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Test scope & comparison notes
These are recorded facts, not a unified ranking. Tested tiers and scope are not consistently recorded. Read pricing with its date and timing with its conditions. Privacy observations reflect visible flows and statements, not a security audit.
Cross-task capability coverage across selected products
Each product is scored independently per task edge; switch tasks below while keeping shared products selected| Task edge | online-convert.com | lightpdf.com | Switch / compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image compression | 90/100 2048 × 2048 · PNG | Not tested in topic | Compare in task topic → |
| PDF to Word | Not tested in topic | 78/100 DOCX · Output attached | Compare in task topic → |
| PDF compression | 94/100 PDF · Output attached | 88/100 PDF · Output attached | Active task |
| Scanned PDF OCR | 94/100 PDF · Output attached | 82/100 DOCX · Output attached | |
| PDF merge & split | Not tested in topic | 90/100 PDF · Output attached | Compare in task topic → |
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Browse this task →| Criterion | Online-Convert PDF compression 94/100 Seven-aspect task score Online-Convert performed strongly in the 2-page hybrid PDF compression benchmark, completing server-side processing in 12.06 seconds to deliver a 79.0 KB document. It achieved a 95.24% file reduction (20.99x) while retaining 100.0% of all 17 vector text operators and table figures with zero logins and no watermarks. Tested export PDF · Output attached Historical test · 2026-11-05 | LightPDF PDF compression 88/100 Seven-aspect task score Delivers an extreme 98.22% size reduction (down to 29.5 KB) with 100% selectable vector text retention for logged-in free accounts, though guests face a sign-in gate and 20.01s cloud wait. Tested export PDF · Output attached Historical test · 2026-10-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & rules | ||
| Pricing plans | Online-Convert free trial credits, Pay As You Go packages and subscriptions · 2026-10-31 Plan · source date Monthly / one-time Annual bill / period Quota & limits Free Trial2026-10-31 ↗ Free Free Free 16 free trial credits upon signup without payment details Supports evaluation of most conversion and compression tools;Shared standard queue with file size limits;No automatic renewal;Valid until credits exhausted Pay As You Go (240 Credits)2026-10-31 ↗ USD 8 · one-time payment Usage / one-time Usage / one-time 240 credits ($0.0333/credit), valid for 1 year Access to all tools, no waiting queue, priority processing Rules [1] [2] [3]Pay As You Go (480 Credits)2026-10-31 ↗ USD 14 · one-time payment Usage / one-time Usage / one-time 480 credits ($0.0292/credit), valid for 1 year Full tools access, zero wait queue, ad-free experience Rules [1] [2] [3]Monthly Subscription (2800 Credits)2026-10-31 ↗ USD 29/month — Monthly 2800 credits per month (up to 2800 standard tasks or 350 AI tasks) All features, no waiting queue, batch concurrent processing, no ads;Unused monthly credits do not roll over;Renews monthly, cancel anytime in dashboard;Valid during active billing period Annual Subscription (2800 Credits/mo)2026-10-31 ↗ — Annual price not verified Annual 2800 credits per month; UI states $23.17 USD/month equivalent without full annual total All features, no waiting queue, batch concurrent processing, no ads;Annual billing total not stated upfront; held as null with partial coverage;Renews annually;Valid during annual period 5 plan / billing-period records, all listed; — means that period is not recorded. Anonymous conversions for basic files; 16 free trial credits upon registration; Pay As You Go packs: 240 credits for $8, 480 for $14; monthly subscription $29/mo for 2800 credits; annual plans state monthly equivalents without full upfront invoice total. Verification has gaps; unknown prices and quotas are not inferred. Cancellation, sources & verification recordCancellation and refund terms unverified Online-Convert Plans & Pricing ↗ · 2026-10-31 Capture 1 ↗ | LightPDF Individual Free, Monthly, Annual and Perpetual plans; Team & Business and Education tabs priced separately · 