How can I compress a PDF file for free?

Use PDFYogi's browser-based compression tool - it's completely free with no file size limits, no daily usage limits, and no registration required. Simply visit our website, select your PDF, choose a compression level (High Quality, Balanced, or Maximum), and download the result. Unlike 'freemium' tools like Smallpdf (limited to 2 files/hour) or iLovePDF (limited tasks/day), we have zero restrictions. Compress unlimited PDFs forever, completely free.

Is it safe to compress PDF files online?

With PDFYogi, yes - it's completely safe because your files never go 'online' in the traditional sense. Unlike tools that upload your files to servers (Adobe, Smallpdf, iLovePDF), our browser-based compression processes everything locally on your device. Your file never leaves your computer or phone. You can verify this by opening your browser's Developer Tools (F12 → Network tab) - you'll see zero network requests during compression. No upload means no privacy concerns.

Does compressing a PDF reduce quality?

It depends on the compression level you choose. Our High Quality setting (60-70% reduction) produces minimal visible quality loss - text remains razor-sharp, and images stay clear. The Balanced setting (70-80% reduction) causes slight image quality loss but maintains excellent readability. Maximum compression (80-85% reduction) creates noticeable image quality degradation but keeps text readable. Always start with High Quality and increase compression only if needed. Text is always compressed losslessly, so it stays perfectly sharp.

Can I compress a PDF without losing quality?

True lossless compression (zero quality loss, smaller file size) is possible but limited - typically achieving only 10-20% reduction through metadata removal and stream optimization. Most PDFs contain images, and significant compression requires lossy algorithms. However, our High Quality setting produces results that appear 'lossless' to the human eye for most business documents. Text remains perfectly sharp (text compression is lossless), and images are compressed minimally using industry-standard JPEG algorithms.

How much can you compress a PDF?

Typical compression results: Text-heavy documents (40-60% reduction) - A 10MB business report compresses to 4-6MB. Business presentations (60-75% reduction) - A 30MB presentation compresses to 7-12MB. Scanned documents (75-90% reduction) - A 50MB scanned contract compresses to 5-10MB. Already-compressed PDFs (5-15% additional reduction) - Limited gains if already optimized. Results vary based on PDF content type and the compression level you choose.

Why is my PDF file so large?

PDFs are large usually due to: (1) Embedded high-resolution images - Scanned pages, screenshots, and photos account for 70-90% of file size. Scanner default settings often use 300-600 DPI when 150 DPI is sufficient. (2) Uncompressed streams - Some PDF creators don't compress internal data streams, leaving them uncompressed. (3) Embedded fonts - Full font files (2-5MB each) instead of font subsets containing only used characters. (4) Metadata and thumbnails - Preview thumbnails, edit history, annotations, and excessive metadata add overhead. Our compression tool addresses all these issues automatically.

How do I compress a PDF to email it?

Email providers have attachment limits (Gmail: 25MB, Outlook: 20MB, Yahoo: 25MB). To compress for email: (1) Upload your PDF to our tool, (2) Select Balanced compression (70-80% reduction) - good balance for email, (3) Download the compressed PDF, (4) Attach to your email. A 30MB PDF typically compresses to 7-9MB, fitting comfortably under email limits. If your PDF is still too large after Balanced compression, try Maximum compression (80-85% reduction) for the smallest possible size.

What is the best way to compress a PDF?

The best method depends on your priorities: For privacy → use PDFYogi (browser-based, no upload required). For quality → use High Quality compression mode (60-70% reduction). For maximum size reduction → use Maximum compression mode (80-85% reduction). For balance → use Balanced mode (70-80% reduction, recommended for most users). Avoid using free online tools that upload files to servers if your PDF contains sensitive information like contracts, financial documents, or personal data. Our recommendation: Start with PDFYogi's High Quality mode - you get excellent compression without privacy concerns or subscription costs.

How do I maintain PDF quality when compressing?

