Compress a PDF to a smaller size
Reduce PDF file size while keeping it readable. Choose how hard to compress and see the saving before you download. No upload required.
Runs in your browser — this file is never uploaded
How to compress pdf
- 1
Drop in the PDF
Add the file that is too big to email or upload.
- 2
Pick how hard to squeeze
Light keeps everything identical, Balanced re-encodes photos, Strong flattens pages to images.
- 3
Check the saving
You see the before and after size before downloading, so you can try another level if it is not enough.
Frequently asked
How much smaller will my file get?+
It depends entirely on what is inside. Scans and photo-heavy documents often drop by 60-90%. A PDF that is mostly text may barely shrink, because text takes almost no space to begin with.
Will the text still be selectable?+
On Light and Balanced, yes. Strong turns each page into an image, which produces the smallest file but means the text can no longer be selected or searched.
Why did my file not get smaller?+
Usually because it was already optimised, or its images are in a format that cannot be safely re-encoded in the browser. Rather than hand back a bigger file, the tool keeps the original.
Is Compress PDF free to use?+
Yes. Compress PDF is free with no account, no file limit and no watermark added to your document.
Are my files uploaded to a server?+
No. Compress PDF runs entirely inside your browser, so the document never leaves your device.
Which browsers does it work in?+
Any current version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari, on desktop, tablet and phone.