The last PDF compressor you'll ever need. A lightweight macOS app that shrinks your files without uploading them anywhere. Works offline using the industry-standard Ghostscript engine for superior compression results.
Free: macOS 11.0+ (Intel & Silicon) • Pro Bundle: macOS 13.0+ (Apple Silicon)
Built for researchers, professionals, and anyone who cares about privacy.
Your files never leave your Mac. No uploads, no cloud processing, no tracking. Perfect for sensitive documents.
Uses Ghostscript, the industry-standard PDF engine trusted by professionals worldwide. Superior compression, advanced control, and professional-grade results.
Seamlessly handles password-protected PDFs. The app prompts for passwords when needed, supporting batch processing of encrypted documents.
One-click presets for quick compression. Pro mode for fine-tuned control. Drag, drop, done.
Choose exactly which files to process with checkboxes. Skip files, delete individuals, and compress only what you need.
Process hundreds of files at once. Real-time progress tracking for every file in your batch.
Forgot a password? Need to edit a restricted file? Instantly remove owner passwords and unlock full access to your documents.
Automatic recovery for corrupted or damaged PDFs. Rebuilds file structures to salvage unreadable documents.
The new Drag-and-Drop interface makes organizing pages effortless. Easily reorder pages to structure your document exactly how you need.
GhostPDF harnesses the power of Ghostscript for professional-grade results.
We've chosen Ghostscript as our exclusive compression engine because it offers superior control and quality compared to native system tools. It enables:
Optional: Install Ghostscript via Homebrew:
brew install ghostscript
Advanced controls for professionals who need precise output.
Convert to Grayscale or Monochrome. Set custom DPI for color, gray, and mono images independently.
Subsetting embeds only used characters to save space. Option to fully embed or compress fonts.
Remove metadata, detect duplicate images, and use ASCII85 encoding for compatibility.
Powerful tools included with GhostPDF.
Password-protect PDFs with industry-standard encryption. Control printing and copying.
ProtectionRemove passwords from protected files instantly (password required). Unlocks full access.
UnlockApply custom text watermarks. Control opacity, rotation, and placement for branding.
BrandingCombine multiple files into one document. Perfect for reports and compilations.
CombineDrag-and-drop page manipulation. Easily rearrange pages to structure your document.
VisualSplit files apart or extract specific pages (e.g., '1, 3, 5') into new documents.
SelectionQuick select buttons for Odd/Even/All pages. Fix orientation or remove unwanted pages instantly.
Quick SelectStandardize mixed-size documents. Scales all pages to fit standard A4 paper size.
FormatConvert pages to flat images. Prevents copying/editing of text and vectors.
SecurityRebuild corrupted file structures. Salvage unreadable PDFs automatically.
RecoveryArchival standard (PDF/A-2b). Ensure long-term preservation and compliance.
ISO StandardExtract original, full-resolution images from any PDF in their native formats (JPEG, PNG, TIFF). Fully supports complex color workflows, including CMYK, ICCBased, and Indexed color spaces, ensuring zero quality loss.
ProfessionalThe free version of GhostPDF requires Ghostscript installed. Download the Pro Bundle to skip this step.
brew install ghostscript
Most popular method. Automatically keeps Ghostscript updated. Install Homebrew first if you don't have it.
sudo port install ghostscript
For MacPorts users. Alternative package manager with excellent macOS integration.
Note: Ghostscript doesn't provide pre-built macOS packages. Package managers handle compilation and dependencies automatically.
💡 After installation, restart GhostPDF to detect Ghostscript automatically.
Why thousands choose GhostPDF+.
| Feature | GhostPDF+ | Adobe Acrobat | PDF Squeezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $15/mo | $19.99 |
| Open Source | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Native SwiftUI | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Pro Controls | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| PDF Tools (Split/Merge) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Drag & Drop Reordering | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Page Numbers | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Watermarks | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Encryption | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Decrypt / Unlock | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| PDF/A & Repair | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| No Subscription | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Lightweight | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Native Image Extraction | ✅ | ✅ | ❓ |
| Notarized | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Trust is earned through transparency. GhostPDF+ is fully open source under the AGPLv3 License. You can inspect every line of code to verify your data never leaves your device.
View Source on GitHubFree to download. No account required. No strings attached.
Last updated: December 2025
GhostPDF is designed with privacy as a core principle. We do not collect, store, or transmit any user data.
This app collects no personal information. All PDF compression happens entirely on your device. Your files are never uploaded to any server.
This app does not require internet access and makes no network connections. It works completely offline.
This app does not integrate with any third-party analytics, advertising, or tracking services.
If you have questions about this privacy policy, contact us at ou.salman@icloud.com
Need help with GhostPDF? We're here to assist.
For bug reports, feature requests, or general questions, please email us at:
brew install ghostscript. The
Pro Bundle (v2.0) includes Ghostscript and requires no setup.