Compress PDF

Typically 90-99% reduction on image-heavy PDFs. A 10 MB scanned document can compress to under 500 KB with Recommended mode, or under 100 KB with Maximum. The tool uses two strategies — lossless optimization and JPEG re-encoding — and automatically picks whichever produces the smallest file.

Yes. Unlike Smallpdf (which limits free users to 2 tasks/day) or iLovePDF (which caps file sizes), ForgeDaddy's compressor is 100% free with no limits. No signup, no watermarks, no daily caps. Compress as many PDFs as you want.

No. Everything runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript and WebAssembly. Your PDF files never leave your device. This is fundamentally more private than cloud-based compressors.

Recommended reduces file size by 90-95% — ideal for email attachments and uploads. Maximum achieves 95-99% reduction for the absolute smallest file size. Light applies 70-85% reduction while maintaining the highest visual quality.

At Recommended and Light settings, the visual difference is minimal — text remains sharp and readable. Maximum mode produces the smallest files but may show slight JPEG artifacts on close inspection. The tool always compares compressed output to the original and never increases the file size.

Yes — scanned documents and image-heavy PDFs see the biggest compression gains (90-99%). The tool intelligently detects whether your PDF is text-based or image-based and applies the optimal strategy. For documents with 20+ pages, it automatically adjusts settings for maximum efficiency.