PDF Perfect
    Tool 01 / Compress

    Compress PDF: Free, Private, No Upload

    Shrink a PDF in your browser. Pick a quality level or type the size you need, then download the smaller file.

    • Never uploaded
    • No sign-up
    • Free, no limits

    Compression Quality

    Target File Size

    Compress to a specific size

    Fast Processing

    Compress PDFs in seconds

    Adjustable Quality

    Choose the balance between size and visual clarity

    Local File Processing

    Your PDF file stays in your browser

    Compress a PDF without uploading it

    PDF Perfect redraws PDF pages inside your browser and rebuilds them at your chosen image quality. Choose High Quality, Balanced or Maximum, or type a target size in MB. The PDF file is not uploaded to PDF Perfect.

    How to compress a PDF

    1. 1

      Select your PDF

      Drag your PDF onto the drop zone, or click it to pick a file from your device.

    2. 2

      Choose a compression level

      Pick High Quality, Balanced or Maximum. Or switch on Target File Size and type the size you need in MB.

    3. 3

      Download the smaller PDF

      When processing finishes, compare the before and after sizes and download the compressed file. No account needed.

    Which compression level should I choose?

    Every level redraws each page as an image and saves it at a lower resolution and quality. The stronger the level, the smaller the file and the softer the detail.

    LevelWhat changesTypical use
    High QualityFull resolution, light JPEG compressionPrinting, detailed diagrams, photos
    BalancedSlightly reduced resolution, medium compressionEmail attachments, sharing, most documents
    MaximumReduced resolution, strong compressionUpload portals with strict limits, archiving
    Target sizeTries each level in turn until the file fitsForms and portals with a fixed MB limit

    Is it safe for confidential documents?

    PDF Perfect has no PDF upload endpoint. The compression happens in JavaScript on your device, and your browser creates the download without sending the PDF file or its contents to PDF Perfect.

    The website still makes ordinary requests for pages, fonts, analytics, feedback you submit and, when enabled, advertising. Open your browser's Network tab while you process a file to confirm that none of those requests carries the PDF.

    How to check that your file never leaves your device

    Limits

    • The file picker accepts PDFs up to 1 GB, but the practical processing limit can be much lower and depends on your device's memory.
    • Scanned and photo-heavy PDFs shrink the most. PDFs that are mostly text are already small and may not shrink much.
    • The compressed copy stores each page as an image, so its text can't be selected or searched. Keep your original if you need that.
    • Password-protected PDFs aren't supported. Remove the password first.

    Frequently asked questions

    It depends on what's inside. Scanned pages and large photos usually shrink a lot, while a PDF that is mostly text is already small and may barely change. Try Balanced first and compare the before and after sizes shown on screen.

    At High Quality and Balanced, text stays clear at normal reading zoom. Maximum can soften very small print. Because pages are saved as images, the compressed text can't be selected or searched.

    Switch on Target File Size and type the limit in MB, for example 1 or 0.5. PDF Perfect tries each level from High Quality down and keeps the first result that fits. If the file still doesn't fit, split it or remove pages you don't need.

    Yes. The compressor runs in mobile Safari, Chrome and other modern browsers. Large files are slower on phones because they have less memory than a computer.

    The file picker accepts PDFs up to 1 GB, but large files may exceed your device's available memory. PDF Perfect has no site-enforced daily quota, sign-up or watermark.

    Guides

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