Compress PDF files
Shrink a PDF so it’s easier to email or upload. Photos are re-compressed while the text stays sharp, and the work happens on your device.
How to compress a PDF
- Choose your PDF
Drop the file above or pick it from your device.
- Pick a level
Recommended keeps good quality. Strong makes photos smaller. Extreme gives the smallest file by turning pages into images.
- Compress and download
Click Compress PDF. You’ll see how much smaller the new file is before it downloads.
Your files never leave your device
Most online PDF services upload your documents to their servers. PDFellow does the work right here in your browser, so your file is never sent anywhere. It’s free, there’s no signup, and you can use it as often as you like.
Frequently asked questions
Will my text still be selectable?
Yes with Recommended and Strong, which only re-compress the photos. Extreme turns each page into an image, so text can no longer be selected or searched.
Why didn’t my PDF get smaller?
PDFs that are mostly text, or whose images are already compressed, have little left to remove. PDFellow tells you when a file is already well optimized instead of giving you a bigger copy.
Is my file uploaded to compress it?
No. Compression runs in your browser, so even confidential documents stay on your device.