Compress PDF

Reduce the size of your PDFs to email them, upload them to forms or save space, choosing the balance between size and quality.

or drag and drop files here

Your files are processed in your browser and are never uploaded to any server.

How does compression work?

We offer three levels. Basic compression optimizes the internal structure of the PDF and keeps text selectable, with moderate savings. The recommended and maximum levels turn each page into an optimized image, which greatly reduces the size of scanned or photo-heavy documents, although the text can no longer be selected. If we cannot reduce your file, we tell you so you can keep the original.

How to compress a PDF

  1. 1

    Select or drag one or more PDFs.

  2. 2

    Choose the compression level.

  3. 3

    Click "Compress PDF" and download the lighter file.

Why use pdfcrea

  • Private

    Your files are processed in your browser and are never uploaded to a server.

  • Free

    No payments, no sign-up and no watermarks on your documents.

  • Fast

    No upload or download waits: the result is ready in seconds.

  • On any device

    Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone, with nothing to install.

Frequently asked questions

Which compression level should I choose?

For scanned or photo-heavy documents, "Recommended". If you need the text to stay selectable, "Basic". If only size matters, "Maximum".

Why did my PDF barely shrink?

PDFs that contain only text are usually already very light. Compression is most effective on images and scans.

Is quality lost?

With basic compression, no. With the recommended and maximum levels pages become images, with a small or moderate loss of sharpness depending on the level.

Is it safe to compress confidential documents?

Yes. Compression happens in your browser and your files are never sent to any server.

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