Drop your PDF here
Images are re-compressed; text stays sharp and selectable
PDF in, smaller PDF out — nothing is uploaded
About this tool
Make a PDF smaller without sending it anywhere
Shrink a PDF to fit an email, an upload form or a portal limit. The images inside are re-compressed and resized while the text stays sharp and selectable. Free, and your document never leaves your browser.
Most of a large PDF is usually its images: scanned pages, photos and screenshots stored at far more detail than a screen or a printer needs. The compressor finds every one, scales it to a sensible size, re-encodes it with MozJPEG and keeps the new version only where it is smaller. Then it removes data nothing refers to any more and packs the file structure. Text, fonts and vector graphics are left exactly as they were.
- Free, no sign-up
- Nothing uploaded
- No watermark
Text stays text
Unlike tools that turn every page into a picture, the standard levels change only the images, so you can still select, search and copy the text, and links keep working.
Pick how far to go
Light keeps photos nearly untouched, Balanced suits most documents, Strong is for tight email limits, and Flatten turns pages into images for the smallest scans.
Confidential documents stay private
Contracts, bank statements and IDs are compressed inside this browser tab. Most online PDF tools upload your file to their servers; this one has nothing to upload to.
Step by step
How to compress a PDF
Add your PDF
Drop the file on this page or press Browse files. It is read in your browser.
Choose a level
Balanced suits most documents. Use Strong for email limits, or Flatten for scans when you don’t need to select the text.
Check and download
Compare the size and the page previews, then download the smaller PDF.
Get the most out of it
Tips for the best results
- Scans shrink the mostA scanned document is all images, so it can often shrink to a fraction of its size. A PDF that is mostly text is already small and has little to gain.
- Use Flatten for scans onlyFlatten turns each page into one image. It is ideal for scanned paperwork, but text is no longer selectable, so avoid it for documents people need to search or copy.
- Check the previewsLook at a page with fine print or a photo before you download, and step back a level if anything looks soft.
- Signatures need re-signingAny change to a PDF invalidates its digital signatures. Compress first, then sign.
Keep going
More free tools
Questions
Common questions
Everything here runs in your browser, so the answer to “where does my file go?” is always: nowhere. More in the general FAQ.
How do I compress a PDF?
Drop the PDF on this page. It is compressed at the Balanced level straight away; choose another level if you need it smaller or sharper, check the page previews, then download the result.
Is this PDF compressor free, and is my file uploaded?
It is free, with no sign-up, watermark or daily limit, and nothing is uploaded: the PDF is opened, compressed and saved inside your browser on your own device.
How much smaller will my PDF get?
It depends on what is inside. Scans and photo-heavy PDFs often shrink by 50 to 90 percent. A PDF that is mostly text and vector graphics is already compact and may shrink only a little; if nothing can be saved, the tool tells you rather than giving you a bigger file.
Will compressing a PDF reduce its quality?
Only the images change. At Light and Balanced, photos are resized to sizes that still look sharp on screen and in print at A4, and text and vector graphics are not touched at all. Strong and Flatten trade more image detail for a smaller file.
Can I still select and search the text?
Yes, at Light, Balanced and Strong. Only Flatten turns pages into images, which removes selectable text; use it for scans where that does not matter.
How do I make a PDF small enough to email?
Most email services cap attachments at 20 to 25 MB. Start with Balanced, and if the file is still too big, try Strong, or Flatten for scanned documents.
Can it compress password-protected PDFs?
No. Encrypted PDFs, including ones that open without a password but restrict editing, can’t be rewritten here. Remove the protection in the app that created the file, then compress it.
Does it work on large PDFs?
Yes. There is no size cap set by the site; the limit is your device’s memory. PDFs of a few hundred pages work on a typical laptop, though large scans take longer.