Compress PDF Online
Compress a PDF online in your browser — shrink scanned and photo-heavy PDFs so they fit the size limit of the form or portal you are submitting to. Your file never leaves your device.
FreeThis tool works best for scanned or photo-heavy PDFs. Text-based PDFs may not shrink much. Each page is rebuilt as an image, so text in the result is not selectable or searchable.
Light keeps pages sharpest with a slight reduction. Maximum makes the smallest file. Balanced is a good middle choice.
How it works
- Pick a tool and add your file.
- Adjust the settings — everything is processed in your browser.
- Download the result. Your file never leaves your device.
I compressed my PDF but it did not get much smaller. Why?
Some PDFs are mostly text. Text already takes very little space, so it cannot shrink much. PDFs with big photos or scanned pages will become much smaller. If your PDF is text-only and already below your form limit, you can use it as it is.
Do my photos get uploaded anywhere? Is it safe?
No. Your photos and files never leave your phone or computer. Everything happens inside your browser, on your own device. We cannot see, save, or share your files.
About this PDF compressor online
FormReady’s compress PDF online tool re-compresses the images inside a PDF — the scans and photos that make up most of a document’s weight — so a heavy certificate or mark sheet becomes small enough to upload. Choose a quality level, see the new size before you download, and keep your original file untouched. Text-based PDFs that are already compact may not shrink much; scanned PDFs usually shrink the most.
Tool steps on this page checked 27 October 2026.
How much can this tool reduce a PDF’s size?
It depends on what is inside. Scanned and photo-heavy PDFs often shrink a lot, because the tool re-compresses the page images. A PDF that is mostly text is already small and may barely change.
Will compressing my PDF make it blurry?
You choose the quality level. Higher quality keeps scans sharp at a larger size; lower quality makes the file smaller but softer. Pick the level that still reads clearly for your document.