Best PDF compressor apps for Android, compared
The best PDF compressor app for Android is PDFriend, our app. It compresses on the phone with 3 levels, keeps the original, shows the new size, and with Pro it hits an exact size limit such as 100 kB, 200 kB or 500 kB for an upload form. It is the only app here that states a size limit in kB.
Which PDF compressor do we pick, and why?
Our pick: PDFriend. We make PDFriend, so here is exactly why it wins for this task. The tables below show the facts.
- A size limit, not a guess. With Pro, choose 100 kB, 200 kB, 500 kB or 1 MB, or type a number from 10 to 100000 kB. The app keeps the best quality that fits.
- 3 clear levels without Pro: Small, Medium and Light reduction.
- No upload. The app compresses on the phone, and the PDF stays private.
- The original stays. The app saves a copy with (compressed) in the name, and shows the old and the new size.
- No daily task limit on the levels.
How do the 7 compressor apps score?
| App | Files stay on the phone | No account needed | No daily task limit | One-time purchase option | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDFriend (our app) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | 4 of 4 |
| Adobe Acrobat Reader | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 0 of 4 |
| iLovePDF | Not stated | Not stated | ✗ No | Not stated | 0 of 4 |
| Image to PDF - PDF Maker | ✓ Yes | Not stated | ✓ Yes | Not stated | 2 of 4 |
| PDFgear | Not stated | Not stated | ✓ Yes | Not stated | 1 of 4 |
| Smallpdf | ✗ No | Not stated | ✗ No | Not stated | 0 of 4 |
| Xodo | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 0 of 4 |
Only PDFriend also states a size limit in kB, the feature that an upload form needs.
How did we compare the apps?
We searched Google Play in the US store for "compress pdf", "pdf editor", "jpg to pdf". Each fact about another app comes from its own Google Play listing, checked on 10 October 2026. When a listing does not say something, the table says Not stated. That does not mean the app lacks it. Ratings and installs change every day.
PDFriend is our app. We put it first as our pick, then the other apps in alphabetical order. The facts about PDFriend come from the app itself. PDFriend is on Android and iPhone. We have no business relationship with the other developers.
The 7 apps side by side
| App | Compress | Where the files are made | "Contains ads" label | Paid plan (from the listing) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDFriend (our app) | 3 levels, plus a size limit in kB (Pro) | On the phone, no upload | Yes | PDFriend Pro: Yearly subscription or Lifetime one-time purchase |
| Adobe Acrobat Reader | Yes | Not stated | Yes | Subscription, with a 7-day free trial |
| iLovePDF | Yes | Not stated | No | Premium: monthly or yearly subscription for unlimited use |
| Image to PDF - PDF Maker | Yes, 4 quality levels | On the phone ("done locally") | Yes | The listing says all features are free |
| PDFgear | Yes | Not stated | No | None listed: the listing says all functions are free |
| Smallpdf | Yes | On Smallpdf servers, deleted after 1 hour | No | PRO: monthly or yearly subscription, 1 task each day without it |
| Xodo | Yes | Not stated | No | In-app purchases |
| App | Developer | Where the files are made | Account or cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDFriend (our app) | ItDeveApps | On the phone, no upload | No account, no cloud |
| Adobe Acrobat Reader | Adobe | Not stated | Links OneDrive, Dropbox and Google Drive |
| iLovePDF | iLovePDF | Not stated | Not stated |
| Image to PDF - PDF Maker | Simple Design Ltd. | On the phone ("done locally") | Not stated |
| PDFgear | PDF GEAR TECH PTE. LTD. | Not stated | Not stated |
| Smallpdf | Smallpdf AG | On Smallpdf servers, deleted after 1 hour | Google Drive, Dropbox and others |
| Xodo | Apryse Software Inc. | Not stated | Sync with cloud services |
Each app in one paragraph
PDFriend (our app)
Tap Compress, pick the PDF and choose a level. The app resizes the images in the PDF and saves them again as JPEG. It works on one file at a time. A PDF with a password must be unlocked first. The size limit is a Pro tool, and a short ad can open it for one compression. PDFriend on Google Play and on the App Store.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
The Acrobat Reader listing names "compress PDF files for easy saving and sharing" among its features, next to a subscription with a 7-day trial. It does not state which features need the subscription on the phone. Google Play shows the "Contains ads" label. Adobe Acrobat Reader on Google Play.
