How to compress a PDF
- Choose your PDF.
- Pick a level: Light, Recommended or Strong.
- Click “Compress PDF”.
- Download the smaller file.
How PDF compression works
Scanned documents and PDFs with many photos are often larger than 10 MB. Vertozi rebuilds each page as an optimized image, which usually makes these files much smaller.
Because pages become images, text in the compressed file can no longer be selected or searched. If the result isn’t smaller, we keep your original file.
When should you compress a PDF?
- An email or upload form rejects the file because it is too large.
- You scanned a document with a phone or scanner.
- You want to send a PDF faster on a slow connection.
Which level should you choose?
| Level | Quality | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Highest | Printing and fine details |
| Recommended | Good balance | Most documents |
| Strong | Smallest file | Strict size limits |
Frequently asked questions
Why didn’t my PDF get smaller?
Text-only PDFs are already light. Compression works best on scans and documents with many images.
Can I still select text after compressing?
No. Pages are saved as images. Keep your original if you need to copy text.
Is there a file size limit?
We don’t set one. Very large files depend on your device’s memory.
Is Vertozi really free?
Yes. There is no subscription, no premium plan and no sign-up. The site is funded by ads.
Are my files uploaded?
No. This tool runs in your browser, so your files never leave your device.