To preserve quality: (1) Choose High Quality mode - Accepts 60-70% reduction to maintain visual fidelity. (2) Avoid recompressing - Compressing an already-compressed PDF degrades quality further with diminishing returns. (3) Match compression to content - Text-heavy documents tolerate higher compression than presentations with photos/graphics. (4) Test first - Compress one document, verify quality meets your needs, then process others. (5) Consider your output medium - Documents for printing need higher quality (High Quality mode) than documents for screen viewing only (Balanced or Maximum acceptable).

Do I need to install software to compress PDFs?

No. Our tool runs entirely in your web browser using WebAssembly technology - no installation required. Visit our website, select your PDF, compress, and download. No software to install, no system requirements beyond a modern browser (Chrome 90+, Firefox 88+, Safari 14+, Edge 90+), no antivirus conflicts, no updates to manage, no disk space consumed. This is one of the key advantages of browser-based tools: instant access without the overhead of installed software. Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android without any installation.

How long does it take to compress a PDF?

Processing time depends on file size and device performance: Small PDFs under 5MB (2-5 seconds), Medium PDFs 5-20MB (5-10 seconds), Large PDFs 20-100MB (10-30 seconds), Very large PDFs 100MB+ (30-60 seconds). Upload-based tools like Adobe, Smallpdf, and iLovePDF add 15-60 seconds for file upload/download on top of processing time depending on your internet speed. Our browser-based approach eliminates upload/download time entirely - processing starts immediately when you click compress.

Do my files get uploaded to your servers?

No. Your files never upload to any server. Our tool uses WebAssembly technology to process PDFs entirely in your browser, on your device. The PDF file is read into your browser's memory (RAM), compressed locally using algorithms running on your CPU, then saved to your download folder. No data transmission occurs during compression. Zero network activity. You can verify this yourself: open Developer Tools (F12 in Chrome/Firefox → Network tab) while compressing - you'll see zero network activity during the compression process. Your file genuinely never leaves your device.

How is browser-based processing safe?

Browser-based processing is inherently safer than server-based tools because: (1) No data leaves your device - Your file exists only in your browser's memory (RAM). (2) No server storage - Files can't be stored, leaked, hacked, or accessed on servers. (3) Verifiable security - You can monitor network activity and confirm zero file transmission using browser dev tools. (4) Works offline - Load our page, disconnect internet, still process PDFs. This proves no upload occurs. (5) Browser sandboxing - Modern browsers isolate web applications, preventing unauthorized file system access. (6) No trust required - You don't have to trust our 'we delete files after 1 hour' promise because files never reach us in the first place.

Are you GDPR compliant?

Yes. GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) requires protecting personal data during collection, processing, and storage. Since we never collect or process your data on our servers (everything happens in your browser), we don't fall under most GDPR data processing requirements. Your files remain under your exclusive control throughout the compression process. We don't collect filenames, file contents, IP addresses for processing, or personal information. For EU users processing sensitive documents (contracts, financial records, personal data): our tool provides complete GDPR compliance because your data never enters our systems. It's processed entirely client-side on your device.

How to compress PDF on Mac?

Use PDFYogi in Safari, Chrome, or Firefox on macOS - works perfectly, files never leave your Mac, 5-15 second processing. Mac's Preview app also has a 'Reduce File Size' Quartz filter (File → Export → Quartz Filter → Reduce File Size) but this method has NO quality control and often produces poor results with excessive quality loss. Our tool provides better quality control with 3 compression levels and faster processing than Mac's built-in method. For Mac users: PDFYogi in Safari is recommended for best experience and complete privacy.

How to compress PDF on iPhone?

Open PDFYogi in Safari on your iPhone: (1) Tap 'Choose File' or 'Select Files' and select PDF from Files app, iCloud Drive, or other sources, (2) Choose compression level (High Quality, Balanced, or Maximum), (3) Tap 'Compress PDF' button, (4) Download result to Files app or share directly. Works perfectly on iPhone 8 and newer, iPad with iOS 14+. Processing happens locally on your iPhone using Safari's WebAssembly support - no upload required, works even if you lose internet connection during compression. For best performance, use Safari browser (recommended) or Chrome.

Can I compress password-protected PDFs?

