Comparison

PDF Tools Merge & Compress vs PDF Compressly

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PDF Tools Merge & Compress

This app offers a suite of privacy-focused PDF editing tools that operate entirely on your device. Merge, split, compress, rotate, watermark, unlock, and extract text from PDFs without uploading your files to any server. It's a one-time purchase for lifetime access to all features.

Highlights
  • Merge multiple PDFs
  • Split PDFs into new files
  • Compress PDF file size
  • Rotate pages
  • Add text watermarks
  • Remove password protection
  • Extract text from PDFs
Features
Read full description

Private PDF tools for iPhone. Merge, split, compress, rotate, watermark, unlock, and extract text without uploading your files to a server. One-time purchase, no subscription, no cloud, no tracking. PDF Tools is a privacy-first PDF utility for iPhone and iPad. Built by an indie developer who got tired of subscription apps and cloud upload requirements. EVERYTHING ON-DEVICE Your documents never leave your phone. No cloud storage. No tracking. No analytics. We cannot see what you process. Try airplane mode and verify it yourself. 7 TOOLS, ONE APP • Merge: Combine multiple PDFs into one and drag to reorder • Split: Export selected page ranges into new PDFs • Compress: Reduce file size with quality presets • Rotate: Fix page orientation, single page or all pages • Watermark: Add a text watermark with custom position and opacity • Password Remove: Unlock password-protected PDFs you own • Extract Text: Save PDF text as a .txt file WHY $9.99 LIFETIME Simple utilities should not be subscriptions. Buy it once, keep it. PDF Tools Plus is a one-time purchase that unlocks unlimited operations, batch processing, recent files history, Files app integration, and Shortcuts automation. DESIGNED FOR IPHONE AND IPAD Modern interface, adaptive layout, Files app support, and Shortcuts integration for faster workflows. PRIVACY PROMISE We do not log, store, or transmit your files. Period. Purchase Information: PDF Tools Plus is a one-time non-consumable in-app purchase of $9.99 (USD). No auto-renewal. No subscription. Restore Purchases is available in Profile. Support: alpdigitalio@gmail.com Privacy: https://alpdigital.io/Pdftools/privacy.html Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

About

PDF Compressly

Features
Read full description

PDF Compressly is a fast, simple and privacy-focused PDF compressor for iPhone. Reduce the size of your PDF files in just a few taps. Whether you need to send a document by email, share it with another app, save storage space or meet an upload limit, PDF Compressly helps you create lighter PDF files quickly and easily. Import documents from multiple sources: • Files • Photos • Clipboard • Camera scan You can also scan paper documents with your iPhone camera and convert them into PDFs, ready to compress, preview and export. Choose how you want to compress: • Minimal compression for higher quality • Medium compression for a balanced result • Maximum compression for smaller files • Custom maximum output size PDF Compressly gives you control over the final file. Use one of the built-in compression presets or set the maximum file size you want for the output PDF. Your documents stay private. All processing happens locally on your iPhone. PDF Compressly does not upload, store or send your files to external servers. This makes it useful for sensitive documents such as invoices, contracts, reports, IDs, business files, school documents and personal records. After compression, export your PDF wherever you need it: save it to Files, send it by email, share it with other apps or transfer it to nearby Apple devices using AirDrop. Key features: • Compress PDF files on iPhone • Reduce PDF file size quickly • Import from Files, Photos and Clipboard • Scan documents with the camera • Convert scans into PDF files • Choose Minimal, Medium or Maximum compression • Set a custom output file size • Preview original and compressed PDFs • Export to Files, email, AirDrop and other apps • Local on-device processing • No external uploads • Clean and easy-to-use interface PDF Compressly is designed for work, school, travel, administration and everyday document sharing. Make your PDFs smaller. Keep your files private. Terms & Conditions: https://pdfcompressly.com/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://pdfcompressly.com/privacy.html

Screenshots

PDF Tools Merge & Compress4 screens
PDF Compressly4 screens

Verdict

The call

PDF Tools Merge & Compress and PDF Compressly are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PDF Tools Merge & Compress sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and PDF Compressly sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
PDF Tools Merge & Compress versus PDF Compressly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPDF Tools Merge & CompressPDF Compressly
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlptekin GokFollowMeter

In-app purchases

4 purchases

PDF Tools Merge & Compress

Subscriptions3
  • PDF Tools Plus$0.997 Days
  • PDF Tools Plus$2.991 Month
  • PDF Tools Plus$6.991 Year
One-time1
  • PDF Tools Plus$9.99
1 purchases

PDF Compressly

Subscriptions1
  • Premium3 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is PDF Tools Merge & Compress free?
PDF Tools Merge & Compress is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Compressly free?
PDF Compressly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PDF Tools Merge & Compress or PDF Compressly have ads?
Neither PDF Tools Merge & Compress nor PDF Compressly shows ads.

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