PDF Light
Reduce a PDF’s file size, with a clear view of the trade-offs.
One PDF · up to 30 MB and 60 pages. Password-protected files are not supported. Processing stays in this tab.
Before you start
Compact rewrites the PDF with compressed object storage; already optimized PDFs may not become smaller. Balanced and Smaller rebuild each page as a JPEG image and can help with image-heavy or scanned PDFs.
Image modes remove selectable text, links, forms, tags and interactive content. Rewriting a PDF can invalidate digital signatures. Keep the original and check the result. If there is no size reduction, the tool tells you rather than claiming success.
A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE
Compare size reduction with the PDF features you need to keep
Try Compact first when selectable text and vector content matter. Image modes rebuild the pages as JPEG images and change what the document can retain. Compare the actual input and output sizes, then inspect readability and text selection. An already optimized PDF may not become smaller.
- Select Try a sample → and choose Compact · keep text and vector content. Select Reduce PDF size ↗ and save any result the tool provides.
- Record the built-in sample’s actual input bytes and any resulting output bytes; keep the no-reduction outcome if the tool reports it.
- Repeat from the same built-in original with Balanced · pages become images and confirm the image-mode acknowledgement.
- Check the exported files’ actual page count, small text and text selection before choosing a version to keep.
| Built-in two-page example | Bytes | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Original | 619071 | Selectable source text |
| Compact | 619077 | No reduction on this input; text retained |
| Balanced · page images | 258291 | 58.3% smaller on this example; no selectable text |
This is one checked example, not a promised reduction for another file. Download the example PDF.
Keep in mind
- Keep the original and inspect readability. A completed process may not reduce the file size.
- Image modes remove selectable text, links, forms and interactive content; rewriting can invalidate signatures.