Compress PDF
Compress PDF to reduce file size with quality control
How to Use Compress PDF
- Upload the PDF you want to shrink.
- Choose a mode: Image Compression for large savings, or Metadata Only to keep text selectable.
- If using image mode, pick a level — Extreme, Recommended or Less Compression.
- Process, then compare the original and result sizes shown side by side.
- Preview the output before downloading to check quality is acceptable.
About Compress PDF
What this page solves
Compresses PDFs below common upload limits (5 MB, 10 MB, 25 MB) directly in your browser, so confidential documents never leave your device.
Compress PDF is a free, privacy-first PDF utility that lets you compress pdf to reduce file size with quality control entirely in your browser. Unlike most online PDF services, Compress PDF never uploads your documents — every page is parsed, modified, and re-saved locally using pdf-lib and the browser's built-in capabilities. That makes it a safe choice for confidential files such as contracts, invoices, medical records, tax forms, or signed agreements that should never touch a third-party server. Compress PDF follows a clean four-step workflow (Upload → Edit → Process → Download) inspired by the best desktop PDF apps and is part of our broader PDF Tools collection. If you also need a complementary utility, try our PDF Merger. It is free with no signup, no watermark, and no page count limits beyond what your device can handle.
Common Use Cases
- Reduce a PDF below 5 MB for Gmail or Outlook attachments
- Compress a scanned document to fit a government portal upload limit
- Shrink a presentation export before sharing on Slack or Teams
- Compress contracts before storing them in cloud drives
- Reduce CV/resume PDF size before applying to jobs
Related tools in PDF Tools
- PDF MergerCombine multiple PDF files into one document
- PDF SplitterSplit a PDF into multiple files by page ranges
- PDF Page ExtractorExtract specific pages from a PDF into a new file
- PDF Page RemoverRemove unwanted pages from PDF files
See all PDF Tools.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my compressed PDF still large?
Most PDF weight comes from embedded images and fonts. Metadata Only mode cannot touch either, so on an image-heavy document it will barely help. Switch to Image Compression for real savings on scans, brochures and catalogues.
Will my text still be selectable after compressing?
In Metadata Only mode, yes — text, fonts and vectors are untouched. In Image Compression mode, pages are re-rendered as images, so text becomes part of the picture and can no longer be selected, searched or read by a screen reader.
Why does Adobe Acrobat compress better than this?
Desktop tools built on Ghostscript subset embedded fonts to include only the glyphs actually used, and apply format-aware image recompression. Browser PDF libraries do not currently expose font subsetting. On a font-heavy document a desktop tool will win, and you should use one.
Which compression level should I choose?
Recommended suits most documents. Use Extreme only when you must hit a hard size limit and the document is a scan where fine detail does not matter. Use Less Compression for anything where visual fidelity matters, such as a portfolio or a document going to print.
Can I compress a password-protected PDF?
Remove the password first using the PDF Decrypt tool, then compress. Encrypted content streams cannot be re-encoded while still encrypted.
How to use Compress PDF?
1) Open the tool. 2) Enter or upload your input. 3) Get your result instantly. Everything happens locally — nothing is uploaded.
When should I use Compress PDF?
Use it when a PDF is too large for an email attachment, an online portal upload limit, or a slow connection.
Is Compress PDF safe?
Yes. Compress PDF runs 100% in your browser. Inputs are never uploaded, stored, or logged — safe for confidential content.
Will quality be affected by Compress PDF?
No quality loss for text and vector content. Embedded images keep their original resolution unless you compress them.
What formats does Compress PDF support?
Compress PDF supports PDF (any version), with import/export to JPG, PNG and TXT in related tools
Is Compress PDF free?
Yes — Compress PDF is completely free, with no registration, no watermarks, and no usage limits.
Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
No. Compress PDF processes PDFs entirely in your browser using pdf-lib. Your documents never leave your device.
Are there file-size or page limits?
There are no enforced limits. Performance depends on your device — files up to about 100 MB process smoothly on most modern browsers.
Will the output have a watermark?
Never. Compress PDF produces clean PDFs with no added branding, watermarks, or metadata.