TopTool
PDFPDF

Compress PDF

Compress PDF is a free online document converter for changing PDF files into PDF files. Compress PDF accepts 1 MIME type, returns application/pdf, includes 1 setting, and runs in your browser on the device.

Drop .pdf file here

or click to choose

Options

Key facts

Input
1 format: PDF (application/pdf)
Output
PDF (application/pdf)
Runtime
your browser on the device
Settings
1 control: Quality
File mode
1 input file creates 1 output file
Cost
$0, no account required

How to use Compress PDF

  1. 1

    Open your PDF file

    Drop your PDF file onto the page, or click to browse and pick one from your device.

  2. 2

    Choose options

    Adjust the conversion options to suit your needs. Defaults work well for most inputs.

  3. 3

    Convert and download

    Click Convert. Your PDF file is ready to download in seconds.

Compress PDF details

First, Compress PDF reads PDF source files and prepares PDF output for the document workflow. Next, The visible controls are Quality. Additionally, Files and text stay in the browser session.

Drop in a PDF and choose a quality level; High (150 DPI), Medium (96 DPI) or Low (72 DPI). Each page is rendered to a JPEG and reassembled into a new PDF, typically dropping file size by 3-10x for scan-heavy or image-heavy documents. IMPORTANT: this is a lossy process; selectable text and vector graphics in the original PDF become flat images, so the output PDF is no longer searchable or copy-pastable. Use this when size matters more than text fidelity (e.g. emailing scans). Compress PDF runs locally in your browser.

Common searches

  • compress pdf
  • shrink pdf
  • reduce pdf size
  • pdf compressor
  • make pdf smaller
  • optimize pdf size

Tools that work with the same formats — most users open one of these next.

Frequently asked

What is Compress PDF?

Compress PDF is a free online document converter for changing PDF files into PDF files. Compress PDF accepts 1 MIME type, returns application/pdf, includes 1 setting, and runs in your browser on the device.

What files does Compress PDF accept and create?

Compress PDF accepts PDF files (application/pdf) and creates PDF files (application/pdf). The page includes 1 setting: Quality.

Do my files and data stay private?

Yes. Compress PDF runs entirely in your browser using your device's CPU. Files and text are never uploaded to our servers, so your data stays private.

How do I use Compress PDF?

Open Compress PDF, drop in your PDF file, choose any options, and click Convert. Your browser does the work locally and produces a PDF file you can save right away.

What is the maximum file size for Compress PDF?

Because Compress PDF runs in your browser, the maximum size depends on your device's available memory. Most modern phones and laptops handle files up to a few hundred MB without issues.