Compress PDF
Compress PDFs online for quick sharing, fast uploads, and lighter storage without visible quality loss. The compressor is free, needs no signup, and runs online.
Free
no account needed
Frankfurt
stored in the EU
2 hours
then files are deleted
Your files
Add them here, we do the rest
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Upload files up to 100 MB in PDF
What is PDF compression?
Novitora shrinks your PDF by optimizing the images and data inside it, so the file gets smaller without changing how the document looks or reads.
Unlike basic zipping, PDF compression optimizes the images, drops redundant data, and restructures the file so it stays fully usable.
Compression can cut a document in half or more while keeping it visually indistinguishable from the original. Text-heavy and image-rich files need different handling, and the tool picks the right method for each.
The compressed PDF keeps its text searchable and its structure intact, so the smaller file is ready for email, web uploads, or long-term archives.
Why compress a PDF?
- 01
A smaller PDF solves everyday problems. It emails without bouncing off size limits, uploads faster to cloud storage, and takes up less space on your device.
- 02
A well-compressed PDF loads quickly on any device, even on slow connections. When a form or portal enforces a strict upload limit, compressing the file first gets you under the cap without dropping quality. Tight storage benefits the most, since you keep the same documents in less space.
- 03
The process keeps text searchable and the document readable while shrinking the file, and you need no extra software to open the result.
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions? Contact support.
Will compressing my PDF make it look bad?
No. Text remains crisp because it is stored as vector data, not pixels. Embedded images are re-encoded at a quality level that is virtually indistinguishable from the original on screen and in print. You can preview the compressed file before downloading to confirm the result meets your expectations.
How much smaller will my file be?
It depends on the content. PDFs with many high-resolution images typically shrink by 50–80%. Text-heavy documents with few images may reduce by 10–30%. The compressor automatically selects the best strategy for each file to maximize size reduction while preserving quality.
What happens to the images inside my PDF?
Images are re-sampled to match their display size and re-encoded with optimized compression settings. This removes unnecessary resolution that adds file weight without improving how the image actually looks in the document. The process is non-destructive to the rest of the PDF structure.
Does this work on scanned PDFs?
Yes. Scanned PDFs are essentially full-page images, so compression can significantly reduce their size by re-encoding each page image. Keep in mind that scanned files start larger than born-digital PDFs, so the final size will still be bigger, but the reduction is typically substantial.
Why did the file size not change very much?
If your PDF is mostly text with small or already-optimized images, there is less data to compress. Files that were previously compressed or exported with optimized settings will also show smaller gains. This is normal and means your document was already fairly efficient.
My PDF is password-protected. Can I still compress it?
You will need to provide the password so the tool can access the document content. Once the password is entered, compression proceeds normally. The tool does not remove or alter any existing password protection on the output file.