How to compress a PDF
- Add your PDF. Drag it in or click to browse — we show its current size and page count.
- Pick a level. High compression for the smallest file, Recommended for a good balance, or Light to keep the most quality.
- Compress & download. See the before/after size and how much you saved, then download the smaller PDF.
How it works (and what to expect)
To shrink a PDF dramatically, this tool re-renders each page as a compressed image and rebuilds the document from those images. That’s why it’s especially powerful for scanned documents and image-heavy PDFs, where it can cut the size by 50–90%. The trade-off: because pages become images, thetext is no longer selectable or searchable. If you need to keep selectable text, use a lighter level or keep the original for editing.
Why compress a PDF?
- Email & upload limits. Many inboxes and forms cap attachments at a few MB.
- Faster sharing. Smaller files send and open quicker, especially on mobile data.
- Save storage. Compressed scans take a fraction of the space.
Is it private?
Completely. Unlike online compressors that upload your document to a server, this tool does everythingon your device with the self-hosted pdf.js and pdf-lib libraries. Your PDF isnever uploaded, stored or seen by anyone — which matters for contracts, statements and scans.
Frequently asked questions
Does it upload my PDF?
No — compression happens in your browser; nothing leaves your device.
How much smaller will it get?
Scanned/image-heavy PDFs often shrink 50–90%. High compression gives the smallest file.
Will the text stay selectable?
No — pages become images, so text isn’t selectable. Best for scans and image-heavy PDFs.
Any size limit or watermark?
No limits, no watermark — large files just take a little longer.
Related: merge PDFs · split a PDF · PDF to JPG · images to PDF.