Comparison

Compresto vs Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat is the definitive PDF tool with editing, signing, and compression. Compresto is a lightweight Mac alternative that compresses PDFs alongside video and images — without an Adobe subscription.

Feature Comparison

FeatureComprestoAdobe Acrobat
PlatformmacOS onlymacOS, Windows, Web
Video compression
Image compression
PDF compression
PDF editing
Batch processing
Drag & drop
Price modelOne-time purchase / free tierSubscription from $14.99/month

Compresto Strengths

  • No monthly subscription — one-time $19.99 purchase
  • Video and image compression beyond PDFs
  • Simpler interface for pure compression tasks
  • Much more affordable for users who only need compression

Adobe Acrobat Strengths

  • Full PDF editing — text, images, pages, annotations
  • Digital signatures and form creation
  • Industry-standard tool accepted everywhere for legal and business PDFs

Choose Compresto when...

  • You only need to reduce PDF file sizes, not edit them
  • You want to avoid an Adobe monthly subscription
  • You also compress video and images in the same workflow
  • You need a lightweight, fast compression-only tool

Choose Adobe Acrobat when...

  • You need to edit PDF content (text, images, pages)
  • You create fillable forms or digital signature workflows
  • You work in a legal or enterprise environment where Acrobat is standard

Pricing

Compresto

One-time purchase $19.99 or free tier with limits

Adobe Acrobat

Acrobat Standard from $14.99/month; Acrobat Pro from $23.99/month

Switching from Adobe Acrobat?

If you only use Acrobat to compress PDFs before emailing or sharing, Compresto saves you at least $180/year in subscription costs for the same result.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Compresto edit PDFs like Adobe Acrobat?
No. Compresto compresses PDFs to reduce file sizes. Adobe Acrobat can edit, annotate, merge, split, and sign PDFs. They serve different needs.
Is Compresto a good Adobe Acrobat alternative for PDF compression?
Yes — for compression specifically. If you are paying for Acrobat just to compress PDFs before emailing them, Compresto is a much more affordable solution.
Does Compresto preserve PDF quality during compression?
Yes. Compresto optimizes PDF file sizes while maintaining readable text and acceptable image quality. For critical legal documents, always verify output quality.
How much can Compresto reduce PDF file sizes?
Compresto typically reduces PDF sizes by 40–80% depending on content. Image-heavy PDFs see the largest reductions.
Can Adobe Acrobat compress video and images?
No. Adobe Acrobat is PDF-focused only. Compresto handles video (MP4, MOV), images (PNG, JPEG, GIF, SVG, TIFF), and PDF in one app.
Join thousands of users who compress smarter with Compresto.

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