Free online PDF compressor

Select a PDF, pick a compression level and download the result. A much smaller file is far easier to email or upload to a portal that caps file size.

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About the PDF compressor

The BapTools PDF compressor shrinks PDF files so you can email them, upload them to a document portal or share them quickly. Compression runs inside your browser, so there is nothing to install.

When should you compress a PDF?

  • Email attachments: many mail providers block PDF files above 10 MB.
  • Website uploads: manuals, contracts and job application documents.
  • Save storage: back up many documents on a hard drive or memory card.
  • Faster downloads: a smaller file opens quicker on a phone.

Which compression level should I use?

Use Mild for sensitive documents where text must stay crisp, Medium for everyday reading, and Strong for files that are only viewed online. Always open the output once before sending it.

Real-world examples

Example 1 — a 14 MB file blocked by email

Many mail providers reject attachments over 10 MB. At medium compression this comes to roughly 4 MB and sends fine, with the text still perfectly readable.

Example 2 — text-heavy documents

Contracts, reports and exam papers are mostly text. Mild compression is usually enough and often saves only 10 to 20%, because the bulk sits in fonts and structure rather than images.

Example 3 — scanned paper

A scan is normally 300 dpi JPEG pages. Strong compression can cut 70 to 80%, which is fine when the file is only ever read on screen.

Example 4 — files that will be reprinted

If the compressed file may be printed, use mild compression and check the result first. Strong settings blur small text and tables.

When to use it, and when not to

Worth using

  • Getting an attachment past an email size limit.
  • Uploading to an internal portal that caps each file.
  • Sharing documents meant for reading on screen, where print quality does not matter.
  • Saving storage when you back up many copies.

Not worth it

  • Files that must keep print or publishing quality, where detail loss matters.
  • PDFs with form layers, digital signatures or DRM: recompressing can invalidate them.
  • Legal scans or contracts archived for the long term. Bitmap data can be lost, so keep the original.
  • Files already under 1 MB, where the saving is negligible.

How to compress a PDF

  1. Select the PDF file you want to compress.
  2. Choose a level: mild, medium or strong.
  3. Press Compress PDF and wait for the progress bar.
  4. Preview the result to confirm the content is still readable.
  5. Download the compressed file.

Frequently asked questions

Does compressing a PDF make the text unreadable?

With strong compression, images can look blurry and small text becomes harder to read. For text-heavy documents choose mild or medium.

Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?

Your file is processed in your own browser and is never sent to a BapTools server.

Is there a file size limit?

The practical limit depends on the RAM of your device, because the browser has to hold the file in memory while compressing.