Compress a PDF to under 500 KB
A 500 KB limit is generous enough to keep documents looking good, and it's what many job applications, school portals and online claim forms ask for. If your CV with a photo, a signed contract or a multi-page scan is a few megabytes, this gets it under the limit.
The target is preset on this page. The tool starts with the highest quality and only reduces it as far as needed. Text-based PDFs often shrink enough with a lossless clean-up, so they stay crisp and searchable. Scanned documents are redrawn at a resolution that still prints acceptably.
You see exactly how big the result is. If even the smallest version is over 500 KB, the tool tells you and gives you the smallest file it could make — then splitting the document or converting to black and white usually solves it.
The whole process runs in your browser; your document is never sent to a server.
The options for this task are already set. You can still change them after adding your file. Open the full Compress PDF tool
Drop a PDF here
PDF · or click to choose · you can also paste · up to 300 MB · stays on your device
Your privacy
This tool works entirely inside your browser. Your files are never uploaded to any server.
How to use Compress PDF
- 1
Add your PDF
Drop the file on the page or click to choose it.
- 2
Choose a target or a level
Pick a size limit (for example Under 200 KB) or a compression level.
- 3
Compress and download
See the before and after size, then save the smaller PDF.
Questions and answers
Will my CV still look professional?
Yes, in most cases. A typical one- or two-page CV with a photo fits under 500 KB without visible loss.
Why is the text not selectable any more?
When a lossless clean-up isn't enough, pages are redrawn as images. Keep your original for editing.
Can I compress several PDFs at once?
One at a time. You can also merge them first and compress the combined file.
Is it really free?
Yes. No sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how often you use it.