Compress PDF
Rebuilds each page as an optimised image so heavy scans fit inside attachment limits. Choose how aggressive the compression should be.
Text becomes part of the page image, so pick Light for documents you still need to search.
Private by design
Files are processed inside your browser and never uploaded anywhere.
No waiting
Results appear in seconds, with no queues or file size servers involved.
No sign-up
Use every tool as often as you like - no account, no watermarks.
A PDF that will not fit an email or upload form is almost always heavy because of its images: photos of receipts, phone scans of signed pages or screenshots pasted into a report. Compress PDF rebuilds those pages at a lower data rate so the document drops from tens of megabytes to something you can actually send. You choose how aggressive the trade-off between size and sharpness should be, and the whole process runs in your browser.
How to compress a PDF
- 1Add the PDF you want to shrink.
- 2Pick a compression level - start light and step up if the file is still too large.
- 3Run the tool and download the smaller PDF.
Choosing a compression level and what to expect
Compression is worth reaching for when a scanned contract will not attach to an email, when a portfolio takes minutes to open, or when a portal rejects your upload at 10 or 25 MB. It makes the biggest difference on image-heavy and scanned documents; a PDF that is mostly vector text is already small and may barely change.
Light compression is the safe default: pages are re-rendered at a moderate quality, size typically falls noticeably and the document still looks clean on screen and in normal printing. Stronger levels re-render each page as a more heavily optimised image, which is what makes bulky scans small enough to send, but fine print softens and the text layer becomes part of the picture - so text is no longer selectable or searchable and screen readers cannot read it. If you need the text layer preserved, stay on the lightest setting, or extract the text separately before compressing. Always open the result before sending it: check the smallest type, stamps and signatures at 100% zoom. Keep the original as your archive copy, since compression is not reversible. Everything happens on your device, so confidential paperwork is never uploaded.
Frequently asked about Compress PDF
How much smaller will my PDF get?
It depends entirely on the source. Scans and photo-heavy documents often shrink dramatically, while a PDF that is already mostly plain text may only lose a little because there is little redundancy left to remove.
Why is the text no longer selectable after compressing?
Stronger levels rebuild each page as an optimised image, so the text becomes part of that image. Use the lightest level when you need the text layer to stay searchable.
Which level should I choose?
Start with the lightest one and check the result. Only step up if the file still exceeds the limit you are trying to meet, because each step costs visible sharpness.
Will the compressed file still print well?
Light compression is generally fine for everyday printing. For professional print work, keep the original - heavier settings reduce effective resolution.
Can I compress the same file twice to make it smaller again?
You can, but quality degrades each time and the gains shrink quickly. It is better to run the original once at a stronger level than to compress a compressed file.
Is my document uploaded for processing?
No. Compression runs inside your browser using your device's own resources, so the file never leaves your computer or phone.