or drop files here
- Free compress stays on your device. Pro compress runs on our side and is removed within 1 hour.
- No ads, no watermark, no sign-up needed
- Built for email, WhatsApp, and upload limits
Smaller PDFs that still read clearly
A PDF that is too big always gets stuck at the worst moment: an email that will not send, a job portal that rejects your resume, a scan that never arrives on WhatsApp. Compress PDF makes the file small enough to go through while the page stays easy to read. On a normal document the words stay as text you can still select. Only the large pictures inside the file are reduced. Choose Recommended for everyday documents, Extreme when the file still will not fit, or Less when those pictures need to stay detailed. Scans and photo-heavy PDFs usually shrink the most. On the free plan the file is processed in your browser, on your device. A Pro compress runs on our side, and that temporary copy is removed within 1 hour. There are no ads on the page, no watermark on the result, and no account needed to get started.
Shrink the file. Keep the page clear.
Add your PDF, choose a level, and download. No ads and no detours — just a lighter file that fits email, WhatsApp, and online forms.
How to compress a PDF online
- 1Drop your PDF into the box above, or tap Select PDF to choose it from your phone or computer.
- 2Pick a level beside the file. Recommended for everyday documents, Extreme when you need the smallest file, or Less when the pictures should stay detailed.
- 3Start compressing. On the free plan this runs on your device. Pro compress runs on our side.
- 4Download your smaller PDF and attach it to an email, send it on WhatsApp, or upload it to your portal.
Why people compress PDFs with PDFTrusted
- Three levels on the page — Recommended, Extreme, and Less, with a short line under each one so you know what you are choosing
- Made for real limits — email attachments, WhatsApp, and job, school, or government upload caps
- Great for scans — photo-heavy and scanned PDFs usually see the biggest drop in size
- Never a bigger file — if a document is already fully optimized, you get your original back
- Private by design — Free compress runs in your browser. Every Pro compress is sent to our server
- Clean and free — no ads, no watermark on the result, and no account to get started
Compress PDF FAQ
Is it free to compress a PDF on PDFTrusted?
Yes. Compress PDF is included in your free daily uses, with files up to 100 MB. There are no ads on the page and no watermark on the file you download. If you compress long documents every day, Pro gives you higher limits.
Is my PDF safe when I compress it here?
A free compress runs in your browser, on your own device, so that job is not sent to our servers. Every Pro compress is sent to our server, and that temporary copy is removed within 1 hour.
Which compression level should I choose?
Start with Recommended. It gives a good balance between size and clarity for most documents. Use Extreme when a portal or email still says the file is too big, and use Less when the PDF has photos or diagrams you want to keep as detailed as possible.
How do I compress a PDF to 100 KB or 200 KB?
Choose Extreme and compress the file. Scans and image-heavy PDFs often drop to a fraction of their size. If you still need it smaller for a strict upload limit, remove pages you do not need with Remove Pages, then compress again.
Can I compress a PDF on my iPhone or Android phone?
Yes. Open this page in Safari, Chrome, or any modern browser, select the PDF from your Files app or downloads, and compress it. Nothing to install. It works the same way on Windows, Mac, and tablets.
Why is my PDF so large in the first place?
Most large PDFs are full of images: scanned pages, phone photos, or high-resolution graphics. Text alone takes very little space. That is why scans and photo-heavy documents shrink the most when you compress them.
How does compress make a PDF smaller without blurring the words?
On a typed PDF, the letters stay as real text. The tool only reduces the large pictures inside the file, then keeps whichever result is actually smaller. Recommended is the one to start with: the page still reads clearly on a screen and on a home printer. Extreme pushes the pictures further when an email or a portal still says the file is too big. A scan is already a photo of the page, so Extreme can soften that photo a little. If the file cannot get any smaller, you get your original back.
What else can I do if my PDF is still too big to send?
Split the document into smaller parts with Split PDF by Size, or keep only the pages you need with Extract Pages. Both are free. They run in your browser on Free, and a large Pro file is sent to our server.