Compress PDF

Make a heavy PDF light enough to email or upload. Standard compression runs in your browser, so your file stays on your device the whole time.

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Compress PDF at a glance

Compress PDF is a tool that makes a PDF file smaller so it is easier to email, upload or store. Standard compression is free and runs in your browser: it recompresses images, lowers their resolution to a sensible level and packs the file structure tightly. Strong compression on our servers is part of Pro.

Limits · Files up to 1 GB each · Any number of files at a time · Free and unlimited, no account needed

Last updated October 19, 2026

How to use Compress PDF

Add your PDF
Choose a file or drop it on the page. It opens right in your browser.
Pick a level
Standard compression is free and runs on your device. Strong compression shrinks more and is part of Pro.
Compress and save
Press Compress PDF. Your smaller file is ready to download a moment later.

What Compress PDF does

Compressing a PDF means making the file smaller so it is easier to email, upload or store. Wispdf does this in your browser. It recompresses the images, brings their resolution down to a sensible level and packs the file structure more tightly. Typed text usually stays sharp, while photos and scans give up a little detail. For a smaller file still, strong compression on our servers is part of Pro.

People use it to

Email a photo-heavy class project to a teacher without it bouncing back
Fit a scanned lease and pay stubs under a rental portal's upload limit
Trim a product catalog so clients can open it quickly on their phones

What's included

Free on your device

Standard compression runs in your browser at no cost. No account, no daily limit, nothing uploaded.

Lighter images

Images are recompressed and brought down to a sensible resolution, so photos and scans weigh less.

Tighter file structure

Wispdf packs the inside of the file more neatly, trimming weight without changing your pages.

Strong compression

Need it smaller still? Strong compression on our servers is part of Pro, and we ask before sending your file.

Where your file goes

Standard compression runs on your device, so your PDF never leaves your browser. Strong compression uses our servers only after you say yes, and the file is encrypted on the way, deleted within an hour and never looked at.

On your device firstFree and unlimited, no account needed.

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Questions about Compress PDF

Is Compress PDF free?

Yes. Standard compression in Compress PDF is free and unlimited, with no account. It runs on your device, so there is no daily cap, and the practical limit is your device's memory. Strong compression is part of Pro, which you can try free for 7 days with no card, or get with a 7-Day Pass for $9.

Is my PDF uploaded when I compress it?

Not for standard compression. Compress PDF does that work inside your browser, so the file stays on your device. Strong compression needs our servers, and we ask you before anything is sent. If you agree, the file is encrypted on the way, deleted within an hour, and never looked at by anyone.

How do I make a PDF small enough to email?

Open Compress PDF, add your file and run standard compression, then check the new size. If your email or upload form has an exact limit, such as 10 MB or 200 KB, try Compress PDF to a Size instead. You type the limit, Wispdf tries settings until the file fits, and it tells you the size it reached.

Will compressing a PDF make it blurry?

Typed text usually stays sharp, because Compress PDF mostly works on images. Photos and graphics lose some fine detail as they get lighter, and strong compression trades away more quality for a smaller file. If your PDF is a scan, every page is a picture, so the text can soften a little. Zoom in on anything important before sending.

Can I compress a PDF on my iPhone or Android phone?

Yes. Compress PDF works in any modern browser on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook, with no app to install. Standard compression uses your phone's own memory, so very large files are easier on a computer, which can comfortably handle around 1 GB of PDFs.

Why did my PDF barely get smaller?

Some PDFs are already lean. A file that is mostly typed text takes little space, and a PDF that was compressed before has less left to squeeze. The biggest savings come from photos and scans. If you still need it smaller, try strong compression in Pro, remove pages you don't need, or convert the file with Grayscale PDF.