Best for scanned and image-heavy PDFs
The biggest savings usually come from scans, photo portfolios and PDFs exported with large images. Text-only or already optimized files may shrink very little.
Private · Browser-only
Compress PDF Online for Free
Reduce PDF file size in your browser with three quality levels and no upload.
Drop your PDF here
One PDF · up to 40 MB · maximum 100 pages
How this local method works
Pages are rebuilt as optimized images. The visual layout remains, but text selection, links, forms and accessibility tags may not.
Preparing your PDF…0%
Your PDF is ready
The compressed PDF is ready to download.
Original
Result
How to reduce PDF file size without losing readability
A simple quality choice
Balanced suits most sharing and email tasks. Strong targets the smallest file. Light keeps finer page detail when readability matters more than maximum savings.
What the compressor changes
Pages are rendered and rebuilt as optimized images. The visual layout remains, but selectable text, links, forms, layers and accessibility tags may not remain interactive. Keep the original for editing or archiving.
Make PDFs easier to email and upload
A smaller PDF is easier to attach to email, submit to online forms and store in limited cloud space. Choose the level that fits the destination limit.
Why some PDFs barely shrink
Text-based and previously optimized PDFs may already use efficient compression. Scans and large embedded photos usually offer more room for reduction.
Check the downloaded result
Open the new PDF and inspect small text, charts and signatures before sharing it. Keep the original whenever you may need selectable text or editing features.
How to compress a PDF online
Compress PDF rebuilds each page with optimized images to make scans and image-heavy documents easier to email, upload and store.
- Choose or drop one PDF file.
- Pick Balanced, Strong or Light compression.
- Compare the sizes and download the result.
Private · Browser-only
Your PDF is processed only in this browser and is never uploaded to FreeToolsWeb.
PDF compression questions
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Reading, rendering and rebuilding happen in this browser. The file is not sent to FreeToolsWeb.
Why did my PDF not get smaller?
Some PDFs are already efficient or contain mostly text. If rebuilding would increase the size, the tool returns the original bytes instead.
Will text and links stay interactive?
The page appearance is preserved, but compression rebuilds pages as images. Searchable text, links, forms and accessibility tags may become non-interactive.
What are the limits?
Process one PDF up to 40 MB and 100 pages. Very complex or password-protected documents are rejected to protect browser memory.
Does compressing a PDF reduce quality?
It can reduce image detail because pages are rebuilt with optimized images. Light keeps more detail, while Strong prioritizes a smaller file.
Which compression level should I choose?
Start with Balanced for general sharing. Use Strong for strict upload limits and Light when fine print or image detail matters most.
More PDF tools
Continue with a published FreeToolsWeb PDF tool available in your language.