Compress PDFs Without Losing Text Searchability
Upload a PDF, choose a compression level, and download a smaller file where text remains selectable and searchable. Uses Ghostscript-grade compression on the server.
Compress Now
Upload a PDF, choose a compression level, and download a smaller file where text stays fully searchable.
PDF Compressor
Reduce file size with Ghostscript while keeping text searchable.
Drop your PDF here
or click to browse · PDF only · up to 10 MB
Your compressed PDF will appear here
Upload a PDF on the left, choose a compression level, and click Compress.
Upload and Verify
Drop your PDF onto the upload zone. A quick Cloudflare verification step confirms you are a real user, then the file is sent to the server for processing.
Compress Now
Choose a Compression Level
Select from five levels: Screen (smallest), eBook, Printer, Prepress, or Default. Lower levels compress images more aggressively while always preserving text as actual characters.
Compress Now
Download the Compressed PDF
Once compression is complete, a download button appears. The resulting PDF is smaller but text remains fully searchable, copyable, and readable by screen readers.
Compress NowCompress a searchable PDF in three steps
Upload your PDF
Drop a PDF onto the upload area or click to browse. A Cloudflare challenge verifies the request, then the file is uploaded to the compression server.
Select a compression level
Choose from Screen, eBook, Printer, Prepress, or Default. Screen gives the smallest file; Prepress gives the highest fidelity. Text searchability is preserved at every level.
Compress and download
Click Compress PDF. Server-side Ghostscript processes the file. When done, a Download button appears for your compressed PDF.
Deep Dive
How PDF Compression Preserves Searchability
Most lossy PDF tools rasterize text into images to achieve compression. This one does not.
Why Use This PDF Compressor
Text Stays Searchable
Unlike image-based compression, text remains as real characters — searchable, copyable, and screen-reader friendly.
Five Compression Levels
From Screen (web sharing) to Prepress (print production), pick the level that fits your use case.
Ghostscript Engine
Server-side Ghostscript is the industry-standard PDF optimizer used by print shops and document workflows worldwide.
PDF Preview
Your original PDF is previewed in the tool so you can confirm the right file is loaded before compressing.
Who Uses It
Who Needs a Searchable PDF Compressor
Reducing file size while keeping text intact matters across legal, academic, and business workflows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between this and a regular PDF compressor?
A regular compressor often converts all page content into images to achieve compression. This tool uses Ghostscript, which compresses fonts, images, and metadata separately while leaving text as actual text — so you can still search, copy, and highlight after downloading.
Which compression level should I choose?
Screen is best for web sharing and email — it gives the smallest file. eBook is a good default for general use. Printer and Prepress retain higher image quality at the cost of a larger file. Default applies Ghostscript defaults without aggressive downsampling.
Why does compression work differently depending on the PDF?
The savings depend on what is in the PDF. A text-heavy document with simple fonts may compress by only 20–30%. A document with many high-resolution embedded images can compress by 60–90%. The tool optimizes everything it can regardless of content type.
Will bookmarks, links, and form fields survive compression?
In most cases yes. Ghostscript preserves PDF structure including annotations, hyperlinks, and interactive form fields. Complex custom JavaScript in forms may not always survive, but standard static forms and links are kept intact.
What is the maximum PDF size?
The upload limit is 10 MB. For larger files, consider splitting the PDF into sections first using a PDF splitter, compressing each section, then merging them back.
Can I use this on scanned PDFs?
Yes, but the result depends on the scan. Scanned PDFs already store pages as images, so compressing them reduces image quality. Text recognition (OCR) is not performed by this tool, so scanned content will not become selectable after compression — only originally text-based PDFs benefit from searchability preservation.
Ready to Shrink Your PDF?
Upload, pick a compression level, and download a smaller searchable PDF.