Reduce PDF size for upload and sharing
Upload a PDF, choose a Low, Medium or High compression level, compare the file size, and download a smaller PDF for forms, certificates, students.
Compress PDF
Use this tool to heavily reduce the file size of scanned or photo-heavy PDFs so they can be uploaded to portals.
Quick answer
Large PDFs often fail during form upload or email sharing. This tool solves that by rendering each page and rebuilding the PDF at your chosen quality level.
This gives real, predictable size reduction for scanned or photo-heavy PDFs. Note: the output's text is no longer selectable/searchable, so keep your original file if you need that feature.
💡 Indian Official Portal PDF Size Limits:
- MP Online & CSC Forms: Usually cap PDF document uploads to 200 KB.
- Scholarship & University Portals: Standard limit is 300 KB to 500 KB per document.
- UPSC & SSC Certificate Attachments: File size must be between 20 KB and 300 KB.
Why use this PDF compressor?
Quickly reduce file size directly in your browser.
Custom Targets
Set an exact target file size in KB or MB and let the tool do the rest.
No Server Uploads
Processed directly in your browser. Totally safe for private documents.
No Watermarks
Free to use without adding watermarks or requiring a login.
How to compress PDF online
Use Compress PDF Online when a document is too large for a form upload, office email, scholarship submission, or certificate sharing.
Step 1 - Upload your PDF
Choose the PDF file from your phone or computer. Use a clear document file, not a damaged or password-locked PDF.
Step 2 - Choose a compression level
Pick Low, Medium, High, or Custom size to enter an exact KB/MB target. The tool renders each page and rebuilds the PDF to match.
Step 3 - Compare the size
Check the original and compressed size once compression finishes.
Step 4 - Download and verify
Download the compressed PDF, open it once, and confirm that text, photos, signatures, and stamps are readable.
PDF compression tips
A smaller PDF is only useful if the text, photo, stamp, and signature are still readable. Always open the final file once before submission.
Remove Pages First
Remove blank or duplicate pages before compressing using Delete PDF Pages.
Medium is Ideal
Medium works well for most forms; use Low only if the portal has a very strict size limit.
Check Portal Limits
For online forms, compare the final PDF size with the portal upload limit.
Keep Original
Keep your original PDF if you need selectable/searchable text later.
Safe & secure processing
We don't send your PDFs to any external servers. Processing happens entirely within your device.
- No Server Uploads: Your PDFs never leave your device.
- No Data Retention: We do not store, view, or save your documents.
- No Login Needed: You can safely compress files without an account.
Online help
Need help preparing this file?
If your photo, signature, PDF, or document is still not accepted on a portal, contact us. We can help prepare the final file online.
We do not ask for OTP, passwords, Aadhaar login, MPOnline login or any government portal credentials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about reducing PDF file sizes.
How does this tool actually compress a PDF?
It renders every page as an image at your chosen quality level and rebuilds the PDF from those images. This is what actually shrinks scanned or photo-heavy PDFs, unlike basic PDF re-saving which barely reduces size for that kind of file.
Can I set an exact target file size for the compressed PDF?
Yes. Choose Custom size instead of a Low/Medium/High preset, enter a target in KB or MB, and the tool automatically searches for the closest quality that fits under that size.
Will the compressed PDF still have selectable or searchable text?
No. Because every page is rebuilt as an image, text in the compressed PDF cannot be selected, copied or searched anymore - even if the original PDF had real text. Keep your original file if you need selectable text later.
Is this Compress PDF Online tool free?
Yes. This Compress PDF Online tool is free to use, does not require signup, and does not add a watermark to the downloaded file.
Are PDF files uploaded to a server?
No. Both rendering the pages and rebuilding the PDF happen in your browser. We do not ask for login, signup, OTP, or government portal details.
Can I reduce PDF size for online form upload?
Yes. Use this tool when a form portal rejects your PDF because the file is too large. After compression, check the final size and open the PDF once to confirm the text and images are readable.
Which compression level should I choose?
Medium works well for most forms and scanned documents. Choose Low when the portal has a very strict size limit and some quality loss is acceptable, High when you want to keep the file as clear as possible, or Custom size if the portal states an exact KB/MB limit.
Will PDF compression reduce quality?
Yes, by design - lower quality levels produce a smaller file with more visible compression. Always open the compressed PDF and check that names, numbers, signatures, stamps, and certificate text are still readable before submitting it.
What should I do if the compressed PDF is still too large?
Try the Low compression level, remove extra pages first with Delete PDF Pages, or split the document into smaller files if the portal allows multiple uploads.
Can I use this PDF compressor on mobile?
Yes. You can use it on mobile or desktop as long as the browser can read the PDF file and complete the compression process.