Comparison

FormatFox vs PDF Compressor

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

Head to head
About

FormatFox

Features
Read full description

FormatFox is a free iPhone app that converts images, PDFs, and audio entirely on your device — no subscription, no uploads, and no account. It converts HEIC, JPG, and PNG, resizes images, and combines multiple photos into a single PDF, all offline. A one-time Pro unlock adds batch conversion and audio transcoding to M4A, WAV, AIFF, and CAF. Most converters meter you to one file, hide a weekly subscription behind the Save button, or quietly upload your private files to a server. FormatFox does none of that. Every conversion runs 100% on your device. Nothing is uploaded. It even works in Airplane Mode. FREE, forever: • Convert HEIC, JPG and PNG • Resize images • Combine photos into a single PDF • See the exact before → after size of every file PRO — one simple, one-time unlock (no subscription): • Batch-convert many files at once • Transcode audio: M4A, WAV, AIFF, CAF • Quality & compression control • Keep EXIF metadata • "Convert with FormatFox" share action from any app • Remove ads No account. No login. No tracking of your files. Just convert and get on with your day.

About

PDF Compressor

Features
Read full description

Compress PDF files quickly, reduce file size, and keep your documents private with PDF Compressor: Reduce PDF. Need to make a PDF smaller for email, work, school, online forms, or document uploads? PDF Compressor helps you reduce PDF file size directly on your iPhone or iPad — with no account required and no document uploads to our servers. SMART PDF COMPRESSION Reduce PDF size while preserving text, links, and document structure whenever possible. Smart Compression is ideal for documents where readability and selectable text matter. MULTIPLE COMPRESSION OPTIONS Choose the compression method that fits your needs: • Smart Compression — Reduce file size while preserving text and links • Maximum Compression — Get a smaller file using stronger compression • Target Size — Try to compress your PDF toward 500 KB, 1 MB, 2 MB, 5 MB, or a custom size • Multiple quality options for stronger compression BUILT FOR REAL-WORLD FILE SIZE LIMITS Trying to upload a PDF but the file is too large? Choose a target size and let PDF Compressor reduce the document as much as possible while protecting its structure. Some PDFs are already highly optimized, so the exact target size cannot always be reached. The app clearly tells you when further compression would reduce document quality or make the file larger. PRIVATE — YOUR PDFs STAY ON YOUR DEVICE Your PDF documents are processed locally on your device. • No PDF uploads to our servers • No account required • No sign-in required • Your original PDF is never overwritten • Save or share the compressed copy only when you choose PREVIEW BEFORE AND AFTER Preview your PDF before compression and check the compressed version when processing is complete. CLEAR COMPRESSION RESULTS See exactly what happened to your document: • Original file size • Compressed file size • Percentage of space saved • Compression method used • Whether text and links were preserved SAVE AND SHARE EASILY Save your compressed PDF to Files or share it directly using the standard iOS sharing options. PDF Compressor: Reduce PDF is designed to make reducing PDF file sizes simple, fast, and private. Choose a PDF, select your compression method, reduce its size, and save the result.

Screenshots

FormatFox4 screens
PDF Compressor2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PDF Compressor at none against FormatFox's 1. PDF Compressor also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. FormatFox sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PDF Compressor asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FormatFox ships an update every 3 weeks, PDF Compressor every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Ā· 3 level
FormatFox versus PDF Compressor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFormatFoxPDF Compressor
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLevin David SchwabTAREQ ALHUSAINI

In-app purchases

1 purchases

FormatFox

One-time1
  • FormatFox Pro$4.99
None

PDF Compressor

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FormatFox free?
FormatFox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PDF Compressor free?
PDF Compressor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do FormatFox or PDF Compressor have ads?
Both FormatFox and PDF Compressor show ads.
Which is updated more often, FormatFox or PDF Compressor?
FormatFox ships an update every 3 weeks, and PDF Compressor every 2 days. Most recently, FormatFox was updated on September 25, 2026 and PDF Compressor on September 13, 2026.

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