Compress PDF
Reduce PDF file size for faster uploads and smaller email attachments while keeping your document readable.
or click to choose one from your device.
How the PDF compressor works
The Compress PDF tool uses well known PDF utilities behind the scenes (such as Ghostscript) to shrink your file size. When you upload a document, GhostConvert analyzes images, fonts, and internal structure, and then applies smart compression settings designed for everyday use.
Image heavy PDFs and scanned documents usually see the biggest reduction in file size, because images are recompressed and unnecessary data is removed. Text and vector graphics remain clear, and the original page order and layout are preserved so your document still looks familiar after compression.
When should you compress a PDF?
- Before emailing a large report, invoice, or proposal to a client.
- When a website or online form rejects your PDF because it is too large.
- When you need to upload many PDFs over a slow connection or mobile data.
- To reduce storage usage for archived scanned documents.
- Any time you want documents to open faster on phones and older laptops.
Compressing your PDFs regularly keeps clutter under control and makes sharing smoother for both you and the people receiving your files.
What stays the same after compression?
- The number of pages and their order.
- Text content, basic layout, and reading flow.
- Searchable text in documents that were already searchable.
- Most colors and graphics, with lighter file sizes for embedded images.
The goal is to keep your document usable and professional while trimming the fat that makes PDFs slow to send and open.
Frequently asked questions
Does compressing a PDF change how it looks?
For most documents, the layout stays the same and text remains clear. Some embedded images may be compressed more aggressively, which can slightly reduce quality if you zoom in very far, but this is usually not noticeable in normal reading.
Will this tool make my scanned PDF smaller?
Yes. Scanned PDFs are often just large images wrapped in a PDF container, so they can shrink significantly when optimized. This makes them much easier to email and upload.
Is there a file size limit?
GhostConvert is designed around typical everyday documents such as reports, invoices, and scan bundles. If you try to upload an extremely large PDF and run into limits, you can split the file into smaller parts first and then compress each piece.
How are my files handled?
Uploaded PDFs are used only to create the compressed output file. They are stored temporarily while processing and automatically deleted after a short period, as described in the Privacy Policy.