utilizeHow this PDF compressor works
Upload a PDF and choose one of two modes. Balanced rebuilds the document's internal structure to remove redundant data while keeping all text, fonts, and images intact. Maximum compression re-renders every page as a compressed JPEG at your chosen resolution, producing much smaller files at the cost of text no longer being selectable or searchable.
When would you use this?
- Email attachments — Many email providers limit attachments to 10-25MB. Compressing a large PDF to under 10MB lets you send it without file-sharing services.
- Government and visa portals — Many immigration, tax, and government portals have strict upload size limits, often 2-5MB. Maximum compression is particularly effective for scanned documents.
- Uploading to document management systems — SharePoint, Google Drive, and corporate portals often have per-file storage limits. Smaller PDFs consume less quota.
- Sharing via messaging apps — WhatsApp allows up to 100MB for documents, but smaller files transfer faster and more reliably.
- Archiving scanned documents — Scanned PDFs are often 5-20MB per page. Maximum compression at 150 DPI typically reduces these by 70-90%.
Which mode should you choose?
- Balanced — Use first for any PDF created digitally (from Word, Google Docs, etc.). Cleans up internal structure without changing content or losing text selectability. If the result is not small enough, try Maximum compression.
- Maximum compression — Use for scanned documents or image-heavy PDFs where file size reduction is the priority. At 150 DPI, results look sharp on screen. At 72-96 DPI, files are much smaller but screen-only quality.
How does this compare to other PDF compression tools?
Smallpdf and ILovePDF limit free users to two compressions per day and upload files to their servers. Adobe Acrobat's free web tool applies moderate compression without adjustable settings. This tool offers two compression modes with adjustable settings, no daily limits, and no server uploads — important when compressing financial, legal, or medical PDFs.
Why did Balanced mode not reduce my file size much?
Balanced mode can only remove structural redundancy — it does not recompress images or fonts. If your PDF was already created by a modern tool, there may be little redundancy. Try Maximum compression for a more significant reduction.
Will the PDF still be searchable after compression?
Balanced mode preserves all text, keeping the document fully searchable. Maximum compression converts each page to an image, so text can no longer be selected, searched, or copied.
What resolution should I choose?
150 DPI is the recommended default — sharp for on-screen reading and acceptable for printing. Use 96 DPI for screen-only documents. Use 72 DPI only when you need the smallest possible file.
Do you store or see my document?
No. Everything happens locally in your browser. Your file is never uploaded anywhere.