How to compress a PDF
- Add your PDF. Drag it into the box above, or tap Select PDF file.
- Choose a level. Recommended suits most uses. Pick Strong if you need to get under a strict size limit.
- Compress and download. You'll see the size before and after, then download the smaller file.
How PDF compression works
In almost every large PDF, the size comes from photos and scanned pages, not text. PDFWisely finds those images, lowers their resolution to what's needed for screen or print, and saves them with efficient JPEG compression. Text, vector graphics and fonts are left alone, so words stay sharp and searchable.
| Level | Image size (longest side) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Up to 2,400 px | Printing, documents with fine detail |
| Recommended | Up to 1,700 px | Email, sharing, reading on screen |
| Strong | Up to 1,150 px | Job, visa, university and government portals with tight limits |
How to get under a specific size (e.g. 200 KB)
- Start with Recommended and check the result.
- Still too big? Try Strong.
- Still too big? Tick Convert images to grayscale. Colour scans are roughly three times larger.
- Remove pages you don't need with Split PDF (use Extract pages).
- As a last resort, rescan the paper at 150 DPI in grayscale.
Always zoom in and read the smallest text before submitting. A file that meets the size limit but can't be read will still be rejected.
Private by design
Most compression sites upload your file to their servers. PDFWisely compresses it inside your browser, so confidential documents such as bank statements, IDs and contracts stay on your device. You can even disconnect from the internet after the page loads, and it still works.
Frequently asked questions
Is Compress PDF free?
Yes. There's no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limit.
Will compression make my text blurry?
No. Text in a normal PDF isn't an image, so it isn't changed. Only photos and scans are recompressed. On a scanned document, the whole page is an image, so check readability after using Strong.
How much smaller will my PDF get?
It depends on what's inside. Scans and photo-heavy PDFs often shrink by 70–90%. Text-only PDFs may shrink very little, because they're already efficient.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The file is read and compressed by your own browser. Nothing is sent to PDFWisely.
Can I compress a password-protected PDF?
Not directly. Remove the password first with the password you were given, then compress the file and protect it again if needed.
What does "Remove hidden metadata" do?
It deletes details stored inside the file, such as the author's name, the software used and creation dates. This is useful before sending documents outside your organisation.