How to use Compress PDF
- Drop a PDF
- Pick a level: Lossless, Balanced or Strong
- Click Compress PDF, check the new size and download
About this tool
Lossless rewrites the file with compressed object streams and removes unused objects. Text stays selectable, but savings are modest (often 5–20%). Balanced and Strong render every page as a JPEG image at 150 or 100 DPI, which shrinks scans and photo-heavy PDFs dramatically. These modes turn text into an image, so it is no longer selectable or searchable; keep the original if you need that.
If a compressed file comes out larger than the original, the tool tells you and you can keep the original.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I select text after compressing?
Balanced and Strong modes rasterize pages into images to get large savings. Use Lossless to keep text selectable.
How small can a PDF get?
Scanned documents typically shrink 50–90% in Strong mode. Text-only PDFs are already small and change little.
Is it safe for confidential files?
Yes. Compression runs on your device, and the file is never uploaded.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. ConvertBrightly processes files with JavaScript inside your browser. Nothing is sent over the network, and the files disappear when you close the tab. You can even disconnect from the internet after the page loads.
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