Compress PDF
Use this online PDF compressor to reduce the file size of your PDF documents. Make PDFs smaller to send them by email or upload them online.
Every compression app in one place
Pick an app, drop your file in, and download the result. No account, no install, no watermark.
Reduce PDF file size in the browser
How can I reduce PDF file size online? Simply upload your PDF and choose a preset to get the result you want. You can upload files from your computer or phone, from a URL, or from cloud storage services such as Google Drive or Dropbox.
Nothing is installed and no account is needed to start. The compression runs on the server, so an old laptop does the same work as a new one.
The result is a PDF again. Pages, text, and layout stay where they were, so the smaller file opens in the same reader as the original.
Choose how much quality to keep
What does PDF compression do? It mainly affects the images inside your PDF. The compression reduces their quality, usually by lowering their DPI value.
Basic compression is the default. It aims at a medium file size and high quality, which fits most documents. Strong compression aims at a small file size and medium quality.
The quality presets each name the image resolution they target, so the tradeoff is stated rather than guessed. Insane uses 20 dpi and Minimum uses 40 dpi. Normal uses 72 dpi, Ebook 150 dpi, and Printer and Prepress both use 300 dpi.
Prepress keeps the color information as well, which matters when the file goes to a print shop.
Compress a PDF to a target size
Pick the target file size mode and type a number of megabytes. The compressor then aims at that size instead of at a fixed quality level.
The field takes 1 to 1024 MB, so 1 MB is the smallest target you can ask for. Whole numbers only, and a value outside the range is corrected for you.
There is a separate preset for email. It aims at 10 MB, which is the attachment ceiling most mail providers enforce.
Compress PDF files on any device
The compressor runs in a browser, so the operating system does not matter. Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS all work the same way.
On a phone you can pick a PDF from the device, paste a link, or take one from cloud storage. The smaller file downloads like any other file.
There is nothing to download and nothing to install, which also means a shared or locked-down computer can still do the job.
Compress several PDFs at once
The uploader takes more than one PDF. Every file in the batch gets the same setting, and each one comes back as its own smaller document.
Without an account you can add 5 files per job, and 10 once you register, which is free. Each file can be up to 50 MB, and the paid plans raise both limits.
Every compression mode is open to everyone, including the target file size and the email preset. No mode is held back for signed-in visitors.
Is it safe to compress a PDF online?
All uploads use encrypted connections. The processing is fully automated with no human access to your files.
The documents you upload are not used to train AI models, and their contents are not monitored. Nobody reads them and no copies are made.
You keep the copyright and the ownership of the original and of the compressed PDF. Each download address is unique and cannot be guessed.
When to compress a PDF
Sending a PDF by email
Most mail providers cap an attachment at about 10 MB and bounce the message above it. The email preset aims at that size, so the mail goes out on the first try.
Uploading a CV or an application form
Job portals, visa forms, and university applications usually set a hard size limit on each upload. A target of 1 MB or 2 MB clears most of them.
Keeping scans and paperwork
A scan is a photo of a page, so ten scanned pages can weigh more than a hundred pages of text. Compression brings a folder of scans down to a size worth keeping.
How to compress a PDF
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Upload
Upload your PDF file.
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Settings
Choose a compression method (basic, strong, preset).
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Grayscale
Convert images in the PDF to grayscale to compress the file even more. (optional)
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Start
Click "Start" when you are ready.
Compress PDF FAQ
Is the PDF compressor free to use?
Yes. Upload a PDF, pick a compression mode, and download the smaller file. No account is needed and nothing is installed.
How do I compress a PDF without losing quality?
Pick a quality preset that keeps the resolution you need. Printer and Prepress both target 300 dpi, and Ebook targets 150 dpi. Compression mostly affects the images, so a document that is mostly text changes very little.
How do I compress a PDF to a smaller file size?
Choose the target file size mode and type the number of megabytes you want. The field takes 1 to 1024 MB, so 1 MB is the smallest target, and the compressor aims at the number you enter.
Does compressing a PDF reduce the image quality?
Usually yes, because the images inside the PDF are shrunk by lowering their dpi. Use Basic compression or one of the higher presets to keep more image detail.
Is it safe to compress a PDF online?
All uploads use encrypted connections and the processing is fully automated, with no human access to your files. Your documents are not used to train AI models, and you keep the copyright and the ownership of every file.
How do I compress a PDF on a Mac or an iPhone?
The same way as on Windows. The compressor runs in the browser, so macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux all work without an extra app. Open the page, add the PDF, and press Start.
How many PDFs can I compress at once?
Up to 5 files per job without an account, and 10 once you register, which is free. Each file can be up to 50 MB. Larger batches and bigger files are part of the paid plans.
Why is my PDF so big?
Scanned pages and photos are the usual reason. A scan stores a whole page as an image, so a few scanned pages can outweigh a long text document. Compressing those images is what makes the file smaller.
More compression apps
Every app here runs in the browser, with nothing to install.