How to use this PDF tool
- 1
Choose a PDF and review its original size and page count.
- 2
Select Recommended, Strong, or Maximum compression.
- 3
Compare actual file sizes and download a smaller copy if one was produced.
Compress PDF
Reduce PDF file size locally with clear quality and text-preservation tradeoffs.
Drop a file here
or choose a file from your device
Processed on your deviceAbout this tool
Reduce PDF file size with measured results and clear quality choices.
Recommended keeps text-based pages as PDF content where practical and recompresses likely scanned or image-only pages. Strong and Maximum render pages into smaller JPEG-backed PDF pages.
Every result is compared with the original byte size. If the output is not smaller, PDFHope says so rather than claiming a reduction.
Features
- Three explained presets
- Local page-by-page processing
- Actual before-and-after size comparison
- Text-page preservation in Recommended mode
Output and quality
Recommended uses approximately 145 DPI and JPEG quality 80% for likely image-only pages. Strong uses approximately 125 DPI and 68%; Maximum uses approximately 105 DPI and 55%. Oversized pages are capped to protect browser memory.
Limitations
Compression is not guaranteed. Strong and Maximum flatten selectable text, links, forms, annotations and accessibility structure. Rewriting can invalidate digital signatures. Keep the original and inspect the copy before sharing.
Tips for better results
- Start with Recommended if searchable text matters.
- Use Strong only when a smaller visual copy matters more than interactive features.
- Review fine print and photos after Maximum compression.
Troubleshooting
Why is there no smaller file?
The source may already be compact or contain mostly text. Try Strong if flattening its document features is acceptable.
Why does Recommended preserve some pages?
It avoids rasterizing pages with usable text, and leaves image-free vector pages intact.
Why can compression be slow?
Pages are analyzed and rendered one at a time in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. Compression runs locally in this browser tab.
Does compression reduce quality?
Recompressed pages can lose fine detail, especially in Strong and Maximum. Review the copy at normal and high zoom.
Will text remain selectable?
Recommended preserves pages with usable text where practical. Strong and Maximum flatten pages and generally remove selectability and searchability.
Does it always make files smaller?
No. A smaller copy is offered only when the actual output byte count is lower.
Does compression remove pages?
No. The new PDF keeps the same page count and order.
Can I compress scanned PDFs?
Yes. Image-only scans are the main target for Recommended compression.
Are digital signatures preserved?
No guarantee. Creating a compressed copy can invalidate existing digital signatures.