Compress PDF
Reduce your PDF file size without losing quality. Free, instant, no signup required.
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PDF files up to 50MB
Balanced compression. Good quality, noticeably smaller.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to compress PDF files on FileSwift?
Yes — FileSwift provides a completely free PDF compression tool that requires no account registration, email signup, or credit card details. Free users can compress PDF files up to 50MB and perform up to 5 compressions per day. For professionals handling large documents or high volumes, our Pro plan at £9/month increases the file size limit to 200MB with unlimited daily compressions. Business users get a 500MB limit for enterprise-scale document workflows. All compressions are performed in a secure, encrypted cloud environment and your files are permanently deleted immediately after you download the result.
Will compressing a PDF reduce its quality?
It depends on the compression level you choose. FileSwift offers three levels so you can control the trade-off between file size and quality. High compression maintains near-original quality — fonts stay crisp and images remain sharp — with a modest reduction in file size. Medium compression delivers a balanced result, typically reducing file size by 50-60% while keeping documents fully readable and professional. Low compression gives you the maximum file size reduction, ideal for files that will only be viewed on screen rather than printed. For most business documents like reports, invoices, and presentations, Medium compression is the recommended choice.
What is the maximum PDF file size I can compress?
Free users can compress PDF files up to 50MB per file, which covers the vast majority of everyday documents including reports, presentations, and invoices. For larger files such as high-resolution brochures, architectural drawings, or lengthy technical manuals, our Pro plan at £9/month increases the limit to 200MB per file. Business users get a 500MB limit for the most demanding enterprise document workflows. These limits apply per compression — you can compress multiple files within your daily allowance up to the maximum size per file.
Is my PDF kept private and secure?
Yes — your privacy and document security are our highest priorities. Every file you upload to FileSwift is transmitted over an encrypted HTTPS connection. All compression processing happens in an isolated, secure cloud environment. Most importantly, your file is permanently and irreversibly deleted from our servers immediately after you download the compressed result — we never store, analyse, or share your documents. FileSwift never sees the content of your files; they are processed entirely by automated systems. This makes FileSwift safe for compressing sensitive business documents, legal contracts, financial statements, and personal files.
How much will my PDF be compressed?
The compression ratio depends on the contents of your PDF. Image-heavy documents — such as brochures, presentations, and scanned files — typically see reductions of 50-70% because images can be efficiently resampled at lower resolution. Text-only documents such as contracts, reports, and invoices generally see 10-30% reductions since text compresses much more efficiently to begin with. FileSwift shows you the exact original size, compressed size, and percentage saved after every compression so you always know exactly what was achieved.
Can I compress multiple PDF files at once?
Yes — FileSwift supports batch compression so you can process multiple PDF files in one session. Upload multiple files into the converter and the system will compress each one individually using your chosen quality level. All compressed files are packaged into a single ZIP archive for easy one-click downloading. Free users can compress up to 5 files per day. Pro and Business subscribers enjoy unlimited daily compressions, making it efficient to compress entire folders of documents in a single batch — ideal for administrative teams, finance departments, and anyone managing large volumes of PDF documentation.
What is the difference between High, Medium, and Low compression?
The three compression levels map to different trade-offs between file size and visual quality. High compression uses conservative settings that preserve near-original image quality — ideal for documents that will be printed or shared with clients where appearance matters most. Medium compression uses balanced settings that reduce file size by approximately 50-60% while maintaining full readability — the best choice for most everyday use cases like emailing documents or uploading to portals. Low compression applies the most aggressive settings for maximum file size reduction — best for documents that will only be viewed on screen and where the smallest possible file size is the priority, such as archiving or uploading to systems with strict size limits.