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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 | WeCompress | PDF Candy | Switch / compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Image compression | 92/100 2048 × 2048 · PNG | Not tested in topic | Compare in task topic → |
| PDF to Word | Not tested in topic | 90/100 DOCX · Output attached | Compare in task topic → |
| PDF compression | 96/100 PDF · Output attached | 92/100 PDF · Output attached | Active task |
| Scanned PDF OCR | Not tested in topic | 87/100 TXT · Output attached | Compare in task topic → |
| PDF merge & split | Not tested in topic | 94/100 PDF · Output attached | Compare in task topic → |
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Browse this task →| Criterion | WeCompress PDF compression 96/100 Seven-aspect task score Free login-free zero-config compression shrinks our test PDF by ~95% (to 84 KB) while retaining 100% selectable vector text for files up to 50 MB; it lacks batch upload or manual DPI presets and processes in the cloud. Tested export PDF · Output attached Historical test · 2026-10-26 | PDF Candy (Icecream Apps Compress PDF) PDF compression 92/100 Seven-aspect task score Clean, ad-free login-free compression reduced the 1.66 MB 2-page PDF by 93.12% to 114.1 KB with 100% selectable vector text retained, though the 1-task/hour free limit is not disclosed on the landing page. Tested export PDF · Output attached Historical test · 2026-10-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & rules | ||
| Pricing plans | WeCompress online file and image compressor web tool (excludes separately sold NXPowerLite Desktop software) · 2026-10-21 Plan · source date Monthly / one-time Annual bill / period Quota & limits WeCompress Online Free2026-10-21 ↗ Free Free Free Free without login; max 50 MB per file (supports JPEG/PNG/TIFF and PDF/Office documents) with ad-free, unwatermarked export. 1 plan / billing-period records, all listed; — means that period is not recorded. The WeCompress web tool explicitly states it is free, ad-free, and requires no registration for files up to 50 MB (supporting JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PDF, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel), with automatic deletion after processing. Users needing larger file limits or offline batch compression are directed to the separate NXPowerLite Desktop software. Cancellation, sources & verification recordWeCompress web is completely free with no subscription charges; NXPowerLite Desktop is sold separately by Neuxpower. WeCompress official online file compressor page ↗ · 2026-10-21 Capture 1 ↗ | PDF Candy USD web and desktop + web bundles · 2026-10-21 Plan · source date Monthly / one-time Annual bill / period Quota & limits Free2026-10-20 ↗ Free Free Free No account; page, hourly and file-size limits; no batching. Numeric limits are not listed. Web Monthly2026-10-20 ↗ USD 6/month — Monthly Monthly web-tool subscription; up to 500 MB/task, no hourly limits, and high-priority processing. Desktop + Web Yearly2026-10-20 ↗ — USD 48/year Annual Billed annually at USD 48.00/year (displayed as USD 4/month equivalent); includes 500 MB/task, no hourly limits, web and desktop access, plus Video Candy and Image Candy web. Billed annually via Paddle at US$48.00/year (applicable taxes calculated at checkout) Desktop + Web Lifetime2026-10-20 ↗ USD 99 · one-time payment Usage / one-time Usage / one-time One payment; desktop perpetual licence is limited to the current major version, including minor updates. 4 plan / billing-period records, all listed; — means that period is not recorded. Confirmed USD 6 monthly, USD 48 yearly (card displays promotional USD 4/month equivalent; verified at USD 48.00/year in the Paddle checkout modal after login on 2026-10-21), and USD 99 one-time. Lifetime covers the licensed version and minor updates, not future major upgrades. Cancellation, sources & verification recordThe page mentions 30-day refunds but also conditions them on recurring unresolved errors; eligibility follows the refund policy. Cancellation retains access through the paid period. Official feature and pricing page ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ Official feature and pricing page ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ Logged-in pricing page and Paddle checkout annual bill verification ↗ · 2026-10-21 Capture 1 ↗ |
| Free & trial allowance on the test date | Free no-login single-file compression up to 50 MB for PDF/Office/images; multi-file batch and offline compression require NXPowerLite Desktop | Free users can run 1 task per hour before hitting the hourly cooldown or upgrading to PRO |
| Cancellation & refunds | WeCompress web is completely free with no subscription charges; NXPowerLite Desktop is sold separately by Neuxpower. | The page mentions 30-day refunds but also conditions them on recurring unresolved errors; eligibility follows the refund policy. Cancellation retains access through the paid period. |
| Disclosure of costs & limits | Upfront 'Max. 50 MB' and 'Auto-deleted after processing' disclosures on the landing page | Exposes Recommended and Maximum compression options upfront, though the 1-task/hour limit is not stated on the landing page |
| Task quality | ||
| Measured fixture results | File reduction: 94.94% · Output size: 84 KB · Selectable text retained: 100% · Page 2 preserved: Yes | File reduction: 93.12% · Output size: 114.1 KB · Selectable text retained: 100% · Page 2 preserved: Yes |
