Home / Free tools / Compress PDF
Compress PDF: free, nothing uploaded
Make a PDF smaller right here in your browser, to fit an email, a WhatsApp message or a portal’s upload limit. Your file never leaves your device, and there is no sign-up or watermark. Pick a level, see exactly how much you saved, and download.
Choose a PDF or drop it here
One PDF · up to 300 pages · up to 200 MB
Your PDF never leaves this device. Nothing is uploaded.
Truly private
The smaller PDF is made on your device. No upload and no server copy. Check your browser’s network tab: no file is sent.
No queue
Nothing to upload or download from a server, so there is no waiting in line. Your device starts right away.
Free, no catch
No watermark, no sign-up wall, no daily limit. It is free because your device does the work.
You choose the size
Three levels, from smallest file to best quality, and the exact size shown before you download.
How to compress a PDF
- 1
Choose your PDF
Tap the box or drag a PDF in. The tool reads the page count on your device.
- 2
Pick a level
Smallest file, Recommended or Best quality. Recommended suits email and WhatsApp.
- 3
Compress
Tap Compress PDF. Pages are processed on your device and you can cancel at any time. Nothing is uploaded.
- 4
Download
See the size saved and download the smaller PDF. If it is not smaller, keep your original.
Frequently asked questions
- Is my PDF uploaded to a server?
- No. The compression runs entirely in your browser, so your PDF never leaves your device and we never see it. You can check it yourself: open your browser’s network tab while the tool works and you will see no file being sent.
- How does the PDF get smaller?
- Each page is redrawn at a lower resolution and saved as a compressed image, then the pages are put back together into a new PDF at the original page size. Scanned documents and photo-heavy PDFs shrink the most.
- Will the text still be selectable?
- No. After compression every page is an image, so text can no longer be selected, copied or searched in the compressed copy. It still reads clearly on screen. Keep your original if you need selectable text.
- Can I compress a PDF to under 1 MB?
- Often, yes, especially for scans of a few pages. Choose "Smallest file" for strict upload limits such as government or bank portals. The tool shows the exact size before you download, so you can see whether it fits.
- Why did my PDF not get smaller?
- PDFs made mostly of text, such as a report exported from a word processor, are already compact. Turning their pages into images can make them bigger. When that happens the tool tells you and suggests keeping your original.
- Is it free, and does it work on my phone?
- It is free with no watermark and no sign-up. It works in the browser on Android, iPhone and desktop, for PDFs of up to 300 pages. Very large files take longer on older phones because your device does the work.
Need more than a smaller file?
Combine several PDFs with Merge PDF, or turn photos into one with JPG to PDF. The free ScanPix app captures documents straight to PDF and keeps them organised and searchable.
