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Compress PDF Online – Reduce File Size

Reduce PDF file size for email, WhatsApp, job applications and government portals. Files up to 20MB. No signup, no watermark.

Select PDF file

or drag and drop here • max 20MB

HTTPS encrypted Deleted in 2h No signup

Compression presets for specific upload limits

Pick the page that matches your exact size limit or portal. Each one explains the limit and opens this tool with guidance for that case.

Exact size limits

Under 100KB Under 200KB Below 100KB Exam max 1MB WhatsApp 16MB

Government & exam forms

Govt forms Scholarships Exam portals Fix portal errors

Work documents & fixes

Job apps Online forms Scanned PDF Email attachments WhatsApp sharing Web uploads Instant compress

How to reduce PDF size in 4 steps

No software to install. Upload, choose a mode, download.

1. Upload your file

Drag and drop your PDF or tap to select it from your device. Maximum file size is 20MB.

2. Select a mode

Smart Mode for automatic results, Purpose Mode for a specific destination, or Advanced Mode for manual control.

3. Compress

Your file is processed on our server, then the result screen reports the input size, output size and percentage saved.

4. Download

Save the optimised PDF. Your upload and the compressed copy are deleted automatically within 2 hours, or immediately if you choose Delete now.

Built for real upload limits

Most compressors give you three vague quality levels and no idea whether the result will actually pass.

Typical PDF sites

  • Only blind High / Medium / Low settings
  • Watermarks on free output
  • Account required before download
  • Unclear how long files are kept
  • No indication whether the size will pass

The ClonyPDF approach

  • Destination presets for email, WhatsApp, gov portals and job apps
  • No watermark, ever
  • No signup to process or download
  • Deleted within 2 hours, or instantly on request
  • Result screen shows the exact output size before you upload it anywhere

Frequently asked questions

Compression behaviour, size limits and file handling.

How do I compress a PDF without losing quality?
Use Smart Mode. For files under 2MB it applies the lightest profile, which keeps text sharp and vector graphics intact. Text layers are always preserved, because compression targets embedded images and duplicate objects rather than the text itself. See compress PDF without losing quality.
How do I reduce PDF size for email?
Choose Purpose Mode → Email. Gmail and Outlook cap attachments at roughly 20–25MB. If you are hitting a Gmail rejection specifically, see fix "PDF too large for email" in Gmail.
What PDF size do government portals require?
Most Indian government portals cap uploads between 100KB and 1MB, and some exam forms allow only 200KB. Choose Purpose Mode → Gov portal, then check the reported output size on the result screen before uploading. See compress PDF for government forms.
Can I compress a PDF to an exact size like 100KB?
Not to an exact byte size. In Advanced Mode you can enter a target in megabytes (enter 0.1 for about 100KB) and the tool selects a stronger or lighter profile based on it, but the result is an approximation. Check the output size on the result screen and run it again at a stronger level if you need to go lower. See compress PDF to 100KB.
Can I compress a scanned PDF?
Yes, and scanned files usually shrink the most, because each page is an image. Note that a scanned PDF has no text layer and compression does not add one. See compress scanned documents.
What is the maximum file size I can upload?
20MB per file. If your document is larger, delete unneeded pages with Remove PDF Pages or divide it using Split PDF, then compress each part.
Is it safe to compress PDFs online?
Transfers use HTTPS. Your upload and the compressed copy are deleted automatically within 2 hours, and you can delete the output immediately from the result screen. Files are not read, mined or shared. Full detail in our privacy policy.
Does compression reduce image clarity?
Stronger profiles reduce image resolution, which is where the saving comes from. Text and vector content stay sharp. If images look soft, run the file again with Smart Mode or the Low compression level in Advanced Mode.
Will compressing my resume break ATS parsing?
No. Applicant Tracking Systems need selectable text, and this tool does not flatten pages into images. Use Purpose Mode → Job application, which applies a print-quality profile. See optimise a resume PDF.
Why does my PDF upload keep failing on a portal?
Usually the file is over the portal's size cap, or the PDF version is not supported. Compressing here also rewrites the file to PDF 1.4, which older government systems accept more reliably. If the PDF is password-protected, remove the protection with Unlock PDF first. Background reading: why PDFs are too large to upload and how to fix it.

Related PDF tools

Prepare, divide and secure your documents before or after compression.

Compress PDF under 1MB

For exam and government uploads

Compress PDF to 100KB

Meet the strictest upload limits

Unlock PDF

Remove a password so the file can be compressed

Remove PDF pages

Often the biggest size saving

Split PDF

Divide files over 20MB

Merge PDF files

Combine first, then compress once

JPG to PDF

Build a PDF from photos or scans

PDF to JPG

Extract pages as images

Protect PDF

Add a password after compressing

Photo & signature resizer

For the image fields on exam forms

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