Compress PDF online free

What is this tool?

Create an image-based PDF for situations where visual appearance matters more than editable or selectable content. This is a specific compression method, not a lossless PDF optimizer. The original remains the best archival copy.

How to use it

1. Read the input labels and limits below, then choose the operation that matches your task.
2. Choose a PDF within the stated page and file-size limits.
3. Select the smaller-file or higher-quality option and run compression.
4. Compare the output size and inspect the downloaded pages before sharing.
5. Check the result against the worked example or original file before copying, downloading or using it elsewhere.

Worked example

For an image-heavy handout, a rasterized copy may reduce transfer size. For a small text-only invoice, the new image pages may be larger and less accessible than the original. Compare actual results instead of assuming every PDF will shrink.

Questions & limits

Renders pages at 108 dpi and stores JPEG images in a new PDF. Searchable text, links, forms and signatures are lost. Already optimized files can become larger. Compare the output size before downloading. Files are processed locally.

Why can a compressed PDF lose searchable text?

This tool rebuilds each page as a JPEG image. Use it for a lightweight visual copy, keep the original, and avoid it when you need text selection, forms, signatures or accessibility tagging.

Should I use this for signed documents?

Avoid it when signatures, forms, links, selectable text or accessibility structure must remain intact. Re-export from the original application when those features matter.

Before sharing the result

Keep the source file until you have opened the downloaded copy and checked every important page or image. Confirm that names, dates and small text are readable. A successful download only means a file was created; it does not prove that every visual or interactive feature survived the chosen operation. For an upload portal, check its actual file-type, page-count and size requirements. If processing fails on a large file, try a smaller source or close other memory-heavy tabs.