Compress PDF
Shrink a heavy PDF so it fits under an upload or email limit. Pick a level, see the before-and-after size, and download — nothing is uploaded.
Worth knowing: compression works by re-rendering each page as an image, so selectable text becomes part of the picture. It shrinks scanned and image-heavy PDFs enormously, but a plain-text PDF may barely shrink. If you need the text to stay selectable, use Split PDF to drop unneeded pages instead.
Click to choose a PDF or drag & drop it here
Best results on scanned or image-heavy documentsHow to compress a PDF
- Choose a compression level — Balanced suits most documents.
- Load your PDF by clicking the box or dragging it in.
- Wait while each page is re-rendered on your device.
- Check the before-and-after size, then download. Still too big? Try a stronger level.
Getting a PDF under an upload limit
Government portals, banks and email systems in the UAE often reject files over a few megabytes, and a scanned document can easily run much larger than that. Compressing solves it in one step for scanned material, because those pages are really just photographs stored inside a PDF wrapper.
- Scanned document too big? Compress it — this is exactly the case it is built for.
- Text document too big? Compression will not help much. Remove unneeded pages with Split PDF instead.
- Made from phone photos? Compress the images first, then rebuild with Image to PDF for the smallest result.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this PDF compressor work?
It re-renders every page of your PDF at a chosen resolution and image quality, then rebuilds the document from those pages. Because scanned pages and photos are usually what make a PDF heavy, this often cuts the file size dramatically. The whole process runs inside your browser, so the file is never uploaded.
Will my text still be selectable after compressing?
No, and this is the important trade-off to understand. Compression here works by turning each page into an image, so live text becomes part of that picture and can no longer be selected, searched or copied. If keeping selectable text matters, do not compress the file — instead use Split PDF to remove pages you do not need, which reduces size without flattening anything.
Which PDFs shrink the most?
Scanned documents, photo-heavy brochures and PDFs made from phone pictures shrink the most, often by a very large margin, because their bulk is image data that can be re-compressed. A PDF that is mostly plain text is already small and efficient, so it may shrink very little or even grow slightly once its pages are turned into images.
Which compression level should I choose?
Start with Balanced, which keeps pages clearly readable while cutting size substantially. Choose Strong when you need to get under a strict upload limit and the document is only being viewed on screen. Choose Light when the pages contain small print you still need to read comfortably or may print.
Is my document uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything happens locally in your browser, so the PDF never leaves your device and is never stored on a server. That makes it safe for confidential material such as contracts, bank statements or identity documents.
What is a good PDF size for email or an online form?
Many portals and email systems cap attachments somewhere between 2 MB and 10 MB, and government or bank forms are often stricter. Aiming for under about 2 MB keeps you safely within most limits. Compress, check the resulting size shown on screen, and step up the compression level if you are still over the cap.