Compress PDF
Reduce PDF file size — drop it in, get a smaller file. No upload.
Examples
Shrink a scan
Input
A 20 MB scanned PDF
Output
Balanced → often a few MB
Email-ready size
Input
A large image PDF
Output
Strong → small enough to attach
Keep it sharp
Input
A photo brochure
Output
Light → smaller, still crisp
About this tool
This free online PDF compressor reduces the file size of a PDF right in your browser — just drop a file in and the compressed version appears, with the size saved shown for you. It works by re-rendering each page at a chosen quality, which is especially effective for scanned and image-heavy PDFs. Nothing is uploaded, so your document stays completely private.
How to use
- Drop in a PDF file.
- It's compressed automatically at the Balanced level.
- Switch to Strong for a smaller file or Light for higher quality.
- Download the compressed PDF.
When compression helps — and when it doesn't
Scanned pages and PDFs full of photos shrink the most. Plain text PDFs are already efficient, so compressing them can actually increase the size and will turn the text into an image — in that case it's best to keep the original. The tool always shows the before and after size so you can decide.
Frequently asked questions
Is this PDF compressor free?
Yes — it's a completely free online PDF compressor with no sign-up, no watermark, and no limits.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. The PDF is compressed entirely in your browser, so your file never leaves your device. It's safe for private and sensitive documents.
How does the compression work?
Each page is rendered to an image and re-encoded as a JPEG at the resolution and quality you choose, then rebuilt into a new PDF. This is what shrinks the file.
Which PDFs shrink the most?
Scanned documents and image-heavy PDFs shrink dramatically. Plain text PDFs are already compact, so they may not shrink — the tool warns you if the result would be larger.
Will the text still be selectable?
No. Because pages are turned into images, text is no longer selectable or searchable. If you need to keep selectable text, keep your original file.
What do the levels mean?
Strong uses the lowest resolution and quality for the smallest file; Balanced is the recommended middle ground; Light keeps the highest quality with a more modest size reduction.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. The tool is responsive and runs locally, so you can compress PDFs on a phone or tablet without an app.
Learn more
Related tools
PDF Editor
Add text, signatures, highlights, and images to a PDF — no upload.
Merge PDF
Combine multiple PDFs into one file — in your browser, no upload.
Image to PDF
Convert JPG, PNG, and WebP images into a PDF — in your browser, no upload.
Split PDF
Split a PDF into separate files — one per page or in chunks, no upload.