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Compress PDF

Shrink a PDF by re-encoding embedded images. Pick a preset and we'll trade as much detail as you allow for a smaller file.

Drop a PDF, or click to browse

Free: up to 15 MB · 100 pages

About this tool

Compress PDF reduces file size by re-sampling the raster images embedded in your document. It's most effective on image-heavy PDFs — scanned papers, slide decks with photos, marketing brochures, and product sheets. Text-only PDFs already encode efficiently, so don't expect dramatic savings on a contract or invoice; the gains there are usually a few percent at best.

Pick from three presets — low for the smallest file, medium for a quiet, broadly-safe pass, and high for a light touch that preserves photo detail. The free tier handles uploads up to 15 MB. The output is a regular PDF that opens in any viewer with form fields, annotations, and bookmarks intact.

How it works

  1. Drop your PDF

    Drag a PDF onto the upload area or click to pick one. It is uploaded over HTTPS for processing and is not intentionally retained after the request.

  2. Pick a quality preset

    Low gives the smallest file. Medium is the recommended middle ground. High is a light pass that preserves photo detail.

  3. Compress

    Click Compress and wait a few seconds. We re-sample the embedded images and rewrite the PDF in one pass.

  4. Download the smaller PDF

    You'll see the before-and-after sizes and the percent saved. Click Download to save the compressed file locally.

When to use it

  • Email attachments that are bumping against provider size caps.
  • Slide decks shared in chat or document workspaces with low file ceilings.
  • Sending PDFs over slow or metered mobile connections.
  • Reducing storage and backup costs on document archives.
  • Web upload forms that reject files above a few megabytes.
  • Speeding up downloads of brochures and product sheets on slow networks.

Frequently asked questions

Will compression hurt image quality?
It can. Compression works by re-sampling embedded images at a lower resolution and stronger JPEG settings, so photos and scans will lose some detail. The medium preset is tuned to be barely noticeable on typical screens; low is more aggressive and may show visible artefacts on photos; high preserves most detail and is closer to a light pass.
What if my PDF is mostly text?
Don't expect much. Text-only PDFs already encode their glyphs efficiently — there's no raster image to re-sample. You may see a few percent shaved off, but most of the file is structural overhead the compressor can't touch. Image-heavy PDFs (scans, slide decks, brochures) are where compression actually pays off.
Will compression keep form fields, annotations, and bookmarks?
Yes. Only embedded images are re-encoded; interactive form fields, comments, highlights, links, and bookmarks pass through unchanged. The output is a standard PDF that opens the same way the original did.
Is there a file size limit?
The free tier accepts PDFs up to 15 MB and 100 pages per upload. Larger files need to be split first or processed on a paid tier.
Is the compressed PDF still searchable?
Yes — text remains text. Compression only re-samples images, so any selectable, copyable, or searchable text in the original stays selectable, copyable, and searchable in the output. If your PDF was a scanned image with no text layer, it still won't be searchable after compression — you'd want OCR for that.