2026-10-21 Plan · source date Monthly / one-time Annual bill / period Quota & limits Free Plan2026-10-21 ↗ Free Free Free Web only; max file size 10 MB, 1-year cloud storage for up to 5 files; downloading converted DOCX requires signing in to a free account Monthly Plan2026-10-21 ↗ USD 19.99/month — Monthly 1-month full access to all PDF tools across Web, Mobile and Desktop, unlimited file size, plus 1,000 AI credits/month Promotional price USD 19.99/month (strikethrough USD 29.99), billed monthly, cancel anytime;Unused AI credits expire monthly Annual Plan2026-10-21 ↗ — USD 49.99/year Annual 1-year full access to all PDF tools across 5 platforms (1 active device at a time), unlimited file size, plus 1,000 AI credits/month 3-day free trial then USD 49.99/year (strikethrough USD 89.99; skipping trial saves USD 5);1,000 AI credits per month expire monthly Perpetual Plan (Lifetime)2026-10-21 ↗ USD 109.99 · one-time payment Usage / one-time Usage / one-time One-time payment for lifetime access to all PDF tools across 5 platforms, unlimited file size, plus 40,000 AI credits 40,000 AI credits granted instantly and valid until used 4 plan / billing-period records, all listed; — means that period is not recorded. Individual pricing lists Free, Monthly USD 19.99, Annual USD 49.99 (with 3-day trial or $5 skip-trial discount), and Perpetual USD 109.99; per-feature AI credit deductions require hover tooltips and enterprise plans require custom quotes. Verification has gaps; unknown prices and quotas are not inferred. Cancellation, sources & verification recordCancel recurring subscriptions via support ticket or payment platform email link; money-back guarantee is 30 days for Perpetual, 7 days for Annual, and 3 days for Monthly. LightPDF official Individual pricing page ↗ · 2026-10-21 Capture 1 ↗ |
| Free & trial allowance on the test date | Anonymous guests can convert everyday small files; registered users receive 16 trial credits | Free watermark-free single-file export after logging into a free account; bulk compression requires VIP |
| Cancellation & refunds | Not verified | Cancel recurring subscriptions via support ticket or payment platform email link; money-back guarantee is 30 days for Perpetual, 7 days for Annual, and 3 days for Monthly. |
| Disclosure of costs & limits | Immediate processing upon upload, direct download and delete links provided in result table | Prompts unauthenticated guests to sign in after compression completes |
| Task quality | ||
| Measured fixture results | File reduction: 95.24% · Output size: 79 KB · Selectable text retained: 100% · Page 2 preserved: Yes | File reduction: 98.22% · Output size: 29.5 KB · Selectable text retained: 100% · Page 2 preserved: Yes |
| Fixture findings | 95.24% file reduction (1.66MB to 79KB, 20.99x) with 100.0% retention of vector text and tabular layouts. | Reduced the 2-page PDF by 98.22% (down to 29.5 KB) while retaining 100% of selectable vector text and table cells. |
| Original historical observation | Online-Convert compressed the 1.66MB test PDF to 79.0 KB under default settings, smooth image resampling with 100% vector typography preserved (02_result.png, 03_download.png). | LightPDF compressed our 1.66 MB PDF down to 29.5 KB (-98.22% reduction) in 20.01s while keeping 100% of vector text and table cells selectable (02_workspace.png, 03_result.png). |
| Suitable uses · historical assessment | Users seeking to reduce large image-heavy PDFs below 100KB without login while preserving sharp vector text under EU GDPR protections | Users willing to sign into a free account who need maximum file-size reduction (-98.22%, down to 29.5 KB) for strict portal upload limits while keeping text selectable |
| Result & output evidence | ||
| Delivery capabilities | ||
| Recorded export specifications | PDF · Output attached · No watermark in test | PDF · Output attached · No watermark in test |
| Historical specification note · not an official maximum | Complete 2-page native vector PDF (79.0 KB, 95.24% reduction) | Full 2-page native vector PDF (29.5 KB · -98.22% · watermark-free · requires free login) |
| Watermark observation | No watermark | No watermark |
