How can I compress a PDF without uploading it?

This tool compresses your PDF entirely inside your browser using JavaScript — the file is read from your device, processed locally, and the smaller PDF is handed straight back to you. Nothing is ever sent to a server, so it works even if you disconnect from the internet after the page loads.

What is the difference between Strong and Light mode?

Strong mode re-renders every page as a compressed image and rebuilds the PDF from those images. It gives the biggest savings for scanned documents and photo-heavy PDFs, but the text is rasterized, so it is no longer selectable or searchable. Light mode re-saves the PDF with more efficient internal compression and keeps text fully selectable, but the savings are smaller. Choose Strong for scans and Light for text documents.

Will compressing reduce the quality of my PDF?

Light mode does not change how your pages look at all — only the internal structure is optimized. Strong mode trades some visual quality for a much smaller file; you control how much using the resolution and quality settings. If the compressed result would be larger than your original, the tool keeps your original untouched instead.

Why did my PDF barely get smaller?

PDFs that are mostly text and vector graphics are already very compact, so there is little to remove — Light mode may only trim a few percent, and Strong mode can even make them larger (in which case the tool returns your original). The big savings come from scanned pages and embedded photos, where Strong mode at a moderate resolution can shrink a file by 70% or more.

PDF Compressor

Shrink PDF file size — big savings for scans, or a lighter pass that keeps text selectable

100% Private — your data never leaves your device

Your PDF is compressed locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to any server — that's the whole point.

Drop PDF files here

or click to browse — you can add several at once

0 PDF(s) ready

Total 0

Compression mode

Strong Best for scanned docs & photo-heavy PDFs. Biggest savings. Light Keeps text selectable. Smaller, safe savings.

Resolution

Image quality: 70%

Lower quality = smaller file. 60–75% is a good balance.

Strong mode rasterizes each page — text becomes an image, so it is no longer selectable or searchable. Use Light mode to keep selectable text.

100% Private

Your PDF is compressed locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to any server.

Two honest modes

Strong for scans, Light to keep text selectable — you choose the trade-off, no surprises.

Never bigger

If compression wouldn't help, you get your original file back untouched — never a larger one.

PDF Compressor

Drop PDF files here

Results

100% Private

Two honest modes

Never bigger