PDF tool
Compress PDF
Reduce the file size of a PDF and see exactly how much was saved. If re-encoding would make the file bigger, the original is returned unchanged and the tool says so.
Add files
Drop PDF files here, or choose files. Everything stays on this device.
Waiting for files
Accepted input
- One PDF file
Limits
- Up to 50 MB per PDF and 100 MB in total.
- Up to 200 pages per document.
- Password protected PDFs are refused with a clear message.
- Lossy mode needs a browser canvas, so this tool runs in a browser tab.
- There is no fixed target size. The result depends on the content and the settings you choose.
Local processing
- Files are read in your browser and are never uploaded to a server.
- Nothing is stored after you close or reload the page.
- Pages are re-encoded on a canvas inside your browser.
How to use Compress PDF
- Add the PDF file.
- Choose lossy or lossless mode and, for lossy, the resolution and quality.
- Press Compress PDF and read the before and after sizes before downloading.
What it does
- Reports the original size, the new size and the percentage saved.
- Returns the original file when compression would make it larger.
- Explains exactly what lossy mode removes before you download.
Limits and things to know
- Lossy mode re-encodes each page as a picture, so the text layer, links, bookmarks and vector artwork are gone.
- Lossless mode only rewrites the file structure and often saves nothing on an already optimised PDF.
- Some scanned documents grow instead of shrinking; those files are returned unchanged.
Example
Getting a scanned contract under an upload limit
A 12 MB scan of a contract is mostly one large image per page. Choose lossy mode at 150 DPI and quality 70, and the file typically drops to a small fraction of its size, with text that is no longer selectable.
Frequently asked questions
Will compression reach a specific file size?
There is no guaranteed target. Scans usually shrink a lot, while a file that is mostly text and vector artwork may not shrink at all.
Does the compressed file still contain searchable text?
Not in lossy mode. Each page becomes a picture, so text can no longer be selected, searched or read aloud.
Why did the tool return my original file?
Re-encoding produced a file that was not smaller, so the original was returned rather than handing you a bigger file. The note under the result explains it.
Runs entirely in your browser on ap98.com. Files are never uploaded.