Compress PDF for free
Our compress PDF tool reduces your file size so it is easier to email, upload or store. It runs in your browser, keeping your document private while shrinking it fast.
Compress PDF
Shrink your PDF's file size so it is easy to email or upload. Choose a compression level. Runs in your browser.
Compress PDF
Free · No sign-up · Processed on your device
Up to 30 MB per file and 100 PDF pages. Multiple uploads: up to 30 files and 60 MB combined. Very large images have additional processing limits.
Drop your file here or click to upload
Your file stays private — it is processed securely.
How do you reduce the size of a PDF?
Upload a PDF and choose a compression level; the images inside are downsampled so the file is smaller and easier to email or upload to a job portal. Compression runs in your browser without uploading the file, free, up to 30 MB and 100 pages. The compressed file contains page images instead of selectable text, so keep the original of your resume for applications; if the result would be larger, you get the original back unchanged.
How it works
1
Upload the PDF you want to compress.
2
Choose a compression level.
3
Download your smaller PDF.
Balance size and quality
Choose less compression for higher clarity or stronger compression for a smaller file. This tool rebuilds pages as images inside a PDF: the compressed output loses selectable, searchable text, and fine details may become less clear. Keep the original and inspect small text, stamps and images after downloading.
Meet upload size limits
Compression can help scanned attachments meet upload limits, but a particular final size is not guaranteed. Do not use the image-based compressed output for a resume that needs ATS text extraction. Keep a text-based original, or create a lightweight CV with Astr from the start. If recompression makes the file larger, the tool returns the original unchanged and tells you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compress a PDF?
Upload your PDF, choose a compression level, then download the smaller file.
Is it free?
Yes, compressing PDFs is completely free with no watermark.
How small can the file get?
It depends on the content. Image-heavy PDFs shrink the most; you can pick a stronger level for a smaller size.
Will quality drop?
Yes. Compression reduces image resolution and may blur small text or fine details; lossless quality is not guaranteed. Choose less compression for higher clarity. The compressed PDF contains page images rather than selectable text, so keep the original for search, copying and ATS parsing. If the result would be larger, we return the original unchanged.
Are my files private?
Yes. Compression happens in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Is there a size limit?
Yes, in a modern browser. Up to 30 MB and 100 pages, with additional pixel/memory limits. Processing time depends on your device.