How to compress PDF
- Drop your PDF into the box above.
- Pick a compression level.
- Click Compress PDF and download the smaller file. The size before and after is shown.
What actually makes a PDF big
Almost always the pictures: scans, phone photos and images pasted into documents at full camera resolution. Text and vector graphics take very little space.
So this re-encodes the images at a lower resolution and quality and leaves everything else alone. Unlike tools that turn every page into a picture, the text stays real text you can search and copy. An image is only replaced if the new one is actually smaller.
Recommended suits email and most upload forms. Strong is for tight limits; Light keeps photos print-ready.
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller will it get?
It depends on the images. Scanned documents and photo-heavy PDFs often shrink by 50 to 90%. A PDF that is mostly text is already small and won't change much.
Will the text get blurry?
No. Only embedded photos are re-encoded. Text, fonts and vector graphics are copied as they are.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs inside your browser on your own device. The files are never sent to a server, so nobody else can see them, and they're gone when you close the tab.
Is it really free?
Yes: no sign-up, no watermark, no daily limit and no ads. Because the work happens on your device, there are no server costs to pass on.