| Batch & API | Supports multi-file batch additions and advanced parameter tuning | Supports cloud document management and PDF API; batch compression requires VIP |
| Recorded free-tier dimensions | Not verified | Not verified |
| Attached file dimensions | Not verified | Not verified |
| Speed & reliability | ||
| Timing observation | Network-observed server wait: 12.06s · End-to-end reference: 13.56s | Network-observed server wait: 20.01s · End-to-end reference: 23.21s |
| Date & fixture | 2026-11-05 · anchor_pdfcompress_v1 · US-West (California) | 2026-10-23 · anchor_pdfcompress_v1 · US-West (California, AS2914) |
| Repeated tests & reliability | No standardized repetition count, success rate or variability range is recorded. | No standardized repetition count, success rate or variability range is recorded. |
| Interaction experience | ||
| Account requirements | No login in this test | Account required in this test |
| Sign-in methods | Direct upload & compress without login | Requires free account login (Google / email) to download |
| Manual adjustment | Not verified | Not verified |
| Interaction observations | Not verified | Displays a clear "File size reduced by 98.22% (1.7MB → 30.24KB)" summary and direct download when logged in, though guests encounter a post-compression login prompt. |
| Background & reputation | ||
| Service lifecycle notice | Not verified | Not verified |
| Operator | QaamGo Media GmbH | AI Document Tool Suite (Wangxu Tech / Apowersoft) |
| Recorded origin | Cologne, Germany | Hong Kong / Shenzhen (Wangxu Technology) |
| Domain history record | Domain registered in 2009 | 2018–Present |
| Background & reputation assessment | Not verified | Operated by Wangxu Technology (Apowersoft team), offering web and desktop PDF utilities. |
| External reputation record | Operated continuously by German registered company QaamGo Media GmbH with transparent EU GDPR disclosures. | Not verified |
| Engineering & privacy | ||
| Processing location | Uploaded for cloud processing | Uploaded for cloud processing |
| Third-party tracking record | Google Analytics · Google AdSense · PayPal · Stripe | No third-party services listed in this record; this is not proof that none exist. |
| Engineering & privacy assessment | Not verified | Uses HTTPS transport via aoscdn.com cloud storage with scheduled cleanup of temporary files. |
| Retention statement | Claims deletion within 24 hours; deletion not independently verified | Explicit retention period unconfirmed; inspect policy record |
| Evaluation basis | ||
| Pricing transparency | 26 / 35 Unauthenticated guests are prompted to sign in after compression before downloading; once signed in with a free account, clicking Download directly exports the 29.5 KB watermark-free PDF without payment (01_landing.png, 02_workspace.png, 03_result.png). | |
| Interaction restraint | 22 / 30 Displays a clear "File size reduced by 98.22% (1.7MB → 30.24KB)" summary and direct download when logged in, though guests encounter a post-compression login prompt. | |
| Background & reputation | 16 / 20 Operated by Wangxu Technology (Apowersoft team), offering web and desktop PDF utilities. | |
| Engineering & privacy | 13 / 15 Uses HTTPS transport via aoscdn.com cloud storage with scheduled cleanup of temporary files. | |
| Task quality | 65 / 65 Size Reduction: -95.24% (1659 KB → 79 KB, 20.99× ratio) · Selectable Vector Text Retained: 100% · Page 2 Preserved: Yes | 65 / 65 Deterministic PDF stream inspection: compresses the 1,659.0 KB fixture down to just 29.5 KB (30,241 bytes, -98.22% reduction, 56.18× ratio — highest in category) while retaining 100.0% of selectable vector text (7 BT / 10 TJ), 4/4 headings, 12/12 table cells, and the Page 2 token (65.0/65) |
| Deliverable specifications | 20 / 20 Clean unwatermarked export (8/8); Export spec: Complete 2-page native vector PDF (79.0 KB, 95.24% reduction) | 17.5 / 20 Exports a 29.5 KB watermark-free 2-page vector PDF on a free logged-in account, gated only by account sign-in (17.5/20) |
| Processing speed | 11 / 15 Network-observed server wait: 12.06s (API mode: cloud_online_convert_compress; network upload 1.5s / end-to-end 13.56s shown for reference only, never penalized) | |

