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Processed in your browser · no upload

Compress a PDF to a target size

Choose a target size and a compression method for each PDF, then inspect the actual output.

or drop them here

Up to 5 PDFs · 50 MiB each · processed in this browser

Your documents stay on your device.

Start with text-preserving compression. Choose image compression for a scan when a smaller file matters more than selectable text.

Target file size

Target file size: 204,800 bytes

Check the receiving site's byte limit. 1 KiB = 1,024 bytes; 1 MiB = 1,048,576 bytes.

Files are processed locally in your browser. Keep text is the default method: it rewrites the PDF without rendering pages as images. Choose image compression for an individual file only if losing selectable text and reducing visual detail is acceptable. Savings and target-size success depend on the document.

Compress PDF

  1. 1Add one or more PDF files.
  2. 2Set a target size and choose Keep text or Image compression for each file.
  3. 3Start compression. Each file is processed separately; a failed file does not stop the rest.
  4. 4Check the original and output byte counts, inspect important pages, then download each result.

Compress PDF

  • Choose the trade-off separately for a text document and a scan.
  • See actual output bytes and whether the requested target was met.
  • Compare the original and exported pages locally before downloading.

Frequently asked questions

No. It is a best-effort target, and the actual output byte count determines whether it was met. Some PDFs may not get smaller. Review the result before submitting it to a portal.

Keep text does not render pages as images and is the default. Image compression replaces page content with images, so text is no longer selectable or searchable. Choose the method for each file; an uncertain text check does not select image compression for you.

Neither method guarantees preservation of interactive forms or digital signatures. Keep the original and check the exported file in the software required for your task. Page previews help with visual review but do not validate signatures or every page.

Turn it into an automated flow

Need to batch-process, or chain several steps? Use the workflow builder to combine compress, merge, rotate and watermark into a reusable pipeline.

Updated · compress cat team

Sources, review and limits

Last verified

2026-06-17

Author

CompressCat editorial desk

Reviewer

PDF processing review

Primary sources

  • PDF.js, pdf-lib style local PDF processing where used
  • Browser file and download APIs
  • User-provided PDF files processed locally unless a page explicitly states otherwise

PDF tools are productivity helpers, not legal, compliance or records-retention advice. Review exported documents before signing, filing or sharing.