Compress PDF
Choose a PDF, pick a level and compare the size before and after. Every page is redrawn as a JPEG picture, so text in the result can no longer be selected or searched. If the result comes out bigger, the tool says so and lets you keep the original.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Choose or drop a PDF.
- Pick a level. Smallest uses 72 DPI and JPEG quality 50, Balanced 110 DPI and 65, Sharper 150 DPI and 80.
- Press Compress and compare the two sizes.
- Download the compressed file, or the original if the result is not smaller.
How it works
Every page is rendered to a canvas with pdf.js, encoded as a JPEG and placed on a new page of the same size with pdf-lib. The saved share is (before − after) ÷ before, rounded to a whole percent.
Example
A 1,000 KB file that becomes 400 KB saved 60%. One that becomes 1,250 KB is 25% bigger, so the tool offers the original.
Tips
- Try Smallest first, then raise the level if small print looks blurry.
- Keep the original: this process cannot be undone.
Frequently asked questions
Will the text still be selectable?
No. The tool draws each page with pdf.js and stores it as a JPEG image, so the text becomes part of the picture. It cannot be searched or copied, and links and form fields stop working.
Why did my PDF get bigger?
A PDF made from text and vector shapes is already small, while a picture stores every pixel. When that happens the tool shows the sizes and offers the original file instead.
Which PDFs shrink the most?
As a rule of thumb, scans and PDFs full of large photos shrink well, because their pictures are stored at a higher quality than a screen needs. Text documents usually do not.
Are my files uploaded?
No. The pages are redrawn and the new PDF is built inside your browser, and no file leaves your device.
Is the page size kept?
Yes. Each page keeps its displayed size in points; only the sharpness changes with the level you choose.