo Compress PDF, PDF Candy and PDF2Go are among the options shown. Consider how many files you handle, what limits apply, and where compression needs to happen.
37 PDF compression software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 Xodo Compress PDF Top pick · 8.1 Free plan · $0.67/mo
#2 PDF Candy Runner-up · 7.7 Free plan · $0.33/mo
#3 PDF2Go Also great · 7.6 Free plan · Free
- Free planFree trial AndroidextensioniOSLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 7.99 /mo
- Batch compression
- Yes
- Offline desktop app
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$0.67/mofirst paid tier About Xodo Compress PDFVisit site - Free plan AndroidiOSLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 6 /mo
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$0.33/mofirst paid tier About PDF CandyVisit site - Free plan AndroidextensioniOSLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Maximum file size
- 50 MB
- Batch compression
- Yes
- Offline desktop app
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan AndroidiOSLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan AndroidiOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$10/mofirst paid tier About SmallpdfVisit site - Free plan AndroidiOSLinuxWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Maximum file size
- 128 MB
- Batch compression
- Yes
- Offline desktop app
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$3.75/mofirst paid tier About AvePDFVisit site - Free plan iOSmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 4.99 /mo
- Compression modes
- balanced
- Maximum file size
- 25 MB
- Batch compression
- Yes
- Offline desktop app
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$4.99/mofirst paid tier About PDFOptimVisit site - Free plan LinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Compression modes
- balanced
- Batch compression
- Yes
- Offline desktop app
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - AndroidiOSmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial Web
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 8.99 /mo
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$8.99/mofirst paid tier About PDF.coVisit site - LinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - macOS
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Maximum file size
- 50 MB
- Offline desktop app
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WindowsLinuxmacOS
- Batch compression
- Yes
- Offline desktop app
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WindowsmacOSLinux
- Batch compression
- Yes
- Offline desktop app
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Maximum file size
- 100 MB
- Batch compression
- No
- Offline desktop app
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WindowsmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Offline desktop app
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WindowsLinuxmacOS
- Free plan
- No
- Offline desktop app
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Windows
- Batch compression
- Yes
- Offline desktop app
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - api
- Free plan
- Yes
- Batch compression
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Compression modes
- lossless
- Batch compression
- Yes
- Offline desktop app
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
Is your platform 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 The Geeks Club?
Xodo Compress PDF is ranked #1 of 37 with a score of 8.1. PDF Candy is second and PDF2Go third.
How many of these have a free plan?
12 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 on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.