Compress a PDF: size and quality trade-offs

Xi Tools' Compress PDF reduces size by rendering each page to a JPEG image and assembling those images into a new PDF. You can choose High (150 DPI), Medium (96 DPI) or Low (72 DPI). The conversion runs locally in your browser.

This is lossy compression. Selectable text, embedded text layers, links, forms and vector graphics do not survive as editable or searchable PDF content. Small text and fine lines may look softer, especially at lower DPI. A smaller result is not guaranteed for every input; a text-only PDF may even grow after rasterization.

When to use it

The tool is best suited to scan-heavy or image-heavy PDFs when a smaller attachment matters more than searchable text or precise typography. Keep the original PDF. If the recipient needs to copy text, search the document, use accessibility tools or edit a form, use a method that preserves the original text layer instead.

Check the output

1. Open Compress PDF and choose a file.
2. Start with High quality for documents with small print; try Medium or Low only if the result remains readable.
3. Compare the downloaded file size with the source. Open the output at normal and 100% zoom and check signatures, tables and small text.
4. Try text selection if it matters to your use case. With this tool, the output pages are images, so text selection and search are not preserved.

The right setting depends on the source file and the recipient's requirements. There is no honest universal percentage saving or “without losing quality” promise for this rasterizing method.