Compress PDF
Reduce PDF file size in your browser.
Your files never leave your device
- Private: runs in your browser
- Free, with no daily limits
- No sign-up, no watermark
- Works offline once loaded
How to use Compress PDF
- 1Select the PDF you want to shrink.
- 2Pick Light (keeps text) or Strong (best for scans and photos).
- 3Compare the sizes and download.
A free iLovePDF alternative
- Light mode keeps text selectable
- Strong mode for scans and photo PDFs
- See the saving before you download
- No 2-files-a-day limit
Most online tools upload your file to their server, process it there and then make you pay to remove limits. This one does the work inside your browser tab instead — so it is faster, it is free for us to run, and your document stays with you.
Questions about Compress PDF
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. This tool runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your file is read and processed on your own device and is never sent to ClientoraHQ or anyone else — you can even switch off your internet after the page loads.
Which mode should I use?
Light rewrites the file more efficiently and keeps text and links — good for documents made on a computer. Strong turns each page into a compressed image — best for scanned documents and photo-heavy PDFs, but text is no longer selectable.
Why did my PDF barely shrink in Light mode?
Most of a PDF's size is usually images. Light mode doesn't touch them, so try Strong — or the 100/150 DPI settings for the biggest saving.