| Fixture findings | Shrinks 1,659.0 KB to 84.0 KB (-94.94%, 19.75x) while retaining 100.0% of all 27 vector text operators and 12/12 table cells. | Reduced the 1,659.0 KB fixture by 93.12% (114.1 KB output) with both pages and 100% selectable vector text preserved. |
| Original historical observation | Powered by Neuxpower's NXPowerLite engine, WeCompress compressed the 1,659.0 KB test PDF down to 84.0 KB (-94.94%, 19.75x) in 1.68s of server processing while keeping all 27 vector text operators and financial table cells 100% selectable (02_result.png). | At its default Recommended setting, PDF Candy compresses our 1.66 MB anchor PDF to 114.1 KB (-93.12%) in 5.2s with 100% of native vector text operator blocks preserved; note the 1-task-per-hour free cooldown (02_result.png, 03_download.png). |
| Suitable uses · historical assessment | Users seeking maximum zero-config PDF size reduction (-94.94%) without login while keeping 100% selectable vector text | Users compressing one PDF at a time who want an ad-free interface, 100% vector text preservation, or a $99 Lifetime license option |
| 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 watermark-free vector PDF (84.0 KB, 94.94% reduction) | Full 2-page native vector PDF (114.1 KB · -93.12% · watermark-free · 1 task/hr free limit) |
| Watermark observation | Watermark-free | Watermark-free |
| Batch & API | Single-file upload up to 50 MB on web; batch compression via desktop client | Supports Google Drive / Dropbox integration and Windows desktop software |
| Recorded free-tier dimensions | Not verified | Not verified |
| Attached file dimensions | Not verified | Not verified |
| Speed & reliability | ||
| Timing observation | Network-observed server wait: 1.68s · End-to-end reference: 10.82s | Network-observed server wait: 5.2s · End-to-end reference: 6s |
| Date & fixture | 2026-10-26 · anchor_pdfcompress_v1 · US-West (California, AS2914) | 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 | No login in this test |
| Sign-in methods | No login required | No login required for direct compression and download; PRO login supported |
| Manual adjustment | Not verified | Not verified |
| Interaction observations | Not verified | Clean workspace and download flow with zero third-party ad popups, registration walls, or email gates. |
| Background & reputation | ||
| Service lifecycle notice | Not verified | Not verified |
| Operator | Neuxpower Solutions Ltd. | Icecream Apps Ltd. (PDF Candy) |
| Recorded origin | London, UK (est. 1997) | Cyprus |
| Domain history record | 1997–Present (Neuxpower) | 2016–Present (10-year PDF utility suite) |
| Background & reputation assessment | Not verified | Operated by Icecream Apps Ltd. (Cyprus) since 2016 as a well-known web and Windows PDF utility suite. |
| External reputation record | Web companion to the long-standing NXPowerLite document and PDF compression engine. | Not verified |
| Engineering & privacy | ||
| Processing location | Uploaded for cloud processing | Uploaded for cloud processing |
| Third-party tracking record | No third-party services listed in this record; this is not proof that none exist. | No third-party services listed in this record; this is not proof that none exist. |
| Engineering & privacy assessment | Not verified | Full SSL/TLS encryption with automatic server file deletion after 2 hours and manual deletion controls on the result screen. |
| Retention statement | Explicit retention period unconfirmed; inspect policy record | Claims deletion within 2 hours; deletion not independently verified |
| Evaluation basis | ||
| Pricing transparency | 28 / 35 Offers both Recommended compression and Maximum compression without login, producing a direct "Download file" button (114.14 KB) in ~5.2s; however, the 1-task-per-hour free rate limit is not disclosed upfront on the landing screen (01_landing.png, 01b_workspace.png, 02_result.png). | |
| Interaction restraint | 26 / 30 Clean workspace and download flow with zero third-party ad popups, registration walls, or email gates. | |
| Background & reputation | 18.5 / 20 Operated by Icecream Apps Ltd. (Cyprus) since 2016 as a well-known web and Windows PDF utility suite. | |
| Engineering & privacy | 13.5 / 15 Full SSL/TLS encryption with automatic server file deletion after 2 hours and manual deletion controls on the result screen. | |
| Task quality | 65 / 65 Size Reduction: -94.94% (1659 KB → 84 KB, 19.75× ratio) · Selectable Vector Text Retained: 100% · Page 2 Preserved: Yes | 65 / 65 Deterministic PDF stream inspection: default Recommended preset shrinks the 1,659.0 KB fixture to 114.1 KB (-93.12%, 14.54× ratio) while preserving 100.0% of all 27 native vector text operator blocks (BT/TJ), 4/4 headings, 12/12 table cells, and the Page 2 token (65.0/65) |
| Deliverable specifications | 19 / 20 Clean unwatermarked export (8/8); Export spec: Complete 2-page watermark-free vector PDF (84.0 KB, 94.94% reduction) | 17.5 / 20 Free tier exports a complete 114.1 KB 2-page watermark-free vector PDF without login, subject to a 1-task-per-hour free rate limit (17.5/20) |
| Processing speed | 14.5 / 15 Network-observed server wait: 1.68s (API mode: cloud_nxpowerlite_azure_job; network upload 9.14s / end-to-end 10.82s shown for reference only, never penalized) | |
