Compress PDF Online Free
Use Compress PDF ↓Optimize PDF structure or make a smaller image-only copy of scanned pages. Compare sizes before downloading.
Creates image-only pages. Searchable text, links, forms, bookmarks, attachments and accessibility structure are not retained. Fine text may become less clear. Maximum 150 pages.
Continue your task
Check that the output still contains the expected pages. Open PDF Page Counter.
PDF Page Counter
Check that the output still contains the expected pages.
PDF Metadata Scrubber
Review document information fields before sharing the compressed file.
How to Compress a PDF and Check the Result
Read the worked steps, limitations and output checks.
Follow the full workflow: Prepare a PDF for Upload: Order, Size and Final Checks
Choose the method before choosing a size target
Structural optimization rewrites the PDF structure while keeping text as text. The image-only mode rebuilds rendered pages and can change text selection, links and forms. Select the method based on what the recipient needs to do with the output.
A practical quality check
Use the source and output side by side. Compare the smallest text, a dense table, a colored chart and a signature. Count the pages with PDF Page Counter. If the file is already optimized, removing unnecessary pages with Delete PDF Pages may help more than another compression pass.
Why a target like 200 KB is not guaranteed
Page count, image resolution and the starting encoding determine what can be saved. A short text PDF and a long scanned report cannot share a meaningful fixed reduction promise. Keep the source when the result is larger or visually worse.
Last updated: October 17, 2026 · Maintained by ToolVero · Maintained by Fahad Farid
Two ways to make a PDF smaller
Structural optimization rewrites the PDF without turning its pages into images. Start here for documents with selectable text, forms or links. It does not downsample embedded photographs, so the size reduction may be small or zero.
Scanned / image-only compression renders each page and rebuilds it with JPEG images. This can reduce image-heavy files, but searchable text, links, forms, bookmarks, attachments and accessibility structure are not retained. The required checkbox makes that choice explicit.
Choose scan quality
| Preset | Target resolution | JPEG setting |
|---|---|---|
| Smaller file | 96 DPI | 55% |
| Balanced | 120 DPI | 72% |
| Clearer text | 150 DPI | 85% |
JPEG settings are not a promise of visual quality or savings. Each page is capped at five million rendered pixels. Check small text and diagrams after downloading.
Practice and compare
Use the scanned-page sample to compare presets. Read the compression walkthrough for sample results, readability checks and an explanation of the trade-offs.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if the result is larger?
The compressor retains the unchanged original instead. It reports the attempted size and offers the original for download. It does not present a larger file as a successful reduction.
Can I reach an exact upload limit?
No exact file size is guaranteed. Compare the result with your portal's limit. Try a different preset or remove unnecessary pages.
What are the limits?
Files can be up to 80 MB; scanned mode supports up to 150 pages. Low-memory devices can fail below these limits. Cancellation takes effect after the current processing step.
Can I compress a protected or signed PDF?
Unlock a protected PDF using its correct password first. PDFs with detected signature dictionaries or signature fields are rejected because rewriting would change the signed document. Keep your originals.
Are my files uploaded?
No ToolVero processing upload is used. This compressor runs locally and loads its PDF libraries from ToolVero. Website and advertising requests are separate from file processing.