Alternative
How the two compare
Here is how the approaches differ, based on Smallpdf's public product pages and our own tool:
| Smallpdf | PDF File Compress | |
|---|---|---|
| Where compression happens | On Smallpdf servers | In your browser |
| Size control | Compression levels | Levels or an exact target size |
| Account needed | For some features | Never |
| Other PDF tools | Many | Compression only |
Built for private paperwork
People compress their most sensitive documents: salary slips, bank statements, ID scans, medical reports. We designed the tool so we never see them. Your browser reads the file, compresses it in memory and hands it back to you.
Better results on scans
When we detect a scanned page, we can store it as lossless black and white JBIG2. Every letter keeps its exact pixels while the page shrinks to a fraction of a gray photo. Our 4 page scanned form went from 4.65 MB to 108 KB this way.
Try both and keep the smaller file
Every document behaves differently. Compress your PDF above, drag the slider to check the quality, and compare it with the result from any other tool. Keep whichever you like better.
