PDF Compressor
Compress a PDF to a size you choose. Set a target in kilobytes and the tool works down to it.
Before you use this: This tool rasterises your PDF — text becomes part of an image and stops being selectable or searchable. That is the trade-off required to hit a hard size target. If you need live text, re-export the source at lower image quality instead.
Rendering pages and searching for the best quality that fits…
- Original
- —
- Compressed
- —
- Reduction
- —
- Pages
- —
How to use this tool
- Select your file, drag it onto the box above.
- Processing starts automatically — there is nothing to configure.
- Check the result panel, which shows the original size, the final size and the page count.
- Click Download to save it.
If you need a specific published figure — 100 KB for a scholarship portal, 2 MB for an applicant tracking system — the preset pages go straight there without the setup.
The specification
| Target size | Whatever you enter, in KB |
|---|---|
| Method | Pages rendered and re-encoded as JPEG |
| Text | Becomes part of the image — no longer selectable |
| Page limit | 60 pages |
| Maximum input | 100 MB |
Why uploads get rejected
Meeting the size is only part of it. These are the failures that actually come up:
- The PDF is password-protected. Remove the password first — we cannot bypass encryption.
- The document is already well optimised, so rasterising makes it larger. The tool tells you when this happens.
- The target is very small for a text-heavy document, so the text becomes unreadable. Check the output.
- The document exceeds 60 pages, which would exhaust your browser tab’s memory.
How it works
Each page is rendered with pdf.js and re-encoded as a JPEG, then the pages are reassembled into a new PDF with pdf-lib. A binary search over image quality — and, if needed, render resolution — lands the result under your target.
The trade-off, stated plainly: this rasterises the document. Text becomes part of an image, so it is no longer selectable, searchable, or readable by automated systems. That is how most "compress to X KB" services work, and it is the only way to hit a hard size target in a browser — but it is a real cost. If you need the text to stay live, use a smaller scan resolution instead of compressing afterwards.
Who uses this
Any upload portal, email attachment or application system enforcing a hard file size limit.
Frequently asked questions
What target should I use?
Match whatever limit you have been given, then aim slightly below it — some systems measure the encoded upload, which is larger than the file on disk.
Will my text stay selectable?
No. Reaching a hard size target requires rasterising the pages. If you need live text, re-export the source document at lower image quality instead.
Will the quality drop?
Some quality is always lost when a file gets smaller — that is what compression means. The tool searches for the highest quality that still fits under your limit, so it gives up as little as possible.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Everything runs inside your browser on your own device. Your file is never transmitted and never stored by us. You can confirm this by opening your browser’s Network tab while you use the tool — you will see no upload request.
Is there a limit on how many files I can process?
No. There is no daily cap, no account, and no watermark. Because the work happens on your device rather than our servers, there is nothing for us to ration.
Is this tool really free?
Yes — no account, no trial, no watermark, and no cap on usage. It runs on your own device rather than our servers, so there is no cost for us to pass on.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. The interface adapts to phone and tablet screens, and everything runs in the browser, so there is no app to install.
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Your files stay on your device. This tool runs entirely in your browser. No file is uploaded, transmitted, or stored. You can verify this by opening your browser's Network tab while using the tool.
Disclaimer. Specifications published by exam boards, governments and platforms change without notice. We verify and date every specification on this site, but you should always confirm against the official source before submitting an application. See our full disclaimer.