# Compress PDF Online

> Compress PDF files online for free. Private, no signup, no watermarks. Shrink to a target size like 100 KB — works 100% in your browser.

Canonical: https://mypdf.space/tools/compress
Last updated: 2026-10-26

## Short answer

Drop a PDF, choose Keep text, Max shrink, or Target size (for example 100 KB), then download. Compression runs in your browser — for exact portal limits, use the compress-to-size pages.

## About this tool

Shrink PDFs locally — keep selectable text by default, or max-shrink with a searchable overlay.

Shrink a PDF locally — keep selectable text, max-shrink, or hit a size you choose.

Compress PDF online for free when email or upload limits get in the way — no signup, no watermark, nothing uploaded.

Keep text (default) rebuilds the file while preserving selectable text and vectors. Max shrink rasterizes pages for smaller files and restores a searchable overlay when text exists.

Target size lets you name a number — 100 KB, 200 KB, 500 KB, or 1 MB — and the tool works down through quality settings until the file fits. If that number is not reachable without making the pages unreadable, it says so plainly.

Already-small text PDFs may not shrink much. Image-heavy scans usually shrink the most.

## How to use

1. Open the PDF you want to shrink.
2. Choose Keep text (recommended), Max shrink, or Target size.
3. For target size, type a number and pick KB or MB; for max shrink, pick Low / Medium / High (or custom DPI).
4. Click Compress, check the resulting size, and download.

## What you need

- One PDF

## Notes

- Keep text rebuilds the PDF with object streams and strips metadata — vectors and selectable text stay intact.
- Max shrink rasterizes pages; original text positions are overlaid as near-invisible searchable text when available.
- Target size stops at 50 DPI. If your target needs less than that, you get the smallest legible file plus an explanation rather than an unreadable one.
- Target size re-renders every page once per pass, so a long or image-heavy PDF takes noticeably longer than the other modes.
- Already-small text PDFs may not shrink much (or can grow slightly).

## Use cases

- Shrink PDFs for Gmail, Outlook, or college portal uploads.
- Fit a file under WhatsApp or messaging attachment limits.
- Professionals sending large scanned contracts without a cloud link.

## FAQ

### Can I compress a PDF to 100 KB or 200 KB?

Yes. Target size mode takes a number in KB or MB and tries each quality setting from 150 DPI down to 50 DPI, stopping at the first one that fits. If the target cannot be met without making the pages unreadable, you get the smallest legible file and a clear note saying so — the number is never faked.

### Does compress keep selectable text?

Yes by default. Keep text preserves selectable text and vectors. Max shrink rasterizes pages and restores a searchable overlay when text exists.

### Will every PDF get much smaller?

Not always. Already-small text PDFs may not shrink much (or can grow slightly). Image-heavy PDFs usually shrink more with max shrink.

### Is compress PDF free with no watermark?

Yes — free, no account, and no watermark. Processing stays in your browser.

### Do you store my files?

No. Compression never uploads your PDF. Close the tab and nothing remains on our servers — because nothing was sent.

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