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Compress PDF

Make a PDF smaller, to a target size or by a compression level. Your files never leave your device.

Drop a PDF file here

Up to 100 MB per file. Your files stay on this device.

Works offline.Turn off your internet and try it: once this page has loaded, the tool keeps working, because your files never leave your device.

How to compress a PDF

  1. Drop your PDF on the page, or press Choose file.
  2. Choose a target size (100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB, 2 MB or your own), or a compression level: Low, Medium or High.
  3. Press Compress.
  4. Check the original size, the new size and how much was saved, then press Download.

Frequently asked questions

Is my PDF uploaded?

No. Your files never leave your device. The PDF is compressed by your own browser, and nothing is sent to a server.

How does compression work? Will my text still be selectable?

Images in the PDF are resized and saved again with stronger compression, and data that is not needed, such as document metadata and embedded previews, is removed. Text and drawings are never turned into pictures, so text stays sharp, selectable and searchable.

What if my PDF cannot get as small as the target?

You are told the smallest size that could be reached, and you can still download that result. If a very small target can only be reached with grey images, you are told that too. If the PDF cannot be made any smaller, you are told it is already optimised and no bigger file is offered.

Why does Windows show my 200 KB file as about 195 KB?

FreeTools uses decimal units, like most websites and upload forms: 1 KB = 1,000 bytes and 1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes. A 200 KB target therefore means at most 200,000 bytes. Windows Explorer counts in units of 1,024 bytes, so it shows a 200,000-byte file as about 195 KB. It is the same file, and it fits a 200 KB upload limit whichever way the site counts.

Which compression level should I choose?

Low keeps the most detail, High makes the smallest file, and Medium is in between. A higher level never makes a bigger file than a lower one. If a form asks for a maximum size, choose that size as the target instead.

How big can my PDF be?

Up to 100 MB and 2,000 pages. On a phone, files over 50 MB can run out of memory, so you will see a warning first.

Can I compress a password-protected PDF?

A PDF that needs a password to open cannot be compressed: remove the password in your PDF app first. A PDF that opens without a password but restricts things like editing or printing is compressed like any other, and the result does not keep those restrictions.