No. Password-protected (encrypted) PDFs cannot be compressed without first removing the password. The encryption prevents any modification to the file structure, including compression. To compress a password-protected PDF: (1) Use our Unlock PDF tool to remove the password (you must know the password to unlock), (2) Compress the unlocked PDF using our Compress PDF tool, (3) Optionally use our Protect PDF tool to re-add password protection after compression if needed. This ensures your compressed PDF remains secure.

Can I compress multiple PDFs at once?

Yes! Our tool supports batch processing. Upload multiple PDF files (your browser's memory permitting), select your compression level, and all files will be compressed with the same settings. Each file is processed individually and you can download them separately or all at once as a ZIP file. For processing many files: open multiple browser tabs to compress several files simultaneously (3-5 tabs recommended). Most computers handle 3-5 concurrent compressions without slowdown depending on available RAM and CPU performance.

What's the smallest size I can compress a PDF to?

The minimum achievable size depends on content type: Text-heavy PDFs (40-60% of original size) - A 10MB report becomes 4-6MB. Business presentations (25-40% of original size) - A 30MB presentation becomes 7-12MB. Scanned documents (10-20% of original size) - A 100MB scanned document becomes 10-20MB. Already-compressed PDFs (90-95% of original size) - Minimal additional reduction possible. Using Maximum compression on a 100MB scanned document typically produces a 10-15MB result (85-90% reduction). However, extremely aggressive compression degrades quality significantly - always verify output quality before using for important purposes.

PDFyogi

Compress PDF - Reduce File Size Instantly

Compress PDFs in your browser—files stay on your device

or Drag & drop files here

Max 1 files•Max file size: 100MB

Supported formats: .pdf, application/pdf

Compress PDF Online - Reduce File Size by 60-85% Free

Reduce PDF file size instantly with our free online PDF compressor. Our browser-based tool compresses PDFs by 60-85% while maintaining quality. No upload required - your files never leave your device. Perfect for email attachments, web uploads, and saving storage space.

100% Free • No File Limits • Complete Privacy

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Compress PDF Files

Reduce your PDF file size in 4 simple steps

Upload your PDF file by dragging and dropping or clicking to browse

Supports files up to 100MB. Multiple files can be processed at once.

Select your desired compression level (Low, Medium, or High)

Low: Best quality (60-70% reduction). Medium: Balanced (70-80%). High: Maximum compression (80-85%).

Click 'Compress PDF' to start the compression process

Processing happens entirely in your browser - no server upload required.

Download your compressed PDF file instantly

Your compressed file is ready immediately. Original quality text is preserved.

Why PDFyogi

Why Choose PDFyogi PDF Compressor?

The most privacy-focused PDF compression tool available online

100% Browser-Based Privacy

Your files never leave your device. All compression happens locally in your browser using WebAssembly technology. No server uploads, no data collection, no privacy concerns.

Lightning-Fast Processing

No upload/download delays. Most PDFs compress in 5-15 seconds regardless of file size. Start processing immediately without waiting for uploads.

Completely Free Forever

No file size limits, no daily usage restrictions, no registration required. Unlike competitors with 'freemium' limits, our tool is truly unlimited and free.

Smart Compression Algorithm

Our advanced algorithm optimizes images, removes duplicate data, and compresses streams while preserving document integrity and text sharpness.

Works on Any Device

Compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. No software installation needed - just open your browser and start compressing.

GDPR Compliant

Since files stay on your device, we don't collect, store, or process your data. Perfect for sensitive business documents and personal files.

Use Cases

PDF Compression Use Cases

Discover how professionals use our PDF compressor daily

Email Attachments

Reduce PDF size to fit email attachment limits (Gmail 25MB, Outlook 20MB). A 30MB PDF typically compresses to 7-9MB.

Example: Send large contracts and reports via email without issues

Website & Web App Uploads

Optimize PDFs for faster web uploads and better user experience. Smaller files load faster and consume less bandwidth.

Example: Upload resumes to job portals, documents to cloud services

Cloud Storage Optimization

Save storage space on Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and other cloud services. Compress archives of old documents.

Example: Reduce storage costs by compressing document archives

Mobile Device Storage

Free up space on smartphones and tablets by compressing downloaded PDFs. Essential for devices with limited storage.

