Your PDF is 8 MB and the job portal only accepts 2 MB. Compress PDF on Xon File makes the file smaller so it fits through upload forms, email attachments and chat apps. Pick a compression level, upload up to 30 PDFs, and download the smaller versions. There's no account and no charge.
How to compress a PDF
- Drag your PDFs onto the box on a computer, or tap "Select files" on a phone. You can add up to 30 files, with up to 100 MB per upload.
- Choose a level: Recommended, Less compression (best quality), or Extreme compression.
- Start compressing.
- Check the "Reduced by X%" figure to see how much smaller each file got.
- Download. One PDF downloads on its own; several come back together in a ZIP.
What the PDF compressor changes
Most of the size in a big PDF comes from the images inside it: scanned pages, photos, charts saved as pictures. The tool shrinks and recompresses those images, and it cleans out duplicate data that some programs leave in files. Text stays as text, so a typed document still reads the same after compression.
This is why results vary so much between files. Scanned and photo-heavy PDFs shrink the most. In one of our tests, a 6 MB PDF full of photos came down to about 110 KB on the Recommended level. A PDF that's mostly text, such as a letter exported from Microsoft Word, is usually small already, and there may not be much left to remove.
The result is never bigger than the original. If a file can't be made any smaller, you get the original back unchanged.
Which compression level to pick
| Level | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Recommended | Most files. A balance between a smaller file and images that stay clear enough for everyday reading |
| Less compression, best quality | When images need to stay sharp, such as a portfolio, a photo report or something you plan to print. The file shrinks less |
| Extreme compression | When size matters most, such as a strict upload limit. Images lose more detail, so check that small text in scanned pages is still readable |
A sensible approach is to try Recommended first. If the file is still too big for where you're sending it, try Extreme. If the result looks too soft, go back to Less compression.
When a smaller PDF helps
Email attachments
Gmail and most other email services limit attachment size. A scanned contract or a photo-heavy report can go over that limit easily. Shrink PDF for email and it will attach normally, and the person receiving it won't wait for a big download.
WhatsApp and phone storage
Smaller PDFs send faster on slow connections and take up less space on your phone and the recipient's. This helps when you share documents often in work or family group chats.
Upload forms with size limits
Job applications, university admissions, government services and visa forms often set a maximum file size, sometimes only a few megabytes. Reduce PDF size here before you upload, and you can keep the scans you already have.
Archiving documents
Businesses and schools that keep years of scanned records can save storage by compressing them. You can add up to 30 files per upload, so a folder of scans can go through in a few batches.
Getting the best results
- If you're sending several PDFs as one document, join them with Merge PDF first and then compress the merged file. You end up with one small attachment.
- If you still need the file smaller, look at whether every page is needed. Dropping pages with Remove pages can help a lot when the removed pages are full of images.
- For images that aren't in a PDF yet, Compress image shrinks JPG, PNG and other photo files directly.
- Keep your original file. Compression removes image detail, and that detail can't be put back afterwards.
Privacy
Your files are uploaded to our server, compressed, and deleted as soon as the results are sent back to you. Nothing is kept or shared. Compressed PDFs have no watermark or branding added.
Frequently asked questions
Is this PDF compressor free?
Yes. You can compress PDF files for free without creating an account. No watermark is added to the results.
How much smaller will my PDF get?
It depends on what's inside. Scanned and photo-heavy PDFs shrink the most, while text-only PDFs are usually small already. After compressing, the tool shows "Reduced by X%" so you can see the exact saving for your file.
Why didn't my PDF get any smaller?
The file probably had little to compress, which is common with text-only documents. When a PDF can't be reduced, the tool gives you the original back, so you never end up with a bigger file.
Will compressing reduce the quality?
Images inside the PDF lose some detail, more so on Extreme. Text isn't affected. If image quality matters, choose "Less compression, best quality".
What's the difference between Compress PDF and Compress image?
Compress PDF works on PDF files, and the results are still PDFs. Compress image works on photo files such as JPG, PNG and WEBP, and it always saves the result as a JPG. Pick the one that matches the file you have.
Can I compress a PDF on my phone?
Yes. The tool runs in the browser on Android phones and iPhones. Tap "Select files", choose a level, and download the smaller PDF straight to your phone.
Can I compress several PDFs at once?
Yes, up to 30 PDFs in one upload, as long as the upload is 100 MB or less. They all use the level you picked, and come back together in a ZIP.