A PDF compressor reduces file size so documents fit email limits and upload portals. Choose a compression level and download a smaller PDF after secure processing.

Compress PDF online free when attachments exceed email or portal limits. Choose a compression level, upload your PDF, and download a smaller file. Secure processing with automatic deletion for server-assisted compression modes.

Scanned PDFs compress more aggressively than text-native files because images can be re-encoded. Text-only PDFs may see modest savings.

If a portal specifies a KB limit, use the compress PDF to KB tool for target-size output.

How to use this tool

Upload your PDF, pick Basic, Balanced, or Strong compression, then download the result. Compare file size before sending.

Worked example

Example: shrink a 12 MB scanned PDF to under 5 MB for a job application portal that rejects large uploads.

When to use this

Email attachments over provider limits.
Government or school portals with strict size caps.
Sharing slide decks exported as heavy PDFs.

Common examples

12 MB scanned contract → Balanced compression often targets email-friendly sizes; text-only PDFs may barely shrink.
Image-heavy brochure at 25 MB → Strong compression for upload portals; review text readability after download.
Born-digital 2-page invoice at 400 KB → compression may show little gain; organize or split instead if still too large.
15 MB marketing PDF → Balanced mode for email; verify logos after download.
Scanned 80-page packet at 45 MB → Strong mode for portal upload limits.

What people search for

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Common mistakes

Over-compressing documents with fine print or diagrams.
Compressing already-optimized PDFs expecting huge savings.
Using Strong mode on archival legal documents.

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How it works

Upload a PDF and choose Basic, Balanced, or Strong compression. Your file is uploaded to private temporary storage, compressed securely, and automatically deleted within one hour.

Limitations

Files upload to a secure server for compression and are auto-deleted within one hour. Scanned PDFs may not shrink much without OCR.

Privacy and file handling

Your file is uploaded for temporary processing. See the privacy note on this page for details.

Compression runs on a secure server. Your file is uploaded privately and automatically deleted within one hour. Already-optimized PDFs may not shrink much. Maximum 50 MB and 200 pages.

Related Compress PDF guides

These pages use the same compress pdf with guides tailored to specific search intents.

Related comparisons

Learn how formats and terms differ before you convert or calculate.

PDF vs DOCX

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Will compression reduce text quality?

Text stays sharp on most PDFs. Image-heavy pages may show artifacts at Strong settings.

How long are files stored?

Server-processed uploads are automatically deleted within about one hour. See the page privacy note for details.

Can I compress password-protected PDFs?

Remove the password first with the PDF password remover, then compress.

Page last reviewed: July 6, 2026

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