How much smaller will my PDF get?

Scanned documents usually shrink by 80–95%. PDFs exported from Word or Google Docs are already efficient, and the tool will tell you if compressing wouldn't help.

Is it safe for ID documents and certificates?

Your file never leaves your device. The tool runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded, stored, or seen by us.

Will the text still be selectable?

Compressed pages are saved as images, so text won't be selectable. Upload portals don't need it — but keep your original if you do.

Is there a file size or page limit?

No fixed limit. Very large files depend on your device's memory; a phone can comfortably handle typical certificates and forms.

Compress PDF Online — Free, Private, No Upload

How to compress PDF

1Drop your PDF into the box above.
2Pick a target size, or choose Balanced for a general-purpose shrink.
3Optionally turn on Black & white for scans.
4Press Compress and download your smaller PDF.

Compress PDF: key facts

Price: Free — no sign-up, no watermark
Privacy: Runs in your browser; files are never uploaded
Output: Smaller PDF, same page count
Typical reduction: 80–95% for scans and phone photos
Target sizes: Any — presets from 20KB to 2MB, or type your own
Works on: Any modern browser — Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac
Offline option: FramePDF Android app (free)

Why PDFs get so big

Most oversized PDFs are scans or phone photos of paper. Every page is a full-resolution photograph — often 3–8MB each — even though a form portal only needs enough detail to read the text.

Compressing re-saves each page at a resolution and quality that suits the screen, which is why a 6MB scan can become 150KB and still look fine.

Pick a target, not a guess

Most compressors give you "low, medium, high" and leave you to retry until the portal accepts the file. Here you type the limit from the form — the tool does the retrying for you and lands just under it.

Frequently asked questions

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Learn more

Why is my PDF so large?Scans, phone photos, embedded fonts and high-DPI images make PDFs huge.How PDF compression worksA plain-language explanation of how PDF compressors shrink files: resolution (DPI), JPEG quality, grayscale, and how to hit an exact KB target..Are online PDF tools safe for ID documents?Most online PDF tools upload your file to a server.