PDFArrow · Available
Compress a PDF without flattening its features
Reduce one PDF or a batch locally, compare the first page, and see measured savings before using the result.
Balanced and Lossless cleanup rewrite PDF streams and objects without rendering pages, keeping selectable text, links, forms, vectors, and page structure. Maximum reduction is an explicit fallback that flattens pages to lower-quality JPEG images. Batch results are measured individually and downloaded together.
Use Compress PDFExample and measured release result
Example input: An image-heavy PDF fixture with an intentionally unoptimized page image
Expected output: A smaller flattened PDF at the selected quality setting
Measured result: The regression output was smaller than its source fixture and remained parseable
The browser test compares byte size and reopens the downloaded result. Last tested July 21, 2026 by PDFArrow Product Engineering.
How to use Compress PDF
- Choose one or more valid, unencrypted PDFs.
- Select Lossless cleanup, Balanced, or Maximum reduction.
- Review measured savings and the visual preview, then reopen the downloaded result.
What this tool supports
- Preserve PDF features with the default Balanced setting.
- Compare original and compressed first pages.
- Batch up to 20 PDFs and download only results that are actually smaller.
Common Compress PDF tasks
- Meeting an email attachment limit
- Reducing a scanned application
- Preparing a smaller upload copy
Privacy, supported files, and limits
Choosing a file does not upload its contents to PDFArrow. Processing runs in this browser, and the result is downloaded directly to this device.
Compress up to 20 PDFs at once. Balanced and Lossless cleanup preserve selectable text, links, form fields, vectors, and page structure. Maximum reduction flattens pages only when explicitly selected. Every result includes measured savings and a first-page comparison, and larger outputs are never presented as successful.
Compress PDF questions
How does PDFArrow compress a PDF?
Balanced and Preserve quality compact PDF objects and streams without rendering pages. Maximum compression re-renders pages only when you explicitly choose the flattened visual fallback.
Will compression preserve selectable text?
Yes in Balanced and Preserve quality modes. Maximum compression flattens pages and removes selectable text and interactive features.
Will every PDF become smaller?
No. Text-based and already optimized files may not shrink. The app only offers the new download when it is smaller.
Is PDF compression free?
Yes. The supported browser workflow does not require signup or add a watermark.
Is the PDF uploaded for compression?
Choosing a file does not upload its contents to PDFArrow. Processing runs in this browser, and the result is downloaded directly to this device.