How to compress a PDF in three steps
Choose your PDF
Drag it onto the compressor above or tap to pick it. DigiCompress reads the first bytes to confirm it’s a genuine PDF before doing anything else.
Pick a compression level
Go for a smaller file when you need to squeeze under an upload limit, or keep higher quality for documents that will be printed.
Download and you’re done
Check the new size, save the file, and DigiCompress clears both copies from the tab’s memory.
Why PDFs deserve a private compressor
PDF is the format people use for the documents that matter most: bank statements, tax returns, employment contracts, ID scans, medical letters, invoices with account numbers. Those are exactly the files you’re asked to make smaller, because visa portals, job sites and email servers all cap attachment sizes.
Upload-based PDF compressors ask you to trust that a stranger’s server deletes your statement on schedule, that it wasn’t logged along the way, and that the company is never breached. DigiCompress removes the question. The compression engine is downloaded to your browser like the rest of the page, and your PDF is processed locally in a background worker. You can watch your network activity in the browser’s developer tools: the file never goes out.
Tips for the best result
- Scanned PDFs shrink the most
- A scan is really a stack of photos, so lowering image quality slightly can cut the size dramatically. Text stays readable at the balanced setting.
- Text-only PDFs are already lean
- A PDF exported from Word or Google Docs is mostly text and fonts. Expect modest savings; if it’s still too big, embedded images are usually the cause.
- Aim for the portal limit, not the minimum
- If a form wants files under 2 MB, a 1.8 MB PDF at good quality beats a 300 KB one that’s hard to read.
- Keep the original
- DigiCompress never overwrites your file. Save the compressed copy under a new name so you still have the full-quality version.
- Signed or protected PDFs
- Rebuilding a PDF can invalidate a digital signature, and password-protected files can’t be opened for compression. Compress before signing when you can.
Supported files and limits
| Format | Extensions | Max size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 MB | Scans, exports and mixed documents | ||
| Word / PowerPoint / Excel | .docx .pptx .xlsx | 200 MB | Use the Word compressor |
| Images | .jpg .png .webp | 50 MB | Use the image compressor |
Very large PDFs depend on your device’s free memory. A desktop browser handles 100 MB+ files more comfortably than an older phone.