Is the PDF compressor free?

Yes. It needs no account and adds no watermark.

Is my PDF uploaded to a server?

No. The pages are redrawn and rebuilt in your browser. The file is not sent to our server.

How does it make the file smaller?

It draws each page as an image, saves it as a compressed JPEG, and builds a new PDF from those images. This helps scans and photo-heavy files most.

Will the text still be selectable?

No. The pages become pictures, so the text cannot be selected, searched or copied, and links and form fields are lost. Keep the original if you need them.

Which quality should I choose?

Start with Balanced. High keeps more detail and saves less. Small and Tiny give smaller files with softer text. Check that the result is readable before you use it.

Why is the new file the same size or larger?

A PDF that is already compact, or made mostly of vector graphics and text, can grow when it is turned into images. Try Tiny, or keep the original.

What are the size and page limits?

About 120 MB and 200 pages per file. For a longer document, split it first with the PDF Merge and Split tool.

Can I compress a password-protected PDF?

No. Remove the password first, then compress the unlocked copy.

Is the result good enough to print?

It is fine for reading on screen. For printing, keep your full-quality original, since these pages are reduced in resolution.

Overview PDF to Flipbook PDF Compress PDF Merge & Split

Compress PDF

Make a PDF smaller by turning each page into a compressed image. Runs in your browser with no upload or watermark. Text is no longer selectable.

About the PDF Compress

?What the PDF compressor does

It makes a PDF smaller by drawing each page as an image, saving that image as a compressed JPEG, and building a new PDF from the images. This works well for scans and photo-heavy files.

Because the pages become pictures, text in the new file cannot be selected or searched, and links and form fields are lost. Keep your original if you need those. Everything runs in your browser and the file is not uploaded.

→How to compress a PDF in 4 steps

Choose your PDF

Drop it or browse for it. The limit is about 120 MB and 200 pages.

Pick a quality

High, Balanced, Small or Tiny. Lower settings make smaller files and softer pages.

Compress

Watch the page-by-page progress while your browser redraws each page.

Compare and download

You see the size before and after. Download it only if it is smaller and still readable.

✓What is in the tool

Four quality levels

They limit the longest side of each page to 2,000, 1,600, 1,280 or 1,024 pixels.

Before and after size

See how much you saved before you download.

Private

The file stays in your browser and is not uploaded.

No watermark or account

Nothing is added to the PDF.

★Examples

A scanned document

A scan is too big for an email.

Example:

Compress at Balanced, check that the text is still readable, and send the smaller file.

A form upload limit

An application form accepts files up to a set size.

Example:

Try Small, and go to Tiny only if it is still too large.

A text-heavy PDF

A contract with selectable text.

Example:

Do not compress it here: the result would be page images with no selectable text.

♥Limits to know about

✓

Text becomes an image

The output cannot be searched or copied, and links and forms are lost.

✓

Some files get no smaller

A PDF that is already compact, or mostly vector graphics, can come out the same size or larger.

✓

Locked PDFs do not open

A password-protected file has to be unlocked first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Tools

PDF Merge & Split

Combine PDFs or pull pages out of one. Preview, reorder, rotate and remove pages, with no upload and no watermark.

Metadata Cleaner

Remove EXIF and GPS data from photos, document info and XMP from PDFs, and tags and cover art from audio. Runs in your browser with no upload.

Image Compress & Convert

Make JPG, PNG and WebP images smaller, or convert between them. Runs in your browser with no upload or watermark. JPG and WebP lose some detail.