Why use this online PDF compressor?
Many “compress PDF online” tools add watermarks, require signup or give you only one free use. This compressor focuses on simple, fast PDF size reduction with no friction.
- Online PDF compressor — reduce PDF file size in seconds
- No signup, no watermark — always free to use
- Choose between Compact (retain-PDF) and Rasterize modes
- Great for email limits, online forms and website uploads
- Works on iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows
Reliable PDF compression for everyday use
Shrink file size while keeping your PDF format intact and ready to share. Great for contracts, brochures, scanned PDFs and more.
Files are sent over an encrypted TLS connection to our compression service, then your smaller PDF is downloaded automatically.
Open CompressorWhy compress a PDF?
Compressing a PDF reduces its file size while keeping the content the same. It is one of the easiest ways to shrink PDF files so they are easier to send, store and open on any device.
Email attachments and upload limits
Many email providers and online forms reject large PDFs. Compressing your PDF makes it easier to send proposals, invoices, reports and scanned documents without hitting size limits.
Faster sharing and downloads
Smaller PDFs open faster on slow connections and mobile data. Compression is ideal for documents you share publicly or host on your website.
Save storage space
If you store a lot of PDFs, even a 50–80% reduction per file adds up. Compressing keeps your archive lighter without needing to delete anything.
Better experience on mobile
Compressed PDFs load quicker and scroll more smoothly on phones and tablets, especially if they contain a lot of images.
Compress PDF to 500KB / 1MB
Many application portals and government forms ask you to compress PDF to 500KB or 1MB. There isn’t a single magic button, but you can get close by tuning the compression strength.
Start with Compact mode for good quality at a smaller size. If you still need a much smaller file, switch to Rasterize and lower the quality/DPI. Check the resulting file size and repeat until you reach the target requirement.
Compress PDF without losing quality
For presentations, CVs or official documents, you want to compress a PDF without losing quality. Use the Compact (retain-PDF) mode, which keeps fonts and vector graphics intact while re-encoding images and cleaning up unnecessary data.
Text remains sharp and logos stay crisp, so the document still looks professional while being significantly smaller.
Popular Compression Targets
How to compress a PDF online (3 steps)
1) Upload your PDF
Drag & drop your PDF into the compressor or click to browse your files. Large PDFs may take a moment to upload over an encrypted TLS connection.
2) Choose a compression mode (Compact or Rasterize)
Use Compact to keep the PDF structure, sharp text and vector graphics while reducing file size. Use Rasterize when you need the smallest possible file, converting each page to an image at your chosen quality/DPI.
3) Download the smaller PDF
When compression finishes, download your reduced PDF instantly. You get a clean file with no watermark and no signup required.
Smart PDF Compression
- Guaranteed Size Reduction
- Smart Mode: Preserves Text (Vectors)
- Force Mode: Flattens to printable images
Drop your PDF here
We'll analyze it to see how much we can compress.
Compress PDF — FAQs
How do I compress a PDF online for free?
Open this Compress PDF tool, upload your file, choose Compact or Rasterize and download the smaller PDF. There is no signup, watermark or trial — it is free to use.
What’s the difference between Compact and Rasterize?
Compact retains the original PDF structure so text and vector graphics stay crisp while images and metadata are optimized. Rasterize converts each page into an image for the smallest file size, which is ideal for strict upload limits.
Can I compress PDF to 500KB or 1MB?
Yes. There is no fixed 500KB button, but you can use Rasterize and gradually lower quality or DPI until the output is close to the size requirement. For text-heavy files, Compact often reaches small sizes while keeping high quality.
Will compressing a PDF reduce quality?
Compact mode is designed to reduce PDF size while maintaining readability and layout. Rasterize mode trades some quality for maximum size reduction. You can always try Compact first and only use Rasterize when necessary.
Is my PDF uploaded to your servers?
Your PDF is sent over an encrypted TLS connection to our compression backend and Adobe PDF Services for processing. We recommend avoiding any online tool for extremely sensitive documents.
Can I compress PDFs on iPhone or Android?
Yes. This PDF compressor works in modern mobile browsers like Safari and Chrome, so you can shrink PDFs on your phone or tablet without installing an app.
More free PDF tools
After you compress your PDF, you can keep working with these tools: