PDF Squeezer 4.7: A Faster Compression Engine for Mac

Witt Software released PDF Squeezer 4.7 for Mac on 17 March 2026, and it is the most substantial update the compression app has had in some time. The release replaced the app's compression engine with a modernised one, added native Apple silicon support and, depending on the file and the Mac, roughly doubled compression speed. It also raised the minimum system to macOS 13. For students who regularly hit upload limits on coursework portals, email attachments or application forms, it is a meaningful step forward, and a steady run of follow-up releases through the summer has built on it.

What's new in PDF Squeezer 4.7

The official release notes list a short set of changes, but they go to the heart of what the app does.

A modernised compression engine

The core change is a rebuilt compression engine, which Witt Software says produces better results. In practice that means the same PDF can come out smaller, or at a similar size with better-preserved quality, depending on the profile you choose.

Native Apple silicon and faster processing

Version 4.7 runs natively on Apple silicon, so it no longer relies on Rosetta translation on M-series Macs. The developer quotes compression speeds of up to twice as fast as before, varying with the document and the machine. Native support was briefly withdrawn in a point release and restored in version 4.7.4 in May 2026.

Other changes

• The minimum supported system moved up to macOS 13 Ventura.
• More menu items now carry icons, making commands easier to recognise at a glance.

Since then

PDF Squeezer has been updated frequently since March. The most useful additions for everyday use include:

• Version 4.8 (3 August 2026): you can delete individual pages while in comparison mode, trimming pages you don't need to save extra space. A progress bar with a percentage now shows how far a compression has got, along with more detail about which stage is running. There is also an option to send the original to the Bin when you save the compressed copy under a new name, and a setting to fall back to the old engine if a particular file causes trouble.
• Version 4.8.1 (10 August 2026): multi-core image processing speeds up image-heavy PDFs, with bigger gains on Macs with more cores. It also brought smarter lossless compression for monochrome images and scanned pages, plus an option to stop monochrome scans being downsampled.
• Version 4.8.2 (27 August 2026): an option to flatten and embed annotations during compression so they can no longer be moved or edited, better handling of 16-bit images, and efficient lossless encoding for pure black-and-white images to keep text and line art sharp.
• Version 4.9 (23 September 2026): a profile setting for PDF/A-4 long-term archiving, which automatically disables incompatible compression options; an "Optimize images" switch so you can leave pictures untouched while still slimming the rest of the file; and faster importing of folders containing thousands of PDFs.

Why it matters for students

File size limits turn up throughout university life, and PDF Squeezer is built for exactly that problem.

• Submitting coursework: virtual learning environments and online submission systems often cap upload sizes. A dissertation packed with charts, photographs or screenshots can easily exceed them, and the faster engine makes it quicker to compress a large file and check the result before a deadline.
• Scanned notes and handouts: the 4.8.1 and 4.8.2 improvements for monochrome and black-and-white images are particularly relevant if you scan printed readings or handwritten notes, keeping text crisp while reducing size.
• Checking quality before you send: comparison mode lets you view the original and compressed versions side by side. Since 4.8 you can also drop blank or irrelevant pages there, which is handy for trimming appendices or scanned covers.
• Marked-up documents: flattening annotations in 4.8.2 is useful when you share a PDF with highlights or comments and don't want them shifted or edited by the recipient.
• Archiving research: the PDF/A-4 profile in 4.9 suits anyone keeping a long-term record of source documents, datasets or a final thesis submission.
• Applications and portfolios: job, placement and postgraduate applications frequently set strict attachment limits, and compressing a CV and portfolio into a small PDF avoids last-minute problems.

Requirements and upgrade details

• macOS: since version 4.7, PDF Squeezer requires macOS 13 or later. Users on older systems can still download earlier versions from the developer's website.
• Apple silicon: the app runs natively on M-series Macs.
• Availability: PDF Squeezer is sold directly by Witt Software and through the Mac App Store, and 4.7 and the later releases are all part of the PDF Squeezer 4 series.

Get PDF Squeezer with a student discount

Student App Centre members get 30% Off PDF Squeezer, so keeping coursework, scans and portfolios under upload limits costs less. Find out more on our PDF Squeezer student discount page. New to Student App Centre? You can try membership with a 7-day free trial and browse the other Mac and iOS apps on offer.