Back to Tools

Compress PDF

Reduce PDF file size by re-rendering pages at your chosen quality level.

Drag & drop a PDF file here

or click to browse

Your files stay private

All processing happens right here in your browser. Your PDFs are never uploaded to any server.

How to compress PDF

  1. Drop your PDF onto the page.
  2. Choose a compression level, or choose Target file size and pick a limit such as 200 KB or 1 MB.
  3. Click Compress and download the smaller PDF.

Frequently asked questions

Are my files uploaded to a server?

No. PDF Private runs entirely in your web browser. Your file is read into your device's memory, processed by code running on your device, and saved straight back to your downloads. It never travels over the internet, so we never see it. You can even disconnect from the internet after the page loads and the tool still works.

How do I get a PDF under a specific size, like 200KB?

Choose Target file size and pick the limit. The tool tries several quality levels and keeps the best-looking version that fits. If even the smallest version is too big, it tells you, and splitting the PDF into parts is the next step.

Will compressed text still be selectable?

Compression works by turning each page into an optimised image, so text in the compressed file can't be selected or searched. Keep your original if you need that.

Is it really free?

Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark, no daily limit and no paid tier. Because your device does the work, there are no server costs to pass on.

Need a specific size?

Next step

See all PDF tools →