Compress PDF
Reduce PDF file size
Drop a PDF to compress
APPLICATION/PDF · up to 100.0 MB
How to use Compress PDF
- Upload your PDF.
- Choose a compression level — low for smallest files, high for best quality.
- Click Compress and wait for processing to finish.
- Download the compressed PDF.
How PDF compression works here
This tool takes a direct approach: render each PDF page as an image, then build a new PDF from those images. The result is always smaller than the original for text-heavy documents, often by 70-90%.
The trade-off is that text becomes part of the image — you can no longer select, search, or copy it. For archival copies, documents you only need to read or view, and scanned materials, this is usually acceptable.
For PDFs with important text (contracts you need to search, manuals with embedded hyperlinks), use a desktop tool like Acrobat or Ghostscript that preserves the original PDF structure while optimizing images separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does compression work?
This tool renders each page to a canvas at a chosen quality, then builds a new PDF from the resulting JPEG images. The trade-off is text becomes rasterized — no longer selectable or searchable — but file size drops dramatically.
When should I not use this?
If you need selectable text, searchable content, hyperlinks, bookmarks, or form fields, this tool is not for you. Use a desktop PDF compressor (like Acrobat) or Ghostscript for preserving PDF structure.
What quality should I choose?
Low (150 DPI, quality 60) is good for screen viewing or sharing. Medium (200 DPI, quality 75) balances size and quality. High (300 DPI, quality 85) preserves most detail for printing.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. Processing happens in your browser.