Extreme PDF Compression
Compress PDFs heavily by converting pages to images. Built for strict size limits such as email attachment caps or upload forms. Best for scanned documents. Note: text becomes unselectable.
HandoutPress compresses PDFs to a fraction of their size by converting pages to images — built for hard size limits like 100 KB upload caps. 100% local processing, free, no signup.
Click or drag to upload
Note: compressed PDF will not support text selection.
How to use
- Drop your PDF — scanned documents gain the most.
- Pick the clarity level: 1.0x for the smallest file, 2.0x for balance, 4.0x to stay closest to the original.
- Press Compress — every page is re-encoded as an image for maximum size reduction.
- Download the compressed PDF (note: text is no longer selectable).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is text unselectable?
This method converts pages to images, which is why text selection is no longer possible. This allows for much greater compression.
Why can't I select text after compression?
The compressor re-encodes every page as an image — that step removes fonts, vector data and hidden structure, which is what makes 10–20× smaller files possible. If you need selectable text, use a lossless optimizer instead.
When should I NOT use this tool?
Skip it when you need searchable or copyable text (contracts, thesis submissions), or when the PDF is already small. For text-heavy PDFs a lossless compressor keeps text intact, with a smaller size gain.
Why doesn't it keep a text layer like other compressors?
Lossless optimizers typically shave only 10–30% off most files. Rasterizing is the honest way to hit hard size limits (100 KB portals, email caps) — we would rather tell you the trade-off upfront than over-promise.