Compress PDF: step by step
- Choose a level. Recommended suits most files; Strong makes them smaller still.
- Drop one or more PDFs into the box, or click choose files.
- Click Compress PDF. Each file shows its old and new size.
- A single file downloads straight away. For several, download each one or all of them as a ZIP.
Which level should I pick?
| Level | What it does | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Re-saves photos at high quality, up to 3000 px | Documents you'll print |
| Recommended | Good quality, photos up to 2000 px | Email, sharing, most upload forms |
| Strong | Lower quality, photos up to 1400 px | Strict size limits |
| Extreme | Turns every page into a 100 DPI image | Scans that must be tiny. Text can't be selected or searched afterwards. |
What gets smaller (and what doesn't)
Most of a big PDF's size is photos and scanned pages. Those are re-compressed and, if they're larger than needed, scaled down. Uncompressed parts of the file are packed too. Text, fonts, vector drawings and links aren't touched, so they stay sharp. A PDF that's mostly text is usually small already, and there may be little to save.
Compressing to a size limit, like 1 MB or 200 KB
Start with Recommended. If the result is still too big, try Strong, then Extreme for scanned documents. Ticking grayscale helps a lot for scans of paper documents, because color isn't needed.
Private by design
Bank statements, contracts and ID scans are exactly the files people need to shrink, and exactly the ones you shouldn't upload to a stranger's server. Here the PDF is opened and rebuilt in your browser with the open-source pdf-lib and PDF.js libraries. It works offline once the page has loaded.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free PDF compressor that doesn't upload my file?
Yes. curlytab's Compress PDF rebuilds the PDF in your browser, so bank statements, contracts and ID scans never leave your device. Choose a level, or a target size like 200 KB for upload forms; text stays sharp and selectable. It's free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no file limit.
Will the quality drop?
Photos lose a little detail, which you'll rarely notice at Light or Recommended. Text and drawings are kept exactly as they were, except at Extreme, where every page becomes an image.
Why didn't my PDF get smaller?
It probably has no photos or scans, or they're already well compressed. Text-only PDFs are small already. Try Strong, or Extreme for scans.
Can I compress a password-protected PDF?
Not yet. Open it with the password and save a copy without one, then compress that copy.
Are fillable forms and links kept?
Yes, at every level except Extreme, which keeps only how the pages look.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Everything happens in your browser.
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