Compress PDF
Reduce PDF file size by up to 80% while preserving readability. No upload required. Processed entirely in your browser for 10
Your files never leave your device. Processed locally. 100% private.
Unlocking Tool Engine...
How To Use Compress PDF
Complete your task perfectly in just three straightforward steps.
Drop in browser
Drop your PDF file.
Choose quality
Select compression level: low, medium, or high.
Download
Download the compressed PDF. File size shown before and after.
FAQ
Everything you need to know about the Compress PDF.
How much can PDF size be reduced?
Typically 40–80% depending on image content. Text-heavy PDFs compress less.
Is quality affected?
At medium quality, compression is visually indistinguishable. High compression may soften images.
Is my file uploaded?
No. Compression runs locally using PDF-lib in your browser.
What is the file size limit?
Process files up to the browser memory limit.
Can I compress password-protected PDFs?
No. Remove the password first using the PDF Unlocker tool.
How to compress a PDF to under 100KB or under 1MB?
Use Maximum mode for the deepest compression (70–90% reduction). If you need precise control, switch to Custom mode and lower the DPI to 72 and quality to 30–40%. For a 5MB PDF, Maximum mode typically gets you under 1MB. For very strict limits, Custom mode with aggressive settings can often hit specific targets.
Is Refinata better than iLovePDF or Smallpdf for compression?
Refinata achieves comparable compression ratios (50–90%) while offering two structural advantages: (1) your file never leaves your device — zero upload, zero server storage, zero privacy risk, and (2) you get Custom mode with DPI and quality sliders, which neither iLovePDF nor Smallpdf offer. It's also faster because there's no upload/download wait.
Can I compress a password-protected PDF?
No — protected PDFs cannot be modified without first removing the password. Use our PDF Unlocker tool to remove the password, then come back to compress. Both tools run entirely in your browser.
Related Tools
Continue working with our suite of free data utilities.
Protect PDF
NEWAdd a password to a PDF to prevent unauthorized opening or editing. The safest way to process sensitive data with zero-upload
Delete PDF Pages
NEWRemove unwanted pages from a PDF. Enter page numbers or ranges to delete. Securely process files in your browser memory with
Add Watermark to PDF
NEWAdd a text or image watermark to every page of a PDF. Securely process files in your browser memory with zero data transfer t
Add Page Numbers to PDF
NEWAdd page numbers to a PDF. Choose position, font, size, and starting number. Fast, private, and secure browser-based tool wit
Extract PDF Images
NEWExtract all embedded images from a PDF file. The safest way to process sensitive data with zero-upload, client-side technolog
PDF Metadata Editor
NEWView and edit PDF metadata: title, author, subject, keywords, and creation date. Fast, private, and secure browser-based tool