Why the compressed file might not have selectable text
This tool compresses by rendering each page as an image and rebuilding the PDF from those images, the same approach most "extreme compression" tools use for scanned documents. It shrinks file size a lot, but text in the output PDF can no longer be selected or searched. If you need to keep the text layer, try the High Quality setting first, or a lower compression level.
Batch compressing multiple PDFs at once
You can drop in several files together. Each one compresses independently in the background, with its own progress bar, so a big file doesn't hold up the smaller ones. Once they're done, download everything at once as a ZIP instead of one file at a time.
Picking a compression level
Extreme works well for text-heavy scans where image quality barely matters. Recommended is a fair middle ground for most PDFs you'd email or upload. High Quality is worth it for anything with photos or detailed diagrams where the difference is visible at a glance.
What happens with password-protected PDFs
If a file is locked, the tool asks for the password before it can read the pages. Nothing is sent anywhere to check it — the password is only used locally to open the file in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
Is this PDF compressor really free?
Yes, there's no file limit, no watermark, and no account needed.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Compression runs in your browser using Web Workers, so files never leave your device.
Why did my compressed PDF lose selectable text?
Compression rebuilds each page as a recompressed image, which is what makes the file smaller. That means text in the result can't be selected or searched, even though it still looks the same.
Can I compress a password-protected PDF?
Yes, enter the password when prompted. It's only used locally to open the file and isn't sent anywhere.
What's the difference between the DPI and quality sliders?
DPI controls how sharp each page looks — lower means smaller but blurrier. Quality controls how much the images are compressed at that resolution. Lowering either one shrinks the file further.