Does compression reduce quality?

Slight quality reduction is possible for images. Text stays sharp. For most use cases the difference is not visible.

Is there a quality setting?

Yes. Choose between Maximum Compression (smaller file, lower image quality) or Balanced (smaller file, original quality preserved as much as possible).

Can I compress a scanned PDF?

Yes. Scanned PDFs often compress dramatically because they are mostly image data. A 200 MB scan can often become 30 to 50 MB without visible quality loss.

Why compress a PDF at all?

Smaller files upload faster, fit email attachment limits (most are 25 MB), and load faster on slow connections. Mobile users especially benefit.

What is the file size limit before and after compression?

Free tier accepts uploads up to 50 MB. Output can be any size after compression.

Are compressed files secure?

Yes. TLS 1.3 on upload, processed and deleted within 2 hours on free tier, no analysis or training.

How does this compare to compressing in a desktop PDF reader?

Most desktop readers have basic compression. filefreaks uses optimized compression that typically achieves smaller file sizes for the same quality.

Compress PDF

Smaller files, still sharp

Reduce PDF size for email and uploads without turning your text into a blur. Pick the balance of size and quality you want.

Compress a PDF See pricing

Free tier: 30 tasks a month. Files deleted within 2 hours.

How to compress a PDF

01
Upload your PDF
Add the file you want to shrink. It travels over an encrypted TLS 1.3 connection.
02
Pick a level
Choose lighter compression for print or stronger compression for email and web.
03
Download the result
Get a smaller file with the size shown before and after. The upload is deleted within 2 hours on free.

How compression keeps text readable

Most PDF weight comes from images, not text. We recompress images and strip unused data while leaving the text layer untouched, so words stay crisp and selectable even at a smaller size. You see the before and after size before you commit.

Why compress here

/01

Honest data handling

Files are encrypted on upload with TLS 1.3 and deleted within 2 hours on the free tier. No analysis, no training, no third-party sharing.

/02

Fair economics, AI included

Lower prices than the usual options, with AI features bundled from $3 a month instead of sold as a separate add-on.

/03

A product built with care

Tools that read clearly, run fast, and respect your work. Designed to be used daily, not endured.

Questions

Typical compression reduces file size by 40 to 70 percent depending on the content. Image-heavy PDFs compress more than text-only PDFs.

Start free

Compress your first PDF free

30 tasks a month, no signup. Files deleted within 2 hours.

Try free

Smaller files, still sharp

How to compress a PDF

Upload your PDF

Pick a level

Download the result