Example: Store more ebooks and documents on your phone

Legal & Business Documents

Compress contracts, proposals, and reports while maintaining professional quality. Privacy-focused processing for sensitive documents.

Example: Share large legal documents securely with clients

Academic & Research Papers

Reduce thesis, dissertation, and research paper sizes for submission portals with file size limits.

Example: Submit papers to journals and academic portals

Platform Guides

Compress PDF on Any Platform

Step-by-step guides for every device and operating system

Compress PDF on Windows

Works perfectly in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge on Windows 10/11. No software installation required.

Open PDFyogi in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge
Click 'Select Files' or drag your PDF
Choose compression level and click 'Compress'
Download compressed PDF to your Downloads folder

Compress PDF on Mac

Best experience in Safari or Chrome on macOS. Faster and more private than Mac's built-in Preview method.

Open PDFyogi in Safari or Chrome
Select your PDF from Finder or drag and drop
Choose compression level (High Quality recommended)
Click 'Compress' and download the result

Compress PDF on Linux

Works on all Linux distributions with Firefox, Chrome, or Chromium. No terminal commands needed.

Open PDFyogi in Firefox or Chrome
Select PDF from file manager
Choose compression settings
Download compressed file

Compress PDF on iPhone & iPad

Full functionality in Safari on iOS 14+. Select PDFs from Files app, iCloud, or other sources.

Open PDFyogi in Safari on your iPhone/iPad
Tap 'Choose File' and select from Files app
Select compression level and tap 'Compress'
Save to Files app or share directly

Compress PDF on Android

Works in Chrome and other browsers on Android devices. Access PDFs from Downloads, Drive, or file manager.

Open PDFyogi in Chrome on Android
Tap 'Choose File' and select your PDF
Choose compression level
Download to Downloads folder or share

Comparison

PDFyogi vs Other PDF Compressors

See how we compare to popular PDF compression tools

Feature	PDFyogi	Adobe Acrobat	Smallpdf	iLovePDF
Price	Free	$14.99/mo	Free*	Free*
File Size Limit	100MB	Unlimited	5GB	100MB
Daily Usage Limit	Unlimited	Unlimited	2 files/hour	Limited
Privacy (No Upload)	✓	✗	✗	✗
Works Offline	✓	✓	✗	✗
Registration Required	No	Yes	No	No
Compression Quality	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Good
Batch Processing	✓	✓	Pro only	Pro only
GDPR Compliant	✓	✓	✓	✓

PDFyogi offers the best combination of privacy, unlimited usage, and quality - completely free with no compromises.

Pro Tips

Advanced PDF Compression Tips

Expert techniques to get the best compression results

Start with High Quality Mode

Always begin with High Quality compression (60-70% reduction). Only increase compression if the file is still too large. This preserves the best visual quality.

Avoid Recompressing PDFs

Compressing an already-compressed PDF yields diminishing returns and may degrade quality. Keep original files and compress only once.

Match Compression to Content

Text-heavy documents tolerate higher compression than image-rich presentations. Adjust settings based on your PDF's content type.

Consider Output Medium

Documents for printing need higher quality (use Low compression). Screen-only documents can use Medium or High compression.

Use Batch Processing Wisely

For large batches, process 5-10 files at a time for optimal performance. Monitor your device's memory usage.

Compress Before Adding Security

If you need to password-protect your PDF, compress it first. Encrypted PDFs cannot be compressed.

Technical Details

Technical Specifications

Detailed technical information about our PDF compressor

Maximum File Size100MB per file

Supported Input FormatPDF (all versions)

Output FormatPDF 1.7

Compression Ratio60-85% reduction

Processing TechnologyWebAssembly (WASM)

Browser RequirementsChrome 90+, Firefox 88+, Safari 14+, Edge 90+

Processing Location100% Client-side (your device)

Batch ProcessingUp to 20 files simultaneously

Image CompressionJPEG quality optimization

Text CompressionLossless (no quality loss)

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about PDF compression

Use PDFyogi's browser-based compression tool - it's completely free with no file size limits, no daily usage limits, and no registration required. Simply upload your PDF, choose a compression level, and download the result. Unlike 'freemium' tools, we have zero restrictions.

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Guide

Solutions to common PDF compression issues