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Compress PDF Files
Shrink PDFs that are too large to email or upload. Images are resampled and recompressed and the file structure is optimised, while text stays sharp and selectable.
- Runs in your browser — no upload
- Free — no sign-up
How to use Compress PDF
- 1Open the PDF you want to make smaller.
- 2Choose a compression level: high quality, balanced or maximum compression.
- 3Compare the before and after size and download the compressed PDF.
Why use Compress PDF on PDF NOVA
Files stay on your device
Processing happens in your browser. Your document is never uploaded to a server, so there is nothing to delete afterwards.
Smart image recompression
Large photos and scans are downsampled to a sensible resolution for the chosen level; text and vector graphics are left untouched.
Honest results
You see the exact original and new size. If a file is already optimised, we tell you instead of producing a bigger file.
No sign-up, no watermark
Open the page and start working. Results are clean PDFs with no branding added.
Processing on your device
Compress PDF processes your file in your browser on your device. The file is not uploaded for processing. Download the result to keep a permanent copy. Your active PDF is saved locally in this browser for recovery across refreshes. Close Document removes it; recovery expires after 24 hours and is cleaned up when PDF NOVA next opens. Unsaved changes are not restored.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Compress PDF free?
Yes. Compress PDF is free to use without an account and does not add a watermark to your file.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. This tool runs entirely in your web browser using JavaScript and Web Workers. The file is read from your device, processed in memory and saved back to your device.
How much smaller will my PDF get?
It depends on the content. Scanned and photo-heavy PDFs often shrink by 50–90%. Text-only PDFs are usually already compact and shrink less.
Will compression make text blurry?
No. Text and vector graphics are not rasterised or resampled — only embedded images are recompressed.