Best Software to Reduce PDF Size in 2026: 9 Tools Compared

Adobe Acrobat is the reference tool for PDF work, since Adobe created the PDF format, and its Optimizer gives you the finest control in this list. You can downsample images to a chosen resolution, subset fonts, remove unused objects and choose different settings for colour, greyscale and monochrome images. That control matters when a file must stay sharp for print, or when a client file must shrink enough for email without losing detail. The free online compressor handles a single file quickly, while the desktop app handles batch work and repeatable settings.

The downside is price and weight. Acrobat is a full PDF editor, so it is more than most people need for occasional compression, and the paid plan costs more than a simple online tool. If you compress PDFs every day, or you prepare files for clients, print or legal use, that cost is easier to justify. If you only shrink a file once a month, start with a free tool below and keep Acrobat for files where quality cannot slip.

Smallpdf is the easiest tool here for a quick job. Drag a file into the browser, choose basic or strong compression, and download the result in seconds, with no install needed. It works on any device with a browser and connects to cloud storage. For anyone emailing a file just over the attachment limit, that speed is the whole appeal.

The free tier is the limit. Free users can only run a small number of tasks per day, and strong compression sits behind the paid plan, so a heavy user will hit the cap quickly. Smallpdf also processes files on its servers, so it is not the best choice for highly sensitive documents. Use it for everyday files, and switch to a desktop tool for contracts, medical records or anything you would not email to a stranger.

iLovePDF is a dependable free online compressor with a clean layout and a useful set of companion tools for merging, splitting, converting and signing PDFs. You can compress a file in a browser without installing anything, and the basic compression setting keeps most documents readable for screen use and email. That makes it a good default for weekly use.

The trade offs are familiar for online tools. Your file leaves your computer during processing, so sensitive documents deserve a desktop alternative, and the largest files and heaviest batch work sit behind a paid plan. For everyday reports, forms and lecture notes, those limits rarely matter. Check the result before you send it, especially if the original had small charts or scanned handwriting, since strong settings can soften fine detail.

PDF24 Tools stands out because it is free in a way most rivals are not: the online compressor costs nothing for basic use, and there is also a free desktop app for Windows. That combination suits people who want a free tool at home and a local option for sensitive files. The online version handles the usual drag and drop workflow, while the desktop app keeps files on your own machine, which is a real privacy advantage for work documents.

The interface is more functional than beautiful, and it lacks some of the guided help and polish of Smallpdf or Adobe. Mac users also get less from the desktop side, since the full desktop app is Windows focused. If you use Windows and you want a free, local compressor without daily caps, PDF24 is hard to beat. If you use a Mac, pair the online tools with a local editor such as PDFgear for sensitive files.

Sejda is a quiet, capable online PDF service that does compression well without pushing you toward a large suite of tools. You upload a file, pick a compression approach, and download a smaller version, with options that let you balance size against quality. The site also offers editing, merging and signing tools. For occasional users, that simplicity is a strength.

Free use is limited by the hour and by the day, so Sejda is not the tool for compressing dozens of files in one sitting unless you pay. Like other online tools, it processes files on its servers, so keep sensitive documents local. Use Sejda when you want a straightforward browser tool with a bit more control than a single button compressor, and when your file count stays modest.

UPDF is a full PDF editor that also compresses well, with low, medium, high and ultra levels that let you choose how hard to squeeze a file. That range is useful: low suits print files that must stay sharp, while high or ultra suits a file that only needs to be read on screen or sent by email. Because UPDF is also an editor, you can fix a page or remove blank pages before you compress.

The free version lets you try the workflow, but sustained use and some advanced features require a paid plan, so check the current pricing page before you commit. UPDF is best for people who already need a PDF editor and want compression built in, rather than for someone who only needs a single online squeeze. If you edit PDFs weekly, the combined tool saves switching between apps.

PDFgear is a strong privacy pick because its free desktop app processes files on your own computer, so a sensitive contract or medical form never needs to be uploaded. The desktop app covers the basics well: viewing, editing, annotating, converting and compressing PDFs, without a subscription for core use. That makes it a good recommendation for anyone who handles private documents and does not want to pay for Acrobat.

The trade off is polish and depth. PDFgear does not match Acrobat for advanced optimisation controls or for large enterprise workflows, and its online version is simpler than the desktop app. For most personal jobs, that does not matter. Install the desktop app and compress locally.

Foxit PDF Editor is a business grade alternative to Acrobat, with optimisation tools that reduce file size by compressing images, removing unused data and cleaning up document structure. It handles large files well, and it fits teams that already use Foxit for editing, signing and form work, since compression sits inside the same workflow. If your office standardises on Foxit, using its optimizer keeps files consistent and avoids adding another vendor.

For a casual user, Foxit is more tool than needed, and the paid pricing reflects its business focus. The free trial lets you test whether the optimizer and editing tools justify the cost, but a student or home user who only compresses occasionally will do better with PDF24, PDFgear or iLovePDF. Choose Foxit when PDF work is part of your job and you want one editor for editing, optimisation and signing.

PDF Candy bundles compression with a wide set of browser tools for converting, merging, splitting, editing and protecting PDFs. That breadth helps when a file needs more than compression: you can merge two reports and compress the result without installing anything.

Free use has limits, and the heaviest batch work requires a paid plan, so PDF Candy is best for occasional multi step jobs rather than daily bulk compression. As with other online tools, keep sensitive files local and use a desktop editor instead. For a quick browser job that involves several steps, PDF Candy is a practical all in one choice.