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Compress a PDF to a smaller file size

Reduce a heavy PDF so it fits an upload limit or an email attachment. Choose a compression level and check the new size before you download.

  • You see the trade-off
  • Images do the heavy lifting
  • Text stays sharp

Files stay in your browser. Use documents you own or are authorized to modify.

Works in your browserNo install requiredFiles stay in your browserClear pricing before you pay

How it works

How to compress pdf

Upload the large PDF

The current file size is shown next to the document.

Pick a compression level

Lighter settings keep more image detail. Stronger settings take more off the size.

Compare and download

The new size appears beside the original. Download it, or try another level if the pages look soft.

Why Make Creati

Built to keep document work clear

One workspace for the file, the change, and the finished result — with the next step always visible.

Compress PDF · Make Creati workspace

Service agreement

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Updated payment terms

You see the trade-off

The result reports both sizes and lets you preview pages, so you can weigh quality against the reduction yourself.

Images do the heavy lifting

Most of the bulk in a PDF comes from scanned images. Resampling those is what brings a file under a limit.

Text stays sharp

Text and vector graphics are not resampled during compression, so they stay crisp even at the stronger settings.

What you can expect

Clear commitments, not claims

Your files stay yours

Documents are scoped to your account and tied to the project that created them. You choose when a file is shared or removed.

Costs shown before you pay

Self-serve work and quoted work are separated clearly. You see what a request costs before anything is charged.

Honest about limits

We say what a tool does and does not do. Make Creati is for documents you own or are authorized to modify.

Draft content notice. A competitor page would show customer testimonials here. Make Creati has no published reviews yet, so this section states verifiable commitments instead. Swap it for real, attributed reviews once they exist — see docs/PAGE-SPECS.md.

Frequently asked questions

How much smaller will my PDF get?

It depends on what is inside. Scanned or photo-heavy files often shrink a great deal, while a text-only PDF is already small and may barely move.

Will compressing reduce quality?

Images are resampled, so heavy settings can soften photos and scans. Text and vector graphics are unaffected.

Can I compress a file more than once?

You can, but repeated passes over the same images cost quality for little further gain. Try one stronger setting instead.

Why is my scanned PDF so large?

Each page is a full-resolution photograph of paper. A color scan at 600 dpi can run to several megabytes per page.

Is the original file changed?

No. Compression writes a new PDF, and your upload stays at its original size.

What if it is still too large?

Split PDF can divide the document into smaller files, or remove pages you do not need and compress what is left.

Ready to work on your document?

Create a workspace to keep your documents, orders, and finished files in one place.