Compress PDF — Free Online Converter

Use our fast, secure Compress PDF tool to reduce file size without losing readability. Works on mobile and desktop.

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What does “Compress PDF” do?

PDF compression analyzes images, embedded fonts, and resources to reduce byte size while preserving visual quality. Our Compress PDF engine aims to keep text crisp and structure intact, so files open faster and upload smoothly.

Why compress a PDF?

  • Emails with strict attachment limits (e.g., 5–25 MB).
  • Faster uploads to portals or LMS systems.
  • Long documents (reports, theses, scanned books) become easier to share.
  • Reduce storage costs and improve load times.

Need a viewer after compression? Get Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Compression presets explained

  • Smallest (/screen): Maximum size reduction, best for quick email sharing.
  • Good (/ebook): Balanced quality & size. Great default for mixed text + images.
  • High (/printer): Higher DPI for printing and graphics-heavy PDFs.
  • Max (/prepress): Preservation-first for professional print workflows.

Working with scans? Consider text extraction via OCR (JPG → Text) and then export to PDF again for the smallest, searchable result.

Tips for the best “Compress PDF” results

  1. Start with Good (/ebook); only go lower if you must hit a tiny size.
  2. Avoid re-compressing already tiny PDFs—diminishing returns can blur images.
  3. Prefer vector originals (Word/PowerPoint) and export to PDF cleanly before compression.
  4. For archival: compress first, then convert to PDF/A.
  5. Verify fonts and small text by zooming in to ~150% to check readability.

Other handy PDF tools

Compress PDF — FAQs

Will “Compress PDF” ruin my quality?

No. Text remains crisp; images are re-encoded according to your preset. For print, choose High (/printer) or Max (/prepress).

How small will my PDF be after compression?

Depends on images and fonts. Scanned/image-heavy files usually shrink the most. Try Good (/ebook) first, then Smallest (/screen) if you need an even smaller file.

Is it safe to upload a PDF here?

Yes. We use HTTPS and short-lived processing. Read our Security and Privacy Policy.

What are the free limits for Compress PDF?

Free users can convert up to 10 files/day and 50/month per IP. Upgrade in Pricing for unlimited conversions.

My PDF is still too big. What else can I do?

Try removing high-resolution images, flattening transparencies, or exporting from the source app (Word/PowerPoint) with smaller image settings before running “Compress PDF”.

How can I view or print my compressed PDF?

Open it in any modern browser or a dedicated viewer like Adobe Acrobat Reader.