Is it safe to compress a PDF online?

Yes — and ours is safer than most. Many free online tools quietly upload your files to their servers to do the work. We don't. Everything happens inside your browser on your own device, so your files never reach the internet. There's no upload step, no server copy, and no way for us (or anyone else) to see what you're working on.

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No. There's no server-side processing here. The whole tool is a tiny app that runs in your browser — we don't even have a server that could receive your files. You can confirm this by opening your browser's network tab while you use the tool: nothing leaves your device.

Do I need to sign up or pay?

No. There's no account, no email collection, no credit card. The tool is free to use as much as you want, on as many files as you want. We're supported by a few unobtrusive ads on the page — not by your data.

How much smaller will my file get?

Depends on the content. Image-heavy scans can shrink 70-90%. Text-only PDFs may not change much because there's nothing to recompress.

Will it lose quality?

Some, controlled by your chosen preset. Print mode is visually indistinguishable from the original. Screen mode trades visible quality for the smallest file.

Does it work on encrypted PDFs?

Unlock first using the Password tool, then compress.

Compress PDF

Reduce PDF file size for email, upload, or storage. Choose a quality preset (Screen, Web, Print) or fine-tune. Embedded JPEGs are re-encoded at your target quality — the single biggest size lever for most PDFs.

Features

Four presets: Screen (50%), Web (72%), Print (90%), Custom
Re-encodes embedded JPEGs to your target quality
Advanced options let you strip hidden metadata and optimize fonts
Linearizes the output, meaning the PDF is optimized to load instantly when viewed on the web
Shows before/after sizes so you can tune

How to compress pdf

Drop the PDF — Drag a PDF — typically a scanned document or one with photos.
Pick a preset — Web (72%) is the safe default. Screen (50%) is best for email.
Compress — The compressed file downloads with a size comparison shown in the panel.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to compress a PDF online?: Yes — and ours is safer than most. Many free online tools quietly upload your files to their servers to do the work. We don't. Everything happens inside your browser on your own device, so your files never reach the internet. There's no upload step, no server copy, and no way for us (or anyone else) to see what you're working on.
Are my files uploaded to a server?: No. There's no server-side processing here. The whole tool is a tiny app that runs in your browser — we don't even have a server that could receive your files. You can confirm this by opening your browser's network tab while you use the tool: nothing leaves your device.
Do I need to sign up or pay?: No. There's no account, no email collection, no credit card. The tool is free to use as much as you want, on as many files as you want. We're supported by a few unobtrusive ads on the page — not by your data.
How much smaller will my file get?: Depends on the content. Image-heavy scans can shrink 70-90%. Text-only PDFs may not change much because there's nothing to recompress.
Will it lose quality?: Some, controlled by your chosen preset. Print mode is visually indistinguishable from the original. Screen mode trades visible quality for the smallest file.
Does it work on encrypted PDFs?: Unlock first using the Password tool, then compress.