About Compress PDF
Compress PDF online to make a large file small enough to email or upload to a form. The tool re-writes the PDF, downsamples the images inside it and compresses fonts, removing duplicate images along the way. You choose between Light (higher quality), Recommended (a balance) and Strong (smallest file, lower image quality). The page text stays selectable.
Image-heavy files such as scans and photo brochures usually shrink the most, while text-only PDFs are already small and gain little. If the result would not be smaller, you get your original file back unchanged. Files are uploaded to our server, deleted automatically after 30 minutes, and never get a watermark. You can compress several files together and receive them as a ZIP.
How to use Compress PDF
- 01
Upload your PDF.
- 02
Pick a compression level.
- 03
Download the smaller file.
When to use it
- Shrink a scanned contract so it fits an email attachment limit.
- Reduce a CV or application PDF to meet a portal's upload size cap.
- Make a photo-heavy brochure lighter before sharing it on chat or social apps.
- Compress several invoices at once and download them in a single ZIP.
- Lower the size of a report to save storage space or bandwidth.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compress a PDF file for free?
Upload your PDF, choose a compression level and press the button. You can then download the smaller file. It is free, adds no watermark and does not require an account.
Which compression level should I choose?
Recommended suits most files. Light keeps images sharper for printing, and Strong gives the smallest file at lower image quality. Text stays selectable at all levels because only the images are downsampled.
Why did my PDF barely get smaller?
PDFs that are mostly text, or whose images are already compressed, have little to save. If the compressed version would not be smaller, the tool returns your original file instead of a bigger one.
Can I compress several PDFs at once?
Yes, free members can compress up to 5 files in one go and get a ZIP back. Guests compress one file at a time. A free account also lets you pick a custom image DPI.
Are my files safe when I compress them?
Files are uploaded to our server for processing and deleted automatically after 30 minutes. The original upload is removed as soon as processing finishes. Do not use any online tool for files you are not allowed to share.
What are the file size limits?
Guests can upload files up to 10 MB (20 MB total) and run 15 PDF jobs per day. Free members get 50 MB per file and 150 jobs per day. No sign-up is required for guest use.