7 Best Online PDF Compressors: Free and Cheap Tools

Using an online PDF compressor, you can decrease the PDF file size and share your files faster. PDF documents contain images or graphics and can be heavy because of this. As a result, it will be difficult to transfer a file by email or through collaboration platforms without prior compression. In this article, I have described online tools that can easily compress your files to only a fraction of their original size.

Top 7 Online PDF Compressors

  1. Adobe Acrobat PDF Compressor Online - Best for compression & sharing
  2. Smallpdf - Has a browser extension
  3. Neevia PDFCompress - Great for professional users
  4. PDF Compressor - High-quality compression
  5. Soda PDF - With excellent third-party integration
  6. iLovePDF - Limitless compression
  7. Sejda PDF - Feature for faster compression

To determine the most suitable PDF compressor software for your tasks, you need to take into account several important factors. Opt for software with a simple interface so you can understand how to use it from the get-go. Also, you should check out the availability of editing features, advanced tools, and converting options.

When compiling this list, I considered speed, limits, and preservation of the original quality. Besides, I paid attention to the price tags and the availability of additional PDF tools.

1. Adobe Acrobat PDF Compressor Online — Our Choice

Best for compression & sharing
  • Good output quality
  • Stunning speed
  • Nice options for sharing online
  • Includes online tools to work with PDF
  • Not found

Verdict: This Adobe product processes PDF files incredibly quickly. The whole process takes only a few seconds. When I tested this software, I waited only five seconds for the program to compress my 225 KB document to less than 100 KB.

I like that you can choose the level of compression, from High (you will have the smallest file size in standard quality) to Low (the output quality is better, but it weighs more). You can compress PDF files in Adobe Acrobat directly through the browser itself or using a Chrome extension. Once done, you can download a file, store it online, or share it. The program is available for free.

adobe acrobat online pdf compressor interface

2. Smallpdf

Has the browser extension
  • Easy-to-use
  • Includes editing tools
  • Cloud storage support
  • Browser extension
  • Compresses up to 2 docs/day in a free version

Verdict: This is a good option if you need a PDF compressor online with some additional features. It is quite simple, so even beginners will figure out how to use it. Excellent processing speed is another advantage of this software. Compressing my 225 KB file took about 5 seconds. I liked that the finished file can be previewed before downloading. Alternatively, you can continue to work with it by choosing another available tool.

This Adobe Acrobat alternative is free to use but allows compressing just 2 files a day. To get rid of this limitation, you need to buy a subscription for $9/month. The paid version contains a variety of features to work with your PDF. By purchasing a premium plan, you can use both online tools and download a desktop version.

smallpdf online pdf compressor interface

3. Neevia PDFCompress

Great for professional users
  • You can adjust compression parameters
  • Desktop version available
  • You can choose elements for the output file
  • Developers can use code samples
  • Size limitations in a free version

Verdict: You will certainly appreciate the customization options available in this online PDF compressor software. It may seem a bit complicated for an average user due to many parameters to set before the compression starts. This is a good tool to reduce the size of PDF documents with different types of images. You can also specify the desired quality.

My file was ready in less than ten seconds. The output quality was pretty good. By the way, the program allows you to exclude some elements from the processes file. For example, it can remove annotations, tags, and other things from the final document. You can use the program for free without any restrictions. In addition, the developers offer a paid tool that comes with encryption features and offline support. You can test it through a trial version.

neevia online pdf compressor interface

4. PDF Compressor

High-quality compression
  • Free and user-friendly
  • Batch compression mode
  • The DPI is intact
  • Supports over 10 languages
  • A bit slow
online pdf compressor logo
PDF Compressor

Verdict: This reduce PDF size software is free to use. It is extremely user-friendly. The resulting files are of decent quality although no optimization options are provided. This program is suitable for both personal and business needs. It not only allows you to receive smaller PDF files but also convert them to/from this format.

During the test, it took the program over 10 seconds to compress a 225 KB file. Keep in mind that it can’t handle large files. For example, my attempt to compress a 1.5GB file failed.

online pdf compressor interface

5. Soda PDF

With excellent third-party integration
  • 3 compression modes
  • Batch processing
  • Accurately compresses files with images
  • Other features to work with PDFs
  • Bulk mode is available only after registration
soda online pdf compressor logo
Soda PDF

Verdict: This free software preserves the quality of compressed files. This feature is very important for businesses, so no wonder they choose Soda PDF. You can use it as a PPT to PDF converter and upload files directly from your device. If you store files on cloud services, you can upload them directly from there.

While testing, this tool was rather slow. I had to wait over 10 seconds. I like the high quality of the output file. By the way, the program has good sharing options. You can send a file via email or download it to your device. The premium plan contains more features. To access them, you need to pay $84/year per user or $15/month.

soda online pdf compressor interface

6. iLovePDF

Limitless compression
  • Automatic backups
  • It is available for business and personal
  • Notifications if backups fail
  • Easy restore process
  • Weak functionality
ilovepdf online pdf compressor logo
iLovePDF

Verdict: PDF file size reducer software allows you to get compressed files without sacrificing their quality. You can add files from cloud storage or your computer. The program contains three compression modes. Moreover, this software has other handy tools for working with PDF documents.

Compressing a file of about 225 KB took no more than 10 seconds. This JPG to PDF converter did a good job with the images as it doesn’t degrade their original quality. You can use this tool for free without limitation. If you're interested in the Premium plan, it costs €4/month when paid annually.

ilovepdf pdf compressor interface

7. Sejda PDF

Feature for faster compression
  • Cross-platform
  • Aimed at companies
  • Register-free
  • Images can be converted to grayscale
  • Free online sessions are limited
sejda online pdf compressor logo
Sejda PDF

Verdict: This is simple software with basic PDF tools for business needs. In addition to reducing file sizes, you can build interactive forms, insert annotations, sign documents, and more. The program has several unique tools that will come in handy for your workflow. For example, it allows you to use the breakdown by bookmarks in web and desktop apps.

This fillable PDF creator reduced the document size in 10+ seconds. The range of settings is more extensive than with other programs. The cost of the software is $5 per week or $7.5 per month.

sejda online pdf compressor interface
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