Z
Open Tool
100% client-side · no uploads

Compress PDF

Shrink a PDF's file size in seconds, right in your browser. Pick a compression level, see the size drop, and download — nothing is ever sent to a server.

Drag & drop a PDF here

or browse from your device

Compression level

Good to know: compression works by re-rendering each page as an image, so it works best on scanned or image-heavy PDFs. Selectable text will no longer be selectable after compressing.

How-To Guides

Short walkthroughs for compressing PDFs the right way.

How to Reduce a PDF's File Size

  1. Upload your PDF by dragging it into the tool or clicking to browse.
  2. Choose a compression level — High Quality, Balanced, or Maximum Compression.
  3. Click "Compress PDF" and let it process locally in your browser.
  4. Review the size reduction shown before downloading.
  5. Click "Download Compressed PDF" to save the smaller file.

How to Choose the Right Compression Level

  1. Use High Quality for documents you plan to print or zoom into.
  2. Use Balanced for everyday sharing — email attachments, uploads, archiving.
  3. Use Maximum Compression when file size matters more than visual detail, like bulk scanned records.
  4. If the result looks too soft, re-compress the original at a higher setting rather than compressing the compressed file again.

How to Compress a Scanned Document

  1. Scanned PDFs are usually just large images, so they compress especially well.
  2. Upload the scan and select "Balanced" or "Maximum Compression."
  3. Check a couple of pages after compressing to confirm text is still legible.
  4. Download and replace the original if the size and quality both work for you.

How to Keep Text Selectable While Shrinking Size

  1. This tool compresses by converting pages into optimized images, which removes selectable text.
  2. If you need to keep text selectable, reduce the file size at the source instead — export from your original document editor at a lower image quality.
  3. For text-based PDFs that are already fairly small, compression usually isn't necessary at all.

A PDF compressor that doesn't ask for your file

No server upload

Every page is processed locally using your browser's own rendering engine. Your PDF is never transmitted anywhere.

No file size gate

Large PDFs, small PDFs — there's no size cap or daily task limit blocking you.

No account needed

Open the tool, compress, download. Nothing to sign up for.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does this compress a PDF without a server?

Each page is re-rendered as an optimized image at your chosen quality level, then reassembled into a new, smaller PDF — all inside your browser.

Will compressing reduce image or text quality?

Yes, to some degree — that's how the size is reduced. "High Quality" keeps the loss minimal; "Maximum Compression" trades more quality for a smaller file.

Will the text in my PDF still be selectable?

No. Compression converts each page into an image, so text will no longer be selectable or searchable afterward. If that matters for your use case, compress a copy and keep the original.

What's the best setting for a scanned document?

"Balanced" or "Maximum Compression" work well for scans, since scanned pages are already essentially images with no selectable text to lose.

Is there a limit on file size or number of pages?

No hard limit is enforced, though very large or long PDFs will take longer since processing happens on your own device.

Is this tool really free?

Yes — no sign-up, no watermark, and no cap on how many files you compress.