Compress PDF files online
Shrink PDF file size for email and sharing.
How it works
- 1
Drop your PDF.
- 2
Choose a compression level.
- 3
Compare the size and download.
Reduce the size of your PDF so it fits in an email or upload form. Choose basic, strong or extreme compression, and see exactly how much you save before downloading.
Large PDFs bounce from email and upload forms. Compression trades a little visual quality for a much smaller file. Basic mode never touches your content; Strong is the sweet spot for scanned or image-heavy documents; Extreme is for when size matters more than looks.
What people use it for
- Fit a PDF under an email or upload size limit.
- Shrink scans before archiving them.
- Speed up sharing on slow mobile connections.
Tips for best results
- Start with Strong, which gives the best size-to-quality balance.
- Basic keeps text selectable and only trims overhead.
- Extreme is for files that just have to be small; text becomes an image.
Your files never leave your device
Unlike most online PDF tools, Intelli File does not upload your documents to a server. Everything runs in your browser using your own device, so contracts, IDs and financial records stay private. Only a small usage counter is sent so we can apply daily limits.
Read how we handle privacyWhat to do next
After this, you may want to Merge PDF, Protect PDF, or PDF properties.
Frequently asked questions
How does compression work?+
Basic keeps all content and just optimises the file structure. Strong and Extreme re-render pages as compressed images, which gives much smaller files but makes text non-selectable.
What if the file doesn't get smaller?+
We then keep your original so you never receive a bigger file.
How small can a PDF get?+
Scans and image-heavy files often shrink 60-90% with Strong. Text-only PDFs are already small, so savings are modest.
Will text stay searchable?+
Only in Basic mode. Strong and Extreme turn pages into images; use the Searchable PDF tool afterwards if you need text back.