Step-by-step instructions
- 1
Pick a compression method
FormatDrop does not compress PDFs yet — a browser-based PDF compressor is coming soon. Today, use a free desktop tool: Ghostscript on the command line (the exact command is in the FAQ below), or Preview on a Mac (File > Export > Quartz Filter > Reduce File Size). If a smaller image copy of the pages is enough, our PDF to JPG converter runs in your browser with no upload.
Go to converter - 2
Choose how much quality to trade for size
Most compression tools offer presets. In Ghostscript, /printer keeps high image quality, /ebook resamples images to about 150 DPI (good for email and screen reading), and /screen resamples to 72 DPI (smallest, visibly softer in print). Pick the lightest setting that still looks right for how the PDF will be used.
- 3
Check the result
Compare the file size before and after. Open the compressed PDF and check that text stays crisp and images still look acceptable. If quality dropped too far, run the original file again with a gentler setting.
Why compress a PDF?
Bloated PDFs slow workflows. Compression brings them back to reasonable sizes for email, the web, and cloud storage — usually with no visible quality loss.
Your files never leave your device
FormatDrop runs the conversion engine entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly. No file upload. No server. Nothing stored. You can verify this by opening DevTools → Network tab and watching: zero upload requests.
Frequently asked questions
Will compressing a PDF lose quality?
FFmpeg or Ghostscript for PDF compression?
Why is my compressed PDF still large?
No account. No upload. Works in any browser.