Compress PDF files online — reduce file size without losing quality
or click to browse · Max 20MB
PDF compression is the process of reducing the file size of a PDF document by optimizing how images, fonts, and metadata are stored. Modern PDF compression algorithms can shrink files by 60-90% with minimal visible quality loss, especially for image-heavy documents like scanned contracts, presentations, or photo books. Compressed PDFs are easier to email, faster to upload to cloud storage, quicker to share online, and use less bandwidth on mobile networks. FileTools PDF Compressor uses Ghostscript — the industry-standard PDF processing engine — to deliver professional-quality compression with three preset levels.
Common use cases: sending invoices and contracts via email when attachment size limits apply (typically 10-25MB), uploading documents to government or banking portals with strict size restrictions, sharing scanned books or presentations through messaging apps, archiving large document libraries to save cloud storage costs, attaching PDFs to job applications, reducing bandwidth on slow mobile networks, and optimizing website downloads for faster page loading.
⚡ Recommended (150 DPI): the best balance for most situations. Perfect for email, web sharing, and screen viewing.
🔥 Maximum (72 DPI): the smallest possible file size. Best for archival, sharing thumbnails, or when storage matters more than visual quality.
🖨️ High Quality (300 DPI): minimal compression with print-quality images. Use when you need to print the PDF or preserve fine details.
1. Click the upload area or drag your PDF file
2. Choose your compression level — Recommended is the safe default
3. Click "Compress PDF" to start processing
4. View the size reduction stats and click "Download" to save
✅ 100% free — no signup, no watermark, no subscription
✅ 3 compression levels for every use case
✅ Powered by Ghostscript — industry standard PDF engine
✅ Preserves text, links, bookmarks, and form fields
✅ Privacy-first — files auto-deleted after 1 hour
✅ Files up to 20MB
Compression results vary based on the original PDF content. Image-heavy PDFs typically reduce by 60-90%, while text-only PDFs may shrink by 10-30%. The Maximum compression level (72 DPI) gives the smallest file but lowest quality, Recommended (150 DPI) is the best balance for most use cases, and High Quality (300 DPI) is ideal for printing.
Yes, compression involves some quality reduction by lowering image resolution and optimizing data. The Recommended setting (150 DPI) keeps PDFs visually identical for screen viewing. Use High Quality (300 DPI) when you plan to print, and Maximum only when small file size matters more than visual fidelity.
Use Recommended (150 DPI) for emails, web sharing, and online viewing — best balance of size and quality. Use Maximum (72 DPI) for archival or when you need the absolute smallest file. Use High Quality (300 DPI) for printing or when image clarity is essential.
Yes. Text remains fully searchable, hyperlinks work, bookmarks are preserved, and form fields stay functional. Compression only affects images and media within the PDF, not the document structure or interactive elements.
Yes. Files are processed on our secure server and automatically deleted within 1 hour. We never store, share, or analyze your documents. The compressor is also free and requires no signup.
☕ Support FileTools
Enter any amount in USD and click PayPal to donate