How do I compress a PDF for a journal submission?

Upload your PDF, choose a compression level or a target size, and download the smaller file. The tool re-renders each page at a reduced resolution to shrink image-heavy PDFs.

Will it make my text blurry?

Compression trades some image sharpness for a smaller file. Use a lighter level if you need crisp figures; use a stronger level to meet a strict size limit. Choose the balance that still looks acceptable.

No. The whole process runs in your browser. Your PDF is never sent to a server.

Compress PDF for Submission

Shrink an image-heavy manuscript PDF so it fits your journal’s upload size limit. Pick a compression level, preview the new size, and download. Everything runs in your browser — your file is never uploaded.

How to use

Upload your PDF.
Choose a compression level (lighter = sharper, stronger = smaller).
Click Compress, check the new size, and download.

Drop your PDF here, or click to browse

Works best on PDFs made large by figures, photos or scans.

Compress a PDF to meet your journal’s size limit

Submission portals often reject files that are too big — a limit like 10 MB or 20 MB is common, and a manuscript full of high-resolution figures can easily exceed it. This free PDF compressor for submission reduces your file size right in your browser so you can upload it.

How it works

The tool re-renders each page of your PDF at a reduced resolution and re-encodes it, which shrinks the large images that usually make a manuscript PDF heavy. You choose the level: Light keeps figures sharp, Medium balances size and quality, and Strong produces the smallest file for strict limits.

An honest note on quality

Compression is always a trade-off: a smaller file means some loss of image sharpness. For text it is usually unnoticeable; for detailed figures, preview before you submit and step back to a lighter level if needed. This browser-based tool is ideal for getting a figure-heavy PDF under a portal limit; for the absolute smallest files, desktop software with advanced optimisation can go further.

Private and free

Your PDF never leaves your computer — all processing happens locally in your browser. No upload, no sign-up, no limit.