iLovePDF
iLovePDF names "reduce the filesize of your document while keeping visual quality". It names no size limit in kB, puts unlimited use in Premium, and does not state where it processes the files. iLovePDF on Google Play.
Image to PDF - PDF Maker
This app compresses with 4 image quality levels: low, medium, high and original. It names no size limit in kB, and Google Play shows the "Contains ads" label. On Android 11 and later, it asks for All files access. Image to PDF - PDF Maker on Google Play.
PDFgear
The PDFgear listing names compression to "reduce PDF file size for efficient storage and sharing". It names no size limit in kB and does not state where it processes the files. PDFgear on Google Play.
Smallpdf
Smallpdf names "reduce the file size of your PDFs without compromising quality". It uploads files and deletes them after 1 hour. Without PRO, it allows 1 tool task each day. Smallpdf on Google Play.
Xodo
Xodo names "compress PDFs to reduce file size for easier sharing". It names no size limit in kB, and its paid features are in-app purchases. Xodo on Google Play.
How do you hit a size limit such as 200 kB?
An upload form often says "max 200 kB" or "max 1 MB". A level such as Medium gives a smaller file, but you cannot know the size first. A size limit does the work for you.
- Tap Compress in PDFriend and pick the PDF.
- Select Size limit, then 200 kB, or type the number of the form.
- The app tries up to 4 quality steps, from 2400 px at JPEG quality 85 down to 400 px at quality 25.
- It keeps the best quality that fits. If no step fits, it saves the smallest file and tells you.
Text and fonts do not get smaller, so a long text PDF can stay above the limit. Then split the PDF and send two files. The full guide is how to compress a PDF on Android.
Our verdict
When a form says "max 200 kB", PDFriend is the app that gets you there: pick the limit, and it keeps the best quality that fits, on your phone, with the original kept safe.
The comparison in numbers
- 7 apps compared, from 3 Google Play searches in the US store.
- 1 app states a size limit in kB: PDFriend, from 10 to 100000 kB.
- 1 app states that it uploads the file: Smallpdf.
- 3 levels in PDFriend: Small (1000 px, quality 50), Medium (1600 px, quality 70), Light reduction (2400 px, quality 85).
- 4 quality steps for a size limit. Checked on 10 October 2026.
Questions and answers
What is the best PDF compressor app for Android?
PDFriend, our app. It compresses on the phone with 3 levels, shows the old and the new size, keeps the original, and with Pro it fits a size limit such as 200 kB. Smallpdf uploads the file to compress it.
How do I compress a PDF to a size limit, for example 200 kB?
In PDFriend, tap Compress, pick the PDF, select Size limit and choose 200 kB, or type your own number. The app tries up to 4 quality steps and keeps the best quality that fits. Size limit is a Pro tool. A short ad can also open it for one compression.
Can I compress a PDF on Android without uploading it?
Yes, with PDFriend. It compresses on the phone, with no upload and no account. Smallpdf uploads files and deletes them after 1 hour.
Why does my PDF not get smaller?
Compression shrinks the images in a PDF. A PDF with only text is already small, so it changes little. In PDFriend, when the app cannot make the file smaller, it keeps the original and saves no new file.
Does compressing a PDF lower the quality?
It lowers the quality of the images, not of the text. In PDFriend, Light reduction keeps images up to 2400 px at JPEG quality 85, which is good for print. Small goes to 1000 px at quality 50.