What is PDF Compression?
PDF compression shrinks oversized files — scanned documents, image-heavy reports, photo-filled resumes — down to a size you can actually submit or send. This tool redraws each page at your chosen resolution (DPI), re-encodes it as JPEG, and rebuilds a new PDF, cutting scanned documents by 50–90%. A structural optimization mode (Keep Text) is also available for documents that must keep selectable, searchable text.
The key difference is where the work happens. Most PDF compressor sites upload your file to their servers; here, the file never leaves your browser. Contracts, ID copies, pay stubs, and medical records can be compressed with zero exposure risk, and with no upload/download wait, even large files process quickly. There are no file limits, no watermarks, and no sign-up.
Key Features
No Server Upload
The entire pipeline runs in your browser. Your file never touches the network, keeping sensitive documents private.
Five Compression Modes
Max, Balanced, and High Quality presets, a Custom mode with DPI (72–200) and JPEG quality (30–95%), plus a Keep Text structural mode.
Before/After Comparison
See original size, compressed size, and savings percentage instantly — and re-compress with different settings in one click.
Encrypted PDF Detection
Password-protected PDFs are detected automatically with a direct link to the PDF Unlock tool, so your workflow never stalls.
How to Use
- Upload a PDF — Drag & drop or click to browse. The name, size, and page count appear.
- Pick a mode — Balanced for most cases, Max for strict limits, Keep Text when text search matters.
- Compress — Hit Start Compression and watch per-page progress. Nothing is uploaded.
- Review & download — Check the savings and download. Want it smaller? Change settings and re-compress.
Use Cases
Job Applications
Bring portfolios and resumes over the typical 5–10MB attachment limits of job sites down to size.
Government & School Portals
Make scanned certificates fit upload limits on government portals and university LMS systems.
Email Attachments
Compress contracts and reports that exceed the usual 10–25MB mail limit and attach them directly — no link sharing needed.
Scanned Archive Cleanup
Shrink piles of high-resolution scans to save cloud and NAS storage.
PDF Compression Reference
Which mode to pick, typical upload limits by destination, and why PDFs get bloated in the first place.
Mode Comparison
| Mode | Settings | Expected reduction | Selectable text |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Compression | 96 DPI · 50% quality | Huge (70–90% for scans) | No (rasterized) |
| Balanced (recommended) | 120 DPI · 65% quality | Large (50–80%) | No (rasterized) |
| High Quality | 150 DPI · 80% quality | Moderate (30–60%) | No (rasterized) |
| Custom | DPI 72–200 · quality 30–95% | Depends on settings | No (rasterized) |
| Keep Text | Structural optimization | Small (0–30%, varies) | Yes |
Reduction depends heavily on the source. Image/scan-heavy PDFs shrink the most; lightweight text PDFs have little room to shrink.
Typical Upload Limits by Destination
| Destination | Typical limit | Suggested mode |
|---|---|---|
| Job site resume/portfolio | Around 5–10MB | Balanced or Max |
| Government portal attachments | Around 5–10MB | Balanced |
| University LMS assignments | Around 10–50MB | Balanced |
| Email attachments (Gmail etc.) | Around 25MB | Balanced |
| Messenger file transfer | Often up to ~300MB | High Quality |
| Print shop submission | Loose (quality first) | Keep Text or original |
Exact limits vary by service — always check the destination's guidance. These are representative reference values.
Why PDFs Get Big — and What Fixes It
| Cause | Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| High-DPI scanning | 300–600 DPI scans, 1MB+ per page | Image-based compression (Max/Balanced) |
| Many embedded photos | Full-resolution photos stored as-is | Image-based compression, or compress images before inserting |
| Fully embedded fonts | Entire multilingual fonts included | Keep Text structural optimization |
| Accumulated edits | Revision history piling up in the file | Re-save via Keep Text mode |
| Print-grade export settings | Print color profiles, high-quality save | Re-export for web, then compress |
For scans, setting the scanner to 200 DPI or lower and grayscale/black & white prevents most size problems at the source.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my file uploaded to a server?
No — that's this tool's defining feature. Opening, compressing, and saving all happen inside your browser; the file never crosses the network. Contracts, ID copies, and medical records can be compressed with zero exposure risk, and there's no upload wait like on server-based sites.
Why can't I select text in the compressed PDF?
Max, Balanced, High Quality, and Custom modes redraw each page as a JPEG image, which is what makes the huge size reduction possible — but it turns text into pixels. If you need selectable, searchable text, use Keep Text mode. Note that Keep Text performs structural optimization only, so its savings are smaller.
Which mode should I choose?
Balanced covers most submission and sharing needs. Use Max when the limit is tight (e.g., under 5MB), High Quality when print sharpness matters, and Keep Text when text search is required. If you have an exact target size, Custom mode lets you step DPI and quality down until you hit it.
Can I compress a password-protected PDF?
Encrypted PDFs must be unlocked first. The tool detects protection automatically when you add the file and links you to the companion PDF Unlock tool, where you enter the password to remove it, then come back to compress. (Documents whose password you don't know cannot be unlocked.)
How much smaller will my file get?
It depends on the source. High-resolution scans and photo-heavy PDFs typically shrink 50–80% in Balanced mode and 70–90% in Max. Lightweight text-first PDFs are already optimized, so gains are small — and rasterizing them can even grow the file. When that happens, the result screen tells you honestly.
Any tips for minimizing quality loss?
Start with High Quality (150 DPI); if it's still too big, step down to Balanced, then Max. In Custom mode, lower DPI before lowering quality — it preserves text readability better. Keep DPI at 120+ for documents with tables or small print; for photo-heavy documents, quality can drop to 50–60% with little visible difference on screen.
Privacy Notice
Your PDF and the compressed result are processed entirely in your browser — nothing is transmitted to or stored on a server. Closing the page erases all data, so even contracts and certificates are safe to compress here.